2007 Draft Review

It is still too early to really judge the draft of 2007, but the verdict is already in. It is not so good. First, let me start by saying I am not all that down on Daniel Moskos. I think he will make the team as a bullpen pitcher probably sometime in 2011. He did give more hope to him being a starter one day this past year by adding a good sinker ball and showing his arm strength, even getting a complete game at the end of the season in Double A. However, Moskos will always be viewed as a mistake because of who the Pirates passed over to get Moskos. They passed over Matt Wieters, who is already in the major leagues playing for Baltimore and hitting .288. Now I know the Pirates are high on Ryan Doumit, but first round picks really ought to be about the best talent out there. And with the lack of bats in the Pirates system, the pick should have been a no-brainer. It is clear that Wieters was avoided because they did not want to pay his price tag.

The rest of the draft will really decide whether this draft is successful. Second round pitcher Duke Welker is really bad. He went 0-11 this year at Low A and was sent to the pen where his ERA got worse. He is now 4 – 14 with an ERA over 5.50 in two years. Not a good sign. Third round pick Brian Friday is doing well and is in the Arizona Fall League. His numbers are not stellar, but the weakness in the middle infield gives him a better than average chance of making the pros. Friday did make more errors than is allowable. Quincy Latimore played at Low A and hit .251, but he is still young at age 20. Andrew Walker (5th round) went down to Rookie league from 08 and actually hit worse. Matthew Foust (6th round) was only able to pitch in 3 games this year greatly hampering any ability to judge his potential. Juan Garcia (7th round) appears to be a washout. Two seasons at under .200 at Rookie league level is not a good sign for this young catcher. Tony Watson (9th round) missed a lot of the season, but had made the Double A team out of training. The Pirates are high enough on him that they sent him to the Arizona Fall League to get some more work since he missed so much of the season. Sean Giblin (10th round) has had shoulder problems and has not really pitched since 2007.

So this draft looks like it has some potential along with a few major busts. Friday might could make as could Watson. Guys deeper in the draft may also still turn out well. Eric Huber (12th round) hit .312 at Low A and was promoted to hit .262 at High A. Some other were included in trades, so the draft class has some value in that area as well.

I hope that the 2007 Draft turns out to be good, but I think it falls short of what it needed to be. Add in the obvious avoidance of spending money, and the Pirates had to fire Littlefield. He had competed his destruction their system.