The Moline Greens drafted six players in the annual Shoeless Joe League supplemental draft this past March. Despite poor drafting position (a byproduct of the big club's success), Scouting Director Fate Norris was pleased with the results. "We got us some fellers who can play some ball, it looks like. All of them have a chance to be good, and a couple of them could be better than that."
The risks in drafting unproven players are self evident enough. "Wasn't too hard to pick Vladimir Guerrero once he hit AA," chuckled Norris. A certain amount of attrition is built into the draft, a quantity that unseasoned talent increases. But, explained Norris, the greatest returns are accompanied by the greatest risks. And great risks are young. In explaining this year's draft, Norris cited the influence of his protege, Assistant Director of Scouting Josh Logan . "He does like 'em young, so that's what we were shooting for."
The New Crop: