[USML Announce] MLB Amateur Draft

[Richard E. Robbins]

In addition to Beckham and Hosmer, you can add Dennis Raben to the
collection of Red-Hots draft picks landing in the AL.  Dennis was taken in
the second round by the Mariners.  For those not familiar with Raben, here's
what Baseball America says:
 
Lefthanded power hitters are always in demand, and with this draft class
being low on quality college outfielders, Raben satisfies two areas of
desire. A 49th-round draft pick by the Mariners in 2005, Raben chose to
attend Miami and helped lead the Hurricanes to the College World Series as a
freshman. Following his sophomore year, Raben played in the Cape Cod League
for Orleans, hitting six home runs and earning all-Cape Cod League honors. A
preseason All-American, Raben was recognized as one of the top hitting
outfield prospects in the upcoming draft. Raben has a strong build at
6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He is aggressive at the plate and can often times
get caught chasing pitches out of the zone. His swing has some length, but
Raben has tremendous power that translates to the game. In the outfield, he
is a below-average runner but does have good instincts and takes proper
routes. However, Raben could be moved to first base at some point in his
professional career.
 
That makes me three for three today.  Gentlemen, I am open for business and
playing for this year.  There are no untouchables on my roster. 

  _____  

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf
Of Blocker, Mark B.
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 2:47 PM
To: announce at usml.net
Subject: [USML Announce] MLB Amateur Draft



Colleagues: 

  For teams like mine that our annually out of the running for the USML
title by June 1, the baseball amateur draft brings a much-needed level of
excitement into my hum-drum USML existence.  Since the first dozen or so
picks are now in the books, I thought I would look at the winners and losers
among USML league members:

1.  Big Winners:  Mighty Red Hots 

  Noted Bean Watcher Rich Robbins scores biggest, correctly predicting two
names from the first three picks in the draft, and both of them (Beckham,
Hosmer) went to AL teams.  Kudos to Rich.  Message to Beckham/Hosmer: don't
expect to be going anywhere anytime soon.

2.  Smaller Winners:  Nukes, Bombers 

  I think Kerber actually chose Smoak two years ago and reserved him this
year; is that right?  Anyway, Kerber's patience pays off (and he "Smoaks"
the rest of us), as J. Smoak goes to the 1B-light Rangers.

  The Bombers were of course roundly criticized for taking Brian Matusz, but
the powerful lefty goes to the pitching-starved Orioles with the 4th pick,
making this two years in a row that the Bombers taking home the top pitching
prize in the draft (amateur).

3.  Losers:  Berliners 

  Bummer for Jeff:  his picks were excellent, but unfortunately, the
roulette wheel stopped on the Pirates (P. Alvarez) and the Reds (Y. Alonso),
both in the NL last time I checked.  Jeff, the silver lining is that you
just had two spots open on your roster!

  -- Mark B. 

Sidley Austin LLP mail server made the following annotations on 06/05/08,
14:47:19:

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