Top News:
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Mock Draft 4.0: June 4 — Jim Callis' Last Attempt To Line Up Talent In Unpredictable Year — The Astros' public position with the No. 1 overall pick is that they're looking at five players and may not make their decision until shortly before they officially go on the clock at 7:09 p.m. Eastern tonight.
RELATED:
Keith Law / ESPN:
2012 MLB Mock draft 4.0 — Consensus has Astros taking Appel No. 1; Buxton goes No. 2 to Twins — This is it ... sort of, since I'll update this over the course of the day on Monday if any new information emerges. As always, everything here is based on information gleaned from industry sources.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and Bucs Dugout
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
2012 Mock Draft — A weak talent class and a new collective bargaining agreement have made the 2012 draft the most unpredictable in recent memory. Further confusing things are huge wild cards early on, especially the Mariners at three and the Royals at five.
Dave Perkin / Sports Illustrated:
Buxton, Zunino follow Appel in SI.com's 2012 MLB mock draft … On Sunday, it was reported that the Houston Astros will select Stanford righthander Mark Appel with the first pick in Monday's MLB Draft. How will the rest of the first round break down? Dave Perkin, a former major league scout …
Discussion:
MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com and Bucs Dugout
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Draft day begins with no clear-cut top pick — Questions remain as to how teams will deal with bonus pool — As the start of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft rapidly approaches, there appears to be more questions than answers facing the 30 teams hoping to improve their futures over the course of the three-day event.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk, Let's Go Tribe, Diamond Hoggers and The Crawfish Boxes
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Niese strikes out career-high 10, Mets beat Cards — NEW YORK—Jonathon Niese struck out a career-high 10 in six scoreless innings and the New York Mets shut down the slumping St. Louis Cardinals for the third straight game, getting a homer and three RBIs from rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis in a 6-1 victory Sunday night.
Discussion:
ESPN and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Zoo With Roy:
Zoo With Roy's Awesome Emma Interviews Cole Hamels — Wait what Awesome Emma and Cole Hamels and a ZWR Microphone?! Oh you know. — So last week The Hamels Foundation (which does absolutely amazing work that will resonate for generations) sent out a press release noting a tremendous project/donation …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
South Side seat syndrome —There are certain things you can count on happening every spring. The temperatures heating up. People mowing their green lawns. Birds returning from their southern migration. — And the Chicago White Sox urging fans to show up in greater numbers to U. S. Cellular Field.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
RELATED:
Greensburg Tribune-Review:
Pirates converting pitcher Allie to hitter — The Pirates are converting high-priced prospect Stetson Allie from pitcher to hitter, the Tribune-Review has learned. — Allie, 21, was the team's second-round draft pick in 2010, signing for $2.25 million, well above Major League Baseball's recommended slot.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, The Big Lead and Bucs Dugout
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
WHY THE RED SOX ARE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR STARTING PITCHING — It's still almost two months away, but it's about that time we start thinking about the non-waiver trade deadline. The Red Sox have, after all. — According to a major league source, as we sit here right now …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
10th anniversary: the Moneyball draft — Ten years ago today, one of the most famous drafts in baseball history occurred. It's not so famous for the spectacular level of talent in it. Oh, there was talent, but that's true of all drafts. No, this was the draft made famous because of its depiction in a bestseller.
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Bill Maher owns stake in Mets — NEW YORK — Political commentator Bill Maher, the host of HBO's “Real Time,” had VIP treatment Sunday night at Citi Field, including an escort from New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon during batting practice. — Maher — The access came with good reason.
Discussion:
New York Times, Viva El Birdos, New Jersey Online, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Alfonso Soriano open to being traded to contender — Alfonso Soriano constantly is reminded by his legs about how little time he might have left in baseball. — If that wasn't bad enough, the standings constantly remind him about how his chances of winning a World Series ring are diminishing.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
