preseason community mock

[Mephistopheles]

you know the drill

 

 

as of now:

 

First-Round Picks

1. Nationals

2. Mariners

3. Padres

4. Pirates

5. Orioles

6. Giants

7. Braves

8. Reds

9. Tigers

10. Nationals (for failure to sign 2008 first-rounder Aaron Crow)

11. Rockies

12. Royals

13. Athletics

14. Rangers

15. Indians

16. Diamondbacks

17. Dodgers

18. Marlins

19. Cardinals

20. Blue Jays

21. Mariners (if they fail to sign 2008 first-rounder Joshua Fields)

22. Astros

23. Twins

24. White Sox

25. Angels (from Mets for Francisco Rodriguez, A)

26. Angels (from Yankees for Mark Teixeira, A)

27. Brewers

28. Mariners (from Phillies for Raul Ibanez, A)

29. Yankees (for failure to sign 2008 first-rounder Gerrit Cole)

30. Red Sox

31. Rays

32. Cubs

33. Rockies (from Angels for Brian Fuentes, A)

[Mephistopheles]

1.) Washington Nationals - Stephen Strasburg, RHP - San Diego State

 

 

Will edit in scouting report later. It would be nice for everyone to do the same and videos, as well. Just a sentence or two would be useful. Note, since Strasburg is a boras bitch, he could slide. However, the Nats are willing to open up the pocketbooks and they do have Strasburg at the top of their board (who doesn't?)

 

[UK1679666180]

2) Seattle Mariners - Grant Green, SS - USC

 

Top position player in the country and should rise quickly thru the M's farm system. 5 tool SS who seems to a cross between Tulowitski at SS with Longoria's hitting abilities. Clearly the best player in the Cape Cod last year.

[Mephistopheles]

3.) San Diego Padres - Dustin Ackley, OF - North Carolina

 

 

The Padres have a huge belief system that pony-ing up for the expensive pitchers is a poor move. However, Grant Green and Stephen Strasburg are still going to be near or at the top of their board. They'd prefer an advanced college hitter here, I would think, but Boras' is all over the top of this draft. Dustin Ackley seems like a good fit, but he's a Boras guy.

 

Ackley may not have enough power to play first at the next level, but he's relatively athletic. He should be athletic enough to be able to move to 3B or possibly 2B as well as play corner OFs above average and passable in center. He's the best "pure" college hitter available, and that's a profile that the Padres love. Other guys they could be interested in are the top college pitchers not represented by Boras. I highly doubt they look at a high school player, unless they simply can't even afford to go slot.

[Guest]

4. Pittsburgh: Donovan Tate - OF - Cartersville (GA) HS

 

Best HS position prospect, high ceiling.

[UK1679666180]

5.) Baltimore Orioles - Alex White, RHP - UNC

 

With a prototypical build, and a nice and easy, athletic delivery, White is able to maintain his 91-94 mph fastball deep into games. He has improved the velocity and command on his fastball, a pitch that shows very good, natural late movement. As good as his fastball is, his slider is his best pitch, a wicked breaker that is nearly impossible for right-handed hitters to track when it's working at its best. He also throws a changeup, but hasn't need it too much up until this point in time. He does need to work on honing his control, and his stuff is so good that he often isn't able to control where it goes as well as he would like to. It is an area he has improved, while also learning how to work off of his fastball instead of pitching off of the success of his slider.

 

[Mephistopheles]

6.) San Francisco Giants - Aaron Crow, RHP - FW Cats

 

The San Francisco Giants have been terrible at developing impact power hitters for quite some time now. With this pick they could look at some of the better pitchers remaining, Their first two choices are probably going to be the best two hitters available. Donovan Tate and Dustin Ackley seem to be likely candidates, but they're both gone. This draft seems to be very pitcher slanted, especially after the first few offensive players go, so the Giants may have to reach if they want another offensive guy, but they'll probably go best available. Aaron Crow, Tyler Matzek, Matt Purke and Kyle Gibson all could be viable secondary choices.

 

Crow, one of the finalists for the #1 pick a year ago, possesses a fastball that reaches the mid 90s topping out at 97 and throws a hard slider in the mid 80s. Both pitches should be able to get him a good swing and miss rate in the next level against righties. His changeup has some work to do and he'll need it to advance if he wants to get lefties out. It's a pitch that could be the difference from him being a closer or a top half of the rotation starter.

[Guest]

7. Atlanta Braves: Tyler Matzek - LHP - Capistrano Valley HS (Mission Viejo, CA)

 

I'm sure the Braves would have been all over Georgia-native Donovan Tate if he fell. Instead, they go with the top prep arm.

 

Considered Kyle Gibson, Andrew Oliver and Matt Purke.