Wire Taps: More Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals' 2010 Draft Class Talk.

I like Ladson’s when he’s quoting unnamed Nats source. I don’t like him as much when he’s speculating. I sure hope that they aren’t planning on bringing up Espinosa yet. To me it says that they are lettting the big league situation affect his development. I think he’d have to rip through AAA to earn a big league callup and even then I’d probably keep him down.

Commenters on Natsfarm.com seems to believe that there are 40 man roster issues with bringing him up. We’ve got to protect a lot of the pitching inventory or they could get picked up in the Rule 5 draft.

Plus, an observation I’ve noticed: If you’re coming out of high school, the best athletes and players usually play shortstop or are pitchers, presumably because of the value proposition.

I mean the guy’s an athlete and I could totally see him being like Pedroia if things work out right. He’s very disciplined and projects as a complete hitter with 3/5/6-hole potential to me.

Harper’s a once-in-a-lifetime prospect though so I really do hope we sign him. I mean, he has a perfect swing (that hopefully isn’t ruining as he figures out big-league breaking stuff), has decent speed, and has a cannon of an arm.

Maybe Rendon will fall to us and we can truly bask in joy. I can definitely see him playing 2nd (he’s athletic enough and playing second could mask his average-at-best arm), and I guess he has enough range for that.

Very promising to say the least upon reflection. You have Desmond and Espinosa, Zimm (and Rendon potentially hopefully, I will lapdog for him), Dunn, Harper, Ramos. Hoo-rah-ray

That’s pretty much its scope— I don’t think you’ll hear one-two or anything like that, haha.

With the Arkansas Travellers I assume? I know both were in the Cardinals organization in the mid-70s.

Boras is a nice man it seems though, I saw him at the Irvine Regional and chatted with him for a bit. He is definitely a bright guy. The fact that he’s demonized is a good thing in my book, and I don’t think he’s a bad guy outside of his job.

The rules specifically state that you are allowed to seek counsel of a lawyer, and most agents are also lawyers.

He just can’t spend any money on Ingram.

In baseball (because of the complexity of the system), it utilizes a loophole where advisors serve as personal lawyers in negotiations (I believe), which doesn’t compromise amateurism at all.

Plus you have to recognize that most signings are made via player and the scout that drafted/signed them. It’s a huge matter of scope, since 50 potential signings are much different than 7 signings or 2 signings.

When you turn 18, you have the opportunity to do what the free market tells you. If you want to forego college and turn professional, then you have the opportunity to do such if you’re drafted.

If you go to school, then you’re required to stay in school for at least three years or until you turn 21— whichever comes first— before you’re eligible again.

Plus baseball’s system requires deep scouting— which I find to be an art. If you’ve watched college baseball and understand the system, then go ahead and critique. If not, I don’t find your explanations comprehensive or fair.

Plus, it is impossible for Ingram to declare for the draft,

Haha, well there was the answer right there— silly me for not seeing it. Baseball players don’t declare for the draft. The draft finds them, you could say.

The whole advisor thing is kind of moot because advisors could simply serve as lawyers and advisors for an amateur until they turn professional.

If Ingram has to declare his intent to become a professional and can’t reverse the decision, then of course he’ll “hire” an agent immediately.

I’d speculate that if a baseball player was going to go pro, he’d hire his agent and then sign the contract. So while the advisor tag is obviously a facade and euphemistic tag, it’s still legitimate and legal under the bylaws.

You are entitled to your opinion,and I refuse to answer anymore posts on this subject. I highly recommend, however, that if you are a student athlete (which I believe you stated you were) that you tread the water carefully with this subject. If you look at current events, this subject is currently very volitile, with Agents/Advisors, the NCAA, student athletes, coaches, and administrators. My entire argument has centralized around the fact that the playing field is not level between the different sports, and that it should be, one way or the other. The rules are clear….an agent/advisor is not allowed to negotiate FOR a player, and that player remain eligible for NCAA athletics….and that also applies to baseball players. It does not matter if they “declared” for the sport or not…..if the advisor negotiates for them, they lose their eligibility. The problem, is that baseball has not been as closely scrutinized as other sports, and that is where I think the injustice resides. I think the below link answers a lot of your questions regarding baseball players specifically, and is in direct compliance with the NCAA Bylaws that I posted last night:

http://www.rolltide.com/datadump/fls_files/files/files/15655.pdf