ESPN2 will carry the first four hours of baseball's annual draft June 7.
This could get interesting because the usual way the draft runs is not very telegenic. MLB will need to put a saddle and some reins on the teams. According to an MLB release, each club will be allowed five minutes to make their first-round pick, but teams are used to a rapid-fire draft in which the first round may take 10-15 minutes total.
The draft will also be at one place rather than each team camping out at its own facility. Hey, scouting directors, you're going to Disney World.
The draft lasts two days and 50 rounds. Normally, the first 20 rounds are the first day, but if they go slow for TV's sake, there will be a lot of jittery baseball people.
The draft will run another 2 1/2 hours after ESPN2 goes to other programming and pick up June 8 for a marathon to the finish.
The Devil Rays pick first and Vanderbilt pitcher David Price is apparently atop their wish list. The top-ranked Commodores play at Auburn this weekend and Price is scheduled to start Friday's opener.
Price, a left-hander, is 8-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 97 1/3 innings.
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Because of the 35 scheduled sandwich picks, the Rays start the second round with overall pick No. 66.
Who did Tampa draft 2nd last year?
Devil Rays pitcher Salas suspended
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Juan Salas has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension will take effect on Tuesday for Tampa Bay's next scheduled game, when the Devil Rays play at Baltimore.
MLB
My best David Stern imitation ...
With the 47th pick of the 2006 draft, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays select Josh Butler of the University of San Diego.
This year, the right-handed pitcher is 2-0 with a 1.36 ERA in six starts with the Columbus Catfish.
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