S58 - Rule 5 Draft Coverage

 Gabrielle  O. Alvarez-Tillman - Contributing Reporter

Due to the holidays and a busy end of the year schedule I've fallen a bit behind articles this season. This one was started but didn't quite get finished before the season started, so we'll use it as a status update to players selected. 

We are underway with our Rule 5 draft coverage tonight. 

1. New York - Cameron Kelly. Once again with the #1 pick to no surprise, but at least this time they selected someone. Unfortunately it wasn't even the best SS in the draft. In stead they go with a glove that should give them a few plus plays and enough errors to lose a few extra this year. 
2. Colorado Springs - Doug Salcedo. Drafted as a SS but the owner is smart enough to shift him to elsewhere. Salcedo offers limited power but decent splits for a major leaguer. He'll do for his rookie contract years while Colorado Springs looks to shift money around until they can compete again. Hitting well early this season playing COF, but expect a drop-off come season's end. 
3. Pittsburgh - No pick? How do you say 'I done messed up' in Yinzer?
4. Washington DC - Gonzalez Ramirez. First it's Cameron Kelly with two first names and now it's Gonzalez Ramirez with two last names. But the power on this kid is amazing....if he can make contact. He doesn't quite have the range for 2B but would be a plus defender in RF. The 5 year pro likely doesn't have much growth left in him. Platoon against righties would definitely help his case. Just before the season DC waived him and Tacoma snagged him up to play 3B. Good luck with that!
5. Augusta - Pete Marte. Petey becomes the first relief pitcher drafted in the Rule 5 this season and shows great control and above average pitches. He lacks velocity but keeps the ball down. He fairs much better against righties and will struggle against lefties. But as a reliever that shouldn't be a problem if managed correctly, as we could see him come in a face 3 straight righties. But only if he can last that long as he's constantly find himself tired out and ready to head back to the bullpen. As a SuA he's picked up a few sneaky wins already. 
6. Dover - Alan Carpenter. Likely more of a 1B or better yet a DH and that power matches G.Ramirez who was drafted ahead of him. Unlike him, Carpenter hits lefties but not so much righties. Perhaps these two teams could find a deal between the two so they can platoon together. Get on it boys! Imagine having two Rule 5 picks platoon to combine for a .240 average with 35-40 HR. 
7. Austin - Santos Mercado. Another setup guy drafted in the early rounds. Maybe we should rename this the Diamond SS/RP draft. Whose in? We'll bribe the commish with donuts and get it done next season! His splits are lacking and pitch quality is only league average but he's pitched well against Charleston, Chicago, and New Orleans so far; lasting multiple innings most appearances. 
8. Charleston - Didi Mendoza. Yet another lackluster SS, this one with a weak glove. He has a AAA type bat. His only playing time this season has been 3 pitch hit; with 1 hit and 2 strike outs. We'd probably use him as a 2B or 3B defensive replacement late in games. 
9. Mexico City  - Byron York Craig Norman. The Long Reliever with AAAA numbers goes in the top 10. We only slightly kid about the York comp, York would be Norman with better pitch quality, we suspect an ERA+ around 70...30% worse than the league average pitcher. 
10. Tacoma - Jerome Medica. Poor kid, ink wasn't even wet on his selection and he was already being offered back to DC. Now finds himself in AAA where we think he hits decently well and has fun....until next year's Rule 5 when he's selected as roster filler for another franchise. 
11. Anaheim - Ezdra Johnson. Just like Medica he was almost immediately offered back, but this time claimed off waivers by Philly. He's seen a bit of time, could we see Johnson win a ring with Philly? Only if he can help them past Huntington, Houston, and Atlanta. But with that glove he surely won't be helping in the field. 
12. Milwaukee - Mmmkay Waukeee, we see you. This team has been rebuilding since S52, we are excited to see them make a run for it. Perhaps this year not drafting a Rule 5 means this is the year! Go Metronomes!
13. Boston - Bahston didn't seem to even give it the old College try, electing to pass on the Rule 5 this year. Though given the review of the players above this pick, can anyone blame them? Not us!
14. Tokyo - No-mo Rule 5 picks for Tokyo!
15. Chicago - A rebuild year and no pick? Not even a DH to man the ivy wall? 
16. Montreal - Rob 'The Brusier' Brosius. The only thing he's brusing as the current AA closer for Montreal are Canadian hearts. If the guy can't cut it in AA, who ever thought he would be a good move for the majors? A Canadian, that's who. 
17. Minnesota - No surprise, they've only used the Rule 5 three times in the last 10 seasons. Two of those players are still with the franchise, and one of them is even still in the majors. You go Carlos Jacquez!
18. Helena - You can generally tell if Helena is rebuilding by their Rule 5 pick. If they grab someone, rebuilding. If they skip it, going for it! Looks like they skipped it again this season. I don't know about you, but we are ready for a Hot Dog World Series again!
19. Buffalo - What's more predictable than Helena; it's bjc30! Took over the franchise in Season 3; made Rule 5 picks in Seasons 3-9, 11, 13-4, & 18. How many Rule 5 players has he selected since S18? One, in Season 45 - Troy Boehringer (C). 
20. Philadelphia - Chasing their 8th division title in 9 season, they took a different path this season; no brotherly love for the Rule 5. 
21. Jacksonville - Theodore Kennelly. TK gets the label of first player offered back to his original club. When OKC declined he was scooped up by Salt Lake City via waivers though he's yet to have made an At-bat appearing as a defensive sub at 2B for Ricky Kirk. Though he lacks both the range and glove to truly be an asset there. Perhaps he should be subbing in for Juancito Martin in LF to keep those legs fresh!
22. Santa Fe - Pokeysan elected to not select a Rule 5 pick from New Orleans as they had done the previous two seasons. I guess if you can't beat them, select their players to play for you?!?
23. Vancouver - Buddy O'Brien. Ah, the start of a rebuild is so encouraging. Cheers to Tim Horton's and Vancouver giving up on the division. Last rebuild for this franchise lasted 15 years, 10 of them under the current ownership. May your next rebuild get you out of the first round of the playoffs! I am a bit surprised the rebuilding NY didn't elect to keep Buddy 'the Irish Elf' O'Brien to start for them given how well he fits into the "quality" of starters they have been using during their own rebuild. 
24. Salem - Adam Hearn. Salem has taken Vancouver's spot in the division, we'll see if they can do better about overtaking OKC. Great news for Hearn, though unfortunately he's yet to make an appearance in the majors. One day my friend, one day. 
25. Hartford - Hartford hasn't made a Rule 5 pick since grabbing Strike out King, Garabez Belliard in S51. Did Hartford learn it's lesson or what? 
26. Columbus - Buster Schotts. He's playing surprisingly well so far this season as the starting Rightfielder for the Corgis. Schotts base running abilities remind me of a corgi's. We'd be surprised if Buster ends the year starting for a contender but we've seen crazier things. 
27. Salt Lake City - Lee Carbonell. A First baseman with a less than stellar glove; that's not a good sign. But he has league average power, hits righties decently, and has a major league average eye. Now if only he could make contact more often. There's a lot of questions about making it down the first base line as well. 
28. New Orleans - Drank too much before the Rule 5 last year, and stayed away from it this year. Probably a smart move.
29. Oklahoma City - Has a decently successful history in the Rule 5, I guess the wind wasn't sweepin' down the plain this season. We'll see if this season's wheat smells sweet come the post-season. 
30. Huntington - You don't find the kind of pitching this team needs in the Rule 5 unless someone forgets to protect a recently traded player.
31. Houston - Budgets are tight in Houston as they look to knock Atlanta off the top of the AL. Might not have had any roster space either. 
32. Atlanta - Lefty Smart. An above average fielder this was a smart move for a contending team. They get a defensive sub for CHEAP! He may not hit well but likely still serves a purpose, logging some innings in CF for the Expos. Atlanta layer picked up Reynaldo Vasquez who is an even better defensive fielder but they later dealt hmi and Tony Lim to the rebuilding Tacoma Aroma for prospects Scott Stokes (SP) and PT Figureoa (RF). Now if Tacoma would have only selected him at pick #10, guess we'll never know what would have been. 

Alright folks, that's the first round of the Rule 5, let's see if any of the picks in Rounds 2 thru 4 pan out.