Thursday and Friday phone calls will change the life of many, Many, MANY college and prep baseballers. That’s when 30 major league baseball teams will give them a chance at The Show, albeit after several years of bus rides, meal money and real-life “Bull Durham” experiences Hollywood could never really truthfully capture on film.

Not to mention way-better summer jobs than their friends will ever have.

Over two days and 50 rounds (plus two compensatory rounds) — not to mention the 1-minute time limit between picks after the first round — the names will be called often and the major-league dreams (should picks decide to sign) beginning.

So here are your basics, starting with the STLtoday.com blogging gold standard — Derrick Goold’s, Bird Land. He provided updates for Cardinal Nation throughout Thursday. The best of the rest (or at least some of them) for all of your drafting needs: MLB DraftTracker, BaseballAmerica, and, of course, ESPN.com.

We start with Wednesday’s Post-Dispatch Top 5 list of STL Sports Nation card-carrying members to see how their fortunes turned out.

Aaron Crow, P-Mizzou (First round, No. 9 overall, Washington Nationals): “Presently, Nats are looking to future” by Chico Harlan of the Washington Post on washingtonpost.com

Tim Melville, P-Holt H.S. (Fourth round, Kansas City Royals): “Meet your Royals draft picks” by Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star on his Royals blog on kansascity.com.

Jake Odorizzi, P-Highland H.S. (Compensatory pick after the first round, 32nd overall, Milwaukee Brewers): “A fast-rising Northern star” by Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on jsonline.com.

Aaron Shafer, P-Wichita State (Second round, Chicago Cubs): “Four Shockers drafted” by Paul Suellentrop of the Wichita Eagle on kansas.com.

Conner Mach, INF-Parkway West: As of 3:50 p.m on Friday, Mach was still waiting for a phone call.

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Finally, here’s a tour of favorite sites and/or news gatherers and their local perspectives prior to the draft:

“A. Heritage’s Hosmer expected to be a top MLB draft pick” by Patrick Dorsey, Miami Herald on miamiherald.com.

“Astros go in search of draft’s hidden treasures” column by Steve Campbell, Houston Chronicle on chron.com.

“Draft plan has many options” by Nick Piecoro, Arizona Republic on azcentral.com.

“Right-handed power hitter tops Padres’ draft wish list” by John Maffei, North County Times on nctimes.com.

“Twins keeping all draft options open” by La Velle E. Neal III, Minneapolis Star-Tribune on startribune.com.

“‘Unique’ draft could bring a few surprises” by Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on jsonline.com.

“Georgia emerging as premier baseball prospect producer” by Todd Holcomb, Atlanta Journal-Constitution on ajc.com