Six Thoughts: Dodgers' Draft Drama, Gwynn Jr. on NBA, Boesch Bashing

• Skepticism abounds that the cost-cutting Dodgers will sign their first-round draft pick, Zach Lee, presumably because club ownership would rather spend the money on Russian scientists.

Actually, the hiccup is that Lee, a quarterback and pitcher, apparently would rather play SECessionist football.

It's not all bleak for the Dodgers, though. Because Lee has a football scholarship to LSU, the "two-sport exemption" would allow the Dodgers to divvy up his bonus over the next five years. The Dodgers appear to have a cash flow problem this year as their owners go through a divorce, but a five-year schedule could set this year's payment under $1 million.

Several baseball clubs have thin reports on Lee because they assumed he will go to LSU. The Dodgers, though, saw a lot of Lee, sending, among others, Gib Bodet, who is one of their best amateur scouts, to Lee's high school in Texas. Dodgers draft overseer Logan White has made a career out of drafting high schoolers who would become major leaguers, including pitchers such as Jonathan Broxton, Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley. "Best high school pitcher in the draft," said a veteran American League scout who studied Lee. Rumblings are that Lee's NFL potential is less than that of his MLB potential.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti OK'd the decision to draft Lee 28th overall, prompting speculation that L.A. was punting the pick to save money until next June, when it would regain the pick. "I can't guarantee you we're going to sign him," Colletti told FanHouse. "I can guarantee you we're going to try. I hope that we're never in a position where we're picking in the Top 5 or the Top 10, [but] our scouts believe that this kid's talent is somewhere up there."

Expect the Dodgers to offer Lee several million dollars.

• If Tony Gwynn Jr.'s prediction comes true, the sports world will tilt toward the West tonight.

"Lakers," the Padres' outfielder and former prep basketball star said when asked who will win the NBA Finals. "I think Ron Artest will be the difference."

New to California and wearing a Padres cap on the eve of this NBA season, Artest told West Coast Bias then he was in the midst of becoming a West Coast guy. "I didn't realize there was a baseball team in San Diego," he added, qualifying him for a job with ESPN's game schedulemakers.

• West Coast Bias salutes the Potomac Swamp Gnats for one thing: They know California's universities are a good source for pitchers.



Share Before San Diego State alum Stephen Strasburg made the Swamp Gnats relevant, Drew Storen (Stanford) and Chad Cordero (Cal State Fullerton) reached D.C. All three were first-round draft picks, Cordero going to the Gnats 20th in 2003 when they were based in Montreal and known as the Expos. Drafted 10th last year -- nine picks after Strasburg -- Storen had met Cordero in the closer's rookie season. Cordero told him that he rose to the majors only a few months after he was drafted. A few years later, when Stanford thrust the freshman Storen into relief against Cordero's alma mater, Cordero's words resonated.

"I was like, OK, now I want to be like that guy," Storen said. "I fell in love with the role and didn't relinquish it until I left."

Storen joined the Gnats last month and has a 1.54 ERA after 12 games. "He has a chance to be a closer," said manager Jim Riggleman.

The 22-year-old plans to return to Stanford this fall to resume pursuit of a degree in product design. "Product design is weird," he said, "because it's like mechanical engineering with art. So, ideally I'd want to work for Nike and design cleats -- something where I can utilize my baseball background with design."

• Who'd have thought James Loney could hit like Ted Williams?

Put Loney in the best hitters' parks in the National League -- those in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Denver and Phoenix -- and his left-handed bat destroys opponents. Loney has batted .384 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI in his 90 career games at those parks. Over 162 games that projects to 236 hits, 31 homers and 149 RBI. Loney has good bat control, regardless of where he plays. In neutral parks, his power is a bit short.

• I've figured out that 12 percent of adult baseball fans in Connecticut have no reason to watch ESPN's baseball coverage.

According to a poll released by Quinnipiac University, 39 percent of adult baseball fans in Connecticut root for the Yankees, 38 percent for the Red Sox, 11 percent for the Mets and 12 percent for none of the above.

• Braves uber-rookie Jason Heyward has more overall talent, but I'd just as soon watch Cal alum Brennan Boesch at the plate.

A left-handed slugger drafted 82nd out of Berkeley four years ago, Boesch has a gorgeous swing that produces rockets, such as the 422-foot shot that clinched Wednesday's victory for the Tigers. The Santa Monica native doesn't show up among the rookie leaders in rate stats because he doesn't have enough at-bats. But Boesch has a .631 slugging percentage and nine home runs, one fewer than Heyward, who leads all rookies. The left-hander didn't join Detroit until the middle of the season's third week, when Carlos Guillen went on the disabled list.

"He has no fear," teammate Justin Verlander told Detroit scribe John Lowe.

None too shabby himself, Verlander was clocked at 101 mph on Wednesday.