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06.05.2008 4:18 pm

Wallace: “I’m coming to St. Louis”

By Derrick Goold
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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DOWNTOWN — Brett Wallace, a “professional hitter” according to every Cardinals official who has circulated through the room here at Busch Stadium, said he doesn’t see any reason he won’t be going pro once this college season is done.

“I think it’s locked in that I’m coming to St. Louis,” Wallace said in a conference call with reporters this afternoon. “I want to get my career going. I can’t think of another team I’d rather start it with.”

The Cardinals have been in touch with Wallace and have a good feel on what it will take to sign him. Wallace and his Arizona State team are preparing for a Super Regional against Fresno State this weekend, and the Cardinals cannot sign the lefthanded-hitting third baseman until after the Sun Devils are eliminated.

“I’m ready to get started,” Wallace said.

The Cardinals compensatory pick is coming up here. One of the players they were looking at is already off the board — reliever Daniel Schlereth, the lefty from Arizona. There are two other lefthanded pitchers the Cardinals have looked at for an early-round pick: Wade Miley of Southeastern Louisiana and Brett Devall from Niceville (Fla.) HS.

Also, RHP Tim Melville is on the board and a Cardinals official said he would be a nice get in the supplemental round.

More on Wallace and his ability to play third, more from Wallace coming shortly.

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Blog Comments: Rules of the Road

why pass on melville?

— fewgoodcards
4:37 pm June 5th, 2008

Reading between the lines here it appears that Melville has passed that signability threshold. He slipped out of the first round, but probably still expects to command first-round money to not go to college. That puts teams in a risky position — pass on him? or pay him?

It also now fades into one of the more intriguing areas of the baseball draft, especially for the Cardinals. At what point is Melville so clearly the best player on the board that it’s worth taking a run at him. And, in the Cardinals case, do you try to play on the hometown lure — which in Melville’s case might not apply.

Certainly gives this draft a fascinating subplot.

dg
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— Derrick Goold
5:03 pm June 5th, 2008

Any chance of Wallace playing 2B?

— BD
5:04 pm June 5th, 2008

DG, what’s the word on Lynn? Why is he the pick over a guy like Brett DeVall who is the best high school lefty in the draft when Luhnow specifically said he was looking for lefties?

— fewgoodcards
5:07 pm June 5th, 2008

DG:

What happened in the supp. round? We could have popped Melville, Miley or Devall, but took Lynn instead. I don’t see Melville lasting until #59, do you?

— mikechamp
5:08 pm June 5th, 2008

Sort of answered that question above. Melville might be at a point where the pick doesn’t match the bonus, so any team that takes him will have to go beyond that “slot” to sign him. Hard to guess what team will chance that.

Looks like the Cardinals, hungry for lefties, got caught by a lefty run after their supp. round pick. Though Lynn does fit the profile of a player Luhnow wanted to get — an innings eater.

He’s just not lefthanded.

Luhnow said a few minutes ago they are trying to figure out a course of action now to get the lefty (lefties) they want/need and when it would be best to strike and get them. Two of the targets are gone. Three of the lefties they coveted have been picked.

dg
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— Derrick Goold
5:13 pm June 5th, 2008

DG:

Thanks for the quick response. Anyone know when Round 2 begins?

— mikechamp
5:16 pm June 5th, 2008

Shane Peterson doesn’t sound all that good, just from reading his scouting report on MLB.com. I’ll be interested to hear Luhnow’s thoughts on that selection.

— mikechamp
5:40 pm June 5th, 2008

DG: What happened to the 3rd round pick @ 91? No pick at all? BaseballAmerica skips over several picks. I’m with these other guys: Why wouldn’t we pop for Melville and to hell with the slot? Isn’t this about drafting the best players? Or is it about satisfying the Commish?

— 1964cards
6:52 pm June 5th, 2008

Can he pitch? just kidding. welcome to St.Louis kidd, you now have the best baseball fans to back you up.

— Andrew
9:08 pm June 5th, 2008