Folks, we dove into a doozie of a Top-10 Mock below. I have little energy to write something witty here. It’s late. Thanks for reading!
Let the Boys Play!
If you hit a ball this far:
You should be allowed to do this without ejection:
Regardless of the rule:
Rule 5-17 supplements the previous rule by specifying unsportsmanlike acts by players or teams. Banning props, signs, and bat flips near or toward opponents can “reduce potential acts of unsportsmanlike conduct directed at opposing teams or players.”
My Daughter’s Favorite Team Update: A hard-fought series win against top-10 Oklahoma leaves her Crimson Tide at 26-4 (6-3 in Conference)
“I don't think of my life as a cliche, but I'm a cliche eccentric. Complete with a strange name - I mean, who's named Val? How many Vals do you know? I mean, really?” - Val Kilmer
MLB Draft Predictions
We are 100 Days from the MLB Draft, and this draft class feels like it’s lacking something. Jace has fallen from grace, and we’ve got some nepatism possibilities in the first round. Plus, this has to be the only draft where someone named Liam will go in the first round. That being said, here is how I would draft the top 10 of the MLB Draft:
Washington Nationals: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Safe. This pick is safe for an organization that is historically bad at drafting in the first round. The minor league system has some offensive promise, but the pitching depth is missing. Cade Cavalli, Jackson Rutledge, Mason Denaburg (oof), and Seth Romero (double oof) have been flops for the Nationals in the first round. Arnold’s newly developed change-up gives him three average and above pitches, allowing him to factor into the Nationals rotation in the next few years. At this point, if Arnold is not the pick, I would worry who they would select.
LA Angels: Liam Doyle, LHP, University of Tennessee
A polished high school arm who could be in the big leagues soon? Sounds like an Angel. This may sound mean, but the Angels have shown they cannot develop minor leaguers into big leaguers, so it’s smart to draft accomplished, polished college players from player development-focused programs. Doyle has played for THREE player development-focused programs in Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss, and now Tennessee. It is a fastball-dominant arsenal, but that fastball is the best in the country. Safe to say the Angels go college, so if not Doyle, it could be Aiva Arquette or Tyler Bremner.
Seattle Mariners: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona High School (CA)
I think Billy will end up going first overall to the Nationals. Maybe I’m alone in that, but there is a world where Billy Carlson is a less physical Bobby Witt and gets to the big leagues fast. Hold me to it. With the success of Cole Young and Colt Emerson in recent drafts, why wouldn’t Seattle keep going with what they’re good at, drafting High School SS’s?
Colorado Rockies: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
Aiva is as close to Alex Rodriguez as we’ve seen in the Draft since Carlos Correa. Will he stick at SS? Maybe. Is he physical enough to play 3B? Probably. The floor is as high as it probably gets in the college hitter ranks with the body type and the ability to hit it hard and often. Colorado needs high floor and quick risers. Aaron Judge has more RBIs than they have runs through 6 games.
St. Louis Cardinals: Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater High School (OK)
While you don’t draft for “need” in the first round, the Cardinals have many holes in the organization at numerous spots. Their big league lineup has at least 3 players who should be full-time DH’s. The athleticism outside SS and CF is not there, and those positions have offensive question marks. So what do you do if you’re St.Louis? You draft the most famous high schooler in the class whose father happened to play for your team for 8 seasons. Ethan is likely a third baseman long term, but he hits and hits a ton. The rise of his brother from high school to the big leagues will do nothing but help limit the risk in Ethan’s profile.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
The Pirates have never met a right-handed arm they didn’t like. They’ve also had great success in drafting them the last few years with Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler, Paul Skenes, and Thomas Harrington, who could all be in the rotation together at some point this season.
Miami Marlins: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
Marek is not a home run offensively. His exit velocities are still not great, but his defense is Gold Glove worthy. At the very worst, he is an immediate upgrade over Xavier Edwards. Whatever you do, Miami, draft anyone who can help you soon. I showed the Marlins box score to a friend and asked if he knew anyone in the Marlins’ lineup. He did not.
Toronto Blue Jays: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton High School (OK)
The tendency is college arms or shortstops, so why deviate? Willits is fun. His brother, Oklahoma’s SS, will also be drafted. A talented defensive shortstop with elite speed could make it work in SS or CF. Teams love players with big league pedigree. Eli’s dad, Reggie, was a big leaguer and former first-base coach for the Yankees before returning to the University of Oklahoma to coach Eli’s brother, Jaxon.
Cincinnati Reds: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona High School (CA)
The Red would be thrilled to get Hernandez here. Power righties match a trend the last few years with Chase Burns, Chase Petty, Rhett Lowder, Luke Holman, and Ty Floyd. The risk level with High School pitchers is high, but Hernandez is the best arm in the prep class with a fastball that touches 100 and two distinct breaking balls that will limit any hard contact for his opponents this season.
Chicago White Sox: Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M
Woof - what a fall from grace. Plenty of time to turn things around, but Jace was the clear #1 pick just a month ago, and now I would say this is his ceiling? The physical tools are there, but he’s gotten a little slower this year, so now he seems destined for RF rather than CF, and his strikeout concerns have not been alleviated. That being said, the White Sox need immediate help, and who’s to say Jace couldn’t be in their lineup in two years?
Games to Watch From This Past Week
If you’re not following Wheels on YouTube, you should.
Mississippi State at LSU (Game 2): A pitcher’s duel gives the series win to LSU with Anthony Eyanson and Casen Evans combining for a 1 run outing with 18 K’s.
Oklahoma at Alabama (Game 1): Alabama is so fun to watch. The athleticism across the field is unmatched by any team besides maybe Clemson and Tennessee. Taking Game 1 in this fashion is a momentum killer for the Sooners.
Virginia Tech at #16 Wake Forest: How Virginia Tech swept this series will remain a mystery. Sam Tackett is very good, and Wake Forest’s defense is really unimpressive.
Weekend Matchups to Watch
Alabama at Auburn: This matchup screams “Frat violence.”
Duke at UNC: Two friendly programs. Nothing to see here.
Arizona at Arizona State: Arizona State is an Omaha sleeper.
Disclaimer: I did not intend to tell you to watch three of the best rivalries in sports - it just happened