MLB and EPSN: Getting It Right

By Matt "The Stat" Himelfarb
Posted Monday, May 14, 2007

As a diehard Mets and baseball fan, I've been continuously impressed by what Main has done so far. His clutchness last summer is hard to argue with, and he mixes it in with plus-plus arm strength, savvy and guile that make him the class' top pitching prospect.

But even though it's exceedingly doubtful Michael Main will ever be donning the orange and blue, (maybe after six years service time as the top ace in baseball?) does any anyone get the creeps when you hear the phrase: "New York Mets select SS Josh Horton from the University of North Carolina?"

Ok, fine, I'm not going to make the MLB draft out to be this exciting event in which Rudy Guiliani will come out on stage at Rockefeller Center and say "Matt Harvey" quicker than you can say shameless propaganda. Unless if you've grown up playing little league baseball in Texas and follow the Longhorns as zealously as they do, there's no emotional tie to a certain college baseball program, nor are there cheerleaders, marching bands, or fans smoking a cigar at their local bar deciding whether they're to bet on Matt LaPorta and the Florida Gators or Pedro Alvarez and Vanderbilt.

The main point though, even if expectations are low and improvements made only after the first live MLB draft is actually shown on television, ESPN and Major League Baseball - for once - just do something right. MLB surely couldn't handle steroids before the whole issue blew up a little over three years ago, while ESPN just doesn't ever seem to get the message.

ESPN to me is like regular radio. They could, if they wanted to be successful, cut to the chase and give you hardcore analysis just as you wish radio would just give you the music, but instead, for some reason, they mush the good stuff in between a bunch of garbage to the point where they actually consider whatever that poker show was a few years ago a success.

Does anyone remember their pitiful endeavor to showcase total drama productions such as the Pete Rose movie, or the one about the college football team? Watching the Pete Rose movie the first time it was showed - which I admittedly did - is more likely to be compared to tasting a Philly Cheese Steak in southern New Jersey than an actual move production.

Luckily for ESPN, it has the chance to be a phony no more. Even if it means sacrificing a few of their own men - and by that I mean not having John Kruk and Steve Phillips as "draft day analysts"- they will be better off for it. Yes, I'm talking about the same Steve Phillips that almost traded David Wright for Jose Cruz Jr. and Jose Reyes for Roberto Alomar.

Let's face the reality though, you can't turn back the clock. All David Wright did in 2001 was compile a .366 OBP. with a world class attitude at age 19. Nothing to get excited about there. Than we have Jose Reyes. Who cares that Reyes held his own at age 18 in the Sally League, look at the talent in Alex Escobar (35 walks vs 146 strikeouts?). But just look at his tools!!

Now, I'm willing to accept many brilliant evaluators such as Kevin Goldstein will not be on, but ESPN, for those who don't know, are partnered with Baseball America. Keith Olberman, a former writer for BA, certainly won't be there on draft day, but Jim Callis, Will Lingo, John Manuel, Aaron Fitt, these guys will all be available if ESPN is willing to come to their senses. These are solid, hardcore baseball minds that form the brain trust of BA, which is the father of reporting the minor leagues. They've been there done that, and have this stud work and this stud not work. They were one of the first to give everyone the inside scoop of a kid named Alex Rodriguez, and the inside story of a young, poor kid, who all but ruined his own career; Matt Harrington.

And then of course, is the debate surrounding the trading of draft picks. For those fans who find the idea of trading draft picks in the baseball draft absolutely ludicrous, you either don't know what's going on or - the far more likely reason - that the issue hasn't been raised enough. Simply look back on two situations that most baseball fans are familiar with.

First of all, there was Billy Beane's obsession with Nick Swisher. As portrayed in Moneyball, Beane would've taken Swisher with the first overall pick of the draft, and was frantically able to land him at number fifteen. How history could've changed had Beane simply traded up two spots and landed Swisher. Second of all, there's also the Randy Johnson trade situation back in 2004. Since the Red Sox didn't want to send Jon Lester to Arizona, they were unable to acquire Johnson, who ultimately ended up in the Bronx. At the very least, two above average prospects and say, a top ten pick could've easily sealed the deal.

Heck, as funny as it might sound right now, if you feel by June that you're pretty comfortable with the Mets starting pitching and at the same time, realize it's highly unlikely a trade between the Mets and Braves involving catcher Jarrod Saltamacchia, is it really that bad of an idea to trade, say, Carlos Gomez, who, whether you like him or not, is playing in a position where you already have a lot of depth, for say, a top rated catcher such as J.P. Arencibia?

Not only is Arencibia a talented player, but he's a collegiate player, meaning he can make a quick impact. After all, didn't Mike Pelfrey, Ryan Zimmerman, Troy Tulowitzki, and Alex Gordon reach the big leagues as quick as if not faster than say, a Matt Leinart or Vince Young?

Add up Baseball America analysts partnered with Keith Law, the trading of draft picks, and finally giving fans the chance to see David Price put on his Devil Rays jersey live, and it comes out to the big time publicity that ESPN and MLB have always yearned for.

Matt has been offered this week to both shave his head and that if the Mets win a certain series in a month starting with the letter 'O,' he'll have to get a tattoo as well. Unfortunately, for several exotic reasons, he seemingly prefers C-Span over Bounty Hunter. You can contact him at: matthimelfarb@gmail.com and check out www.prospectpit.blogspot.com