Parrott Blog: Justin Robichaux update, catching up with ex-Cajuns

[cajun2bag]

_ I'd like to see changes as well. I'd like for no high school sr to be draft eligible at all....only college kids that complete there Jr yr be draft eligible. With this plan, it would make hs kids focus a little more on academics, the real reason kids should be going to school. So many kids are mislead in the entire "draft" process and they end up falling flat on there face within 5 yrs. And they end up broke as well. I just don't feel any hs senior is worth multiple million dollar signing bonus because they are so unproven. 90% of those kids are signed on projection. If MLB would take a more mature kid(21 yrs old ) I think I would benifit them greatly.
igeaux.mobi _

I strongly disagree...however, I do like the rule that if you enroll in a 4 year division 1 college you have to stay until you are a junior....kids leaving for pro ball after high school fine with me.....

[Parrott]

Keep in mind that Marze really needed that redshirt year to adjust to college. He admits that he just tried to blow it past people right out of high school. Needed to add movement and tilt to pitches, too.

What made Marze so special for pro scouts was his athleticism, velocity, movement and stress-free delivery as well as a high ceiling. He could easily improve from 90-92 to mid-to-high 90s with more experience. Should get better as he matures.

Dischler should do like Marze. Come in, red shirt, let the hype build on your talent, get drafted and then go to the pro's with a fresh arm and no time on the mound for the cajuns.

Pro baseball continues to kills NCAA baseball. I would love a system that has a multi-tier draft for incoming freshman (no it wouldn't have helped with Disch): Here is what I would propose: A Pro team would have to draft an HS Senior in the first 5 rounds, otherwise the freshman becomes ineligible to play pro ball until end of his Junior year. If a team drafts an HS Senior between rounds 6 & 10, then the player is ineligible to play pro-ball until end of Junior year but the team retains the right to sign the player through that year's draft. If a team does not draft an HS Senior prior to the 16th round, then the player cannot be drafted and is no longer eligible to play pro ball until the end of his junior year. I would also have a separate draft for College players that complete their senior year.

I know there are flaws but it just seems unrealistic to think that all of these pro teams truly believe that HS Senior drafted in round 25 will actually stick around the minor league circuit when they could have accomplished much more with a very productive college career.

igeaux.mobi

[LifeTimeCajun]

What I was meaning to say was, i would like to see kids enter college and complete 3 yrs and then become eligible for draft. Again, there will always be those special kids that have it and are on the fast track. Kinda like the kid this yr that skipped hs senior yr, enrolled in juco and was the first pick in the draft. But there aren't very many like that. I guess I just enjoy college baseball and would prefer seeing kids go to college and learn and develop rather than try to go out of hs and be done after 3 or 4 yrs in single A ball.

No one under 21 draft eligible? What happens to the phenom, who can't spell his own name? Do you make him suffer financially for three years of remedial English and Algebra because less talented players make bad decisions?

It's too bad and so sad some kids futilely chase the dream with the odds being 98% they will not get to the big leagues, but the statistical evidence is thjere for everyone to see. To some it is not about the destination, but the journey, anyway. We can't, nor should we, protect everyone from themselves. Baseball is a very capitalistic business model. It is commission only. Do well and you get paid. Don't do well (and get old... like 23) and get helped into a new career.

It takes years for the best players to learn how to play professional baseball well and you are old at 30. Eliminating everyone under 21 isn't going to help pro ball.

MLB needs hundreds of players to fill minor league rosters to play with and against the prospects of the baseball world. Mike Piazza was a 62nd round draft pick. He wouldn't have been drafted this year, anyway.

I want to see the best players in the world play against each other. I don't care if they are from Cuba or are 17 years old. Stepping away from soap box now.

igeaux.mobi

[Parrott]

Former Cajun outfielder Les Smith hit a grand slam in his first pro at-bat for Detroit's Single-A Lakeland Tigers on Wednesday. He went 2-for-4 (also hit a double) with four RBIs in Lakeland's 7-4 win over Daytona.

[Dad04]

Small correction. Smith is in the Gulf Coast rookie league, two levels below Lakeland (High A), same location, though. Lakeland FSL High A has been playing for two months. juco and HS and 16 year-old latin players usually start in GCL with 12 noon games in front of 5 or 6 "fans". The games are routinely stopped for coaching and pitchers routinely limited to FB for instructional purposes. The games are more scrimmage than game-like.

[Parrott]

Smith's grand slam was against the Gulf Coast Yankees. I've been on vacation and didn't pay much attention to the original post.

According to what I heard today, he has been promoted to the Connecticut Tigers in the short-season Single-A New York-Penn League. That's the same league where Marze is playing right now.


igeaux.mobi

[CajunT]

_ Small correction. Smith is in the Gulf Coast rookie league, two levels below Lakeland (High A), same location, though. Lakeland FSL High A has been playing for two months. juco and HS and 16 year-old latin players usually start in GCL with 12 noon games in front of 5 or 6 "fans". The games are routinely stopped for coaching and pitchers routinely limited to FB for instructional purposes. The games are more scrimmage than game-like. _

Hey Dad04, I guess it wasn't just about getting closer to home was it? Okay,just having a little fun!

[Dad04]

Josh I'm not busting you. It's just that there is a HUGE difference between GCL and Florida State League level of competition. I was a little surpised he started in GCL and not surprised he was quickly promoted. I guess he signed so fast GCL was his only option at the time. I expect him to get to high A Lakeland, maybe this year.

[Parrott]

No, I know that. I'm a little frustrated I missed it originally. Should have left it alone until after my vacation. Funny thing, I noticed my mistake right before your post when I heard he had been promoted.


igeaux.mobi

[Dad04]

He is talented. I wouldn't be surprised if he got to AA sometime. He'll need to develop more and get some breaks his way to get higher, imo. What do you think? Enjoy your time off!!