Here we go: how bad was the Cardinals '04 draft?

[007]

Derrick Goold breaks it down after the release of several players on Wednesday...

1. Chris Lambert, RHP … (19th overall) … player to be named later in Mike Maroth trade last season. Set for Detroit’s Triple-A after going 1-1 in four games this spring for the Tigers. He pitched 7 1/3 innings, striking out two, walking two and allowing one run (it was unearned).
2. Mike Ferris, 1B … (60th overall) … released this week. Played at three levels last season, finishing with 51 at-bats at the Triple-A level.
3. Eric Haberer, LHP … (90th overall) … released this week. Went 13-8 with a 4.32 ERA for Double-A Springfield. A bit of a surprise considering the lack of depth on the left side of the bullpen at the Cardinals’ highest two levels.
4. Donnie Smith, RHP … (120th overall) … released earlier this spring. Had pitched to the High-A level, but was released by the team following an arrest on felony charges stemming from an alleged assault last year.
5. Wes Swackhamer, OF … (130th overall) … released last year. In 2006 he reached the High-A level.
6. Jarrett Hoffpauir, 2B … (180th overall) … Set to be the starting second baseman in Memphis.

[Indu WangZi]

A+

[Bleacher Creature]

I had high hopes for Swackhamer.

[TTB]

LOL

They make the Rams look good by comparison.

[Bleacher Creature]

LOL

They make the Rams look good by comparison.

To be fair, is there any sport who's draft of more of a crapshoot than MLB?

[TTB]

To be fair, is there any sport who's draft of more of a crapshoot than MLB?

Hockey?

[Bleacher Creature]

Hockey?

Maybe.

[Jeffro]

Hockey?

Nah. There are few enough rounds that almost every draft returns two or so NHL caliber players.

[kah]

Surprising that a player named "Swackhammer" did not turn out to be good. That's the best baseball name ever.

[jhanke]

The draft in most sports is a crap shoot. MLB more so because you are drafting mostly high school kids. no idea how they will react to pro ball pressure.

[kah]

The 2001 draft produced exactly one player who is contributing to the Cardinals in 2008: Skippy. It produced only one player who's done anything of note in the majors: Dan Haren.

The 2002 draft produced exactly one player who made the big leagues: Brad Thompson.

2003: Daric Barton, who, Internet masturbation aside, the jury is still out on. For the Cardinals, Brendan Ryan and Anthony Reyes.

2004: as noted above, no one.

2005: Guess this one has more promise, with Rasmus, Anderson and whatnot.

[kah]

So our drafts for the last six years have produced, for the '08 Cardinals, a mediocre swingman (Thompson), a poor starting pitcher (Reyes), a fourth outfielder (Skippy) and a utility infielder (Ryan).

Rock on.

[moedrabowsky]

Should I blame Walt?

[kah]

Should I blame Walt?

Yes, yes you should.

[moedrabowsky]

Yes, yes you should.

I hope the new front office configuration is the solution, then.

This is one of the most depressing threads I've seen in awhile.