Draft Thread

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.-The Angels first pick was No. 58 overall, and they took an unproven, raw pitcher from Florida with lots of upside. Jonathan Bachanov from nearby University High in Orlando, showed mid-90s velocity this year and much better command than he had flashed as an underclassman.

The Angels scouting department got plenty of good looks at Bachanov late in the season, when he was at his best. They had three crosscheckers and two area scouts at his last appearance, a little less than two weeks ago in Sebring, Fla., at the state all-star game.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/
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by G Abbes on Jun 7, 2007 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

ESPN sucks

So they show the Mets and Red Sox sandwich picks because they say they didn't have a first round pick, but they decide to ignore ours. Pretty standard.

by Howie the Halo on Jun 7, 2007 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

Here's more on Bachanov from mlb.com:

Biographical Data
Player Name: Jonathan Bachanov
Position: Starting Pitcher
School: University HS, Orlando
School Type: High School
Academic Class: Senior
Birthdate: 01/30/89
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 210 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Report Date(s): 04/26/07
Game(s): Apopka HS

Focus Area Comments
Fastball: Bachanov can throw his fastball anywhere from 89 mph up to 96 mph. He pitches consistently in the 91-92 mph range. With improved mechanics, it will become a plus pitch.
FB Movement: He has a late tail and nice downward plane on his fastball.
Curve: It's a curve/slider/slurve and it's a plus pitch when it's on.
Changeup: He has a changeup, but it's behind the fastball and breaking pitch at this point.
Cutter: Bachanov has a usable cutter.
Control: When his mechanics and body are working well, he has good command. However, he gets off-balance at times and then has command issues.
Poise: Bachanov doesn't always realize what kind of mound presence he could have with his size and stuff. Once he discovers that, he could become even better.
Physical Description: Bachanov is a big, strong right-hander who could have a commanding presence on the mound.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: Two average or above pitches right now, with a fastball that has the chance to be a plus pitch. When he's balanced and in control, he's dominant.
Weaknesses: He gets up on his toe a little bit in his delivery, which makes him come down off-balance. That forces him to lose pitches out of the strike zone and his command becomes inconsistent.
Summary: Bachanov is a relative latecomer to the "draft prospect" stage. It's clear he has some things to learn in terms of mechanics and mound presence, but the arm strength scouts love is definitely there. He has the chance to have a plus fastball to go along with a very good breaking ball. He may be a bit of a project, but it's there.

by G Abbes on Jun 7, 2007 3:17 PM PDT reply actions

Burt Bacharach

Behind The Music: Jonathan Bachanov.

by Bilko 420 on Jun 7, 2007 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

delivery

every time he makes a pitch it looks like his knee is going to buckle...someone better straighten that out if he is going to last playing ball....

Good luck kid.....

Vlad, GMJ, Willits, OC =good ////Kotch,Aybar,Molina, Figgins=not bad..not good////Hillenpoop and Napoli F'cking terrible

by P237 on Jun 7, 2007 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

kid had a good florida track record

this kid has a good lineage being in the angels system and scouted in florida. tom kotchman (yes casey's dad) and mike silvestri have done a great job finding talent in that area. check this out:
current/future angels from florida: shields (not drafted by angels?), napoli, kendrick, kotchman (obvious), mathis, sean rodriguez.
top prospects: mendoza, herndon, statia, jeremy haynes, bobby wilson, browning.

i trust their judgement in that neck of the woods/sand

by thejd on Jun 7, 2007 4:03 PM PDT reply actions

Now part of the Angels'

"Florida Team" is Demetrius Figgins, Chone's brother, who replaced Mike Silvestri as the Angels' scout covering south Florida. Silvestri is now the Angels' Eastern Supervisor.

by G Abbes on Jun 7, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Holy crap

did you see the kid hit 134 on the radar gun?

by Howie the Halo on Jun 7, 2007 4:05 PM PDT reply actions

Question...

Ok, I thought I had a handle on it, but not anymore. I understand the compensation pick and the supplemental round, but how did Texas get our 1st round pick? This is what is says on MLB.com:

First Round
24. Texas Rangers (from Angels for type A Matthews)

Supplemental First Round
44. Texas Rangers (for type A Matthews)

How did they get 2 picks for Matthews?

I should be working right now...

by thrill000 on Jun 7, 2007 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

Here's the deal:

Yes that is correct, for a type A free agent you get 2 picks (one from the team that signed him).

This is why the A's try to stockpile guys just as they are about to hit FA.

by elricsi on Jun 7, 2007 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

now I get it.

I was thinking that, but saw that some type A guys only drew one pick for the old team. The problem was, I wasn't looking at the 2nd round.

Thanks.

I should be working right now...

by thrill000 on Jun 7, 2007 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

MATT HARVEY

Great use of a third-round pick.

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. -Gene Mauch

by Chronicles on Jun 7, 2007 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

Ha

You beat me by 23 seconds.

by WiseAndEck on Jun 7, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Pick 118

Behind The Maxillary Central Incisors: Matthew Harvey.

Matt Harvey's deceptive delivery.

by Bilko 420 on Jun 7, 2007 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Outstanding gamble in the 3rd round

Baseball America had him as the #11 prospect in the nation. He's a Scott Boras client, so he WILL be a tough sign, but you never know...

"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know" - Bill Parcells

by johnnyangel101 on Jun 7, 2007 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions

MATT HARVEY - THIRD ROUND

I'm ecstatic about this...

by WiseAndEck on Jun 7, 2007 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

FUCK YES!

I'm damn happy with Matt Harvey in the 3rd round.

And, I shall count thee among my favored sheep and you shall have the protection of all the angels in heaven.

by WeaverMania on Jun 7, 2007 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

wowwww

we got him???????? NOW JUST GOTTA SIGN HIM!

by Ty Webb on Jun 7, 2007 4:37 PM PDT reply actions

We will sign him

The history of the Angels has been signing high school players that were already committed to college.

And, I shall count thee among my favored sheep and you shall have the protection of all the angels in heaven.

by WeaverMania on Jun 7, 2007 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I think

Stoneman and Bane were just shocked to see him still around, and said "Fuck it, let's give it a try."

Man, we already have a ton of intriguing arms, esp. after signing Walden, and these two guys could just add to the litany.

Now let's get some powerful outfield bats!

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. -Gene Mauch

by Chronicles on Jun 7, 2007 4:40 PM PDT reply actions

Here is my question:

Did we have a good draft???

by bc56274 on Jun 7, 2007 5:12 PM PDT reply actions

We will find out

in four years.

Year of the Monkey
Willits- Starting OF for the '07 AL All-Star team!

by MistaRaggy @ Halos Heaven on Jun 7, 2007 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions

So you know as much as me.

Good to know.

by bc56274 on Jun 7, 2007 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

As Raggy says

we won't know for years, maybe even more than four years. And there's still 35 rounds to go.

But our top two picks are highly intriguing. Bachanav appears to have at least the Scot Shields skillset, with the potential to be even more. He's apparently a project and needs work, but he's got a lot of raw ability, and I trust Tom Kotchman and our other Florida scouts.

Matt Harvey was seen by many people as a top-15 pick, despite inconsistent velocity (that is impressive when on). He has a good breaking ball, as well, reportedly.

There may be signability issues with Harvey, but the Angels have been good about overcoming such obstacles, so I'm optimistic.

Trevor Pippin is a 1B/OF who is committed to Georgia Tech coming out of juco, but maybe we'll be able to steal him away. The last 1B we took out of Georgia Tech didn't turn out to be much (Clifton Remole), but if they see Pippin as an OF (apparently we listed him as a CF when we drafted him), that could be intriguing.

SS Andrew Romine, out of ASU, is a defensive substitute.

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. -Gene Mauch

by Chronicles on Jun 7, 2007 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions