The 2009 MLB First-Year Players Draft Thread

Nevermind...I got it.

 

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09161/976265-63.stm

The Pirates basically admitting that they intentionally drafted players they knew weren't the best available for financial reasons.

 

OoP --

You seem surprised by this.

Joe Simpson was raving the other night about the Pirates' player personnel folks.

 

I'm not at all surprised that they did it. This has been the franchise's pattern since the early '90s. Every once in a while they make a lot of noise about spending more money, then they prove it with a relatively high-profile, big-money signing. Once upon a time it was Jason Kendall. Last year it was Pedro Alvarez. Then they go back to going the cheap route.

I am a little bit surprised that they are admitting it. I may not be a fan of the team any more, but as a baseball fan this pisses me off. Try or sell the fucking team already.

 

They have no reason to sell. They're making plenty of money running their
business this way. Just like some of the fatter cats in the newspaper industry.

 

Never said I expected it to happen. I just hate to see any MLB franchise run this way.

 

What's the answer? I was curious too.

 

Money. Dad said that they figured out what their value was for a full ride at UCLA, where he will go to school, and decided it would take at least top 20 money for him to sign. He said they still have some hope that someone comes up with the dough.

 

Dirk, Stassi just went in fourth round to Oakland ...

 

Well, say hello to UCLA then, Mr. Stassi.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate it.

 

Both of the players I was wondering about went in the 8th and 9th round, respectively. Not a shocker for the first guy, but for the second, very much.