Draft Review #3: the Nomads

In this, the long-awaited third installment of The B.A.R.B. Wire's draft review series, Edgar and Chauncey discuss the selections of the (now) Lexington Rebels, who finished second in the West last year and drafted 7th overall.

Chauncey: Well, that's something you don't see everyday Edgar.
Edgar: What's that, Chauncey?
C: Ronald Melkonian out-thinking himself.
E: Oh, I don't know about that, Chauncey. Everytime Ronald thinks he out-thinks himself.
C: Edgar, Ronald doesn't think that often.
E: You're right. He does most things on impulse. That impulse contributes to his itchy trigger finger.
C: That's the finger that dealt a ton of talent and a top pick for a very good lefthanded starting pitcher and sent one of the best shortstops in the game to Pottsylvania just before the draft.
E: Too bad they didn't acquire the one thing they needed in either of those trades: a pill to stop the impulsive trading you just talked about. Maybe something that causes relaxation.
C: Lexington went into the draft with a very good rotation and lineup, some talented prospects and tons of salary room.
E: They picked up some good arms for the pen and a few good rookies. Good talent, but not much depth. And it can be said they traded Jose Reyes for Joba Chamberlain.
C: Yeah, Chamberlain's good. But James Shields would have been a better pick at this time-- and he still would have had Joba at #4. Ronald continued to shore up the 'pen with Joakim Soria, Jensen Lewis, Yorman Bazardo and Francisco Cordero. Edgar, what other good picks were made?
E: Rich Harden could be a good selection if he makes more than 20 starts for the team. He has the talent, but he can't stay on the mound. Wieters was highly-regarded, and I'm sure at least eight other teams wanted him. Fernando Martinez and Nick Blackburn are both good picks if they pan out.
C: But Martinez has had some attitude issues with the Mets this season. I think the jury is still out on Harden. Let's label that pick "good" or "bad" after the season.
E: So were the needs satisfied?
C: Apparently Trader Ron is still unmedicated, so I'll say NO. And it became apparent after the draft that depth was a major problem-- especially at catcher. What do you think of the trades, Edgar?
E: Again, Reyes for Chamberlain (the #1 pick) was questionable. Or maybe he did it just to have the first selection? That's three or four first overall picks for Ron's team.
C: Yeah, I'm sure you could get a member of his family if you offered him Alex Cintron. You know, the talent of his picks deserves a B+ or an A-, but only getting 9 players and not getting a catcher who can play now drops his grade to B-.
E: Sounds good.
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Bullard Baseball history fact #1: At least two of the first four head coaches in Bullard's history graduated from Roosevelt High (Bob Bennett and Tim Thiessen, and it is not known where the first head coach, Bob Steele, went to school). No Bullard grad was head coach of his alma mater until Todd Johnson was hired in 2000.

A name suggestion for 2009

A New Name for the Nomads?
by Duhn Ewsguy

The December 2007 edition of Popular Science magazine has provided this journalist with a name suggestion for Ronald Melkonian's 2009 team: The Moscow FOABS.

Yes, it is partly a play on Eric Caskey's Brooklyn MOABS (of New York, I believe). The Russian military has come up with the "father of all bombs," "the world's largest-ever non-nuke: an eight-ton fuel-air explosive purportedly four times as powerful as America's Massive-Ordnance Air Blast, the previous record holder."

The FOAB can send shock waves up to 990 feet from the central area of impact. Video footage showed a "giant explosion that flattened a building within seconds."

The new bomb has a few possible flaws, though. As a fuel-air weapon, it is "notoriously difficult to build." Also, wind can blow away the fuel cloud before ignition, which leaves the target unharmed. Third, the explosives inside the bomb can be unstable and give the bomb a shelf life as short as a few days (compared to decades for a TNT bomb).

Ironically, there are many similarities with Ronald's team. The General Manager has a full-of-air head, and everyone thinks it should be difficult to build the teams he does. Most of the time, the wind from Ronald's trades blows away any chance of his team being dangerous. And the uniforms for the players on the now-Rebels have very short shelf lives.

Military experts are concerned about the reliability of Russia's new bomb, but they say it can be devastating if they can perfect it. In the same way, opposing GMs have realized Ronald's team always has a ton of talent that can win anything if it can be consistent and reliable.

So, Mr. Melkonian, how 'bout the Moscow FOABS?