• ESPN.com's Keith Law is sure that the Washington Nationals will not go against 45 years of tradition by drafting a high school pitcher with the no.1 overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, citing, in an article entitled, "Taillon projects as top five pick", DC GM Mike Rizzo's fondness for, "...college players and big names when he was running the Snakes' drafts, which would seem to point away from Taillon," an 18-year-old right-hander from The Woodlands High School in Texas, who was, according to Mr. Law, throwing a high-90's fastball in the beginning of his last outing and, "was still working at 93-95 in his final inning of work."
• Bryce Harper and the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes are off until March 5th when they begin conference play with two games against the College of Southern Idaho. 16 games into the 17-year-old Harper's first Junior College season he's hitting .356 (21 for 59) with 11 walks, 15 K's, a .451 OBP, .712 SLG, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR's and 18 RBI's for the Coyotes, who are now 13-3.
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• Anthony Ranaudo Injured.
• Deck McGuire Starts For Yellow Jackets.
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• Anthony Ranaudo Injured.
• LSU's right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, considered by many the top collegiate pitcher eligible for the 2010 Draft was held out of his scheduled start against William & Mary Friday night with what LSUSportsnet.com writer Bill Franques describes as, "discomfort in his throwing elbow" in an article entitled, "Ranaudo to miss time with sore elbow" wherein Mr. Franques reports that Ranaudo's, "...ailment is classified as a stress reaction that does not involve ligament damage," but LSU coach Paul Mainieri says that Raunado won't pitch until he is 100%:
"[Ranaudo] is one of the top pitchers in the country, and I'm certainly not going to do anything to jeopardize his career."
In his first start of the 2010 campaign last week, Ranaudo finished 5.0 IP in which he allowed just 1 hit and 1 unearned run while walking 2 and striking out 6.
• Deck McGuire Starts For Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech's Deck McGuire made his second start of the year Friday night at home in Atlanta, Georgia's Russ Chandler Stadium. The defending ACC Pitcher of the Year threw 101 pitches, 64 for strikes in 7.0 IP Friday in which the 6'6'' 230 lb right-hander gave up 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 ER and 2 walks while recording 6 K's in a game that was decided in the bottom of the eighth. Following up on an '09 campaign which saw McGuire go (11-2) with a 3.50 ERA in 16 GS and 100.1 IP over which the 20-year-old Richmond, Virginia-born starter K'd 118 (10.5 K/9) and surrendered 41 walks (3.68 BB/9) while holding opponents to a .232 BAA, in his first two 2010 starts, McGuire's now K'd 16 and walked 2 in 14.0 IP over which he's given up 12 hits and 3 R, 2 ER while holding opposing batters to a .240 AVG thus far.
LINKS:
• Washington Nationals: 2010 Draft Watch: Deck McGuire? - Federal Baseball - Ed Chigliak
"Jim Bowden via Twitter: "Nationals looking at Anthony Ranaudo, Deck McGuire and Bryce Harper as considerations for the first pick in this year's June FA Draft.""
• Washington Nationals: 2010 Draft, If Not Bryce Harper? - Federal Baseball - Ed Chigliak.
"To be clear, you'll be hard-pressed to find a list of 2010 Draft prospects that doesn't rank Harper number one overall, whether or not the Nationals are willing to commit to Harper this early in the process, but there are a few other players who appear on just about every list that the experts suggest you keep an eye on this year..."