Here's the way it works and the reason behind this. Andy and I will alternate picking 5 players each to represent "our team" for the summer. Now we really have absolutely no clue as to who these guys are. Our knowledge goes as far as an internet search or stats from last season go. What will this team represent?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING besides the fact that if one of "our players" plays well we get to say, "Yeah, that's my guy". Every other Friday we will be allowed to make a drop/add (You know, in case a guy gets hurt or gets a call up or you don't like him. I will not be utilizing this feature this season. I'm riding my five guys to the bitter end) and trades are also allowed.
Andy got to draft first since he actually attended the "Meet the Players" event the Indians threw Tuesday night. Here are the draft picks and a quick synopsis on why each player was taken by the man that drafted them:
Pitcher Alex Gonzalez:
Simple…Chi Chi is the pride and joy of the Rangers 2013 Draft. 1st Rounder righty from Oral Roberts throws in the mid 90's. Chances are we are only going to see him a couple of times before the Power That Be call him up, so I'm not gonna miss out on the chance to collect a W on opening night when he smokes the SweatSox. Oh and we have the same initials..AG (Thats the real reason I drafted him)
With the second pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Sean takes...
Pitcher Yohander Mendez
Yohander was a no brainer for me. I grew up in Venezuela and this kid is from Valencia, Venezuela. Valencia is a place where we'd stop on our long 12 hour drives from Rubio (where I lived) to Caracas (the capitol of Venezuela where we would go for vacation). We didn't have McDonald's in Rubio or anywhere near there when I was younger but Valencia had one and it was the greatest treat in the world to stop there on the drive and taste what it felt like to be an American. Outside of my love for the country I grew up in I had no real reason behind me picking Yohander. His name is super cool and he already accepted my Facebook request so that is a plus. Go-hander!!!!
With the third pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Andy takes...
Catcher Joe Jackson
This is a sad one for me…Joe Jackson distant Grandson of the one and only Shoeless Joe Jackson, set to have a great season here in Spokane broke his hand and is out for at least a month. Now here is the thing...in any other sport, a month is a tolerable time to be on the injured list but in "A" SS a month is an eternity. So now I am out a starter and a legacy. Not a good start…But hopefully I will be granted some sort of forgiveness and able to pick up another player…Sean does owe me one for his last pick Blunder!!! Uhhh…Serrato…No wait Alvarez…No Van Hoosier…No Alvarez. C'mon Man!
With the fourth pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Sean takes...
Shortstop Gabriel Roa SHORTSTOP!!! Period, point blank. No way I was passing on getting the shortstop for the Spokane Indians. I have always felt like shortstop and center field are the "rock star" positions on the baseball diamond. Plus at 5'9" 155lbs, Roa is the smallest player on the team! I do love cheering for an underdog story. I'm praying that Roa is just a crafty slap hitter with wheels for days. Get me a snag deep in the hole followed up by a spinning b.b. throw to first and I'm going to be weak in the knees. Now hopefully he's the starting shortstop...
With the fifth pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Andy takes...
Second Baseman Cam Schiller
Cam is my rock. Aside from being a returner to the Indians and another Oral Roberts boy, Cam is one of the older guys on the team. I needed a vet to stay controlled and Cam is that man. Switcher hitter with .281…I'll take it, not mention the fact the while Sean may think that SS is the Rock Star of the team 2nd Base is bulldog of the team. Sure shortstops got the flashy position but 2nd that where the True Grit is. Cam will provide my team with the veteran stability and consistency, which apparently we already need due to AG only being a K away from moving up and Little Joe already on his way out…Cam you are officially my Team Captain. Congrats. Oh and thanks for the tix (I'll explain later)
With the sixth pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Sean takes...
Outfielder Jamie Jarmon Pitcher: check
Shortstop: check
Outfielder with some size and potential power: Jamie Jarmon has two of the three for sure. Now get out there and prove me right with some long bombs.
I needed some size. After getting the smallest guy on the field I figured that Roa wasn't going to lead me to many HR dances in the crowd. Jamie Jarmon (I call him "JJ The Giant Slayer") is going to be my main man, I can feel it. The downside of JJ is that he's a right handed hitter which means The Grotto will not be his friend unless he was made to oppo. Regardless, I've put a lot of eggs in this mans basket, enough that I kind of want to get a #17 jersey before the season even starts.
With the seventh pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Andy takes...
Pitcher Alex De La Cruz
Cruz provided me with two things I desperately needed on my team…
1. A freaking awesome name. C'mon Alex De La Cruz?!?! Guys got more swag in his name than the Hova in a cardigan.
and
2. A little Latin flavor. Every good ball club has a fiery Latin pitcher that comes in throwing hot salsa all over the place. The Cruz-er was 4-2 with 9 saves last season in the DSL...I can already hear the maracas as he runs in from the Bull Pen to save the day like a Puerto Rican Ricky Vaughn. Cosa Salvaje.
With the eighth pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Sean takes...
Shortstop Alberto Truinfel
Dangit. After selecting Roa with my 2nd pick I realized that another shortstop with an even better name was still left on the roster. I have no clue which one starts, thus the pickle I found myself in. Honestly at this point I feel like I missed with Roa. If I'm a manager and I'm looking at a guy named Gabriel Roa or a cool cat named ALBERTO TRUINFEL I'm going with Truinfel all day everyday. Two shortstops on my "team" means a lot more swag potential too. PS. I'm choosing Truinfel as having the coolest walk up music this season. It will be a sweet old school hip hop song or Macklemore "Can't Hold Us"
With the ninth pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Andy takes...
Catcher Brandon Garcia
Here's the deal with Brandon Garcia…He won the HomeRun Derby at Avista the other night. That easy. I knew the thing my team lacked was the long ball (Chicks Dig It) and Brandon give me every reason with HR win to earn that spot. There is nothing like the feeling of every time one of your hitters gets to the plate, there is a possibility he is going Yard. Now with JoeJack out that possibility might have gotten even greater.
With the tenth pick in the 2013 Spokane Indians Why I Otto Player Draft coach Sean takes...
Pitcher Richard Alvarez Richard Alvarez is the tainted portion of the 2013 draft. I hit total panic mode here! 3 guys were staring me in the face.
1) Richard Alvarez, or as I call him "The OTHER Venezuelan" on the team. Only 2 guys from my old homeland on this years squad. It would be a sin if I didn't draft them both.
2) Evan Van Hoosier. A 6 foot tall second baseman with a silky smooth name and this picture on his Facebook Page (yeah, he's listed as working for Hollister so he probably smells good).
3) Barret Serrato. Listed as simply and infielder on the pre-season roster, I took this to mean "Utility Man" and to me that sounds awesome. Who doesn't want someone who can do it all. He also has back to back r's in his first and last name which I feel could lead to some sort of cheer down the road...
This is when a draft faux pas occurred. In a moment of panic I drafted Barret... Andy even marked it down on the official draft sheet. Then I felt like I had just betrayed my entire family and existence and begged to erase my pick and go with Alvarez the other Venezuelan. Andy obliged but it will cost me a beer. Viva Venezuela!
Here are the final results and teams for the summer. Team Andy: - Alex Gonzalez - Joe Jackson - Cam Schiller - Alex De La Cruz - Brandon Garcia
Team Sean: - Yohander Mendez - Gabriel Roa - Jamie Jarmon - Alberto Truinfel - Richard Alvarez
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