Playing Baseball or Moneyball?

By David Walsh

            Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft has seen its fair share of changes throughout the year and this year’s draft promises to bring yet another change to the draft culture.

            This year’s projected number one pick in the First-Year Player Draft is a pitcher out of San Diego State University named Stephen Strasburg who has an astonishing arsenal of pitches, which includes a 103 MPH fastball. Strasburg’s agent, Scott Boras, a man who is known to get clubs to empty their pockets, is rumored to be looking to land the largest contract in draft history.

            It is rumored that Boras is looking to get Strasburg a contract to the tune of $50 million, a figure that is unheard of in the realm of the major league draft. This would be the latest in a number of revolutions the MLB draft has gone through since its creation in 1965.

            The Major League draft was implemented in 1965 and was originally called the Amateur Draft, it would later be renamed the First Year Player Draft in 1998. Along with the Amateur Draft there was also the American Legion Draft and a January draft. The American Legion Draft would be eliminated in 1966 and the January draft, which had a phase for signing previously drafted but unsigned players, was later eliminated in 1987.

            During the 44 year span of the draft a number of issues and revolutions had to be addressed in order to produce the draft that is in use today. The first issue that was addressed was the question of who was eligible to be drafted.

            The league had decided that players who were eligible were US citizens who were graduated high school players, college sophomores in a four year school, and any year junior college player. These rules stayed the same except the league changed the rule so that college players in four year schools must either be juniors or 21 years of age.

            The next issue to determine in terms of eligibility was the issue of foreign players. This first came up in 1985 when the Milwaukee Brewers signed Puerto Rican player Juan Nieves, who was a student at a Connecticut high school. As a result, in 1989 the league said that all foreign players could be drafted after their high school class had graduated, however they must attend school in the United States in order to be considered a US citizen. In 1991 Canadian players were taken off the open market and added to the draft. As it stands today players that are eligible for the draft are either US or Canadian residents or residents of any US territories or possessions.

            Now the big issue of the draft is the thing that makes the world go round, money. Back before the draft was implemented baseball greats such as Carl Yaztrzemski were signed for $108,000, a pathetic salary compared to the $50 million that Boras is rumored to be looking to get Strasburg.

            Rick Monday was the first overall pick selected by the Kansas City Athletics in the inaugural 1965 Amateur Draft. As a number one pick he was signed by the Athletics for $104,000. As time moved on the salaries for draftees went up. In the 1970’s the salaries remained the same until Bill Bordley was signed by the Giants for what was, at the time, a staggering $200,000.

            Things began to really pick up in terms of money during the 1990’s. It started mostly in 1991 as the number one and two picks were both signed to large contracts. The number one pick Brien Taylor was signed by the Yankees for $1.5 million, the first contract over $1 million for a number one pick. The number two pick, Mike Kelly, was then signed by the Braves for $575,000. In 1996 Kris Benson, who now pitches for the Texas Rangers, was signed for the first $2 million contract. The finally in last year’s draft Detroit Tigers’ pitcher, Rick Porcello was signed to a mind-boggling $7.3 million contract.

            Barring any tragedies Strasburg should be drafted by the Washington Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. Right now it is reported that the Nats are willing to pay Strasburg $10-$15 million. The public will have to see what the official price tag of Strasburg is when the draft is broadcasted live on television by the MLB Network for the first time in draft history.

            The general range for bonuses for drafted players has steadily increased over the years. In 1999 the bonuses generally ranged from $845,000 to 3.96 million, in 2000 they ranged from $400,000 to $5.3 million, and in 2001 they ranged from $900,000 to $5.15 million. It is interesting to see how much some players think they are worth now compared to how much players were thought to be worth back in the 1960’s. The money that top draft picks from the 1960’s such as Rick Monday and Carl Yaztrzemski received would roughly be the same amount received by players taken in the seventh-round today.

Pressured Papi; Wonderful Wakefield

By Erin Lewis

            A legend retires in Curt Schilling and it seems that another has been born.  The amazing talent never ceases to exist in Sox nation within recent years.  Tim Wakefield has solidified the knuckle ball just in time to take down the American League’s first place contender, the Toronto Blue Jays, this week.  Red Sox pitching has been fairly successful up to this point in the season.  However, it’s the veteran’s knowledge and tremendous versatility that lie in Wakefield’s style that is used to shut down the best teams.

            Last night, Wakefield outlasted Toronto starting pitcher Brian Tallet by throwing eight innings.  The speedy silencing occurred in a little over two hours with Wakefield serving up three strikes and two walks.  Although, he let up five hits in 31 batters, only one made its way across the plate.  Wakefield picked up his fifth win of the season (thanks to the additional help of Papelbon’s 11^th save).  Wake field’s ERA stands at a solid 3.59.

            Wakefield’s knuckleball has been nothing short of amazing in his 2009 season starts.  Not only was he crucial in last night’s victory, he has maintained his ERA through 52 innings of play.  He has thirty strikeouts already on the season and has been the go-to guy for winning big games.  He has only picked up two losses (both to the Angels) and one no decision in eight starts.  Once Wakefield learns to overcome the weaknesses that LA brings out in his pitching style, he will be one of the strongest bullpen assets in the American League.

            When one teammate thrives, another may fall.  It seems as if Ortiz has fallen victim to this, flying way lower under the radar than Sox fans are used to.  Talk of replacing his spot in the line-up has become a popular topic of conversation that has been published and commented upon by a number of sources.  Has he lost his spark and downsized his role as a power hitter?

            The numbers sure seem to appear that way.  Ortiz, after 35 games, is batting a measly .203 and has not had a single home-run.  That’s right – the same Big Papi known for his HR contribution at a consistent rate and larger-than-life slugging percentage has not managed to put any over the wall in the first couple months.  Never mind the home runs – Papi has not managed to do much of anything.  He was pulled from the line up for two road games this past week due to his 0 for 7 hitting slump and the 12 men he left stranded waiting for him to step it up.  This is Ortiz’s worst slump in ten years.  Just goes to show how much Terry Francona is determined to compile a winning roster – he will even pull Papi when he can’t perform.

            Despite a blessing in the Sox’s department of defense comes a missing piece to their offense.  It all comes with the game.  However, if the Sox can stabilize their strategy correctly and adjust their obvious faults, this years’ playoffs will for sure include Boston.