I love how this Mariners fan is laughing at our pick saying we should have taken Correa and Buxton over Appel by a massive amount, and Appel isnt even the best pitcher in the draft. Can't wait to laugh at him when they take Zunino over Correa.
It's sort of true though. Appel isn't much better than the other two pitchers. Buxton or Correa are the two with the highest ceiling. Astros are still a ways away. Give me superstar potential over a #2 potential. Hope they go Correa or Buxton. Please, please, please. Just go pitcher heavy after.
Nothing's official until 6 PM tomorrow. Jim Bowden only wrote "source." Not "inside source," just "source." I highly doubt that the Astros would be that careless. I've jumped on the Buxton bandwagon, and while Appel's probably not the sexy pick, I can live with that. Luhnow's obviously smarter than me.
All indications is that it will be Appel. Lunhow even during the Astros brodcast he hopes the first overall pick is going be future all-star and Cy Young winner. I would have went after the higher upside player in Buxton. I prefer high school arms as well who weren't abused in college.
I don't remember what he said specifically, but he also talked about taking a younger player that would have higher potential. It screamed Buxton or Correa for me.
I don't think he meant that. That caught my attention as well, but I really think he meant he hopes the first overall pick will be a future All-Star OR Cy Young winner. Regardless, there's no point in analyzing all of that non-info GM speak. I was really impressed with Luhnow in that interview though. He seems very eloquent and knowledgeable. At this point I couldn't be happier with the new Astros GM.
Much like in the NFL--and especially now with the new rules on bonus slots--I could definitely see the Astros making an otherwise "coin-flip" call based on signability and perhaps even a player's willingness to sign to a below-slot bonus. This could be vetted through players and their agents weeks in advance. Am I missing something here (besides that Scott Boras is Appel's agent)?
As far as lunhow's speech on the broadcast ... i know that he would never actually give away anything important ... but it seemed like he was actually hinting towards taking a younger player because he was talking about how the pick wouldnt be judged until 5 years down the road... and he said that they have to get someone with all-star potential ... meaning whoever they think has the highest ceiling .. and i dont think thats appel
Keith Law dropped this in his latest mock draft. This after saying that Appel would go #1 overall. I believe Boras will be up to his usual antics, but he's a very.... shrewd negotiator. He's probably very well aware of the new rules. Whoever they get to crack first out of Correa, Buxton, or Appel, that person will be the #1 pick. And I'll be glad. If they get Appel, I hope they go for some high-upside HS bats later on. Or, go all in for Jorge Soler.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I'm told that <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Astros">#Astros</a> have no decison at 1-1 and are discussing five names. I guess Appel, Buxton, Correa, Gausman & maybe Almora. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523mlbdraft">#mlbdraft</a></p>— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisBA/status/209456181108940800" data-datetime="2012-06-04T01:26:59+00:00">June 4, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Almora? I would have figured Zunino unless they were absolutely sold on Castro being their long term solution at catcher.
Agreed. Having the #1 pick's bonus slot a full $1 million more than the #2 slot and $2 million more than the #3 slot could really help this team . . . IF the guy they tab is willing to "play ball" (sorry, couldn't resist the pun). They could retain some serious jack to reach for some HS prospects in the first 10-15 rounds and go over slot on bonuses. Too bad I don't see any top pick being that generous to the Astros organization.
Appel was born in Houston but moved to San Ramon, California (just outside San Francisco) when he was 12. Maybe, maybe he could bring a slight hometown discount, but then again, this is a Scott Boras client I'm talking about here.
I think the fact that the bonus is so high above the 2 and 3 slots works in our favor from a negotiating standpoint.... if a number one pick wont sign for cheap then he wont get the money anywhere else .... the best he can do is come back and be a number one pick again lol ... the player is risking alot if he doesnt sign for a million less since the only way he can get the full 7.2 is to be the number 1 again..... of course the astros take a big gamble and can loose the money from thier bonus pool.. overall i think the pick almost has to sign for under slot .. how much under i dont know
Makes sense. Draft Appel as our future ace, then sign Jorge Soler as our future superstar! I like it! :grin:
I think a caution flag might have been waved when he and the Gators got into SEC play. Owned the non-conference slate, SEC slate... not so much. I would assume Bear_Bryant caught a few Alabama baseball games this season, so maybe he could share some insight.
