I know this is conventional wisdom on this site, and maybe that is why I seem to resist a complete buyin, bit if you ID some of the "worst toolsy picks" made by the old regime, I'm not sure you can truly argue that we were seeking to be Enron-esque when we made those selections. This will be long, but below are four scouting reports from BA on draft day (in toto, to avoid cherry picking) -- three "toolsy" picks and a fourth famous Northeast pick. Who they are s\b self apparent, but I removed the names just for effect. I would ask how making any of those picks supports an assertion that the Phils were just out in left field in making any of those picks, even to an ardent anti-toolsy proponent.
(Player 1.21)'s package of five tools is as attractive as any in the draft, and there's really nothing he can't do. His most obvious tool is his top-of-the-line speed, which takes him from the right side of the plate to first base in as quick as 3.8 seconds. He has the bat speed and hand-eye coordination to hit for power and average. Defensively, both his range and arm are plus tools. Though (he) missed six games with a strained right hamstring and hasn't been at 100 percent for much of the spring, he still has performed well. He'll need to make some offensive adjustments as a pro, as his swing is more choppy than fluid, but scouts believe he'll be able to do so. He hit .515 this spring. Like Homer Bailey, (he) has signed with the University of Texas but will forego college after he gets picked in the first round.
(Player 1.24) is the epitome of high-risk, high-reward. The risk starts with his signability: Any team that drafts (him) must be prepared to open its wallet and buy the academic-minded Brooklyn native-turned-Connecticut boarding school star out of a commitment to Vanderbilt. There's also a huge risk that he simply won't hit in professional ball: his raw bat was overmatched against quality pitching on the showcase circuit last summer, and though he dominated vastly inferior prep competition this spring, he still struggles to recognize breaking balls and can get locked up at times by ordinary fastballs. But then he'll crush a ball 450 feet and give scouts a glimpse of his prodigious upside. Several scouts said he was second to Tim Beckham as the best athlete at the East Coast showcase last summer, and he has three legitimate above-average tools in his raw power, speed and arm strength. His muscular 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame evokes Ron Gant, and his work ethic and charisma stand out. (He) plays shortstop for (his high school club), but his poor footwork, stiff actions and lack of instincts will dictate a shift to third base or more likely the outfield, where he has enough speed and arm strength for center or right. (He) has generated mountains of buzz in the Northeast and could sneak into the supplemental round or even the back of the first round if a club falls in love with his potential enough to overlook his crudeness.
(Player 1.25) has turned himself into a favorite of scouts in the Northeast, both for his talent and his makeup. An East Carolina commitment, he has rocketed up draft boards as a senior, thanks to an improved offensive approach. Last year, even in the fall, he had a tendency to bail out in the batter's box, particularly against sliders. This spring he has quieted his approach and improved against breaking balls, and he's shown the ability to hit hard line drives to all fields, though his swing still gets loopy and long at times. Halfway through the spring, (he) even began working on hitting lefthanded, and he showed some aptitude for it. (His) frame and skill set draws comparisons to Aaron Rowand, but he's a faster runner--he runs the 60-yard dash in 6.5 seconds. He has good range and instincts in center field and plenty of arm for the position. (His) bat is not a sure thing, but he has a chance to be a solid-average hitter with average or better power. Like Rowand, (he) is a grinder who always plays the game hard.
(Player 1.5 34) was not selected to participate in the 2007 Area Code Games or the Aflac Classic, but he's had a high profile nonetheless. He started to generate buzz during the local Connie Mack summer season as a teammate of Isaac Galloway and Aaron Hicks. Rave reviews from parents and youth coaches began to filter down to scouts, and (he) helped his cause with strong showings in two showcase events held at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton. He continued gaining ground this spring, and then moved into first-round consideration when he took a Hicks 93 mph fastball deep during a tournament game in Fullerton. To make sure the 40-plus scouts in attendance were paying attention, (he) ripped two more hits. Lefthanded all the way, (he) has an athletic and projectable 6-foot-2, 195-pound outfielder's frame. His above-average speed makes him a threat as a baserunner and permits him to patrol center field for now. As he slows down and matures physically, he'll play an outfield corner, and his average arm makes right field a possibility. (He) had a surgical procedure to improve blood flow to his heart, performed in May 2006, which may be a concern for some clubs, but he's been medically cleared for two years and has had no problems. (His) hitting ability and solid all-around game had him moving up boards, possibly in the middle of the first round.