Dirtbags Baseball - Long Beach State 49ers

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Wednesday, June 02, 2004

Jered Weaver May Not Be Picked By San Diego Padres In Draft Next Week

From the Long Beach Press-Telegram this morning:

"Jered Weaver, the ace of Long Beach State's Dirtbag pitching staff, is the No. 1 collegiate pitcher in the nation in terms of wins and strikeouts, but he may not be the No. 1 player taken in next week's major league amateur draft after all.

After months of speculation that the San Diego Padres, who have the first pick in the draft, had their sights pretty much set on Weaver, with some in the organization thinking Rice right-hander Jeff Niemann might be the best way to go, all that may have suddenly changed.

"I'd say we're leaning toward (Florida State shortstop) Stephen Drew,' Padres general manager Kevin Towers told the North County Times' John Maffei.

"There is less risk, injury-wise, with a position player,' Towers told the San Diego-area newspaper in Tuesday's editions. "And Drew is a guy who can play any position but catcher.'

Drew is the brother of Atlanta outfielder J.D. Drew, who was a former first-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, although he didn't sign and was eventually taken by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Towers, who has personally seen Weaver pitch at least twice, once at San Diego and again last month at Blair Field against Cal State Fullerton, emphasized that the final decision on who to take when the draft begins Monday is up to Bill "Chief' Gayton, the Padres' scouting director.

"Chief has a good feel for what way we're going to go,' Towers told the North County Times. "Ultimately, it's going to come down to what Chief and the scouts feel. But I like Drew.'

Gayton, it is believed, is one of those who has an eye on Niemann.

Weaver didn't seem concerned when told of the report out of San Diego.

"The Padres are going to go with the best guy,' Weaver said Tuesday following practice at the campus field. "If it's Stephen Drew, more power to him.

"I'm going to get picked somewhere, and I'm going to get to play somewhere,' Weaver added. "That's not my focus right now at all. First things first. I'm looking forward to this weekend.' "

My comment: This story may be true on its face. Or my gut tells me it may be a negotiating ploy. I just don't know. Stephen Drew is clearly an excellent player. But as a long time Padres fan, I have trouble believing the Padres would pass on the kind of pitching talent available in Jered Weaver or Jeff Niemann. We'll see in five days.

You can read the entire story here.

posted on 6/02/2004 by Jeff Agnew

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