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06-06-2006, 08:31 AM
Royals Focusing on College Pitching
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr., AP Sports Writer
document.write(getElapsed("20060606T093204Z"));3 hours agoUPDATED 2 HOURS 41 MINUTES AGO
(http://www.comcast.net/data/news/photoshow/html/sports/407333.html)
NEW YORK - The Kansas City Royals were confident they'd get an impact player with the No. 2 selection in last year's draft. They're not so sure they'll get one this time around _ even with the top pick.
After taking third baseman Alex Gordon in the first round a year ago, the Royals were trying to decide between a handful of starting pitchers for their first No. 1 overall pick. North Carolina lefty Andrew Miller, right-handers Tim Lincecum of Washington and Brad Lincoln of Houston, and former Tennessee righty Luke Hochevar were all in the mix in the hours leading up to Tuesday's draft.
"We knew (Justin) Upton and Gordon were there and that whoever got picked first, we would be getting a guy we knew was a good player with a chance to be a star," scouting director Deric Ladnier said. "This year, I can't say that. We'll get a quality starter, but there are some reservations."
Miller, a 6-foot-7 junior, has a fastball in the mid-90s and a sharp slider in the mid-80s, but his command and ability to maintain his stuff late in games are still questioned.
The major concern surrounding Lincecum and Lincoln is whether their size _ they're both 6-foot _ will allow them to become front-line major league starters. Otherwise, they both have fastballs in the mid-90s and pile up strikeouts in bunches.
Hochevar, a Scott Boras client, might come with too high a price tag. He's back in the draft after not signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who took him with the 40th pick last year. Hochevar has been pitching with the independent Fort Worth Cats, and shown flashes of the stuff that made him such a hot commodity.
"It will probably be a year where there will be more pitchers taken in the first round than ever before," said Angels scouting director Eddie Bane, a first-round pick in 1973. "If you're looking for a shortstop, if you're one of those teams who narrow your search to a certain position, you're not getting a shortstop."
Many scouting directors echo Bane's sentiments in that this year's draft crop is short on big-time position players. It appears likely the draft record of 20 pitchers taken in the first round _ set in 1999 and tied in 2001 _ will fall.
"There are more college pitchers this year," Mariners scouting director Bob Fontaine said. "College pitchers, because of their age, the more competition they've faced at a higher level, and just their way of life, there's less adjustment to make to get the major leagues."
Others expected to be selected early include a handful of right-handers: Stanford's Greg Reynolds, Nebraska's Joba Chamberlain, Missouri's Max Scherzer, California's Brandon Morrow and Texas' Kyle McCulloch. Texas high school lefty Clayton Kershaw is also likely to go in the first 10 picks.
Colorado has the No. 2 pick, followed by Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Seattle to round out the top five.
"Every year, I hear how bad it is," Fontaine said. "You know, it doesn't matter if it is good or bad _ as long as you get the best of what's there. I believe we can get what we need."
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr., AP Sports Writer
document.write(getElapsed("20060606T093204Z"));3 hours agoUPDATED 2 HOURS 41 MINUTES AGO
(http://www.comcast.net/data/news/photoshow/html/sports/407333.html)
NEW YORK - The Kansas City Royals were confident they'd get an impact player with the No. 2 selection in last year's draft. They're not so sure they'll get one this time around _ even with the top pick.
After taking third baseman Alex Gordon in the first round a year ago, the Royals were trying to decide between a handful of starting pitchers for their first No. 1 overall pick. North Carolina lefty Andrew Miller, right-handers Tim Lincecum of Washington and Brad Lincoln of Houston, and former Tennessee righty Luke Hochevar were all in the mix in the hours leading up to Tuesday's draft.
"We knew (Justin) Upton and Gordon were there and that whoever got picked first, we would be getting a guy we knew was a good player with a chance to be a star," scouting director Deric Ladnier said. "This year, I can't say that. We'll get a quality starter, but there are some reservations."
Miller, a 6-foot-7 junior, has a fastball in the mid-90s and a sharp slider in the mid-80s, but his command and ability to maintain his stuff late in games are still questioned.
The major concern surrounding Lincecum and Lincoln is whether their size _ they're both 6-foot _ will allow them to become front-line major league starters. Otherwise, they both have fastballs in the mid-90s and pile up strikeouts in bunches.
Hochevar, a Scott Boras client, might come with too high a price tag. He's back in the draft after not signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who took him with the 40th pick last year. Hochevar has been pitching with the independent Fort Worth Cats, and shown flashes of the stuff that made him such a hot commodity.
"It will probably be a year where there will be more pitchers taken in the first round than ever before," said Angels scouting director Eddie Bane, a first-round pick in 1973. "If you're looking for a shortstop, if you're one of those teams who narrow your search to a certain position, you're not getting a shortstop."
Many scouting directors echo Bane's sentiments in that this year's draft crop is short on big-time position players. It appears likely the draft record of 20 pitchers taken in the first round _ set in 1999 and tied in 2001 _ will fall.
"There are more college pitchers this year," Mariners scouting director Bob Fontaine said. "College pitchers, because of their age, the more competition they've faced at a higher level, and just their way of life, there's less adjustment to make to get the major leagues."
Others expected to be selected early include a handful of right-handers: Stanford's Greg Reynolds, Nebraska's Joba Chamberlain, Missouri's Max Scherzer, California's Brandon Morrow and Texas' Kyle McCulloch. Texas high school lefty Clayton Kershaw is also likely to go in the first 10 picks.
Colorado has the No. 2 pick, followed by Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Seattle to round out the top five.
"Every year, I hear how bad it is," Fontaine said. "You know, it doesn't matter if it is good or bad _ as long as you get the best of what's there. I believe we can get what we need."