Moonshiners Monitor, Vol. 2.4: 1998 Draft Review

[lchronister]

Making the playoffs last year gave the Moonshiners a pick in the lower part of the draft, but it looks as though at least one of the team's selections has a solid chance of becoming a useful major leaguer.

That would be first-round pick Wallace Holmes, a 21-year-old infielder. Holmes is a hard worker who loves to win, a combination that should work well in Greenville.

While he's not a slouch at the plate (7/7/6/6/7 talents), Holmes' specialty is his glovework. He has great range (18), rarely makes errors (18), a strong arm (17) and is pretty solid at turning the double play (15). He can play all four infield spots (20 at 1B, 18 at 2B and 3B, 17 at SS) but likely will be a shortstop thanks to his range and arm.

The team's other picks don't appear to be anything other than future benchwarmers, but a bump here or there could turn a couple into useful parts:

2nd round: SP Gabriel Goodwin -- 6/6/5, 8 stamina, 93-95 velocity (a bump to his control would help a ton)

3rd round: RF Scott Jackson -- 6/6/3/4/6, 13/13/12 fielding (he's going to need at least two bumps to his hitting talents since he's not a defensive whiz)

4th round: 3B Mark Ford -- 5/5/4/4/5, 13/12/16/11 (a solid corner infielder in the field, but not nearly good enough at the plate to be one)

5th round: P Matthis 'Oil Can' Paquet -- 6/4/4, 9 stamina, 89-90 velocity (his poor work ethic means it's not at all likely he'll ever make the majors)

6th round: P Len Harris -- 5/3/5, 13 stamina, 89-90 velocity (great stamina, solid defense, very bad at keeping the ball in the park, which won't do well in Greenville's park)

7th round: P Éloi Lalonde -- 4/4/5, 15 stamina, 89-90 velocity (smart as hell, but with talents like those it's obvious he put all his free time into books, not practice)

8th round: P Ray Richard -- 4/3/5, 17 stamina, 87-89 velocity (poor work ethic, very greedy)

9th round: P Ramon Jimenez -- 5/4/5, 11 stamina, 86-88 velocity (very smart, but a lazy teammate; young enough at 17 that an improved work ethic from Greenville's minor-league coaches could turn him into something useful)

10th round: P Theodosio Fevereiro -- 3/4/4, 18 stamina, 82-84 velocity (great name, terrible talents)

11th round: P Tim Brown -- 6/4/5, 4 stamina, 89-90 velocity (great talents for this late in the draft, but a bad work ethic and the fact he's already 22 don't bode well for his major-league prospects)

12th round: P Lee Patrick -- 4/4/4, 9 stamina, 85-87 velocity (another lazy, crappy pitcher who will earn the minor-league minimum for the rest of his professional career)

13th round: p Pierre Bessette -- 5/4/4, 4 stamina, 85-87 velocity (a Canadian?! I don't think that's going to go over well in South Carolina)

14th round: 2B Louis Sellars -- 5/6/2/3/4, 8/7/5/12 fielding (great on the bases -- 16/16/14 -- and at bunting -- 13/17 -- but terrible otherwise at the plate and in the field)

15th round: LF Fernando Garcia -- 4/5/4/2/4, 11/11/13 (similar to Sellars in that he's great on the bases -- 15/15/16 -- and at bunting -- 15/13 -- but isn't likely to ever make the majors; the fact he's just 17 and a good worker, though, gives him a slight glimmer of hope)

[recte44]

I like Holmes a lot.

On a side note re: the draft, I'm looking forward to what OOTP is doing for the league. You'll notice that our talent levels are slowly being downgraded a bit. You'll find it to be much more challenging when our bench guys will become more valuable over the years.

[lchronister]

I like Holmes a lot.
On a side note re: the draft, I'm looking forward to what OOTP is doing for the league. You'll notice that our talent levels are slowly being downgraded a bit. You'll find it to be much more challenging when our bench guys will become more valuable over the years.

Agreed all around. I think it will help the trade market, too, which will be good.

[lynchy34]

I have noticed that, Recte. And I think it's going to be great for the league long-term.

[BigRed Mosquito]

If it doesn't work out for your 11th round pick, maybe he could test the waters in football. I think someone like, uh, the Raiders would take a chance on him!

[lchronister]

If it doesn't work out for your 11th round pick, maybe he could test the waters in football. I think someone like, uh, the Raiders would take a chance on him!

Ha! I thought about saying something about him being a two-sport star in college, so I'm glad someone else caught on to that, too