Peter on 2002 OT

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#009999" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c006e0ermwos.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>MLML</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MLML"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons 2003 Ammy File"><U>Gammons 2003 Ammy File</U></A>   |   <B>Peter on 2002 OT</B>   |   <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons 2002 midseason report"><U>Gammons 2002 midseason report</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Peter Gammons Diamondnotes"><U>Peter Gammons Diamondnotes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons Sept 10, 2000"><U>Gammons Sept 10, 2000</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons Sept 7, 2000"><U>Gammons Sept 7, 2000'</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons Sept 1, 2000"><U>Gammons Sept 1, 2000</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons Aug 15, 2000"><U>Gammons Aug 15, 2000</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons Aug 8, 2000"><U>Gammons Aug 8, 2000</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons July 30, 2000"><U>Gammons July 30, 2000</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons July 16, 2000"><U>Gammons July 16, 2000</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gammons July 1, 2000"><U>Gammons July 1, 2000</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#A0A0A4" TEXT="#080000" background="03dbec00etbzwo.gif"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="22a596a0.gif" border=0 width="89" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Peter on 2002 OT</div> <div> <IMG SRC="23146460.gif" border=0 width="582" height="70" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Peter Gammons looks at the MLML 2003 Old Timers Draft </div> <bR> <div> I have had time during my busy schedule to look at what went on at the Old Timers draft and I want to give you all my take on the 25 players taken this season. Let’s look at it on a team-by-team basis: </div> <bR> <div> San Francisco Giants: With three selections, the Giants were the dominant team this draft. They used their first selection on Pete Alexander, a pitcher with a great deal of promise who came from the same league as current stars Three Finger Brown, and Christy Mathewson. The next selections were power hitting outfielder Frank Robinson and first baseman Mel Ott. It would seem like the Giants are looking to rebuild after the disappointment of 2002. </div> <bR> <div> NY Mets: The reigning World Series champs went after depth with their choices. Frankie Frisch is an excellent fielding 2B who can swing a decent bat. Mickey Cochrane is a good defense/offense catcher. </div> <bR> <div> Atlanta Braves: Carl Hubbell is a known commodity but Jack Pfiester was not rated this high by many draft experts. However, the Braves have done well with lower rated players before. </div> <bR> <div> NY Padres: This team took the biggest risks in this draft by taking pitchers JR Richard and Stan Covelski. Richard is a precision kind of guy but does not have the great record behind him and has not shown great stamina so far. Covelski is in the same category and may be a bigger chart jumper than the Braves’ Pfiester. Strange selections for a team that looked to acquire offense all winter. </div> <bR> <div> Detroit Tigers: They went out and got two tremendous hitters with great speed and no power in Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb. I’m perplexed as to the selection of two prototype leadoff hitters. The team will have to hope the remainder of the lineup can drive these guys in or they will get very lonely standing on base. Did someone drain the pitching pool when I was not looking? </div> <bR> <div> LA Dodgers: Speaking of pitching and strange moves, the Dodgers had me wondering for days. They took the Mets to game 7 in the Series and had maybe the league’s best four man rotation last season. So, what do they do but take not one but two pitching prospects in the draft. It’s said that these guys - Larry Corcoran & Charlie Ferguson will start the season in the minors but I would look for this team to move some pitching to make room for them before the trading deadline. Has anyone told LA there is a payroll tax next season? </div> <bR> <div> Houston Astros: Will White was very under-rated prior to the draft and I think the Astros got a steal here. Some say he could be the next Elarton or Ward. </div> <bR> <div> GC Knights: They went looking for catching help but may have dug too deep with the selection of Gary Carter. The scouting combines had him #5 or 6 on the potential catcher chart. Hope they won’t be disappointed. </div> <bR> <div> HK Titans: Steve Carleton is a good building block for this expansion team. Maybe Carleton going this high is the reason for the strange pitching selections made in the lower part of the draft. </div> <bR> <div> Vaqueros: They traded up to grab George Brett, a good hitting 3B with some RBI power but a suspect glove. He is why Tony Batista was let go. My sleeper hitter in this draft. Wash. Senators: Tris Speaker is an interesting pick. Many scouts will be interested to see how he performs at the big league level. My bet is he will be a solid producer for years to come. Another Gammons sleeper. </div> <bR> <div> Bos. Brewers: Some scouts told me you could have predicted this pick as early as July of last season. A great deal of pressure was put on Ramon Hernandez and he failed to meet management’s expectations. Campanella will get some time to acclimate himself but he is the heir apparent as soon as he shows he is ready. </div> <bR> <div> StL. Cards: Team that found itself a little short of pitching in the playoffs went out and filled that hole with Whitey Ford. Question is will he get any time in the minors to work on his technique or will he be in the Opening Day rotation? </div> <bR> <div> Colorado Rockies: Ed Walsh is another of these “control artists” making their way into the MLML. Power pitching has taken a back seat to these guys and Walsh is a promising surgeon who can slice the corners effectively. </div> <bR> <div> Las Vegas Aces: Orval Overall is the Gammons sleeper pitcher this season. I think he can be a dominant staff ace if handled correctly. Now it is up to management to ensure he is not rushed. </div> <bR> <div> Sac. Dragons: Ed Reulbach - another surgeon who will be in the Dragon rotation soon enough. </div> <bR> <div> Az. Diamondbacks: Looking for some help in the power department as well as trying to solidify their OF, the Dbacks went with an unknown. Kiner has great power potential but will he hit consistently is the key. Some scouts say 50+ HR is not out of his reach. The scouting combine had him coming out next season so… </div> <bR> <div> Chicago Cubs: Last but not least, the Cubs grab a power hitting 1B in Johnny Mize. Mize can hit with both finesse and power so when will he join the Cubs killer lineup? I can only hope the six teams not mentioned above got something worthwhile for the picks they traded away! </div> <bR> <div> Next up - a league by league preview of the upcoming season. </div> </td> </tr></table></body>