Italiano signs...

by ZeroIndulgence on Jul 8, 2005 8:28 PM PDT

Dunno if this has been posted, but I don't see a diary on it, so here you go.

"The A's announced that they have signed their second-round selection from the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, right-handed pitcher Craig Italiano.

Italiano, who attended Flower Mound High School in Texas, was selected with the second round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers as compensation for the loss of free agent Damian Miller. Italiano, whom A's scouting director Eric Kubota said had "maybe the best high school arm in the country this year," will report to rookie ball in Arizona.

The A's have signed 29 of their first 33 selections from the draft."

Good news. Now, if we can just convince Smoak to join our new crowd...

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Awesome.

I'm really happy to see how quickly the A's have gotten a lot of their picks signed. Regardless of the issues with Italiano's delievery, it'll be interesting to have him in the system and see what the coaches can do with him.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by Kyli on Jul 8, 2005 8:34 PM PDT reply actions

Great news

The organization is really getting it done with signing these guys.

Hes going to Arizona though, I guess you wont be able to add a new head Saint.

by pickinmachine on Jul 8, 2005 8:36 PM PDT reply actions

Just need Smoak and Buck now, really. :)

by rookieoftheyear on Jul 8, 2005 8:42 PM PDT reply actions

That would be ideal...

Buck should sign. He's ready to be a major leaguer. Smoak is the real catch though. If we can coerce him into signing, it will be huge!

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." ~Rogers Hornsby

by ZeroIndulgence on Jul 8, 2005 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

...and Mazzaro

anybody know how much he signed for?

I'm the guy with the Carney/Jared Lansford jersey

by gojohn10 on Jul 8, 2005 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

hsnt

Athletics Nation Chatroom! Join us at #AthleticsNation @ irc.zirc.org

by Zonis on Jul 8, 2005 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Clarificaion

Responding to rookieoftheyear, I meant we still need to sign Mazzaro. Then referring to Italiano, I was wondering how much $ he signed for.

I'm the guy with the Carney/Jared Lansford jersey

by gojohn10 on Jul 8, 2005 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions

No Smoak.

No fire.

by Ozzz on Jul 9, 2005 1:17 AM PDT up reply actions

I heard about it during the game

good stuff. Just four more to go.

by OaklandSi on Jul 8, 2005 9:34 PM PDT reply actions

News on Smoak

Maybe he signed.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/12080958.htm

Posted on Fri, Jul. 08, 2005

USC signee Smoak denies reaching deal with A's

Despite published reports that the Oakland A's have met former Stratford standout Justin Smoak's signing-bonus demand, the all-state first baseman and USC signee said Thursday he has had no recent contact with A's officials and intends to enroll at USC next month.

Smoak, who plummeted to the 16th round of the draft after saying a $1 million bonus would persuade him to skip college, said he last spoke to A's general manager Billy Beane "two or three weeks" ago when he reaffirmed his desire to play college baseball.

"I told him I really wanted to go to school and that I really wanted to play at South Carolina," said Smoak, who had been projected as high as a late-first-round pick. "I didn't feel like stressing out about it all summer and waiting to the last minute."

Smoak, who said he recently went through student orientation at USC, batted .558 with 18 home runs during his senior year at Stratford. He is playing this summer for the South Carolina Diamond Devils.

"I doubt I'll hear back from (the A's)," he said. "In August, right now, I'm going to South Carolina."

-- Kent Babb

by pogues on Jul 8, 2005 10:53 PM PDT reply actions

Smoak

Thanks for the link.

Anything is possible, and Smoak's statement was certainly not Shermanesque, but I wouldn't count on him signing with the A's based on his statements.

There's a reason he fell so far in the draft. It was worth a shot, though.

I assume the A's are confident about signing the others, and there don't seem to be any hitches.

by bear88 on Jul 9, 2005 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions

It was worth a flier...

..but realistically, he was always going to hold out for more than he's worth.

Because in a year's time, he'll be worth more.

by Ozzz on Jul 9, 2005 1:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Unless

He gets hurt. That's the risk athletes take when they pass up guaranteed money. Matt Leinart will really be kicking himself if something serious happens to him this year.

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds."
Red Barber, announcer

by Furious George on Jul 9, 2005 1:21 AM PDT up reply actions