Draft Notes – Matthew Reckling, Mark Appel, TJ Pecoraro, Mitch Gueller

 RHP prospect, Kyle Zimmer, out with a hamstring pull. 

Chris Beck –  6.0-IP, 10-H, 5-ER, 3-K, 1-BB

Dylan Floro – 9.0-IP, 5-H, 2-ER, 7-K, 2-BB

Michael Wacha – 7.0-IP, 8-H, 2-ER, 9-K, 1-BB, 121-P

LSU RHP Ryan Eades -  90-94, 83-84 slider, 80-81 CH and 77 CV

I’ve written before that there doesn’t seem to be much respect for Rice starters, in particular, and Mathew Reckling, in particular. Reckling pitched against Houston Friday night, a team that Rice had beat 16 straight times. Well, there is no 17. Reckling went 2.1-IP, 8-R, and that should do it for any chance as a first round pick. Expensive outing.

Stanford beat Oregon State Friday night behind Mark Appel: 7.0-IP, 2-ER, 9-H, 4-K, 0-BB, 114-P. Appel is winning over the pundits that dropped him out of the projected top three picks. I got him four, but what the hell do I know? 

Like Reckling, Vanderbilt starter TJ Pecoraro was hoping to be a first round pick come June. Friday, he went 4.2-IP, giving up 3-R, 3-H. Seemed early, but, on paper, there went his first round dream.  

A new name from ESPN -

Mitch Gueller, RHP, W.F. West (Chehalis, Wash.) - Gueller has been up to the mid-90s in recent weeks and is beginning to draw some big-time attention that could mean a Day 1 selection. He's well built at 6-foot-3 or 4 and 200-plus pounds and offers a low-to-mid 70s curveball and low-80s changeup.

Draft Notes – Matthew Grabusky, Matthew Reckling, Mark Appel, Chris Beck

Matthew Grabusky of MLB Draft Guide joined me on Friday to discuss ten of the guys that will probably go in the first round come June. I tossed the names around, created some either-or questions, and here’s where Matt went:

Mack:                 Appel or Giolito?

Matt:                 Easier choice before the injury, but still Giolito.

Mack:                 Dahl or Hawkins? 

Matt:                  I'm high on both, but Dahl seems like the safer choice.

Mack:                 Correa or Marrero? 

Matt:                  Correa, over anyone.

Mack:                 Fried or Johnson? 

Matt:                  Fried and easily.

Mack:                 Shaffer or Gallo? 

Matt:                  Love Gallo's power, but that might be all there is to love with him, so Shaffer. 

Rice hasn’t had the best of baseball times. It used to be a lock that the Owls would turn out at least one MLB quality starter every year. Legendary poster, Walt Greenburg, would always keep us informed about his alma mater back on NYFS when all of us original Mets posters all got along.  

Well, they got a good one this year. 

RHP Matthew Reckling has, as Kendall Rogers said, been ‘insanely good this season’. He struck out ten East Carolina batters Friday night and increased his seasonal stat line to: 7-0, 1.44, 68.2-IP, 80-K. No one has mocked Reckling into the first round yet, but ya never know.

Stanford RHP Mark Appel showed he was human again Friday night, going only six innings, giving up two earned runs, while striking out only three and walking two. These are not the kind of numbers a number one overall draft pick throws. I keep moving Appel down the list, who just might be falling out of the top ten. 

Re: GSU Chris Beck… the good news was the 11-Ks in 8.0-innings Friday night. The bad news was the seven runs, four earned. I mean, aren’t all  pitchers partially responsible for runs? I mean, just because your shortstop boot a play doesn’t mean you should be off the hook if the next three batters single. Regarding Beck, against this inferior competition, he’s a sup-1 pick at best, probably a 2.