Spikes may not get much help from high draft picks

By Guy Cipriano

- gciprian@centredaily.com

It's hard not to desire, or even expect, instant gratification when it comes to the 2009 State College Spikes.

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Only a year ago, the Spikes won 18 games.

The total would satisfy the followers of a high school team.

But winning 18 times in 74 games turned last summer into a long, short season.

How about that for a book title? The Longest Short Season. The problem is nobody wants to hear more about the fourth worst team in New York-Penn League history. Forget selling last year’s tales to a publisher.

A new season begins in eight days, and it can’t possibly be worse.

No franchise in NYPL history has recorded less than 20 wins in consecutive seasons. The scene at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park by late-August could be scary if the Spikes find themselves grinding to eclipse the 20-victory mark.

All of this brings us to the Major League Baseball Draft, which ends with the final 20 rounds today.

Last year’s draft provided the Spikes with little help.

The Pirates sent nine players selected in the first 30 rounds to State College. Infielders Jordy Mercer and Matt Hague left before June ended because the Pirates quickly shipped the Oklahoma State duo to full-season Hickory. Pitchers Mike Colla, who has established himself this season as a relief prospect at High-A Lynchburg, and Brent Klinger joined the team late and combined for just five innings. Infielders Chase D’Arnaud and Jeremy Farrell missed time with injuries, leaving outfielder David Rubinstein, first baseman Calvin Anderson and pitcher Brian Leach as the only players selected in last year’s first 30 rounds to play the entire season in State College.

The first 30 rounds of this year’s draft concluded Wednesday, leaving one to wonder what to expect in State College.

If there’s such a thing as big names in short-season baseball — who can honestly say they knew much about Pirates first-round pick and Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez before Tuesday night? — then the 2009 Spikes could lack instant glitter.

The Pirates shortage of catching depth, something obvious by watching the 2007 and ‘08 Spikes, makes Sanchez a candidate to begin his professional career at full-season West Virginia. If compensation-round pick, Victor Black, a hard-throwing right-hander from Dallas Baptist, signs soon, he might bypass State College. The past two State College teams proved the Pirates lack dynamic minor-league arms.

The Pirates used their second-round pick on Temecula Valley (Calif.) High School pitcher Brooks Pounders. High school players begin careers with rookie Bradenton, which scratches eight other top-20 round picks from landing here.

Even third-rounder Evan Chambers could be on the State College bubble when he signs. Chambers, a 20-year-old outfielder, played at Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College. Immediate destinations for junior college players are difficult to predict, although the Pirates current front office enjoys challenging players.

From rounds 4-20, the Pirates selected just six Division I players — left-hander Nathaniel Baker (fifth round, Mississippi), second baseman Brock Holt (ninth, Rice), first baseman Aaron Baker (11th, Oklahoma), right-hander Jeffrey Inman (12th, Stanford), outfielder Matt den Dekker (16th, Florida) and left-hander Sam Spangler (20th, Hawaii). All six players are juniors, so they will bring the leverage of returning to school to contract negotiations.

NY-PL players vary in backgrounds, ages and experience levels. But the league’s best teams often include multiple high draft picks from major colleges.

Four players selected in last year’s first five rounds contributed to Batavia’s championship. Five players selected during the first five rounds helped Auburn win an elusive title in ‘07. Four players selected in the first seven rounds helped Staten Island’s ‘06 championship team. When the ‘03 Williamsport Crosscutters, a Pirates affiliate, won the title, their rotation included first-and second-round picks Paul Maholm and Tom Gorzelanny.

One of baseball’s endearing qualities involves organizations using different means to an end, making it possible to field a competitive NY-PL without high picks.

The Pirates have displayed a desire to become a younger, leaner organization since general manager Neal Huntington and player development director Kyle Stark’s arrival from the Cleveland Indians in 2007. This is where delayed gratification could impact the ‘09 Spikes.

A collection of raw, inexperienced players spent the past 21/ 2 months in the organization’s extended spring training program. The program ended Tuesday, the same day the draft started, and Spikes manager Gary Robinson said its participants displayed encouraging intangibles.

“I was pleased with the level of intensity, level of urgency and level of improvement,” Robinson said. “Players are starting to buy into that grind it out philosophy the Pirates demand.”

Can a productive spring compensate for the potential lack of high 2009 draft picks in State College?

A resounding yes could soon erase memories of the longest, short season.