Discuss.

Via MLB Network:

 

Dont have exact numbers but he's 6'3" and is a lefty.

 

He had over 100K's in about 60 innings

 

About a 1.8 era

 

He's out of high school

 

They seemed to like the pick and said the Marlins were holding their breathe because they really wanted this guy.

 

Of course they called Josh Johnson by the name of Jonathan so who knows if we should value their opinion...lol

They were saying that he is similar to a Sean West...

Sean West had a more diverse pitch selection to work with than James. James will succeed if the coaches in the minors can teach him another pitch or two to work with, he has a low 90s fastball, a slider that has decent movement, and nothing beyond that.

That's the one silver lining to drafting high schoolers, is that, if they DO make it, you get a lot more time to develop them to what the organization believes will be their best fit.

via rotoworld.com:

 

Marlins selected high school LHP Chad James with the 18th pick in the draft.

 

James has plenty of upside with his low-90s fastball and hard curve. He has a ways to go from a command standpoint, but he was a nice choice at No. 18. On potential alone, he ranked as the top high school lefty in the draft.

After two years of using their first round pick on position players, the Marlins are probably going to use this year's pick to help restock the farm system's pitching. The Marlins pick players in waves. In the 2004 and 2005 drafts, combining their first five draft picks, the Marlins selected a total of seven pitchers. In the 2006 and 2007 drafts, combining their first five draft picks, they chose only two pitchers.

 

The Marlins aren't a normal team in the sense that they hold onto the players they develop into major league quality talent since once they reach the point of being arbitration eligible they are traded. For example: Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, AJ Burnett, Ryan Dempster, Braden Looper, Dontrelle Willis, Scott Olsen, etc. are no longer with the Fish. And that is just some of the pitchers, the same holds true for position players.

 

The 2005 draft class of pitchers are beginning to be ready for the majors. Or in one case, Chris Volstad, is all ready in the majors. So it is time to begin the wave of pitchers once again. In 2008 the Marlins selected four pitchers in their first five picks and there is every reason to believe that the Marlins will keep the trend going. The Marlins live by the adage that you can never have enough pitching.

 

The Marlins almost always select high school pitchers so that they can be trained in house. The Fish are very good at evaluating and developing young pitching talent. However, if the Marlins believe they will need a pitcher to develop quickly into a major league quality player, it is conceivable they could choose a college player, if the right one is available. In this year's draft, that probably won't happen, but it could.

 

All of that said, in the mock draft, Chad James was chosen. James is 6-3 185 lefty who has four pitches. His fast ball is normally 89-92 and touches 95 mph on occasion. His curve ball is in the low to mid-seventies with a good break. He throws a spike slider that still needs some work but shows promise. The Marlins will have to teach him how to throw a decent change, which should not be a problem.

 

James has a nice delivery but it also will require some minor adjustments. The scouts project his body will continue to fill out and he will add velocity to his fast ball in the coming years.

 

James has signed a letter of intent to play at Oklahoma St. but will sign if drafted in the first couple of rounds and his asking price is in the range that the Marlins are willing to pay - which is always a major consideration for the Marlins.

 

 

 

http://mvn.com/outsider/2009/05/mlb-outsider-mock-draft-florida-marlins-select-chad-james.html

I would have rather taken a college pitcher myself, but he sounds decent.

Who?

 

Chad James.

 

Who?

 

I'm Chad James Bitch.

In conclusion, the Marlins drafted a project. If he reaches the majors, it won't be for at least another 3 and a half years, more likely 4 to 5 years.

In conclusion, the Marlins drafted a project. If he reaches the majors, it won't be for at least another 3 and a half years, more likely 4 to 5 years.

 

Basically.

It's as good of a pick as many based on the scouts perspectives.

 

We'll see if the baby starters (Sanabia, Kaminska, Hand, Olmos, Brewer, James) pan out in the next few years.

I prefer high school age players to college. College players are supposed to arrive sooner but they need to be a practically complete product coming out of college or else the timespan for them to refine their game and maximize their physical tools dwindles away very quickly.

Coming into Tuesday's MLB draft, the Marlins were looking to bolster their pitching prospects. They did just that when they selected LHP Chad James out of Yukon High School in Oklahoma with the 18th overall pick.

 

Before the draft, the Marlins let it known that they were going to take the best player available. They felt that 6'3, 205 lb James was it.

Chad James went 9-1 with a 1.36 era his this past year. During his first varsity start as a freshman against Shawnee High School, James threw a no-hitter. He is currently committed to Oklahoma State University.

 

James has 3 pitches - Fastball, Curve and Change-up - but is mixing in a slider to his arsenal. His fastball ranges from 91-93 mhp( an increase of 10 mhp from his freshman year).

 

"I was talking to my brother about it and decided it would be good to add,? James said about adding the slider. "I like the movement it gives me.?

 

The last high school pitcher the Marlins drafted in the first round was Chris Volstad in 2005.

 

 

Miami Sports Generation

I like the pick

In conclusion, the Marlins drafted a project. If he reaches the majors, it won't be for at least another 3 and a half years, more likely 4 to 5 years.

 

 

 

Everyone minus the Nats with pick 1 drafted a project today.

It wasn't a great draft imo at the top.

In conclusion, the Marlins drafted a project. If he reaches the majors, it won't be for at least another 3 and a half years, more likely 4 to 5 years.

 

 

 

Everyone minus the Nats with pick 1 drafted a project today.

Unless you're in the boat, which many are, that Strasburg needs a new delivery before he kills himself.

 

Also, is it really a project for a guy to come up here at age 22-23?

In conclusion, the Marlins drafted a project. If he reaches the majors, it won't be for at least another 3 and a half years, more likely 4 to 5 years.

 

 

 

Everyone minus the Nats with pick 1 drafted a project today.

Unless you're in the boat, which many are, that Strasburg needs a new delivery before he kills himself.

 

Also, is it really a project for a guy to come up here at age 22-23?

 

Of course it's a project. After all, we're the Marlins, and everyone is Volstad and Cabrera.

I heard next years draft is gonna be really good.

Unless you're in the boat, which many are, that Strasburg needs a new delivery before he kills himself.

 

 

If I'm the nats, I bring him up ASAP and ride the finite amount of pitches in that arm until he's a FA. Let his arm be someone else's problem.

I dont hate the pick aside from the fact a guy with alot higher upside was still on the board and taken with the very next pick.

In conclusion, the Marlins drafted a project. If he reaches the majors, it won't be for at least another 3 and a half years, more likely 4 to 5 years.

 

Basically.

 

You guys do realize that is exactly what you do in the draft. This isn't the NFL or NBA.

 

Can you name a player that was drafted and went directly to the MLB for any team? Even out of college? Drafted in June and donning a major league uniform a few days later, not for the photo ops. A few weeks. A few months. The Nats pick may very well be the extreme rarity. Even if it is just for the publicity and getting fannies in the seats.

 

The first year player draft is all about getting prospects into your system and developing them to your needs. Some will not even play the position they were drafted as. Look at Gary Sheffield.

The Marlins have a pretty good track record of identifying pitching prospects from Oklahoma like Brad Penny(I know they traded for him, but i'm sure they went after him because their scouts knew him well) and Josh Johnson. I'll trust Stan Meek and staff on this pick. Plus, not a single analyst had a bad word to say about the kid or that he was any sort of reach at 18.

 

From Baseball Prospectus:

 

Kevin Goldstein (4:40:15 PM PT): James could turn out to be better than a lot of the bigger names. More projectable in the frame, velo just as good, lots to like here.