EVERY FOUR YEARS

by Steve Cutler (9/29/2019)

  Hollywood has been in the league since relocating the former-Columbus Explorers to Hollywood at the conclusion of the 2001 season.  In their first draft, 2002, they had 3 first round picks and 10 picks in the first 4 rounds.  They seemed to be set up for a great first draft, however not 1 of their 10 picks produced any solid ball players.  Their talent judgement was something to be desired as they passed on players like Jake Peavy (1^st), Justin Morneau (3^rd), Joe Mauer (3^rd), Jayson Werth (4^th), Brad Lidge (4^th), Miguel Cabrera (5^th), Victor Martinez (7^th) and Jose B. Reyes (8^th).  Hollywood worked hard to produce better drafts over the next couple years, but the 2007 draft was the start of what appears to be a solid draft every 4 years. 

  The 2007 draft only produced 2 players, it was (potentially) future Hall of Famers, David Price and Clayton Kershaw.

  Between 2007 and 2011, Hollywood drafted just 2 players who would go on to have solid careers – home run “only” hitter, Chris Davis and lead off hitter Michael Brantley (2010).  It wasn’t until 4 years later – 2011 – for Hollywood to strike lightening twice.  Coming off an 81-81 season, and an upward trajectory, Hollywood took the chance on a star high school player from Westlake High School out of Thousand Oaks, California – Christian Yelich.  Hollywood’s owner, Steve Cutler, was not at the draft to make that pick so he proxied Tempe owner Chris Douglass to make his 1^st round (16^th overall pick) for him.  Going off the draft list, Douglass targeted Hollywood’s #1 choice, Yelich.     This was a draft that Yelich saw Chris Sale, Manny Machado and Mike Moustakas go before him and where he saw Hollywood grab another impact player in the 6^th round.  Hollywood was struggling to find a steady first baseman for their franchise.  As the 6^th round approached Steve Cutler was chatting with Iron City’s Jonathan Mayo about who he could target.  As he recalls, Mayo was not targeting a 1B in that draft and mentioned a 1B-Man out of Texas State that he really liked – Paul Goldschmidt .  Hollywood now had 2 impact young fielders on the same team as their 3-Horsemen.  The drafts in 2012, 2013 and 2014 produced nearly a star, but in 2015, they added the next 2 pieces to their solid team.  It took until the 7^th round when they drafted shortstop Ketel Marte and in then in the 8^th round, they went to his left to find their other corner infielder just down the road from their stadium.  Cal State-Fullerton had produced a power hitting third baseman in Matt Chapman.  Hollywood now had the makings of a solid infield.  Then sprinkle in 6^th rounder reliever Sam Tuivailala and you call that a good draft.   Tuivailala had a history of arm injuries, so they were taking a chance on drafting him.  In 2019, he would finally looked like the reliever they were expecting after coming off arm surgery. 

While Hollywood’s drafting has gotten better over the years, it appears that they are at their best every 4 years.  The 2019 draft ended this year, with Hollywood grabbing a couple of young pieces, but only time will tell if they turn into anything.  With Marte moving to 2B then the outfield, they feel they grabbed their future SS in High Schooler Xavier Edwards, however only time will tell.  Every four years, Hollywood has a really good draft.  They need to do better than that, but will take what they can get.  Even if it’s Every Four Years.