PERFECT GAME CROSSCHECKER'S DAILY TOP TEN LIST
WEEK 8: 3/26/07 - 4/1/07
 
Friday, March 30, 2007
The 1987 draft was 20 years ago, but it is symbolic in a number of ways. One, it was the last draft before signing bonuses began taking an exponential climb upwards. Two, the longest active No. 1 pick overall (Ken Griffey) came from that draft. Three, it kicked off the draft-and-follow era, which will be abolished with this year’s draft.

Twenty-five players in that draft earned signing bonuses of $100,000 or more, mere pocket change for today’s first-rounders. Only three non first-rounders reached six figures, including 13th-rounder Vince Phillips, who was paid $133,000 by the Yankees to forgo a college football career at Southern California, and 30th-rounder Darryl Kile, who became the early poster boy for the draft-and-follow process when he inked a $100,000 deal with the Houston Astros.

Griffey wasn’t awarded the largest bonus in the 1987 draft as the No. 1 pick, but he has been the unqualified star from that draft, though Astros first-rounder Craig Biggio is closing in on 3,000 career hits. Biggio, the 22nd overall pick, signed for $110,000.

The 10 largest signing bonuses from the 1987 draft were all signed by first-rounders, with the order they were selected noted in parentheses:
 
Top 10 Largest Signing Bonuses, 1987 Draft
1. Mark Merchant, of, Pirates (2) $165,000
  *Jack McDowell, rhp, White Sox (5) $165,000
3. *Ken Griffey, of, Mariners (1) $160,000
  *Willie Banks, rhp, Twins (3) $160,000
  *Mike Harkey, rhp, Cubs (4) $160,000
  *Derek Lilliquist, lhp, Braves (6) $160,000
  Chris Myers, lhp, Orioles (7) $160,000
  Dan Opperman, rhp, Dodgers (8) $160,000
  *Cris Carpenter, rhp, Cardinals (14) $160,000
10. Kevin Garner, rhp-of, Padres (10) $150,000
  *Bill Spiers, ss, Brewers (13) $150,000
*Played in Major Leagues
-- Allan Simpson
 
Thursday, March 29, 2007
This year’s draft may produce the best crop of lefthanded pitchers in draft history (see Allan Simpson’s Weekly Column), with the possibility of as many as 10 lefthanders in the first round, according to scouting directors surveyed by PG Crosschecker. The existing record is seven, in 2004.

With the draft little more than two months away, here’s how we stack up the 10 best lefthanded pitching candidates to go in the first round:
 
Top 10 Lefthanders, 2007 Draft
1. David Price, Vanderbilt U.
2. Daniel Moskos, Clemson U.
3. Ross Detwiler, Missouri State U.
4. Madison Bumgarner, South Caldwell HS, Lenoir, N.C.
5. Joe Savery, Rice U.
6. Jack McGeary, Roxbury Latin HS, Newton, Mass.
7. Josh Smoker, Calhoun HS, Sugar Valley, Ga.
8. Brett Cecil, U. of Maryland
9. Nick Schmidt, U. of Arkansas
10. Aaron Poreda, U. of San Francisco
-- Allan Simpson
 
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
University of San Diego lefthander Brian Matusz has established himself as a top prospect for the 2008 draft with his sizzling strikeout performance this season. Through games of last weekend, the 6-foot-5 Matusz had struck out a Division I-high 92 batters in 57 innings—a nine-inning average of 14.52. Matusz was an unsigned fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2005 draft.

Following are the nation’s top 10 strikeout pitchers heading into this weekend’s action:
 
Top 10 Strikeout Leaders, 2007
  IP SO
1. Brian Matusz, So., San Diego 57 92
2. Adam Mills, Sr., Charlotte 59 80
3. David Price, Jr., Vanderbilt 52 79
4. Sean Morgan, Jr., Tulane 47 69
5. Anthony Shawler, So., Old Dominion 52 65
6. Tyson Ross, So., California 58 63
7. Eammon Portice, Jr., High Point 48 61
8. Mitch Harris, Jr., Navy 43 59
9. James Adkins, Jr., Tennessee 54 58
10. Wes Roemer, Jr., Cal State Fullerton 47 57
-- Allan Simpson
 
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The inaugural Aflac All-American High School Classic was played in Fort Myers, Fla., in 2003 and featured many of the top high school players in the Class of 2004. That first event produced eight first-round picks, along with two supplemental first-round picks.

Pitching dominated the 2003 Aflac Classic as the two sides combined for 32 strikeouts. Though no players have yet to reach the big leagues from that game, pitchers continue to have the most present value among prospects that will play in the minor leagues this season. Reds righthander Homer Bailey, the seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft, is the top-ranked prospect from the ’03 Aflac game. He is expected to open the 2007 season in Triple-A and make his major league debut later this year.

While a couple of noteworthy pitchers (Mark Rogers, Jay Rainville) have had injury problems that have stalled their development, no player has fallen from grace more than shortstop Matt Bush, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2004 draft and the starting shortstop for the West team. He has hit just .221 in 177 minor league games, none above low Class A.

Entering 2007, here’s how we’d rank the top prospects from the 2003 Aflac Game, and the projected level they’ll play at to start the season:
 
Top 10 Present Prospects, 2003 Aflac Game
1. Homer Bailey, rhp, Reds Triple-A
2. Nick Adenhart, rhp, Angels High A
3. Chuck Lofgren, lhp, Indians Double-A
4. Eric Hurley, rhp, Rangers Double-A
5. Dexter Fowler, of, Rockies High A
6. Troy Patton, lhp, Astros Double-A
7. Eric Campbell, of, Braves High A
8. Neil Walker, 3b, Pirates Double-A
9. Chris Nelson, ss, Rockies High A
10. Trevor Plouffe, ss, Twins Double-A
-- David Rawnsley
 
Monday, March 26, 2007
This hasn’t been a particularly good spring training for former No. 1/No. 1 draft picks. With injuries and other assorted developments, it appears only nine former No. 1 overall picks will break camp with big league teams.

Last season ended with 11 such players in the big leagues and it looked like the club would grow to 12 with the unexpected success this spring of outfielder Josh Hamilton (Devil Rays, 1999). But righthander Paul Wilson (Mets, 1994) was released by the Reds and righthander Kris Benson (Pirates, 1996) succumbed to surgery for a torn labrum that will keep him sidelined all season. First baseman Phil Nevin (Astros, 1992) has not been in camp with any club.

An interesting sidebar: Of the eight pitchers picked first overall since Ken Griffey Jr. (the most experienced No. 1 club member) was selected in 1987, none are in the big leagues right now. Righthander Luke Hochevar, last year’s top pick, is the best bet to change that this season, though he’s not expected to open the season with Kansas City.

Based on projected 2007 production, here’s our take on the best No. 1 overall picks:
 
Top 10 First Overall Picks, 2007
1. Alex Rodriguez, 3b, Yankees Mariners/1993
2. Joe Mauer, c, Twins Twins/2001
3. Chipper Jones, 3b, Braves Braves/1990
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1b, Padres Marlins/2000
5. Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays Devil Rays/1993
6. Pat Burrell, of, Phillies Phillies/1998
7. Ken Griffey, of, Reds Mariners/1987
8. Darin Erstad, of, White Sox Angels/1995
9. Josh Hamilton, of, Reds Devil Rays/1999
10. Luke Hochevar, rhp, Royals Royals/2006
-- David Rawnsley