Comments on: Royals Select Kyle Zimmer

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:15:29 +0000

First, I still have the mental scars remaining from taking Jeff Austin out of Stanford in 1998. For that reason alone I was leery of taking Appel. Not scientific, but real none the less.

As for Appel and Boras, what are they going to do? Sit out another year in the hopes of getting …. exactly the same thing? Appel is definitely going to be the canary for this new draft system, and the fact that the players agreed to all these changes is going to make it very difficult for him to get around it. The only loophole that I see left is convincing a team to go the luxury tax route and in turn give up the next two first-round picks (in addition to the financial penalty). The might have worked for Strasburg/Harper, but Appel has no chance.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:02:33 +0000

DC…I totally agree. These kids that get mad because they dont get a set $ amount for signing need to totally think about what they are doing because if they look at the odds of say working a desk job over playing a game they love then they wouldnt be so upset at losing a few million dollars. I for one would be thrilled to be the #8 pick even if it was just for a few million dollars. Hell I’d like to make $500,000/year and I would be happy but these atlhetes that think they should be paid millions and millions of dollars need to have a reality check.

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:00:33 +0000

Zimmer was probably not the highest ceiling player at #5. I do not watch or scout prospects, but from what I read, there were several high school players with higher potential upside. But we all knew DM was targeting a college pitcher, and there is some discussion about where Zimmer falls in that category. Yes, Appel is no sure thing, can’t miss ace, but most who write about these things professionally graded him as the highest ceiling college pitcher. Is there risk in drafting him? Sure. He lacks the kind of dominance that you want from a college pitcher, he seemed kind of douchy in how he handled the draft, etc. But if you are the Royals and you have a chance to draft the kid that (almost) everyone says is the best college pitcher available and you get moved off that because you are worried about signing guys from later rounds in a weak draft, well, that can only be called conservative to a fault. Maybe it works out to be the right decision (Appel does not sign, Appel does not develop as hoped, Zimmer turns out to be a stud), but judging from the information we have this is disappointing; consider the first two maybes on that list depend on Appel, not Zimmer. Look, leading up to the draft all we heard on blogs and in print media was that the Royals absolutely had to draft a college arm with a high ceiling, but now that they passed on the college arm with the highest ceiling we are supposed to accept that it was the best decision. I want to be proved wrong on this, I really do, but as an instant draft reaction, how Is it that more people are not disappointed?

By: DC

DC — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:58:34 +0000

I can understand being upset about losing that money, but I believe he can only point the finger at himself. He obviously has made some type of mention on what he is expecting and that is what pushed him out of the money. Why can’t players just be happy to be drafted and have a chance to make millions playing a game????? I’m thrilled with the pick. It sounds like Zimmer has a chance to be a top of the rotation guy, maybe not number 1, but 2 or 3. In my opinion, if Paulino keeps throwing like he is, he has legitimate ace stuff.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:57:28 +0000

kcghost…If he is acting like this towards Pittsburgh he will probably be a head case and the Royals dont need that. We have to wait and see who will be the better pick Zimmer or Appel. Hell they both may not be the pitchers everyone says they were or they may be about the same but you have to give it time.

By: kcghost

kcghost — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:46:12 +0000

I just don’t like this choice. Because Appel pouted over Pittsburgh doesn’t mean he would have done the same for us. It may have been nothing more than being told for weeks you were going to go first or second and then dropping all the way to seventh. In the new CBA that seemingly random event cost him a few million bucks. You might be irked, too.

By: Unclejesse

Unclejesse — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:41:14 +0000

I am a big fan of drafting best player available and then when you are not sure who that is going with the player with the highest potential ceiling. It appears to me that is what Zimmer is. There were a few college arms at the top of the draft who all kinda graded out the same and then Zimmer is so fresh as a pitcher, he appears to have the highest ceiling. I love the pic and did you see how happy he was when his name got called! Another young guy that just wants to play ball.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:36:34 +0000

You take that chance with every draft pick you select especially the top pick because you dont know if they will pan out to be that “stud” you want them to be. If Appel becomes the ace for the Pirates then every team that passed him will look stupid but if he pans out to be a bust then every team that passed looks smart. I like the Zimmer kid because he has a mid to upper 90′s fastball, a slider, change that is effective. His K/BB ratio is 104/17 so if he cankeep that up he should be on the big league roster in 2 years.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:29:26 +0000

Appel is nowhere near a Strasburg or Price type of prospect and has a ton of questions about his production and character. He was never rated as the #1 prospect by BA, and in fact Zimmer was their highest-ranked pitcher in the draft. Throw in Appel’s big money demands despite the new CBA and it is no wonder that seven teams passed on him.

We absolutely made the best pick with Zimmer. I think he’s a better prospect than Appel, and he definitely will come cheaper without being a potential headcase.

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:22:58 +0000

Yeah, maybe the headache of signing him is not worth it. But maybe he becomes the front of the rotation starter so many predict and Zimmer ends up a low-ceiling talent. At this point I trust DM’s scouting department and decision making, so, like I said, I am having a hard time getting overly worked up about it, but it still feels a bit disappointing. Of course six other teams took a pass on Appel too so something must be there. And that kind of post draft douchy’ness is hard to ignore. Did he not at least mention that he is a little excited to begin his professional career?