Draft televised by ESPN?

[Greg D]

Although I don't think I've ever seen a formal announcement, for the second time now I've read that the 1st round of this year's draft will be televised by ESPN. Which will be cool but also kind of a non-event for Astros' fans this year given the club doesn't have a 1st-round pick.

This article (I'd post the link but it's subscriber-only) also indicates that MLB may also be moving toward a pre-draft combine a la the NFL. The MLB Scouting Bureau would be in charge of the event. Wonder what the folks who run all those wood bat showcases think of that idea.

[I'm Richies Dad]

MLB needs to do something like this.  All of the other major sports do it, why not baseball?  I never bought the idea of making a big deal out of the draft would some how influence the player going to college.

[Duman]

It will have more challenges because draft picks in other sports are expected to help in the next season.  This doesn't happen in baseball.  It can take years, therefore, the draft coverage can't be as player driven as the NFL & NBA where they have college stars there for photo ops.

I don't think this will progress past the hard core team fan who follows prospects or the hard core fantasy guy who has a league that allows a pool of minor league talent.

I think it will also be hard to broadcast a conference call and make it good TV.  Are they talking about having a rep in the room like other sports do?

[Froback]

Not sure what you could do in a combine to show much.

Accuracy of OF throws to home plate (garbage can type set-up)
How fast from home to 1B, or 1B-2B, or 2B-Home, etc.

Honestly the best way to evaulate baseball players is to play baseball.  I think this will end up being more a waste of time than actually worth the effort.

[Greg D]

I would think being able to measure speed, accuracy of throws, release times, etc. all in one setting would have some value. But, yes, combining those workouts with an actual game (or two or three) does seem the best approach of all.