MLB Draft, It's a Real Thing

     In case you didn't notice, the MLB Draft started yesterday. The Cincinnati Reds took a pitcher by the name of Robert (don't call me Louis) Stephenson. Apparently, he's out of high school. He is also right handed. He can throw up to 97 miles per hour. He has a curveball. And a change up.  Zzzzzz... Let me know when you wake up.

     There are a lot of things that work against the MLB Draft. It's in the middle of the season, it doesn't include international players, these guys might not see the Majors for at least a season or two. By the time he gets drafted, the buzz (if there was one) is probably gone by anyone not a hardcore fan.With so much working against the draft, Major League Baseball can't do things to make it worse.

     Mo Egger (of ESPN 1530 fame) has a great idea of having the draft the day after the All-Star Game. Which makes sense, because its the only day in the US that none of the four major sports are in action. Basically, a perfect oppurtunity for them to capitalize on sports boredom. Also, with no sports being on, ESPN or some other sports network might pick it up for America to watch.

     I have a few more ideas, can we get mock drafts? Big boards? A combine? A guy like Mel Kiper, Jr with too much hair gel and an "I'm way smarter than the other guy I'm arguing with" aura? We care about football because if we watch sports TV enough, we feel like we learn who the top 5 weak side linebackers and which running back could be a Day 2 sleeper. Knowledge equals intrest, intrest equals demand, demand equals TV time, and TV time equals money. See how that works?

     Another thing that would help would be ease of info. If you don't want talking heads, give me numbers. Give me stats and ratings on things like curveballs or fielding range. Why should I have to pay ESPN to find out any in depth info? 40 times and bench reps are all over when it comes to football.

     MLB needs to take this seriously if they want us to take it seriously. Draft coverage was at the bottom of the page. Their headline story was about the Red Sox and Yankees, two things that are more worn out than (insert joke here). I want to care about Robert Stephenson, and in time, maybe I will. But the draft is supposed to rejuvenate hope in your team. That a certain prospect will take your team to the next level, or become a franchise player. If the Reds didn't draft a guy named after an author, I never would remember him. Maybe later they'll take shortshop Ralph Emerson.