Around league circles, our colleague Graham Wexler has earned a reputation as something of a prophet.
Every offseason, Wexler publishes his annual mock draft. Most years it provides a few laughs, a few arguments, and maybe a handful of correct predictions. This year, however, Wexler appeared to possess knowledge that bordered on the supernatural.
The Chronicle’s draft expert opened the draft a perfect six-for-six.
Six selections. Six correct predictions.
Owners began whispering. Scouts started checking his office for hidden cameras. Conspiracy theories were circulating faster than trade rumors.
Then came Colorado.
Prior to the Rockies making their selection, new owner Joe reportedly sent a brief message that read:
“He won’t go 7 for 7. Sorry.”
With the seventh pick, Colorado selected Adrian Beltre, passing on Mike Lowell—the player Wexler had projected.
The streak was dead.
According to sources, the pick itself wasn’t what bothered Wexler. Mock drafts are wrong all the time. It was the follow-up message from Colorado ownership that truly lit the fuse.
“Sorry Wexler.”
Witnesses describe what happened next as “uncharacteristic.”
Wexler reportedly responded with a message that, in the interest of maintaining our family-friendly publication standards, will not be reprinted here. What we can say is that it was not the calm, analytical, statistics-driven Graham Wexler that league members have come to know.
It was, apparently, a very different Graham Wexler.
Which brings us to the question currently being debated throughout the league:
Has Joe, the new Colorado owner, become Public Enemy No. 1?
Some owners have applauded the move, arguing that no mock draft should ever go undefeated. Others believe intentionally derailing a perfect prediction streak may have awakened forces best left undisturbed.
As for what happens next, nobody knows.
Will Wexler simply move on and continue covering the league?
Will Colorado find itself mysteriously ranked last in every future organizational power ranking?
Will every Rockies draft pick over the next decade receive a suspiciously harsh scouting report?
Or has a new rivalry been born—one between a draft analyst and an owner who dared challenge destiny itself?
One thing is certain:
The Colorado Rockies may have drafted Adrian Beltre.
But Joe also drafted himself directly onto Graham Wexler’s radar.
And that might be the more dangerous selection.