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Q. So despite not being taken high, Franklin could be a future ML star, who was simply camoflaged on draft day?
A. Sure he could.
But he wasn't "camoflaged"; that would imply that other players are clearly pegged and drafted correctly. They ain't. All players, except the first five picks or so, are "camoflaged" like Franklin was.
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Keep in mind: most ML All-Stars were drafted outside the first 15 picks of the draft. Most current All-Stars were running head-down, middle-of-the-pack on draft day.
Lemme just run down the NL All-Stars this year:
- Hanley Ramirez - ammy FA
- Martin Prado - ammy FA
- Albert Pujols - 13th round draft pick 2001 (LOL!)
- Ryan Howard - 5th round draft pick, 2001 (and scorned for years)
- David Wright - 38th pick of the 2001 draft
- Ryan Braun - Here's a living, breathing #5 overall in the ASG - you go Capt Jack
- Andre Ethier - 2nd round draft pick, 2003
- Corey Hart - 11th round draft pick, 2000
- Yadier Molina - 4th round draft pick, 2000
- Ubaldo Jimenez - ammy free agent
Of course, Ramirez, Prado and Jimenez were international guys, but you still see the trend. It's not given to mortal man to set-em-up-and-knock-em-down in the MLB amateur draft.
David Wright was the only 2010 NL All-Star drafted in the first round at all, and he as a supplemental pick -- after 37 other players were taken. With the #18 overall, the Mets themselves passed on David Wright and selected Aaron Heilman, so it's not like the Mets had special insight on him, either.
The Brewers took Mike Jones ahead of Wright; Jones never pitched in the majors. The Angels took Kotchman, who at least made the majors, but ain't you glad they didn't take Wright. The Mariners took ... wait for it ... Michael Garciaparra that year. The Yankees took John-Ford Griffin ahead of Wright, yes, THE John-Ford Griffin.
Keep in mind that David Wright was the player, in the 2010 NL All-Star lineup, who was easiest to see, and nobody could really see him.
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Why is it that Ryan Howard was sitting there in the 4th round, 2001, and he was going to be an MVP, and people just kept passing him -- to take high school mediocrities? It's 'cause you just can't see the future. Don't let folks kid you that you can.
SSI believes that there are certain guys, Roger Jongewaard, Jack Zduriencik, those types, who have a special knack. Z can see the guys early (Guti, Fister, Vargas, Branyan's ability to hit LH's, etc). We think that he did on Franklin.
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