MLB 2024 Draft

[CalBuckeyeRob]

MLB.com is infatuated with Condon, as evidenced yesterday with the article comparing him to Aaron Judge and Stanton, however even with such lofty praise, they still gave him just a 40 run grade, 55 arm grade and 50 fielding grade. I think those are major concerns. I mean I've seen Cleveland fans complain about bazzana being another MI guy and where to play him, but where do you play a Condon, who's biggest supporters don't even put his defensive grades in a favorable light ? They give Bazzana 60 run, 50 field and 50 arm, but I'll gladly take the trade off in 5 points for arm for 20 plus more speed. That shows you're going to cover a hell of a lot more ground.

Let's say you put Condon in right, Bazzana in center. If Condon can't run or throw equal to the position then you're banking his entire career off his power being legit, and not based on what bat he's using to put up these numbers mixed up with facing average at best pitching this year. With Bazzana at least he's an all fields hitter and has phenomenal patience and can steal you 20+ bases. Let's say at worst he has Grady Sizemore arm strength, but he can cover the same amount of ground. I don't think that's a bad scenario.

Ralphy Velazquez is slower than dog shit and they still gave him a 35 run grade. I don't think Condon is that slow, but you should get the point.

On the other hand, Jacob Cozart, PJ Morlando, Josh Hartle, Drew Beam, Mike Sirota, Peyton Tolle being available with our next 2 or 3 picks would be an amazing draft

Of course you don't take Condon if you don't think his power will translate. But you wouldn't take Bazzana if you thought he would project to 12-15 HRs a year either. Bazzana has a better profile to be useful if he is just a serviceable hitter, but if that is all you get then the guy was a bust at 1-1.

 

[Naylor23]

Of course you don't take Condon if you don't think his power will translate. But you wouldn't take Bazzana if you thought he would project to 12-15 HRs a year either. Bazzana has a better profile to be useful if he is just a serviceable hitter, but if that is all you get then the guy was a bust at 1-1.

I disagree. You absolutely do take Bazzana if he projects to 12-15 home runs a year because you're still likley getting a good lead off hitter at the worst. With Condon you probably aren't getting a major leaguer.

 

[Naylor23]

I understand how projections work, but I must say I do still find it to be a little bit wild that a lot of people (not you specifically) are pretty much just automatically assuming Bazzana will be able to play CF capably in the majors even though to the best of my knowledge he's never really played anywhere but 2B in his collegiate career and the majority of his scouting reports say he's very likely a 2B only at the next level only.

Whereas many people are also assume Condon has a very minimal chance of being a good MLB defender and has virtually no shot at sticking in CF or 3B at the next level even though he's been regularly playing both this season.

And maybe those assumptions will end up being 100% spot on, but it's still interesting to me.

Tyler Freeman is handling playing center field just fine and Bazzanas tools are way better. I think it's even more wild to assume Condon can just be thrown into right field just because he's playing all these positions in college. His lack of arm strength, especially for his size and his slower foot speed is very concerning and just doesn't fit what we've done for the last 20 years.

I think youre not paying attention to how dreadfully slow Condon is and that's why you're not understanding why there's serious doubts on how his defense will translate. To play the outfield in the majors you have to have 1 of three things, at a minimum.

Good speed. Not just above average, which Condon is still below that. You have to have at least 50 grade speed imo and 55+ is ideal.

A good arm. You can maybe get by with an above average arm at right, but you better have some damn strong center and left guys.

Phenomenal range and tracking. If you don't have a good arm or good speed. You better know exactly where that ball is going the minute the ball makes contact with the bat.

Condon has shown in college he falls short in all 3 categories, Condon has even been defensively not replaced, but shifted late in games for better defenders by uga (I've seen it a couple games and stats back it up as he's got 49 games as registered positions and only 40 games played) when he plays the outfield, and I'm not just hating here, I just value all around play if you're picking 1/1. Even Keith Laws most recent write up says you're hoping you get above average defense out of Condon and he absolutely loves Condon.

Now you can say Bazzana has only played second, but I've never seen a single person say he only projects to play second. I've seen quite a few people say he could play center well with his speed, and playing second definitely helps with ball tracking and defensive situational awareness. He's not the best or most toolsy defender, but it's way easier for middle of the infield guys to translate to the outfield because of how quick their initial step has to be to get in position to make a play in the infield.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

I disagree. You absolutely do take Bazzana if he projects to 12-15 home runs a year because you're still likley getting a good lead off hitter at the worst. With Condon you probably aren't getting a major leaguer.

If you are making the first overall pick based on the worst case scenario, you need a new person in charge of your draft.

 

[Naylor23]

If you are making the first overall pick based on the worst case scenario, you need a new person in charge of your draft.

If you don't think teams don't take heavily into account worse case scenario then I don't know what to tell you. This isn't a franchise that's made player acquisitions based just on upside in my lifetime.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

If you don't think teams don't take heavily into account worse case scenario then I don't know what to tell you. This isn't a franchise that's made player acquisitions based just on upside in my lifetime.

How many times have they picked first overall in your lifetime?

 

[Naylor23]

How many times have they picked first overall in your lifetime?

Not relevant.

 

[sportscoach]

Not relevant.

It is in some ways since we have never had a pick this high... I see Cleveland usually going with the safer bets, which would be Bazzana, but we do badly need that RH power bat and Condon has what we need. I'm waiting for the Cape Cod since if Condon tears apart the Cape Cod, it be hard not to take him number one...

 

[Naylor23]

It is in some ways since we have never had a pick this high... I see Cleveland usually going with the safer bets, which would be Bazzana, but we do badly need that RH power bat and Condon has what we need. I'm waiting for the Cape Cod since if Condon tears apart the Cape Cod, it be hard not to take him number one...

We've picked top 5, top 10 before. Everything that we've taken a hitter we've gone with the guys who have already shown they can be good defensively or have the tool to do so, over high profile/project guys.

Clint Frazier had 65 grade speed, 60 grade arm, 55 grade defense.

We took him over high end college bat Colin Moran, who had a 65 hit, 60 power grade but a 50 speed and 50 defense grade.

We took Lindor over Baez who was always known to have more offensive potential but was going to be worse defensively

That's just the last 20 years, they stick to their guns of prioritizing defense and having the physical abilities to be a versatile athlete

 

[AZ_]

With Condon you probably aren't getting a major leaguer.

No longer worth listening to.

We've picked top 5, top 10 before. Everything that we've taken a hitter we've gone with the guys who have already shown they can be good defensively or have the tool to do so, over high profile/project guys.

Clint Frazier had 65 grade speed, 60 grade arm, 55 grade defense.

We took him over high end college bat Colin Moran, who had a 65 hit, 60 power grade but a 50 speed and 50 defense grade.

We took Lindor over Baez who was always known to have more offensive potential but was going to be worse defensively

That's just the last 20 years, they stick to their guns of prioritizing defense and having the physical abilities to be a versatile athlete

None of this is relevant in any capacity.

 

[Gson]

No longer worth listening to.



None of this is relevant in any capacity.

we're just over 11 weeks away from day one of the draft.. the majority of discussions have focused on college bats at 1-1 as it should.. There are about five guys who can or should be considered.. NONE of these guys are or should be considered game or franchise changing talent.. They're good players with talent to grow into solid to spectacular Major Leaguers..

Condon and Bazzana are getting a lot of publicity.. Joc an Braden will be next up or in line for the hype machine pedestal..

 

[AZ_]

we're just over 11 weeks away from day one of the draft.. the majority of discussions have focused on college bats at 1-1 as it should.. There are about five guys who can or should be considered.. NONE of these guys are or should be considered game or franchise changing talent.. They're good players with talent to grow into solid to spectacular Major Leaguers..

Condon and Bazzana are getting a lot of publicity.. Joc an Braden will be next up or in line for the hype machine pedestal..

I don't think any of these guys are franchise changers because this franchise doesn't need changing.

They're respected league-wide and about to get a seriously good player that will likely wind up in the Top 10 of most prospect lists and is a sure-fire MLB player.


I still think Braden Montgomery is the most intriguing player here with the highest ceiling factoring in offense & defense.

 

[Naylor23]

No longer worth listening to.



None of this is relevant in any capacity.

Ah just a troll, now to learn where the block feature is on the site.

 

[sportscoach]

Ah just a troll, now to learn where the block feature is on the site.

He has a tendency to not like anyone who doesn't agree with him... You are fine since that's what you believe to be honest...

 

[bob2the2nd]

No longer worth listening to.



None of this is relevant in any capacity.

Please elaborate...... Don't just blow off a well written post with one liners.