TOWER GROVE — The First-Year Player Draft is rapidly approaching — as Bryan Burwell opined on this morning – and it was the draft that sprang to mind when I read a recent entry at KC columnist Joe Posnanski’s baseball-enriched blog.  He called it “The Dayton Game”.

Come play along.

As the Cardinals and 29 other MLB clubs conclude their preparation for the draft, which starts Thursday, most teams are rifling through scouting reports that include plenty of the 20-80 language so common to scouts. As they grade players around the country for the annual draft, scouts have traditionally used a scale that rates a player from 20 to 80 by 10s. A superb player — say, All-Star potential or better — gets a 60 or more. An average major-league player gets a 50. And so on.

Think Frank Thomas’ defense (20) all the way to Ozzie Smith’s (80).

Or, Cesar Izturis’ power (20) to Ryan Ludwick’s (50) to Albert Pujols’ (70+).

This blog (50). Posnanski’s (70).

And so on.

Since, I’m stealing shamelessly from Posnanski, check out his descriptions of the 20-80 scale for much more detail (and more laughs than I can provide). “The Dayton Game”, so named for KC general manager Dayton Moore, is counting up the number of 60s on any given team. It takes a tool used by scout’s to rank and evaluate amateur players for the draft and applies to the majors.

What a better way to begin a week of draft-related entries here at Bird Land by Counting the 60s with the Cardinals.

1. Pujols’ power … 70.
2. Pujols’ hitting … 80?
3. Yadier Molina’s arm … 70.
4. Rick Ankiel’s arm … 70.
5. Cesar Izturis’ glove … 60.
6. Brian Barton’s speed … 60.
7. Chris Perez’s fastball … 60 (65?)
8. Adam Wainwright’s curveball … 60 (70?)

Got some ideas? Some arguments? Anybody want to try the 2004 Cardinals? The ‘82 Birds? Heck, The Gashouse Gang?

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Some draft nuggets: SS Casey Kelly, a Sarasota prep player, visited the Cardinals’ campus in Jupiter, Fla., for a workout. (He also worked out for the Marlins.) Kelly is the 19th-rank player in Baseball America’s rankings for the draft. He’s the son of former ballplayer Pat Kelly. Committed to play quarterback at Tennessee. … RHP Bobby Lanigan, of Adelphi, had a workout for the Cardinals in Newark. … OF/RHP Aaron Hicks, a prep player for Long Beach, had a strong workout with the Cardinals, as mentioned by Keith Law and others. He is the No. 13-ranked player in BA. Switch-hitter is also expected to be available at pick 13. … 1B Brett Newsome, of Ambrose, traveled to Memphis for an invitation-only workout with the Cardinals. … And, Texas prep outfielder J. P. Ramirez, No. 155 in the BA rankings, attended the Cardinals’ workout in Houston. He’s a Tulane signee.

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