Quote:
Originally Posted by Saul Good
No pitcher drafted #1 had ever been very good before David Price.
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I wouldn't go that far.
Floyd Bannister - was never great but pitched in the majors for 15 years and made one all-star team
Mike Moore - also was never really great, but was a key cog of Oakland's staff during the late 80s/early 90s run and had some very great seasons for them. Was basically a league average guy over the course of his career. Also made a few all-star teams.
Tim Belcher - Was an elite pitcher in several seasons and a key cog behind Orel Hershiser when the Dodgers won the WS.
Andy Benes - Was a solid No. 2/3 starter for several years in San Diego, got hurt, then was a solid No. 2/3 starter for several years in St. Louis. Several all-star appearances.
There were 12 pitchers taken No. 1 between the start of the draft and Price. This includes a long period - strike to recent CBA - in which the best guy often slipped because of signability issues.
4/12 success rate isn't great, but it's not awful for MLB drafting, either.
If you include the 3 guys taken SINCE Price (Price, Strasburg and Cole), your success rate increase to 6/15.
(I'm bored, can you tell?)