After a long absence due to my issues,we have finally brought back Wilbur Miller for some thoughts on the Pirates draft.
I plan on a followup to this in a week or two that focuses more on the Pirates system and looking back at the farm year that was 2009....
1) ThoughtsofRS:I assume that you are pleased with the Pirates draft,but considering the price that some of the higher rated players settled for,are you still pleased with the selection of Tony Sanchez?
Wilbur Miller:Given the approach, I would’ve preferred Bobby Borchering, but I’m fine with the overall idea of not taking a pitcher with the 4th overall pick, going with a guy who’d sign for close to slot, and spending the money on several above-slot guys in later rounds. Leaving aside Sanchez’ performance so far—which is getting too much hype, it’s just low A and he’s a college guy—people who were upset about his selection were ignoring the character of this draft. To the extent you can tell this sort of thing from articles in BA, BP and other places, scouts regarded the early portion of this draft as Strasburg, Ackley and the fifty dwarves. There wasn’t that much difference between players from the #3 pick until somewhere at least into the supplemental first round, maybe the second round. The Pirates fitted their strategy to the draft. The most valid criticism was that they paid Sanchez too much, but even there they were able to get him into the system quickly. He’s made great progress and should see AA by mid-season, or even the beginning of the season, next year.
2) TRS:With the season almost over,who has been the biggest surprise in the system?
WM:Rudy Owens. I can’t imagine anybody saw that coming. Starling Marte doing so well while skipping two levels is a close second.
3) TRS:The biggest disappointment?
WM:Shelby Ford. What a fiasco! I thought maybe it was his wrist, especially after he seemed to be coming around not long ago, but he slumped again and ended up in AA. Bryan Morris and Jamie Romak are other candidates. I think people are too down on Morris, though, and not taking his health issues into account, and Romak was a very marginal prospect anyway.
4) TRS:Of the touted arms that are entering the system,which is your favorite and why?
WM: Colton Cain. High-upside LHPs are always a great asset.
5) TRS:In your opinion,which has the highest upside?
WM:I guess Von Rosenberg, based on the high opinions a lot of people seem to have of him. He’s obviously been a big-game sort of pitcher in his prep career.
6) TRS:Which is the highest risk?
WM:Trent Stevenson is very high-risk. Joseph Schoenfeld, too. Victor Black is probably pretty high-risk. But they all have very good upsides, which is the whole point.
7) TRS:What player that was not brought in was the one player that you wanted to see the Pirates sign most?
WM:Michael Heller was the most highly regarded of the guys they didn’t sign, so I’d have to say him. I was keen on Kevin Gelinas, too – the power lefty thing again.
8) TRS:Which player that could be considered a sleeper prospect do you like best?
WM:I’m getting very curious about Brock Holt. He got off to a slow start, but now he’s showing some pretty good power and decent plate discipline, and he hits LH. I’m looking forward to seeing him play, to see how he is defensively.
9) TRS:Now that the draft is over and the deadline has passed,do you agree with the Pirates game plan for this draft or not?
WM:I’d have to, since I’ve been arguing for years that the best strategy is to take hitters in the first round and load up on pitchers later, and also that they should be willing to pay above-slot money. So I feel like they’ve done exactly what I’ve always wanted to see them do.
10) TRS:What player (with the exception of Sanchez) do you think the Pirates severely overdrafted?
WM:Probably (Evan) Chambers.
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