Michael Roth

Comments on Michael Roth

1. MJ Recanati
   February 14th, 2012 | 8:56 am
   

   He was drafted by the Indians last year in the 31st round and didn’t sign. It doesn’t appear that teams think very highly of his pro prospects…

2. KPOcala
   February 14th, 2012 | 10:08 am
   

   Hyman Roth’s grandson?

3. Steve L.
   February 14th, 2012 | 1:22 pm
   

   @ MJ Recanati:

   That’s part of the problem with the way things work these days. A guy who is 6′ 6″ and who throws 95 MPH, but with weak command and no secondary pitch, will go in the 2st two rounds whereas a smart lefty who doesn’t light up the gun will get pushed down, if he’s taken at all.

   Really, if Yogi Berra was born after 1970, he never gets drafted much less makes the HOF. Somehow, some way, teams have gotten away from drafting ballplayers and go after projectable skills instead.

4. Raf
   February 14th, 2012 | 1:51 pm
   

   @ Steve L.:
   It has been that way for quite some time. I remember Bill Lee mentioning something to that extent a while ago.

   Given the attrition rate of minor leaguers, I guess it makes sense to try to draft based on tools and projectibility.

5. MJ Recanati
   February 14th, 2012 | 3:39 pm
   

   Raf wrote:

   Given the attrition rate of minor leaguers, I guess it makes sense to try to draft based on tools and projectibility.

   That’s exactly right.

   Steve L. wrote:

   That’s part of the problem with the way things work these days. A guy who is 6′ 6″ and who throws 95 MPH, but with weak command and no secondary pitch, will go in the 2st two rounds whereas a smart lefty who doesn’t light up the gun will get pushed down, if he’s taken at all.

   Roth was taken — in the 31st round — so obviously the Indians were willing to see if the makeup and the experience could translate into something at the professional level. Roth chose not to sign and we’ll see if he gets taken higer than the 31st round this year.

   My sense is that he probably won’t go much higher than he did last year and that, as a result, he’ll have to decide whether chasing the dream without the benefit of a signing bonus is worth it to him.

   You can’t blame teams for their approach. If Roth really wanted to pursue pro baseball he would’ve signed with the Tribe last summer.

6. sicilianlou
   February 14th, 2012 | 9:01 pm
   

   Steve, might as well throw another USC name up there now and the kids name is Matt Price, but I am right with you on this.. some local knowledge on this kid since I live in South Carolin and this kid plays right down road from where I live.. he is the talk of the town..He is scheduled to pitch this firday against VMI(Virigin Military Insititue) as the season is about to open for college baseball in the south, but the big games comes on March second against Clemson on the road where he pitches again.. I actually think his value in the draft this year will be higher especially if USC three peats!!.. The kid is not only gifted but real smart. Has the highest GPA of any player in the SEC. I think he has the makings of a stater in the ML.. he will not blow you away with his fastball but he makes smart pitches and keeps batters off balance.. But there is a kid making a splash down here Matt Price.. Roth and Price will be the front starters but Price has electric stuff and moves from the bullpen to the rotation and played real well during the fall baseball season.. I would take anyone of these kids.

7. sicilianlou
   February 14th, 2012 | 9:10 pm
   

   One last item on Roth.. yes he could have signed but Mom and Dad said no.. they wanted him to graduate college which I think is the smart thing for kids in college to do. If Roth puts up the same numbers as he did in last season, scouts have to be crazy to draft him that low.. My take being a local guy here in SC, USC is stacked with enough talent to give Roth enough run support to win 11 to 13 games.. if his era come anywhere close to 1.06 again (lowest in school history), my guess, he gets drafted late second round..

8. Raf
   February 14th, 2012 | 9:31 pm
   

   sicilianlou wrote:

   One last item on Roth.. yes he could have signed but Mom and Dad said no.. they wanted him to graduate college which I think is the smart thing for kids in college to do.

   Fair enough, but the two aren’t mutually exclusive; Roth could attend classes during the offseason.

9. MJ Recanati
   February 15th, 2012 | 9:03 am
   

   sicilianlou wrote:

   if his era come anywhere close to 1.06 again (lowest in school history), my guess, he gets drafted late second round

   Doubtful. He wasn’t drafted out of high school and was taken in the 31st round last year. Hard to imagine that he’d shoot up from pick 938 last year to somewhere in the top 100 this year.

10. sicilianlou
    February 15th, 2012 | 6:20 pm
    

    MJ Recanati wrote:

    Doubtful. He wasn’t drafted out of high school and was taken in the 31st round last year. Hard to imagine that he’d shoot up from pick 938 last year to somewhere in the top 100 this year

    Mj.. A little insight to why he wasnt drafted out of HS.. His mom and dad refused to sign the under age draft documents because they want this kid to graduate college. His mom especailly has a big infulence on his acedemic career. The same reason why he didnt sign in August after being drafted.. Now just to let you know, his Dad quit his fulltime job back in June to got see his son pitch in the CWS and if ever there was a time for the kid to sign and help his family, that would have weight heavily but again his mom said to please finish school… As for the second round, well, lets just say this kid now touches in the low 90′s on his fastball. Not overpowering but enough I think with that awesome change up allows him to make a big jump in the draft selection.. Also, all fall, he has been working on a new curve ball that moves 12 to 6 in location, which means coming from a differnt arm slot on delivery, but if he controls this, well, I think you and I will have this discussion again.. USC is already the beast in the SEC and favorite to win the divison. Roth and Price can both win 12 or 13 games each. Season opens friday for USC.. Roth is the star pitcher.. Hopefully, he stays healthy puts up the same crazy numbers again.. Then let the chips fall snd let the professionals decide on his value..

11. MJ Recanati
    February 16th, 2012 | 10:21 am
    

    @ sicilianlou:
    All of what you said aside, it’s hard to imagine that the guy Baseball America ranks outside of the top-100 draft prospects will move enough to go from the 31st round to the 2nd round, as you suggested above.

    Roth can certainly move higher than the 31st round but your “guess [that] he gets drafted late second round” seems extremely unrealistic.

12. sicilianlou
    February 16th, 2012 | 10:58 am
    

    Raf wrote:

    Fair enough, but the two aren’t mutually exclusive; Roth could attend classes during the offseason.

    Very True.. but most of these kids are then sent to the AFL to play so they can be gaged to what minor league teams to be assigned.. That would be conflict with his classes.. I am all for the graduating part and he shows how much Mom and Dad have an influence on him.. Season opens tomrorrow!!.. Hell its like a National holiday in South Carolina.. Roth pitches.. should be a blow out against VMI..

13. sicilianlou
    February 16th, 2012 | 11:21 am
    

    MJ Recanati wrote:

    Roth can certainly move higher than the 31st round but your “guess [that] he gets drafted late second round” seems extremely unrealistic.

    Again you maybe correct, but, now that he has a fastball in the low 90′s and working on a different curve ball plus he pitched this fall and was just as hard to hit. Again, if he stays healthy this year and keeps his cool composure as he did last season, I expect him to be a top pick. The kid never had any arm problems thru out his career, you dont have to throw it 96 to be a top draft pick, you simply just have to know how to pitch and adjust as you move thru the rankings… But hey what do I know, I only get to see the kid pitch every week and see something very special in him.. But then all you have to do is attend a game and witness him for yourself but that is if you can find a seat in the ballpark.. Every major league club scout is in attendence watching the same thing I am…:).. Lets hope when the time comes and the Yankees have a shot on him, they dont pass on him but make a serious offer.. I think that was the point of this thread….

14. Raf
    February 16th, 2012 | 1:58 pm
    

    sicilianlou wrote:

    but most of these kids are then sent to the AFL to play so they can be gaged to what minor league teams to be assigned..

    I believe they have the option to decline.

    Teams already have an idea of where they’re going to assign a player, winter ball is a way for them to get their reps in.

    At the very least, that means he repeats a level for part of a season.

15. sicilianlou
    February 17th, 2012 | 6:47 pm
    

    In case anyone is interested here is the book on Michael Roth season opener against VMI…. 6 innings, 1 ER.. 0 BB and 6ks.. 4 hits all singles.. 11 ground ball outs inculding 2 he made himself.. USC won 2 to 1 but they ran themseleves out on the basepath or it would have been a one sided game.. Roth didnt get a decision after facing only 23 batters..Roth kept the hitters off balance all day.. Not one hitter did he get behind on nor did he allow a 3 ball count to .. His out pitch was the curve ball,but 4 of his 6 strikes came on fastballs hitters swung and missed on. Score board showed fastball topped out at 92mph… Good late movement he had!!..FYI.. Jr.Matt Price pithces tomorrow and this kid is worth keeping an eye on too…

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