[Scouting Report] Jay Austin

56

Jay Austin

OF

HS

L-L

6-1

180

North Atlanta

Atlanta

8/10/1990

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1):

Austin could be a big surprise this spring as scouts bear down on his swing and evaluate his bat speed and offensive potential. There are no questions about his speed, athletic ability and arm strength. Austin could be the fastest player in the 2008 class; he ran the 60 in 6.20 at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati last June and is lightning-quick on the bases. Austin has also been scouted extensively as a pitcher and regularly throws 90 mph off the mound, although he has limited high-level pitching experience. Austin’s swing looks much better during games; he attacks the ball better, swings hard and has a history of hitting quality pitching. Scouts who bear down on his batting practice sessions might end up overanalyzing his offensive game.

在評估觀察他的揮棒速度和打擊的潛力後，Austin會是今年春天球探最大的驚喜．　他的速度是毫無疑問的，運動員的優秀身體素質和強壯的手臂．　Austin被歸類到08年選秀中速度最快的一群，他60碼跑6.2秒，壘間移動飛快．　Austin在投手丘上的表現也受前探的注目，雖然它缺乏在高競爭的比賽中投球的經驗，但他可以穩定的投出90mph的速球．　他的打擊在真的比賽中表現的比較好，他過去面隊優秀投手的打擊表現相當搶眼．　他的打擊練習可能不會吸引球探的目光，但是真的到比賽中沒有球探會不對他的攻擊能力印象深刻．

—DAVID RAWNSLEY

UPDATE (5/1): Austin was excellent this spring, hitting .515-15-43 with 26 stolen bases, and probably has surpassed Xavier Avery as the top high school outfielder in Georgia, although the late emergence of Zach Cone may present a challenge in that regard. Austin is projectable in addition to his obvious speed/arm strength tools, and as long as he’s swinging the bat aggressively scouts can see his bat speed. He did that this spring.—DR

Austin今年有個很棒的球季，.515　15HR　43RBI加上26次盜壘，他甚至已經超過Avery成為喬治亞州最棒的高中外野潛力新秀，Zach Cone最近的竄起和可能可以並列最棒的外野手．　Austin的速度和臂力已經成熟，如果他能更積極的揮棒攻擊，他可以展現出卓越的揮棒速度．　他這個春天表現很棒．

[Scouting Report] Jordan Lyles

38

Jordan Lyles

RHP

HS

R-R

6-4

205

Hartsville

Hartsville, S.C.

10/16/1990

SCOUTING REPORT:

Lyles’ prowess as a three-sport star in the South Carolina high school ranks has long been documented, but he never really earned his due as a top baseball prospect until this spring. Though he quit playing basketball over the winter a week into the season to concentrate his efforts on baseball, school protocol prevented him from joining the Hartsville High baseball team until the basketball season was complete.

Lyles是在南卡州的高中三棲運動明星，不過他直到今年才被注意到認定為頂級的棒球潛力．　雖然他直到開季的前一個星期才退出籃球隊專心投入棒球訓練，但是校隊的協議讓他直到籃球季完全結束後才得以加入棒球校隊．

Though he was late getting started, he made an immediate impression as a pitcher and quickly surged to the top of the South Carolina prep prospect list. A fastball that was in the 85-87 mph range as a junior had suddenly jumped to 88-90, touching 91. He threw all his pitches, including a curve and changeup, for strikes and scouts marveled at his smooth, easy delivery.

雖然他的起步較晚，但是他在投手丘上的表現立刻得到注意成為南卡州大招生的優先名單．　高三的球速大概是85-87，到高四那年球速大約88-90，最快到91．　他可以控制他所有的球種，包括變速球和曲球都能控近好球帶．　球探對他平順簡潔的投球姿勢印象非常深刻．

He still got hit around as he is not overpowering yet, but there is plenty of room in his lean, athletic frame to add considerable more velocity down the road. His coach, former Atlanta Braves first-round pick Jacob Shumate, was instrumental in his rapid development as a pitcher and was careful not to overuse him this spring.

因為他的球速還不是非常出色，所以常被打很慘，但是他成長的空間還非常大，他瘦長強壯的運動員體格，可與預見他有很大的球速成長空間．　他的教練Jacob Schumate曾是之前亞特蘭大第一輪的新秀，成功快速的培養他成為投手，而且很小心的不要操壞他．

Lyles was all-state in three sports, including football, though he didn’t play until his senior year. He still led state wide receivers in yardage and touchdowns. Lyles decided to cast his lot with baseball, however, and signed with South Carolina in the spring signing period. That decision could become academic, though, as interest from big league clubs has skyrocketed.

Lyles在三種運動中都是全州明星隊的成員，儘管他從高四才開始打美式足球，他仍然是全州接球員接球碼數和達陣的榜首．　他最後決定專心打棒球，在今年春天接受了南卡州大的獎學金，不過他已經受到球探大大注意，很可能會投入職業．

—ALLAN SIMPSON

他教練和勇士的關係，很可能是讓太空人這麼衝在38順位就選下他的主因．　一個令人充滿希望的球員，心態成熟的體能怪物是可遇不可求的，難怪Heck會喜歡他，雖然不一定會養好　XDDD

[Socuting Report]Jason Castro

10

Jason Castro

C

Jr.

L-R

6-3

215

Stanford

Castro Valley, Calif.

Red Sox ’05 (43)

6/18/1987

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1):

Castro was one of the big surprises in the Cape Cod League last summer. After hitting a meagre .167-1-14 in a disappointing, injury-plagued sophomore season at Stanford, he rebounded for Yarmouth-Dennis to hit .341, second in the league, along with four homers and 24 RBIs. He has a sound, stylish, balanced overall approach to hitting and makes solid contact. He showed good leverage in an easy swing and can turn on a pitch. He has lift in his swing and added strength will boost his power.

Castro是去年夏天Cape Cod聯盟最大的驚奇之一．　他大二因為受傷留下了令人失望的成績(.167 1HR 14RBI)，不過他夏天在Dennis隊觸底反彈了，留下了.341(聯盟第二)　4HR　24RBI的成績，他的打擊技巧非常優秀而且相當平衡，並且能確實咬中球．　他不費力的揮棒有相當好的槓桿效果可以把球打個老遠．　在強化力量之後他的power還有成長空間．

With top prospects Buster Posey (Florida State) and Sean Ochinko (Louisiana State) also available to catch for Y-D last summer, Castro worked in only eight games behind the plate. He also saw service at first base, in the outfield and at DH. He caught infrequently, in part because of a troublesome arm that prevented him from fulfilling his obligation as the starting catcher for the East in the all-star game. Castro is a fundamentally-sound catcher with good receiving skills, plenty of arm strength and a quick release. He is mobile behind the plate and also handles a pitching staff exceptionally well. His breakout summer has significantly impacted his draft stock and paved the way for a big season at Stanford this spring.

在Dennis隊中因為還有另外兩個捕手Posey和Ochinko，他只擔任捕手出賽八場比賽，大部分擔任一壘手，外野手和DH．　他常抓不到盜壘者，因為他手臂的傷，讓他在東部明星賽被一直跑沒盡到捕手的義務．　Castro有很好的捕手條件－優秀的接球技巧，強壯的手臂和快速的阻殺出手．　他再本壘板後方相當靈巧，並且引導投手的能力極為傑出．　他去年夏天突破性的進步，讓他在選秀會上身價大漲，並且也預言了Stanford這個球季的優秀表現．

—ALLAN SIMPSON

UPDATE (5/1):

Healthy again, Castro was a completely different hitter this year in college than a year ago. He hit for both average (.373) and power (11 home runs), showing a sound approach at the plate from the left side, good bat speed through the zone and plus raw power to all fields. Coupled with his improvement behind the plate, he became one of the two or three elite catchers in the college game. A projected third-rounder at the start of the 2008 season, he quickly surged into the first-round mix by midseason. Castro’s improvement on defense has been more subtle, but he frames and blocks well, and has average arm strength with proper throwing mechanics. He is an intelligent, take-charge receiver and a team leader.—AS

健康出賽了． Castro和去年已經是完全不同的打者了，不僅維持高打擊率也有絕佳的power(.373 11HR)，在左打區展現優秀的打擊技巧，快速的揮棒速度和絕佳的力量，可以把球打向球場任何方向．　加上他在捕手工作的進步使他成為大學捕手中最頂尖的前兩三名．　季初預測可能會落在第三輪，但是到季中他已經是第一輪的熱門人選．　他的防守技巧進步就比較不明顯，但是他有很好的體格和不錯的擋球技巧，搭配他平均水準的臂力和合宜的傳球機制．　此外他相當聰明，能鼓舞士氣是個球隊的領導者．

[draft] 2008 #109 (3rd comp) Ross Seaton

這個傳聞中太空人想用38順位選的本地高中投手，以Tulan大學的獎學金嚇退其他29個球團而且落到這一個順位，實力評估他是可能落在第一輪的球員．

Position:	Starting Pitcher
School:	Second Baptist HS (Tex.)
School Type:	High school
Academic Class:	Senior
Birthdate:	09/18/89
Height:	6'4"
Weight:	215 lbs.
Bats:	Left
Throws:	Right

Seaton和所有休士頓當地的小朋友一樣，從小就幻想著有天能夠穿上太空人球衣，也因為這個因素讓太空人在選秀中放膽的選擇他，而他Tulane的獎學金也幫助了太空人可以拖到這麼後面才選他．　當然他絕對不好簽，我想沒有1M是不用談的，1M是其他29隊都應該願意給他的價碼，太空人當然也該給他相對應的尊重．　無疑問他應該是除了Castro之外會拿到最多簽約金的今年太空人選秀球員．　以Seaton的天份來說，太空人也應該要捨得去花這個錢，他或許會是今年選秀中回報最高的球員，加上當地出身的球星身分，不賭真的是笨蛋了．

球探報告
球探影片

[draft] 2008 #38 (1st com) Jordan Lyles

Position:　RHP
School:　　Hartsville HS, Hartsville SC
Ht:　　　6-foot-4
Wt:　　　190 lbs
Forty:　　4.59 secs (跑挺快的) Pence才跑4.47...
Vertical:　31 inches　(可以灌籃 ~.~)

這個選擇宣布的時候，所有人的疑問相當一致－"這傢伙是誰？"

Lyles沒有排進BA的top 200當中，對！前兩百都排不到的傢伙落在第38順位．　這又是一個出人意料的選擇，我咋聽之下以為選了下個順位紅雀所選的Lynn，因為我印象中看過名字Ly開頭又這麼特殊的球員只有Lynn．　更令我吃驚的是他是高中球員，讓我在第一輪選到Castro滿腦子充滿的"幹!　又想省錢"的時候，選了一個要花相對大把鈔票的高中生，驚喜還沒結束因為接下來Wade又連續選了3個高中生，前三輪五個選秀選了四個高中生，這完全不是太空人．

Heck on Jordan Lyles：
He throws downhill. He has command of his fastball.　He's got the ability to change speed. He's a strike thrower.　He's well beyond his years in maturity and very smart.　He's got a very high ceiling and he does project to be in a major-league rotation.

Lyles是一個三棲的運動員，他打棒球，美式足球和籃球，他是南卡州的運動明星，他雖然沒有受到全國性的球探眼光，但是三棲運動員的運動能力是不用懷疑的，更何況他可以拿到兩種運動的大學獎學金．　他的球速目前大概只有low 90，但是他才18歲，重點是他有超齡的成熟度和控球，這在高中球員中並不常見．

球探影片

驚訝結束了嗎？　還沒！　太空人竟然在選到他的幾分鐘後就立即和他達成合約協議．
新聞連結

高中生球員是出名的要花時間和金錢去簽的，尤其是已經拿到大學獎學金的球員，談不攏大不了去唸大學．　但是Wade在這麼短的時間內就搞定一個，用的也算是合理的38順位行情(大約0.9M)搞定他，當然一般認為他不值這個順位，但是既然他落到這個順位用這個價也沒啥好吵的．　歡迎今年第一個加入太空人的小朋友．　

[draft] 2008 #10 (1st) Jason Castro

昨天進行了第一天的業餘球員選秀會，太空人在第一輪的第十順位選了Stanford U的捕手Jason Castro，這個選擇跌破了幾乎所有專家和球評的眼鏡，尤其是攻守俱佳的一壘手Justin Smoak仍然還沒被選走的狀況下，太空人選擇了一個一般評估天份應該落在在第一輪後半段的捕手．

Position:	Catcher
School:	Stanford University
School Type:	College
Academic Class:	Junior
Birthdate:	06/18/87
Height:	6'3"
Weight:	215 lbs.
Bats:	Left
Throws:	Right

球探報告
球探影片

Heck和Wade表示這不是一個為了選捕手而選的選秀，Castro在所有剩下的球員中在他們的評估就是"best" player available，至於這個"best"是哪方面的best就留待大家怎麼看了．　當第九順位Crow被選走時，一邊嘆息少了個投手但是也竊喜著Smoak還在名單上，但是沒想到太空人出了這一招讓所有人都幾乎嚇傻了，Sickelｅ更是直接問WTF??　

據休士頓的球迷指出Heck在當地的電視台專訪中提到Castro是"best business selection"，當人沒人問他這個business代表著什麼涵義，不過從太空人過去的紀錄和Wade先前的談話就不難猜測出答案．　1)　signability：這是個因素，Castro一定比Smoak便宜，但是從沒聽說過Smoak是個難簽要高額簽約金的球員，為何要省這麼一點錢才是令人疑惑的因素．　加上Wade在選秀之前就和Castro的經紀人見過面，這更加深了要省錢的因素．　2)　快速爬升的即戰力：大聯盟幾乎沒有真正的即戰力，但是成熟的大學球員可以快速在小聯盟中爬升，快的話Castro在明年的下半季就有機會登上大聯盟．　太空人在某種程度上即需要小聯盟的戰力．　3)　選秀哲學：　Wade在選秀之前說過一句話："選秀不只在選擇天份和球隊的未來，也是再建立未來交易的籌碼"．　這句話也就代表著明年或是後年，Castro和Towles可能會是他手中握著最大的籌碼，選了Castro並不代表球隊放棄Towles，Castro是個左打捕手，這在市場上的稀有性和價值非常的高，不用打出明星般的身手只要維持平均以上的水準就是好籌碼，而Towles目前正陷入慘澹的低潮，但是一般球評認為他的實力絕不只如此，他只要恢復水準，也絕對是一枚交易的好籌碼，至於賣誰？　等這個令人高興的煩惱出現的時候再說吧！　其實有左右打捕手platoon也好像不錯 ^Q^　4)　Heck的怪眼光：Heck的眼光過去和所謂的專家都有些出入，而這些歧異最後勝出有很多次都是Heck．　一個月之前Heck在接受論壇報專訪時就希望球迷忘記所謂BA BP還有所有球評意見，要相信他們到現場觀察過球探的專業，這個到最後看來很明顯就是個消毒的舉動，Heck不只爆了這個第一輪冷門，後面的選秀一樣出人意表．　四個因素我當然最希望主因是第四個而不要是愚蠢的一和二．

Berkman - NL Player of May

恭喜Berkman拿下國聯五月最佳球員．　.471 avg　.553 OBP　49H　85TB都是全大聯盟最高．

完整五月數據

G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB
28	123	104	31	49	11	1	9	22	18
IBB	SO	HBP	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
6	18	1	1	6	1	.471	.553	.856	1.409

其他被提名球員有：
Dan Uggla　(.347, 12 HR, 26 RBI)
Ryan Braun　(.322, 11 HR, 22 RBI)
Adam Dunn　(.691 SLG, 10 HR, 25 RBI)
Chipper Jones　(.417, 4 HR, 14 RBI)
Ryan Ludwick　(.333, 9 HR, 26 RBI)
Albert Pujols　(.373, 9 HR, 17 RBI)
Alfonso Soriano　(.345, 10 HR, 29 RBI)

2008 draft talk part 3

上星期四五六所有的業餘球探回到了Houston總集合，為選秀會作最後的討論，綜合所有各區球探的意見，對所有的口袋名單作出排序．　儘管Wade和Heck再次從申了選秀的策略是best player available，但是這個available還是有但書的available，雖然沒有明說，但是言談還是透露出了大老闆還是不願意付over slot的簽約金出來．　好聽的說法是，當over slot去簽一個球員的時候就相對的削减了簽下其他球員的預算，其實我倒想看看老闆到底準備的多少預算？

星期日球探們邀請了一些我們有興趣的球員到MMP測試順便讓他們參觀看看，目前沒有流出我們到底邀請了哪些球員，不過我猜這應該是會保密的．

選秀會剩下不到一星期了，但是到底是想選誰似乎還是沒有比較清楚的暗示，口袋中的名單大概可能的會有三個大學投手投手Shooter Hunt，Christian Friedrich，Tanner Scheppers（受傷的問題可能以被排除）；野手部份有Yonder Alonso和應該選不到的Justin Smoak(1B)，Gordan Beckham(SS)，Tim Beckham(SS)．

最近的傳聞似乎Crow有可能會掉到太空人的順位，但是Signability第一考量下太空人會選擇他嗎？　如果真的選擇了他，說不定真的就像管理階層說的會排擠到其他的選秀，那會是好還是壞呢？　除了第一輪之外，傳說我們對當地高中的Ross Seaton有興趣，可能會動用38順位去選他．　但是除了他會不會掉到38順位的問題外，Seaton已經拿到Tulane的獎學金了，Signability又再次浮到檯面上．


再來順便回顧一下過去十年我們第一輪的慘況．
1998　Brad Lidge
1999　Ken Caminiti
2000　Robert Stiehl　　受傷退休　
2001　Chris Burke　　　　差不多養壞
2002　Derick Grigsby　心理因素無法投球退休
2003　Jeff Kent
2004　Andy Pettitte
2005　Brain Bogusevic　應該養不出來
2006　Max Sapp　　　　大概養不出來
2007　Carlos Lee

唯一成功養成的就只有Lidge了，而上面的五個失敗之作也讓大老闆丟了7M以上到水溝裡面，或許這是大老闆選秀保守的原因，不過這不應該是理由，因為FA市場丟到水溝裡的錢光今年一個Woody Williams就幹掉上面五個了，更不用談其他人．　希望大老闆好好想想，農場才是一切的根本．