Thanks

My friend is the Manager of one of Rutherford's rival schools. He said Mazzaro throws low 90's (91-92) but has a wicked Knuckle-Curve. Should be interesting. Said he heard before the draft he was leaning toward going to St. Johns, but since he went pretty high, maybe he signs instead.

He is actually pitching today in a State Semi-Final game today. Ill post his line tommorrow when its in the paper.

1. It's a sign of change from the new ownership (i.e., we've got more money to sign these guys now).
2. BB thinks so much of his current prospects in the system that he thinks that only high-ceiling guys will be able to beat out the guys already in the system.
3. It's just a matter of making contrarian hay while the rest of MLB chases his ideas.
4. He's tired of having a "book" of tendencies by which he's known.
5. Watching Joe Blanton throw like a RH Jamie Moyer pine for the hard stuff of Jeremy Bonderman, or...
6. The same aliens that made him trade for Charles Thomas are still in charge of his facilities.

From BA

The party plans began quickly around the Pennington house. It will be a big Texas shindig with a distinctive flair--all green and gold.

"(My family is) fired up. We went on a two-hour shopping spree, and I think we bought every Oakland A's hat and shirt in the town of Corpus Christi," Cliff Pennington said after being named as the first-round selection of the A's in Tuesday's draft. "We're going to have a party tomorrow. They've ordered green streamers. They're really pumped."

Travis Buck

Craig Italiano
He's the one furthest to the right.  Can anyone else find a better picture of him?
By the way, he has the coolest name EVER!

Okay, that's it for now, I have to actually start studying for finals.  Finals.  Gross.  4 more days!!!

BY ED BARMAKIAN
For the Star-Ledger
There's an entire chapter in the book "Moneyball" on why Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane, whose philosophy the 2003 book is based on, doesn't take high school players in the draft.

Maybe it's time to add a new chapter to the book since the Athletics went against their well-publicized system to draft high school pitcher Vin Mazzaro of Rutherford yesterday in the third round of the First-Year Player's Draft.

Mazzaro's selection makes him the highest high school pitcher taken from North Jersey since Willie Banks out of St. Anthony in Jersey City was the third player taken overall in the 1987 draft by the Minnesota Twins.

"They called me last night (Monday) and told me that they don't normally take high school players," said Mazzaro, who now can choose between the pros and a full ride to St. John's. "But they came out of their meeting and said they had me at the top of their list. That gave me a hint they were interested."

With the No. 1 pick, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Virginia high school star shortstop Justin Upton. Upton and his brother B.J., the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, are the highest-drafted siblings.

Mazzaro (12-1) got the word of his selection right after he warmed up to start the Group 2 state semifinal game against Wallkill Valley. The right-hander then went out and pitched a complete-game, 2-1 victory to put his team in the state championship game for the second straight year. He allowed four hits, an unearned run, struck out 11 and hit one batter.

Ramapo High right-hander Shooter Hunt, who has a full ride to Virginia, was not selected in the first 18 rounds despite being rated in the same class as Mazzaro.

"It will be fun if I get drafted or even if I don't get drafted," Hunt said of his possible selection today.

Steve Garrison, a left-hander at the Hun School, was the second high school player from New Jersey drafted, selected in the 10th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Other local players taken included outfielder Will Venable of Princeton, the son of former major-leaguer Max, who is a hitting instruction in the Padres organization.

Also taken from the high school ranks were Zach Braddock, a left-handed pitcher from Gloucester Catholic, grabbed in the 18th round by the Brewers, and St. Peter's Prep catcher Nick Criaris, taken in the 18th round by the Boston Red Sox.

I played against him this year in our league and he won one game with a bases loaded triple opposite field, then pulled his team within 1 with a 2-run HR opposite field...Signing him could come with complications, however, because of his scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.  I'm excited to see how this will play out (signing vs. college).  

Sellers was in the same boat as Chase d'Arnaud, who also received a scholarship from Pepperdine, Sellers went drafted while d'Arnaud went undrafted after the first day despite finishing the HS season batting .512.  Maybe this is a sign that Sellers is seriously considering making the jump?

It even has his breakdowns vs Street and Hochevar!!!

He was very good against Street!!!

Eckstein? Huh!!!!