50 Rounds of Boredom That Could Save Your Team

Today begins the MLB amateur draft.  La-di-da.  There is nothing better than following teams pick players you’ve never heard of, from high schools and colleges you didn’t know existed, and then waiting 3-5 years to see if they pan out.  I skipped work for the week just to follow all 50 rounds.  That FIVE ZERO…50 rounds.  That’s over 1500 picks?! Snooze-o-rama

But in all seriousness the draft is truly vital to an organizations future success.

Look no further than the Boston Red Sox.

I know it can be difficult to think that the Sox or Yankees care what happens in the draft.  You may say “those guys will just drop all the money they need to for free agents.”     Don’t be so fast to lump these two rivals together.

Look at some of the Yankee stars and starters.

Teixeira, A-Roid, Jeter, Granderson, Cano, Swisher, Posada, Brett Gardner, Phil Hughes, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Fat-olo Colon.

Of that list ONLY Jeter, Gardner and Hughes were drafted by the Yankees.  All others were through trades, free agency and international free agent signing.  That’s 3 of 12. 

For those of you punk Yankee fans saying “What about Joba?”  Think long and hard about Joba’s future with the Yankees and try and justify his name on the list.

Now look at the beloved Red Sox:

Youkilis, Lowrie, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ellsbury, Crawford, Lester, Buchholz, Beckett, Bard, and Paplebon, Ortiz.

8 or 12!  All drafted in the amateur draft by the Red Sox. 

Youkilis – 2001, Pedroia – 2004, Bard – 2006, Lowrie – 2005, Ellsbury – 2005, Buchholtz – 2005, Paplebon – 2005, Lester – 2002

Now, I’d love to tout that this makes the Red sox better than the Yankees, more dedicated, a better farm system, more loyal players, a more passionate fan base, smarter management…but I won’t do that.

The truth is the draft can be a boom for team like the Red Sox or an epic failure.  And there is hardly any way to know what you’re getting. 

If the Sox knew Youkilis would be an All-Star, Gold Glove Winning, hitting machine would they have drafted him in the 8^th round with a puny $12,000 signing bonus?  Would Dodger’s star Matt Kemp have been picked in the 42^nd Round 1250 overall?  Would Buster Posey have been picked in the 50^th and final round 1496 overall?!   No.  Of course not!

So while it’s bore as all get out, it is a vital part of building a team.  And you never know if a Buster Posey is lurking in the 50^th round.