I was stunned yesterday when I read that ESPN2 is going to provide live coverage of the MLB draft in June.  The worldwide leader has finally lost it's mind.

The biggest factor that makes the NFL and NBA drafts compelling is fan interaction.  We all  play along at home. The NFL draft consists of players that we've seen playing college football for two, three or four years.   They are names and players that are familiar to us.  We know who Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell, Joe Thomas and Calvin Johnson are, we've seen them before.  We know their skills.  We know what our teams need and project who they will select. 

The MLB draft is exactly the opposite.  Unless you watch a ton of college baseball games and go to high school games, you have no clue who any of these players are.  And even if you do, there is no immediate impact.  Whoever gets selected will be sent to the instructional league, then rookie ball, A ball, AA ball and then, depending on how bad the need is either AAA ball or the show.  Many of these draftees will break down in the minors and never wear the uniform of your favorite team.  Many more will be used as trade bait to fill a need with established players.  Quick, who's Luke Hocavar?

Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox stock their farm systems with prospects only to trade a lot of them.  White Sox fans remember names like Jeremy Reed, Royce Ring, Joe Valentine, Gio Gonzalez (who is now back with the Sox), Chris Young and others who were great prospects traded for more urgent needs.  How many Sox fans broke out the bubbly when Mark Buehrle was selected in the 38th round of the 1998 draft?  I doubt the Raiders will be getting rid of Russell anytime soon and his impact will be felt  immediately.  In baseball, it could be three or four years before a prospect gets to the majors, often in a different uniform. 

It's obvious that as a "TV partner", MLB is leaning on ESPN to do this so they develop it for the MLB channel in a couple of years.  ESPN has always ducked under the desk and serviced their partners because they use that as leverage the next time the negotiations come up.  But unlike the NFL draft, no one in their right mind will watch it.

Lightning Round

• The White Sox travel to Minnesota to open a series against the Twins.  Closer Bobby Jenks says he's back at full speed.  I think pitching coach Don Cooper is offering Jenks a Big Mac every time he hits 96 on the radar gun.
• In the chase for Lord Stanley's cup, the Red Wings moved on to the Western Conference finals drowning the Sharks 2-0 last night.  My predictions come Thursday, but Red Wings-Ducks and Sens-Sabres will both be far more interesting than the finals.
• It will be at least twelve weeks before Joel Zumaya will be walking White Sox again.
  
• I heard about the Bulls-Pistons game last night and I thought, what is this, 1988?
• Dale Jr. is demanding changes being made to the NASCAR "Car of Tomorrow."  Maybe he should just sign with Hendrick Motorsports.
• Better step up to a wide screen if you want to watch "Sportscenter" in the morning.  Why is it TV guys like screen clutter so much?
• It's never over until the fat fan falls.
• Fred Thompson is quickly becoming the sexiest man NOT running for President. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney panders to the 700 Club. 
  
• Leave it to President Bush to infer that the Queen of England is over 200 years old. 
  
• Here's the thing about being a celebrity.  You do something embarrassing and everybody is going to know about it.  Right, Ty Pennington?  Right George Michael?  Right David Hasselhoff?  Right Paris Hilton?  And these are all "B listers.
• If you live in Wisconsin, your already outrageous electric and gas bills are going to get far more outrageous. 
  
• A judge has ruled that a Wisconsin candidate for sheriff, who legally changed his name to Andy Griffith, does not harm the TV actor of the same name who filed suit to prevent it.  No word if the actor was represented by Ben Matlock.  If I was going to change my name and run for sheriff, I would change my name to Buford  Pusser. 
  
• If you are into sci-fi, check out Entertainment Weekly's top 25 sci-fi list.  I didn't necessarily agree with it and wonder why both Babylon 5 and Stargate SG1 were left out.
• If you like ladies and like jazz, take five and check this out.