  Unlike the NFL Draft, the annual MLB draft usually passes by with little fanfare in the general public. There's an interesting story that's developing, less than a week from draft day (June 7th). The San Diego Padres own the first selection in the draft, courtesy of their NL-worst record in 2003. It's been a widely-known fact that San Diego's front office was targeting Long Beach State RHP Jered Weaver. Weaver has had a phenomenal year for the 49ers, going 14-1 with a 1.68 ERA and in 128.1 IP, he's struck out 193 batters, while only walking 18. Like I said, phenomenal numbers.
Nobody would question taking Weaver with the first overall selection. However, Baseball America is reporting now that the Padres are taking a long, hard look at Florida State SS Stephen Drew. And they might even be leaning towards selecting him. Drew finished the regular season batting .353, with a .469 OBP and .692 SLG. My first reaction to this news was that the Padres were bluffing. Not bluffing other teams (with the first pick, they don't need to), but bluffing to the rumored large signing bonus demands that Weaver will make.
But, for those that do not know, Stephen Drew is brother to former Seminole J.D. Drew, a Scott Boras client who sat out an entire year of MLB-affiliated baseball because the Phillies wouldn't meet his signing demands. Like his brother, Stephen will also be a Boras client. But this theory of mine was completely discredited, when I read that Jered Weaver will also be represented by Boras. If the Padres were worried about exorbitant signing bonuses, they would be refocusing on a non-Boras client, you would think. So maybe San Diego's interest is genuine.
There isn't much to not like about Stephen Drew. He's a good hitter with some pop and above average speed. He's not a bad fielder at SS, but if necessary could probably make a smooth transition to 2B, CF, and maybe even 3B. There are two standard criticisms on Drew. And both are partially attributable to his brother J.D. 's reputation.
First, he's injury-prone. It's true that he's missed a good chunk of games as a Seminole, more than J.D. ever did. Combine that with J.D. 's injury history as a professional, and you get scouting directors antsy. Secondly, much like his brother, Stephen has a very laid back demeanor, which comes off as indifference.
The Drews aren't rah-rah types, and people get the impression that baseball doesn't matter to them. But again, scouts are taking what the impressions they draw from J.D. and apply it to Stephen. Stephen Drew must overcome the expected negative similarities with his brother, and that's simply not fair. I have a brother - neither he nor I want to be, nor should be expected, to act or perform the same way. What really gets me about this, is that Weaver, whom most feel is the best player in this draft also has a brother in professional baseball.
Jered is the younger brother of Dodger RHP Jeff Weaver. Yes, the Jeff Weaver who the Tigers and Yankees happily discarded, as much for poor makeup as poor performance. Yet, I haven't heard any concerns from scouts that Jered could turn out to be the headcase Jeff has been. Now, maybe there's something noticeably and tangibly different between the two pitchers - I don't know. It makes sense to me that the same biases should apply. In both cases, the younger brothers shouldn't be compared against their older siblings' trials and tribulations in baseball.
It's not fair, however quite inevitable. I wonder why Drew seems to be taking more heat. Perhaps it's because J.D. has been a bigger disappointment than Jeff Weaver. Who knows... I just find that fascinating. 
