I'll start: Would anybody be interested RP podcasts, sort of an RP-radio over the internet? We would probably start with Kevin and/or myself talking prospects, but it could evolve into guests and listener call-ins or even the daily recaps of game highlights. Just wondering what the level of interest might be. Also, if anyone has any recommendations on what software/platform we should use, please let us know. I'm planning on using BlogTalkRadio, but open to suggestions.
And a show name, wkRP?
You write a lot about the high draft picks and big money guys (rightfully so), but I was wondering...what does the other side of the coin look like? Who are the Rays' top prospects that don't get a lot of coverage (low draft picks, senior signs, etc)?
ReplyDeleteHi Doug,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Frank. I am a fan of the Rays and your web site. I would certainly enjoy your podcast.
The question that runs through my mind this off season concerns the RFO commitment to the draft. The stars are lined up for the Rays. With so many high picks, in a strong draft, created by a flawed compensation system surely in jeopardy, this team has the rare chance to truly impact our future success. I hope we have the funds available to make these picks count. I believe this is where they have to spend their money if they want to win a World Series. This is not the year to draft the Will Klein types. Smart small market teams, as well as the rich like the Red Sux, are blatantly taking advantage of the current loop hole that leaves over-slot quality players available later expected. I know it's easy to spend someone else's money, but damn, of all years to go all in. This year's draft, with all these picks, and this year's rules could set this team up for a decade!
Frank, I beleive I can answer your question.
ReplyDeleteRecently, Friedman said that money would not be much of a factor in the draft, and that they have been saving up money for this draft the past few years. This makes sense, since Friedman confirmed that their are two seperate budgets for the payroll and the draft. I will try and see if I can find his comment, and I will show it to you if I can.
On the other hand, the Rays may not draft all high upside players. You could see some players who sign for less than slot. However, it should be expected that the Rays will also take shots at expensive players.
I hope this helped.
I would listen to any podcast you guys might come up with. A good reason for doing it imho is just because you like doing it regardless of how many may be actually listening.
ReplyDeleteAnon, good question. The first one who comes to mind is Kevin Kiermaier, our 31st round pick in 2010. As a 20 year-old at Princeton he hit .303/.380/.431 with 7 triples and 17 SBs in 218 ABs. Defensively he's able to play CF, he played half his games there and the other half in RF. He was our best junior college pick in the draft.
ReplyDeleteFrom the 2009 draft, LHSP Zach Rosscup (28th round) was doing well, but he went to the Cubs in the Garza deal. Other late picks from the 2009 draft who are doing well include LHP Aaron Dott (31st) and OF Chris Murrill (35th).
From the 2008 draft, the Rays added four nice relievers in consecutive mid-round picks in LHRP Neil Schenk (23rd), RHRP Marquis Fleming (24th), LHRP Josh Satow (25th), and LHRP Michael Jarman (26th). I'd take that haul from those rounds every year!
Frank, glad you enjoy the site! The draft is going to cost more than most years due to the number of picks, but it's not that much. First, we don't have any top 5 picks which cost several million, like a David Price. We might have 2 picks who get a million dollar bonus (assuming we stick to slot), and of those supplemental 1st rounders should have slots in the $500,000-800,000 range. After that bonuses drop off quickly, down to around $150,000 by the 5th round, and then even lower.
ReplyDeleteI look at it this way, the entire draft should cost less that Pat Burrell did ($16m), and will give us a ton of new talent. Sure some will fail, but they all won't. This is a great situation for a team like the Rays, spread the risk and $ over several high picks rather than one free agent. And as Burrell showed us, pricey free agents come with a lot of risk too.
I'm so excited about this year draft I already started getting the 2011 Rays Draft Signing Board ready. Yes, I'm over 5 months early (and a geek), but that's how much I love the draft. June can't get here soon enough!
Michael, that's the way I understand their budget too. Good comment as always.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, nice to see you around. And yes, you figured us out, we'll do it even if no one listens just because we enjoy it. We would have done it years ago but our schedules didn't match up, and they will soon. I just see so many possible uses for podcasts. The nice thing is even if you can't listen during the day (at work), you listen once you get home or over the weekend. Past podcasts remain available forever, so you can listen whenever you want. I think they also can be downloaded to mp3 players and such so you can listen in the car or while you're working out.
ReplyDeleteForgot one other thing on the draft. One thing I don't think you will see this year is overslot signings in rounds 5-10 like we did last year with Ian Kendall (5th), Jesse Hahn (6th) and Jake DePew (9th). Those 3 picks alone cost $1,235,000 when their total slot was around $400,000. I don't think there will be money for that this year.
ReplyDeleteA podcast would be great. I really hope you guys follow through on the idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks FreeZo, always appreciate your support.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing I added was feeds to additional sites in the Rays world at the bottom of each page. Just tap END to see all of them.
I originally had four: DRaysBay, RaysIndex, DockOfTheRays, and TheProcessReport.
I added 5 more: TheRayArea (per SteveSlow's rec, agree, good stuff, thanks Steve), WDBB (our friend Chris' great site), RaysBaseballFactory (David Bloom's site on the Rays/Bulls, founder of DRB), Stacy Long's blog on the Biscuits, and our own Jim Donten's new site ClawDigest about the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
I think that should give us all we need to know about the Rays major and minor leagues. We can add as many others as people would like, but each additional feed slows down out load times. So far, I haven't noticed any problems, but if you have please let me know.
Good choices? Anyone else we should add (or drop, be nice)? Just click on the END key and you can see the latest from the Rays blogosphere.
And thanks for the kind words and support, as Daniel said earlier, we'd do it anyway, but it's nice to hear.
Off to shovel snow and think about podcasting...
Thanks for the info and I agree, if we can get that kind of production from out lower round guys we will have a very deep system for a while. Are there any senior sign guys that have shown out in recent years who might have a shot? (I'm a sucker for those kinds of stories).
ReplyDeleteAnon, great idea for a story. Just need a list of Rays picks who were college seniors. My memory is good, but not that good, and I can't find a source for the players who would qualify. Sent out a tweet looking for help. If I can find the data I'll definitely write it up, thanks for the idea, I enjoy those types of stories too.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of having, "Weekend Open Thread." It gives us a chance to bring up any baseball topic. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteDoug, not sure if you saw my tweet but mlb.com' sdraft history section offers what yr of school were at time of selection. Select that years tracker and filter by Rays. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget undrafted senior signees!!
ReplyDeleteYou're right- other Anonymous- like 2010's Stephen Hiscock and Kyle Holloway.
ReplyDelete2005 UDFA Brian Baker, check out the draft class from that year.
ReplyDeleteShane Minks was a NDFA this year and got 2 promotions...ended the year here in Bowling Green.
ReplyDeleteBest example of UDFA success: Elliot Johnson who has a great shot to crack OD 25 man. 18 years old undrafted out of HS in 2002.
ReplyDeleteThere are some recent news about Lee Hak-Ju written Korean. It will be helpful for Ray's fan to understand new aqusition. If you want that, I will translated into English and send you by E-mail including his military service status.
ReplyDeleteA few thoughts:
ReplyDelete- Like the idea of having a Weekend Open Thread each weekend, this was fun.
- Thanks FreeZo, I'd swear I looked at that and it had so many errors I didn't trust it going back into drafts 4-5 years back, but looking at it again it appears to be OK. I'll get to work on that.
- Homein22, would love it if you could translate the article on Lee. You can email me at dougmilhoan@raysprospects.com or post here in the comments.
- We got smashed by the big storm, no power, water, heat, phone or internet. I'm at the local library using their internet to post. Just wrote an article on the projected cost of the June draft, clearly I have my priorities in order! Anyway, don't be surprised if I'm not around much the next few days, electricity isn't expected back until the weekend. Hope everyone of you is safe.