I heart the draft. If it was up to me, there would be separate drafts for college, junior college and high school kids just so we'd have 3 events to talk about instead of one. Needless to say, this is going to be a great week at IGWT even though I'm working at half capacity after separating my shoulder Saturday morning on my way to volunteering at the local orphanage by reading to small children...okay fine, I fell out of bed in a semi-drunken stupor. There, you got it out of me, happy? It's cool, I've got a hot blonde and a fresh prescription of Vicatin (yippee!) to nurse me back to health.

Back to baseball. If you're feeling lucky, you can take MLB.com's Draft Challenge for a chance to win 4 tickets to the 2007 All-Star Game. You can watch the Pre-Draft show here, and for more draft coverage than you can handle, head over to either MLB's Draft Central (loaded with video and audio clips) or BA's much more in-depth draft coverage (you do need a subscription to access most of the info however).

As far as the Yanks, there's talk of Jeffrey Maier:

Major League Baseball's amateur draft starts Tuesday, and Maier said it would be a dream come true if he were tapped by the franchise.

Yankee officials wouldn't discuss his chances, although one evaluator not affiliated with the team said he's more likely to be an "organizational player" consigned to the minor leagues than a future major leaguer.

But Maier's got at least one big-name fan rooting for him.

"I hope he does get drafted," Jeter said last night.

"It's the least they could do. Pay him back finally. It would seem kind of ironic, wouldn't it?"

Agreed Derek, 100%. There's also talk of 6'9" pitcher from Brooklyn:

Brooklyn flamethrower Dellin Betances put on a show for the Yankees yesterday, lighting up the radar gun in front of several of the team's top executives in a predraft workout at the Stadium.

Betances, a 6-9 righthander from Grand Street Campus, had pitched for his Youth Service team on Monday but was still able to reach 94 mph in front of general manager Brian Cashman and scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, according to a scout who was on hand. "I thought it went really well," Betances said. "I pitched just a few days ago and I was still able to hit 94, so I thought that was a positive."
...
Betances is expected to be a first- or second-round selection in the amateur draft, which begins on Tuesday. The Yankees pick 21st (first round) and 41st (supplemental round) but don't have a second-round pick.

A local kid that hit 94 on the gun as a teenager on short rest? Sign'em up. What about Donnie Baseball's kid? He's a legit option too:

In photographs, 18-year-old Preston Mattingly looks like a teen Donnie Baseball. However, on the field he might be more athletic than his father. Preston was clocked at 6.5 seconds in the 60-yard dash, according to his coach at Evansville Central High, Jason Engelbrecht. One talent evaluator estimated that there are only about 20 players in the majors who would be clocked that fast every time.

"He can run, that's for sure," said Mike Radcliff, the Twins' scouting director who has scouted Preston Mattingly. "He's very athletic, has a real nice frame (6-3, 195 pounds) and you can project him to be strong." Every team but the A's has scouted Preston, and the Yankees are one of the most active clubs - scouting director Damon Oppenheimer watched Preston two weeks ago.

Preston is "a throwback in this era of specialization for high school kids," Engelbrecht said, because he played three sports. Preston spent the last two summers playing AAU basketball instead of baseball - he does live in Indiana, after all - and even his dad says he's raw.

Still, he hit .478 with 23 extra-base hits and 21 stolen bases in 30 games this season. In addition to his abilities, he wowed scouts with his demeanor.

"He's been a treat," Engelbrecht said. "He's got every reason to big-league his teammates - he comes from that family, he's good-looking, he's a great athlete, he's got money - but he doesn't. He really mirrors his dad."

IGWT is going to be loaded with scouting reports, pictures, video, links, projections, etc. all week, so get ready.

Weekly Poll: The vast majority of you (more than 49%) think some big FA pitcher will take the ball for the Yanks on Opening Day 2008, but an almost equally vast number of you (just under 44%) think Phil Hughes will be the man come 2008. You'd only need 1 hand to count the number of votes Chien-Ming Wang and Carl Pavano combined to receive. I don't think Hughes will get the ball on Opening Day so soon, even if he hits the majors this year (very unlikely), chances are the Yanks still wouldn't burden him with that much pressure so soon (he'll only be 21 then). In honor of the draft, this week the Weekly Poll will become the Daily Poll, with a new draft-related question appearing each day. Thanks for voting!

Down on the Farm:

Triple-A Columbus
(Friday: 7-3 loss to Rochester)
Jason Conti: 1 for 5, 1 K - threw a runner out at 2B from CF
Kevin Reese: 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 CS, 1 HBP
Russ Johnson: 0 for 5, 2 K
Carlos Pena: 1 for 2, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K
Mitch Jones: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 3 K
Nick Green: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 E (throwing)
Andy Cannizaro: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 E (throwing)
Wil Nieves: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Danny Garcia: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Kris Wilson: 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K - I think the monthly farm system reports are a jinx, cause this isn't the first time a guy sucked immediately following the report (see Coke, Phil)
(Saturday: rained out)
(Sunday Game 1: 3-2 loss to Rochester in 7 innings)
Nick Green: 0 for 3, 1 BB
Kevin Reese: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 K
Carlos Pena: 0 for 3, 1 RBI
Andy Cannizaro: 3 for 4
Russ Johnson: 0 for 2, 1 R, 2 BB
Mitch Jones: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Jorge DePaula: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
(Sunday Game 2: 4-1 loss to Rochester in 7 innings)
Jason Conti: 0 for 2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K - threw a runner out at 3B from CF
Kevin Reese: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Carlos Pena: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
Andy Cannizaro: 1 for 3, 1 K, 1 E (throwing)
Nick Green: 0 for 3, 3 K
Ramiro Mendoza: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K - 4-7 GB/FB ratio
Colter Bean: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HB
Jose Veras: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Double-A Trenton
(Friday: 5-2 win over Reading in 7 innings - rain shortened)
Gabe Lopez: 1 for 31 R, 1 BB
Bronson Sardinha: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K
Randy Ruiz: 2 for 4, 1 RBI
Shelley Duncan: 2 for 3, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Vincent Faison: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K
Danny Borrell: 6 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K - 3-13 GB/FB ratio
TJ Beam: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
(Saturday: 10-2 loss to Reading)
Gabe Lopez: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 4, 2 K
Randy Ruiz: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Justin Christian: 0 for 3, 1 BB
Tyler Clippard: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K - 4-9 GB/FB ratio
Charlie Manning: .1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Francisco Butto: 2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 HB - allowed both inherited runners to score
(Sunday: 7-6 loss to Reading)
Gabe Lopez: 1 for 3, 1 R, 2 BB
Randy Ruiz: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K
Shelley Duncan: 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Justin Christian: 1 for 4, 1 K, 2 SB
Tommy Rojas: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
JT Stotts: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 K
Shawn Chacon: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP - 8-4 GB/FB ratio
JB Cox: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K - there goes the farm system report curse again (3-0 GB/FB ratio)

High-A Tampa
(Friday: 8-1 loss to St. Lucie)
Brett Gardner: 0 for 4, 1 RBI
Ramiro Pena: 2 for 4
Cody Ehlers: 0 for 4
Edwar Gonzalez: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 SB
Chris Malec: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K, 1 E (fielding)
Phil Coke: 2.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K - it was fun while it lasted, now go away
Chase Wright: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Justin Kennard: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
(Saturday: 4-3 loss to St. Lucie)
Brett Gardner: 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 HBP
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 5, 1 K
Ben Davis: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K
Cody Ehlers: 1 for 4, 1 K
Rudy Guillen: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Mark Carroll: 2 for 3, 1 BB
Jason Jones: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K - 9-1 GB/FB ratio
Mike Martinez: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
(Sunday: 5-1 loss to St. Lucie)
Brett Gardner: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 SB
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 2, 1 RBI, 1 E (fielding)
Ben Himes: 2 for 3, 1 CS
Chris Malec: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 E (fielding)
Elvys Quezada: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Josh Schmidt: 3.1 IP,3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 HB
Gerardo Casadiego: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 HB

Low-A Charleston
(Friday: 5-4 win over Columbus)
Austin Jackson: 2 for 2, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HBP - dude they hit you twice, you gonna take that?
Marcos Vechionacci: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 E (fielding)
Jose Tabata: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K
Brett Jones: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 2 RBI
CJ Henry: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 2 K - DH'ed, I wonder if it was because of his wretched defense of late
Eduardo Nunez: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B
Tim Battle: 0 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K - threw a runner out at home from LF
Jason Stephens: 5 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Steve Schroer: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K - 5-1 GB/FB ratio
(Saturday: 10-4 loss to Columbus)
Austin Jackson: 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 E (missed catch)
Marcos Vechionacci: 0 for 2, 1 R, 1 BB
Jose Tabata: 0 for 4, 3 K - the moon most have aligned with Venus and some swamp gas off Mars or something, cause that ain't a Tabata-like line
Brett Jones: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 K
CJ Henry, Eduardo Nunez, Tim Battle: combined 0 for 12, 7 K, 2 E (both by Battle)
Wilkins Arias: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 E, 1 pickoff, 1 WP
Dave Seccombe: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HB
Abel Gomez: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
(Sunday: scheduled off day)

In some prospect related news, Bill Madden repeats what I've been saying for months, as he marvels at the ability of Jose Tabata (where've you heard that before?), feels the pain of CJ Henry's errors (where've you heard that before?), and praises the output of Brett Gardner (where've you heard that before?). I want my cut Bill.