[Westheim]

1991 AMATEUR DRAFT

The Raccoons had the 15th pick in every round, plus the 12th of 32 picks in the supplemental first round, and the 20th pick in the second round, which the Stars gave up when they signed Antonio Lopez as a free agent. That’s some neat arrangement for four picks among the first seventy-six. There’s a “but” coming.

But it won’t help us much. I found the 1991 pool extremely poor. Starting pitching is extremely poor with only two or three promising boys in there, and catching is non-existent. Outfielders are scarce, and there is not a single power bat in there that does not swing at pigeons flying past sixty feet overhead. Among infielders and relievers, the personnel-to-be on offer is much better, but at #15, little All Star potential will fall to our feet.

The list for players to drool all over was rather short, accordingly: SP Gerardo Ramirez, MR Xavier Herrera, MR Jesus Longoria, CL Leonardo Sosa, 3B Sonny Reece, LF Paco Martinez – that’s about it. There was 2B/3B Roberto Quintero in there, with a potential .330 bat with double digit dingers power, but the problem was that he had been born with the right foot on the left arm and his left hand on his right arm and so on. Apart from mashing, he couldn’t do ANYTHING. ANYTHING. Not even stand on the field. Let alone hustle down a ball.

The Scorpions had the first overall pick and selected OF Manny Ocampo, who had been rather high on our outfield list as well. Testament to the poor pitching was how little pitchers were picked in total before our first pick: three of fourteen players. Ramirez remained on the table. The only other players from the list above remaining were Herrera and Longoria. We took Ramirez, who was still around for unknown reasons. The other two did not remain on the table until we were to pick again.

1991 Portland Raccoons Draft Class
Round 1 (#15) – SP Gerardo Ramirez, 20, from La Concepcion, Panama – right-hander with five pitches, the slider and curveball looking particularly impressive; flyball pitcher, which could become an issue once he plays in Portland
Supp. Round (#36) – LF/RF Paco Martinez, 18, from Caucaguita, Venezuela – solid hitter, possibly for a high average, and not swinging at crap in the dirt; power projected to be enough for double digits; unfortunately is extremely challenged as far as movement in the field is concerned
Round 2 (#71) – 2B Pat Parker, 20, from Kingsport, TN – only one position, but good contact making ability; power is not as thrilling, but with some speed in there as well, he could become a leadoff hitter
Round 2 (#76) – INF Michael Lloyd, 23, from Ridgecrest, CA – plays all four infield positions well, can hit for average; little arm power and speed, and no power
Round 3 (#95) – MR Fred Carlton, 18, from Mesa, AZ – left-handed reliever with devastating slider
Round 4 (#119) – 1B Steve Stevens, 20, from Willemstad, Curacao – very incomplete hitter with doubles, not home run power; so-so defense
Round 5 (#143) – MR Pancho Padilla, 17, from Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. – good, but not thrilling slider; right-hander
Round 6 (#167) – LF Kenny Crockett, 23, from Brookfield, WI – so-so hitting, coupled with horrifying glove work
Round 7 (#191) – 1B/2B Bryan Peterson, 22, from The Colony, TX – good defense on the right side, has speed and gap power, but nothing else
Round 8 (#215) – LF/RF Ruben Cabrera, 19, from Esperanza, Dom. Rep. – speed really is his only upside, and his range is compromised by a weak arm
Round 9 (#239) – MR Juan De La Cruz, 17, from Cumana, Venezuela – lefty with really low stamina and a good curve
Round 10 (#263) – 1B/2B Luis Lopez, 17, from Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. – no power, swings at everything that moves
Round 11 (#287) – SP Bill Banks, 17, from Pasadena, TX – four pitches, no real velocity
Round 12 (#311) – MR Rob Austin, 17, from Scott Lake, FL – tries to develop a changeup

Ramirez, Parker, and Lloyd will start at the AA level, the others in A ball.

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This has taken place during the next week. Time is fluid, you know.

More from the grown-up Raccoons in the next update. We have some horrify-shock-terrifying news coming up.