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2nd day of the draft, player info

Tiny by Emmett89 on

I've got nothing to do all day, except work (ha!), and watch the draft tracker.  So, let's take a gander at who the A's got on the 2nd day of the draft:

 

Round 7

P Brett Hunter, Pepperdine U. R/R 6'4, 215, 6.27.87

Injured this year, made 4 starts.  3.38 ERA in 18.2 innings, 19/8 K/BB ratio. 

Last year 6-5 3.94 ERA in 82.1. 76/46 K/BB ratio. 

Was a potential 1st round pick after his Sophomore year, before hurting himself.  Could be a candidate to go back to school for his Senior year to raise his draft stock?  Watched his scout video, and I know nothing about scouting.  But his fastball was consistently 92-95, topping out at 97.  Threw one really nice curveball in the video, and the rest was just okay from my untrained eye.  Has a weird delivery where he drives real low kind of like Hudson does.  Out of the stretch it just looked odd.

Round 8

OF Jeremy Barfield, San Jacinto (TX) JUCO, R/L, 6'5, 240 7.12.88

Couldn't find any stats on the guy, but he is the son of former MLB outfielder Jesse Barfield.  And brother of current infielder Josh Barfield.  Jeremy was drafted in the 9th round in '06 by the Mets.  And also Jeremy received a misdemeanor in August of 2006 for PUSHING HIS DAD DOWN THE STAIRS!

Well, he's a big guy anyway, and bloodlines and all that.

Round 9

C Mitchell LeVier, Fullerton College (CA), L/L, 5'11, 185, 1.12.1988

Hit .406/.459/.711 with 11 homeruns and 50 RBI's.  Had a 17/22 BB/K ratio.  Made just one error all year.   I don't know if it is just a myth or what, but being left handed does that not prevent him from being a catcher in the pros?   In his video he made some throws from the outfield, but it was impossible to tell arm strength from those.

Has a weird habit when he takes a pitch.  The second the ball crosses the plate and he's not swinging he takes his bottom hand off of the bat. 

Interesting player if he sticks at catcher.  If not, who knows?

 

 

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Barfield bats right, throws left? Am I seeing that right?

That’s weird…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 9:02 AM PDT   0 recs

rickey henderson did it, too.

It’s not that common, though

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Jun 6, 2008 9:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

it is weird, because you have a much greater advantage throwing right

and a much greater advantage batting left.

Throwing right lets you play 2B, SS and 3B, which you can’t do Lefty, and Catcher, which for some reason there are very few (if any) lefty throwing catchers.

And we all know about Lefty batters-most good pitchers are Righties, so bat lefty.

But hey, the A’s NEED Righty bats.

by Zonis on Jun 6, 2008 9:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't we discuss this? If you've got an arm strong enough to be a catcher, Piazza excluded,

and you throw left handed you’re going to be a pitcher in Little League. Generally.

by OldhamA on Jun 6, 2008 9:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I always thought it was because

right handed batters block lefty catchers when throwing out a base-stealer. but then I found this great article on the subject:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/top-10-left-handed-catchers-for-2006/

by phastphill on Jun 6, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

could we shift him to third?

Why does such a wonderful man like such terrible things? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 6, 2008 10:05 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

His dad probably wanted him to pitch ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jun 6, 2008 10:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Or,

His two boys wanted to copy their MLB dad’s swing (righty).

"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.

by notsellingjeans on Jun 6, 2008 4:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

R/L

Is how the draft tracker lists him.

That’s normally Bats/Throws, right?

by Emmett89 on Jun 6, 2008 9:04 AM PDT   0 recs

Wow

A’s draft lefty catcher.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 9:10 AM PDT   0 recs

Looks like an error

They show him playing CF in warmups. Looks a lot like Kotsay.

by Colorado Fan on Jun 6, 2008 11:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree -- I think it should be CF not C

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2008 1:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dangit

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 1:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Three more picks

304 Dixon, Rashun Terry HS (MS) OF R/R 6’02” 210 1990-08-27 HS

334 Berroa, Christopher Chipola JC CF R/R 6’01” 175 1989-02-03 J1

364 Elgie, Zachary Minot HS (ND) 1B R/R 6’02” 1989-10-28 HS

Have the A’s ever even drafted 4 juco players in an entire draft before? This has to be some kind of record.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 9:34 AM PDT   0 recs

Also, they continue to try to monopolize players from the Dakotas

Hotbed of baseball that they are.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 9:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bismarck

How about the “Bismarck Prairie Dogs”? Or the “Bismarck Miles and Miles of Nothing but Cattle”?

by rageon on Jun 6, 2008 9:53 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yep, you're good.

Not a lot of market for upscale condos in western north dakota, though.

Also, you would need a retractable roof, as it’s like 40 degrees in April at times.

by rageon on Jun 6, 2008 10:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

so there motto would be "we, we got what you need"

OH BAY-BE!

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jun 6, 2008 12:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey, it's better than the

Hood, OR Magazine Explosions…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I still find it incredible

how such a terrible, terrible plane was not only in use for most of WWII, but was actually highly successful.

The Swordfish was like the David Eckstein of World War II aircraft…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:11 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

SOUTH Dakota

Neither of the North Dakota player are with the A’s—Erstad and Hafner. NoDak used to have Rick Helling to brag about, but that was quite a while ago. And there’s always the Roger Maris museum in Fargo.

Us North Dakotans stick together and represent for the state!

(Note: I’m actually living in Minnesota these days)

by rageon on Jun 6, 2008 9:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't forget Chris Coste,

Phillies backup catcher, born in Fargo.

Talk here about “the Dakotas” is misinformed. The A’s have a clear pattern of obtaining players for SD but not ND.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Jun 6, 2008 2:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I can't believe I missed Coste...

...seeing as he lives within a block of my sister—in Fargo.

by rageon on Jun 9, 2008 5:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I live in Bismarck

Elgie sounded willing to sign… though he’s signed a letter of intent to play at Kansas.

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jun 6, 2008 10:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Market inefficiency

MLB standard: 20 international scouts, 0 Dakota scouts.

President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium

by Joey C. on Jun 6, 2008 12:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Incredible...

that MLB teams budget 1 scout – 1 man! – to cover like five states in that region. I don’t know how they do it. How many times do you think they drive all day to a high school game, only to see that game get rained out?
Pretty frustrating I’d imagine.

"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.

by notsellingjeans on Jun 6, 2008 5:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd imagine ...

given the dearth of, you know, people in most of those five states, the players who don’t live near one of the “major” cities travel far enough that scouts wouldn’t necessarily have to go that far to see them …

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jun 6, 2008 5:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Barfield stats -

JC, so take ‘em with a grain of salt:

slashes: 351/411/604/1015
13 2b/1 3b/14 hr
28 k, 20 bb
3/4 sb
5 e, 0 pb, 57 games

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:08 AM PDT   0 recs

Wondering the same

we also drafted another Doolittle, relation to Sean?

by muffinpryde on Jun 6, 2008 8:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ignore the previous post

did not realize, this was mentioned later on in this post.

by muffinpryde on Jun 6, 2008 8:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes on Doolittle.

Ryan is Sean’s little bro.

Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com

by Ozzz on Jun 7, 2008 4:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rashun Dixon -

signed a letter of intent with Miss State football.

08 HS stats: .511, 14 hrs, 4 2b, 3 3b, 59 rbis
slashes: 511/632/1067/1699—looks like smoak a few years back.
5 k, 28 bb (6 int) 8 sb

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:12 AM PDT   0 recs

catcher, by the way.

we drafted him as an outfielder, though.

signability?

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

chris berroa -

Chipola JC link, in Marianna, FL

slashes: 389/490/510/1000
9 2b, 3 3b, 3 hr
18/24 sb
29 bb + 13!! hbp, 27 k
3 errors, 53 games

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:16 AM PDT   0 recs

zac elgie

minot (nd), KU signee (rock chalk!)

ND player of the year
slashes: 472/579/833/1412
5 hr
3-0, 0.83 era in 25 1/3 ip

also played football and basketball; chatter is out that he might sign period, but wonder if we took him high enough to convince him.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:20 AM PDT   0 recs

Am I the only one who likes the baseball draft more than the football draft

Because it doesn’t take 12 hours between picks?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 6, 2008 10:22 AM PDT   0 recs

No...

The NFL draft is unwatchably slow.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

More reason to despise the Boo Ya Network

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 6, 2008 10:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

man, we're behind.

394: thomas, daniel – u s florida – rhp
424: thomas, david – catwaba college (nc) – cf
454: leyja, nino – houston christian hs – ss
484: fitts, matt – lewis & clark – rhp

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:22 AM PDT   0 recs

I hear that David Thomas guy makes a terrific burger

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 6, 2008 10:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I hear he's a hoser

"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher

by andeux on Jun 6, 2008 10:35 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

take off!

Why does such a wonderful man like such terrible things? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 6, 2008 11:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.

by notsellingjeans on Jun 6, 2008 5:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

#514 Bradley Glen, 3B, U of Arizona

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 6, 2008 10:25 AM PDT   0 recs

daniel thomas, usf.

bio

2-4, 4.21 era, 12 app, 10 starts
57.2 ip, .299 oba, k/bb: 28/27

past, from cube

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:26 AM PDT   0 recs

I think the Chron had a writeup on him

as a local player.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

david thomas

catawba college, nc – south atlantic conference, D II (player of the year)

slashes: 435/516/815/1331
16 2b, 3 3b, 22 hr
23/26 sb, no errors
29 bb + 14! hbp / 18 k

other three years are in there somewhere

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:30 AM PDT   0 recs

HBP is the new OBP...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:36 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

nino leyja

sam houston state signee, houston christian hs

won the state title game for his high school with a homer …
scout.com says he stole 31 bases last year.

other than that, i got nothing.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:32 AM PDT   0 recs

matt fitts

lewis and clark state college (naia champs)

16 starts, 2.97 era, 13-0, 4 cg, 1 shutout
103 ip, 29 bb, 109 k
.189 oba, 9 wp, 24 hbp
also 8 errors…

same guy, i think
lcsc bio

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:36 AM PDT   0 recs

so when he starts, the A's will throw a Fitts?

Why does such a wonderful man like such terrible things? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 6, 2008 11:05 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, if the Matt Fitts

WEAR IT!

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jun 6, 2008 12:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If it's Matt Fitts, you must acquit?

That’ll come in handy if he ever gets in trouble with the law…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 12:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey blue-I didn't balk

but if I did, this is how I would have done it…

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jun 6, 2008 3:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

brad glen

university of arizona

bio
cube

i lack acrobat, so i can’t give you slash stats… but last year’s 1015 ops looks good.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:39 AM PDT   0 recs

544. rayan gonzalez

antonio luchetti hs, Arecibo, P. R.

bethune-cookman signee.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:42 AM PDT   0 recs

Looked wild as all get out in his draft video

although I guess at this point in the draft, all the HS arms are pretty much pure projection, either for control or for velocity…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder how many of these guys we will sign

I get the feeling we missed out on a lot of guys last year.

by Zonis on Jun 6, 2008 10:44 AM PDT   0 recs

They signed 26 of the first 33 picks last year

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 10:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

574. mike hart

texas state, san angelo, tx, southland conference (d1)

bio
cube

3.88, 15 starts, 4 cg
102 ip, 89 k, 42 bb
.257 oba, 6 wp, 5 hbp

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:47 AM PDT   0 recs

604. Rodney Rutherford

Columbus St. Univ (GA), Peach Belt Conference (D2)

bio
cube (not sure if the same guy, but the hometown and HS match, as does the year… but the bio says otherwise.)

slashes: 373/469/755/1224
12 2b, 1 3b, 26 hr, 89 rbi
37 bb, 9 hbp, 54 k
3/5 sb, 14 err, 62 games (3b)

10.80 era in 2 apps, 1 2/3 ip

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 10:59 AM PDT   0 recs

I'm gonna go out on a limb

and guess that the A’s weren’t taking him as a pitcher.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 6, 2008 11:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

634. Matthew Leblanc Poirier

RHP, Ahuntsic College, Montreal Quebec.

And a French website.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 11:06 AM PDT   0 recs

forgot he was french, so Mathieu.

but uh, this is all i got.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jun 6, 2008 11:08 AM PDT