Player from Naval Academy Drafted by STL (1 Viewer)

[avoiding injuries]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_leagu...s?urn=mlb,87867

Mitch Harris was drafted in the 13th round by STL in the recent MLB draft. It would have been the 3rd or 4th round if teams knew for sure he would be allowed to play. The Navy is not bending the rules and is requiring Mitch to serve his mandatory 5 years in the Navy after graduating. I have mixed feelings about this, but I think it's unfortunate the guy can't play ball and try to make the big leagues.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

The services have an "exception to policy" for NFL players so I wonder why they don't for baseball. Well I guess if you're drafted in the NFL you have a pretty good chance to make the team, but they should try and make an exception here also. Maybe station the guy as close to the Cards minor league affiliate that he will be assigned to as possible.

 

[Capella]

Sucks, but he signed the papers. And they're right, they need him more than the Cards do.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Sucks, but he signed the papers. And they're right, they need him more than the Cards do.

No one should feel sorry for him to be honest. A Service Academy degree is worth about as much as an Ivy League, Duke/Stanford/Michigan/U of Chicago/Wake/Georgetown degree. People will feel sorry for him and he'll get to go to camp on a PR grant and everything in the world will be right. He'll probably be my boss in 20 years.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Sucks, but he signed the papers. And they're right, they need him more than the Cards do.

No one should feel sorry for him to be honest. A Service Academy degree is worth about as much as an Ivy League, Duke/Stanford/Michigan/U of Chicago/Wake/Georgetown degree. People will feel sorry for him and he'll get to go to camp on a PR grant and everything in the world will be right. He'll probably be my boss in 20 years.

This is what had me torn on how I felt. He just graduated with a degree from the Naval Academy. He's going to have to screw up pretty bad to not be very successful with that on his resume. If he went into the minors, it could possibly hold him back and delay his success. No promises that he would ever get out of the minors.

 

[jwb]

The services have an "exception to policy" for NFL players so I wonder why they don't for baseball.

Only the army (West Point) does this. The deal is you have to work recruiting on off days. There's some outcry from people saying they should serve, but they kind of miss the point - these guys are *way* more valuable to the Army as a NFL/MLB player/recruiter.