SECAUCUS, N.J. - Mike Trout was the star of MLB Network's coverage of Tuesday's draft.But only because Trout, a first-round pick of the Angels, lives in Millville, N.J.
Trout braved the two-hour drive upstate to the MLB Network studio in Secaucus, making him the only draftee present at the new-format draft.
For years, the baseball draft was a model of obscurity. In fact, Major League Baseball, for a long time, would release only the names of drafted players, and not the rounds. That was painted as an attempt to avoid helping college coaches (whose recruiting was long over by June) when it was actually an effort to keep bonuses down.
It's still about the money of course. It's just that now the money can be made on TV. And while the baseball draft has come a long way from secret conference call to televised event, there's still room for improvement.
No. 1 is getting players on hand.
"I hope more people will do it in the future," commissioner Bud Selig said.
Selig said he'll work on that, and while it may not be easy, it's needed.
What's memorable about the NFL draft? Other than the booing of Jets and Eagles fans, how about the drama of Brady Quinn falling and falling?
That happens in baseball too. But whoever falls is at home, following the draft, kept from the public eye by his agent.
Scott Boras wouldn't even allow Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 pick, to take part in a media conference call through the team – which is standard procedure for a first-rounder.
So good luck to Selig in improving attendance.
While the show itself was improved from the first two years on ESPN2 – better preparation, more player interviews (via satellite or phone) – lacking was some pointed, objective commentary. The show needed more questioning of picks and analysis of why players were or weren't taken. The teams will do a fine job of saying how happy they are with their choices; someone needs to balance that out with criticism.
Another nitpick: the "dignitaries" from the teams were window dressing, especially in the first round when they sat at tables and, for the most part, twiddled their thumbs. It was OK to see people like Fred McGriff and Tino Martinez announce the second-round picks, but that part of the broadcast was available only online.
Selig liked the chance to show off the MLB Network with the draft, and it wasn't his fault it fell the same night as games in the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals and while the Mets and Yankees were playing their top division rivals.
"We need to do more to boost this event," Selig said. "But this is a huge move in the right direction."
