USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars had plenty of 2010 draft talent in attendance and Keith Law of espn.com gives us a review of how they played.

• Bryce Harper lived up to his recent scouting report and struck out twice by not being patient with the pitchers attempting to pitch around him.
• Jameson Taillon from the Woodlands HS in Texas was tracking at 90-94mph on his fastball and a good slider. His curveball and changeup were also decent.
• Kris Bryant from Bonanza HS in Las Vegas showed plenty of power from the right side of the plate along with an arm to throw from third base.
• Brian Ragira out of Martin HS in Texas showed great wrists and the ability to stay inside the ball to generate power with his swing.
• Marcus Littlewood from Pineview HS in Utah was very deft at the shortstop position, demonstrating very smooth hands.
• Nick Castellanos out of Archbishop McCarthy HS in Florida had great power on anything below mid-thigh, but struggled with pitches up in the zone.
• Sam Wilson from El Dorado HS in New Mexico uses an upper cut swing to generate good power, but needs to adjust that to hit higher quality pitching and can do so without sacrificing power.
• Yordy Cabrera from Lakeland HS in Florida is very athletic, playing both thirdbase and RHP. While he has nice power he needs to improve his plate discipline.
• Justin O'Connor plays infield and pitches for Cowan HS in Muncie, IN and while considered more of a prospect as a pitcher, did not throw at the tournament. Nevertheless, he demonstrated one of the most disciplined swings at the tournament. "He is, in the words of one scout who has seen him aI few times, 'obnoxiously talented.'"

Keith Law of espn.com provides us with a detailed scouting report on phenom Bryce Harper. Here are some highlights.

• Harper's most impressive attribute is his hand and wrist strength which he uses to generate unusual power for someone so young.
• While he's probably not the 205 pounds he listed at, he currently has above average speed and even when he does fill out, his speed isn't likely to get much worse than average.
• He's currently a catcher though most scouts figure he'll play third base professionally to avoid the wear and tear of catching.
• While he's been clocked at 94mph as a pitcher, Law suggests that the recent Tommy John surgery for Luke Bailey and subsequent drop in draft stock should be enough to have Harper avoid pitching.
• Harper has supreme confidence, at times to his detriment. When pitchers are avoiding him, sometimes he chases believing he can make something out of nothing rather than just taking what's being given to him.
• Law projects his ceiling as Joe Mauer. Not bad.

Plenty of news, rumor and commentary links to pass along

• Troy Glaus could be a decent option for a team looking for a first base or DH.  He does not figure to have a spot on the Cardinals.
• The Phillies need pitching, but is much available?  Not really.
• Giants general manager Brian Sabean has a "narrow list" of players he's interested - primarily right handed bats - but concedes that he's unlikely to get anything done until closer to the deadline.
• Trading Juan Pierre for Jarrod Washburn would not work for the Mariners because of Pierre's contract.  The Dodgers could make it work however.
• Brewers general manager Doug Melvin does not want to continue to trade prospects for pitching.
• The Cubs have signed their first round pick, Brett Jackson.
• Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun suggests a few moves for the Orioles.
• The White Sox will not be sellers at the trade deadline according to general manager Kenny Williams.

Jason Churchill of espn.com has an update from the summer leagues with plenty of players who will be available in the 2010 MLB Draft.

New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)

• Adam Matthews of South Carolina impressed an area scout.
• Vanderbilt's best hitter, Aaron Westlake, will be playing for the Newport Gulls.
• Kansas RHP TJ Walz had 88Ks in 82.1IP this season and will be playing in the NECBL.
• Mitchell Beacom from UCLA will be playing for the Holyoke Blue Sox. "He's one of those, you know, projectable types," one AL club's West Coast area scout said. "Lots there to look for, and he's a lefty."
• If I were playing in the NECBL, I'd be really bummed if I got stuck in Holyoke, MA vs. Newport, RI.

Texas Collegiate Baseball League (TCBL)

• RHPs Willie Kempf from Baylor and Jeff Emens are prospects on scouts radars who will be playing in the TCBL this summer.

Cape Cod League

• SS Christian Colon from Cal State-Fullerton, 1B Andy Wilkins from Arkansas and RHP Anthony Ranaudo will be suiting up for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and likely trailed by scouts all summer.
• Arkansas' Zack Cox, Texas RHP Chance Ruffin and Clemson LHP Chris Dwyer (taken by the Royals in the 4th round) will be playing for the Cotuit Kettleers.
• SS Derek Dietrich from Georgia Tech and OF Alex Dickerson from Indiana will be playing for the Wareham Gateman.
• Georgia Tech RHP Deck McGuire and Fresno State 2B Danny Muno will be on the Orleans Firebirds along wtih Max Stassi's older brother, LHP Brock Stassi from Nevada.
• Middle Tennessee State's Bryce Brentz and LSU OF Leon Landry will team up for the Harwich Mariners.
• The Bourne Braves might have the best team with Ole Miss LHP Drew Pomeranz, FSU OF Tyler Holt and Tennessee C Blake Forsythe.
• If Kentrail Davis does not sign with the Brewers soon, he'll be playing for the Falmouth Commodores.
• RHP Matt Harvey from UNC will be playing for the Chatham Anglers.

A bunch of links to pass along today

• Tom Glavine will not pitch again in 2009. Makes you wonder if he'll ever pitch again.
• Magglio Ordonez was benched by the Tigers yesterday, an indication that they may be looking to end their relationship with the slugger.
• The Diamondbacks season took two more blows last night - Brandon Webb suffered a set back and Chris Young was injured - and Arizona might have to be sellers at the trade deadline.
• Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Christian Guzman will likely be available from the Nationals.
• The Phillies remain interested in Brad Penny of the Red Sox.
• Chone Figgins' play recently likely means that his price this off season is increasing. I'm not so sure that's true. If the economy does not rebound by Nov/Dec, there may be far less of a market for him than originally thought. He'll certainly get a raise from the $5.775M he's making in 2009.

Buster Olney of espn.com provides us with a few good rumors today:

• Pedro Martinez's asking price appears to be too high based on his ability, or lack thereof.  "He'd have to lower [his asking price] a lot before we got involved," one GM said.  The Yankees will be sending a scout to his latest pitching session simply because they have someone in the area.
• Considering how few teams have money to spend at the trade deadline, the As might have to be willing to eat some of what remains on Matt Holliday's contract to move him.  He's owed $13.5M for 2009 and has approximately $8M left on his contract right now.  That number will be about $5.5M at the trade deadline.
• Olney heard that baseball executives expect the Indians to start seriously shopping Mark DeRosa soon.  Olney thinks that the Cardinals, Mets and Cubs make the most sense and figures he'll end up in St. Louis.

• The Diamondbacks have signed their supplemental first round pick, Matt Davidson.  He was treated to a tour of Chase Field and took batting practice with the major league team after signing.
• Sports Illustrated coverboy Bryce Harper has enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a two year junior college.  The move will allow him to enter the 2010 MLB Draft after what would have been his junior year of high school instead of 2011 after his senior year of high school.
• Bill Shaikin of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette discussed Scott Boras's effect on the draft.
• Former University of Miami linebacker Glenn Cook had not played baseball in six years, but was drafted by the Cubs anyway in the 48th round, with the 1,400th overall pick. 

A bunch of links to pass along:

• Even though Royals first round pick Aaron Crow would have been a senior this year had he stayed in school after being draft and going unsigned in 2008, Crow will still be subject to the Aug 17th deadline to sign picks. College seniors are not subject to such a deadline.
• Brewers first round draft pick Eric Arnett has agreed to a $1.2M deal.
• Fantastic article by Jamey Newberg about the Rangers approach to rebuild through the draft.
• The Orioles are reportedly close to signing their first round draft pick, Matt Hobgood. MLB recommends a $2.25M bonus for the 5th pick in the draft.
• Kevin Dugan is expected to sign with the Phillies today. He was the Phillies first draft pick.

Earlier we posted Keith Law of espn.com's review of Day One of the 2009 MLB Draft. Let's check in on his thoughts about Day Two.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates opened eyes with their controversial pre-draft deal for Tony Sanchez and then took him with the #4 pick of the draft, well ahead of several better talents according to most evaluators. Their approach to the draft was not to spend a lot of money in Round 1, but perhaps splurge a little bit in the later rounds on some talent with higher salary demands than might be normally seen in the later rounds. The Pirates added Jordan Cooper, Zach Van Rosenberg, Colton Cain and Trent Stevenson - all players who feel because of signability concerns.

Oakland Athletics

Hopefully the As are prepared to spend some money on their amateur draft because they grabbed guys who have potential signing issues. Their second round pick was Max Stassi who fell because of the perception that he'll require over draft slot money. The grabbed Ian Krol who was booted from his high school team for some off the field issues and is committed to Arizona and will take some money to wrestle free. Last, but not least, their first round pick was Grant Green who is represented by Scott Boras.

Tampa Bay Rays

Injury questions are a theme of the Rays draft. They grabbed a potential first round pick, Luke Bailey, who fell to them because of Tommy John surgery earlier in the year. Their 10th round pick, Derek Dennis, is kind of an unknown because of how late he blossomed.

Los Angeles Angels

We'll let Keith Law handle this one perfectly "The Angels' draft was all over the place, with toolsy prep bats, big college arms with bad command and some projectable high school arms"

Atlanta Braves

For whatever reason, the Braves have seemingly changed their draft philosophy from an upside-high school based approach to a more conservative college-based one. Their first pick was Mike Minor who, while solid, doesn't project to have much upside. All in all, they didn't take a high schooler until the 10th round. Perhaps they were not interested in the financial commitment high schoolers often require.

Keith Law of espn.com provided a reaction to the draft picks from Day 1 of the 2009 MLB Draft. For Day 2 analysis, click here.

Best picks of the first round

• Tyler Matzek, Colorado Rockies, #11 overall: He slid because of signability concerns and the Rockies benefited.
• Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals, #19 overall: Like Matzek, he fell because of contract demands.
• Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins, #20 overall: The stress fracture in Gibson's throwing arm scared many teams off, but so long as it heals, the Twins got a steal.

Worst picks of the first round

• Tony Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates, #4 overall: It's not that Sanchez is not a first round player, but the Pirates reached too high at #4. The reason was a pre-draft deal that saved the Pirates some money, but they passed on too much talent.
• Randal Grichuk, Los Angeles Angles, #24 overall: Not even in Law's Top 100
• Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners, #27 overall: Franklin does not have much upside along with below average power and mediocre defense at best.

More Thoughts

• Law liked the Diamondbacks draft of Bobby Borchering and AJ Pollock in the first round and Matt Davidson, Chris Owings and Mike Belifore in the second and third rounds.
• The Cubs took low stat, high upside athletic guys Brett Jackson and DJ LeMahieu.
• Rex Brothers was a steal for the Rockies at #34.