Sometimes you just have to say: What the heck!

Joel Goodsen was a well-educated Chicago teenager working hard to gain entrance to Princeton. After his parents leave town, Joel precedes to listen to his friend’s advice and lets loose. After several days of intrigue, adventure and new business opportunities, Joel realizes that his friend was right all along.

Sometimes you just have to say: What the heck. Taking risks during the middle part of the rounds is risky business, but the rewards could be huge. After spending the better part of eight rounds building the core of a team, it is time to cut loose and say: “what the heck… I will take him.”

As Miles so succinctly put it: “If you can’t say it, you can’t do it”

Here is who was selected during the 9^th round:

There is a certain theme to this round… pitchers, pitchers, and more pitchers. I want to be very clear, I do not mind taking risks with starting pitching at this point in the draft. I think several owners did just that.  Here are my thoughts on the starting pitchers selected and the order I would have taken them

Brandon Beachy – Initially I wanted to include Beachy as a “risky business” selection, but the numbers are just too good. An elite K/9 (10.74) and a decent walk rate (2.92) create a solid 3.67 strikeout to walk ratio. All of the other stats are league average.  There is a good chance this second year pitcher might perform even better in 2012.

Anibal Sanchez – Finally… 2011 was the season we have been expecting. OK, well not quite everything we wanted. Sanchez increased his strikeout rate (9.26) by over two batters per game. Much like Ervin Santana, if he could avoid the big inning, he might make the jump to a second tier starter.

Ervin Santana – What you see is what you will get.  We all know that Santana will lure owners in with the strikeout potential and then dash their hopes with one bad inning.

Ubaldo Jimenez – How many questions can I ask regarding Jimenez?  Let’s see… How is he going to fair in the American League? Where did his fastball velocity go? Was 2010 a career half season? Well, I think three are enough. There are too many questions for me to draft Ubaldo Jimenez in 2012. Of course I did rank him in the middle of the other pitchers taken during this round.

I guess you do have to say: What the heck!"

Matt Moore – As the second Rays pitcher off the board, Moore has too much hype being associated with him. With that being said, I can understand why.  Owners will be drawn to the elite strikeout rate (14.46) and solid walk rates (2.89).  I will admit to this… he is the real deal. I just wish you could get him at a much cheaper price.

Brandon McCarthy – As we have previously discussed, McCarthy had a breakout season in 2011. I think he will continue to improve in 2012.  However, given his injury history, I certainly have concerns about him pitching more than 180 innings.

Jeremy Hellickson – This is one pitcher due for a serious regression in 2012.  He posted a weak K/9 (5.57), high walk rate (3.43), and an extremely high stand rate (LOB 82%). How did he manage a 2.95 ERA in 2011?  Not happening this year.

As for the relievers selected in this round, I will not draft Carlos Marmol. I never have been willing to draft him, and I never will. Over the past two seasons, Marmol has lowered his walk rates by over two batters a game and yet still has a walk rate of 5.84.

As much as I still hate Carlos Marmol, I really like John Axford and Joel Hanrahan as solid mid-tier closers. Both have solid strikeout rates and decent walk rates. Actually, when they are compared to Marmol, each have outstanding control.

Hey Carlos Marmol… Stop falling off the mound and maybe you will pitch better!

Of the second basemen selected during this round, both are risky selections. While Jason Kipnis displayed solid speed and power potential in his first 150 plate appearances, however, he still only has 150 plate appearances at the major league level.

Meanwhile, Danny Espinosa is well on his way to becoming the next Dan Uggla. With a 75.1% contact rate, Espinosa’s batting average is controlled more by his BABIP than any other skill.

Finally I am surprised how far Ichiro fell in this draft. He was selected with the 144^th overall selection, which was the deepest in any draft I evaluated for our preseason average draft position report. On average, Ichiro is selected about 40 picks earlier.

Ichiro has not shown significant signs of regression over the past three seasons.  If I need to access blame, it would be the horrible Seattle offense and lack of competitive spirit.

3 burning questions from this round…

1. Will Sergio Santos close for the Blue Jays in 2012?
2. Of the starting pitchers selected, whom would you take first?
3. Are you one of the owners that draft Carlos Marmol?  WHY?

Feel free to tell me I am wrong.  It is your comments that make writing the round reviews enjoyable.