PriortoTheoIhadWood

I wonder how much of it is real improvement and how much is simply the boost from positioning. Clearly it's some combination of both...just not sure how much. Either one can be reasonably expected to stick around moving forward, so it's fine to just be happy with it.

You know I'm a big fan of athleticism...He's a former SS? Still hope he goes before 6.

From a review on Shanks' book on Hardball Times: http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/scouts-honor-a-review/

Oh wow, remember when VORP was a thing? Anyone here ever hear of Bill Shanks? Used to cover the Braves for scout.com, run their board, and also wrote an ENTIRE BOOK meant to attack the crap out of sabermetrics (er, MoneyBall as it was known to a certain crowd) under the guise of expounding the virtues of makeup. If you can find anything he's written about statistical analysis in 2003-2004 you will have some great material. I don't know why I never sent his stuff to FJM way back when. They would have had a field day. He was Joe Morgan without the medium except 100x more angry about it.

Only the top 5 is free so couldn't tell you. I hope teams think the way he does and let Gausman fall to 6.

Goldstein on Kyle Zimmer: Whaaa? If true, I'm sorry I ever said anything bad about Kyle Zimmer.

I assumed a better hit tool. Buxton's power has gotten a question or two this Spring, and Correa's momentum could take that.

Buxton would be great at 6, and is a definite possibility in the top 3 spots. He's still as loaded with tools and upside as any prospect in this draft. Went #1 in Minorleaguebal's mock the other day. I think the buzz going down is more because it's time for other guys to get their 15 minutes. Zimmer, to me anyway, was the original smoke screen in this draft. He's more in the class of a Luke Hochevar than an actually elite college pitching prospect, which Appel and Gausman are closer to. Probably my least favorite of the arms being talked about in the top 10. I'll let others handle the signability stuff in detail but I expect he'll be an easy sign, which could play into the last part of your question and make him a top 10 pick. He's got good upside if that's how you're looking to work the draft. Zunino is relatively safe, has long term starter upside, and will do it at a premium position. I think he's mostly been hurt by new, shiny toys popping up, a low batting average, and not really being considered an elite talent. Realistically he seems like he is a nice pick who will arrive quicker than most, but I might be disappointed in not being able to land one of the players with more perceived upside.

Guys like Steve Stasburg and maybe David Price, but he signed with Vanderbilt so that's unlikely. Kris Bryant?

Prior, what's Correa expected to move to? 3B/RF? If he moves at all it's 3B, where he could develop into a Ryan Zimmerman-esque player. Just to toss it out there again...Always hoped that Baez's next position after SS is 2B. From what I've heard, his arm is too good to put him at 2B. I've heard it's going to be a big part of his defensive value. Cano is known for having a very strong arm himself. Strong arm is valuable anywhere and invaluable in turning the double play. In my head I've worked it out to where Castro is Jeter and Baez is Cano, even down to being the uber talented but hotheaded type. I've compared Cano to two players based on his scouting report on draft day, Ramirez and Cano. Ramirez if he cares just enough about D to get by, and Cano if he wants to be one of the best players in the game year in and year out.

Oh we'll have to eat the contract. Soriano's got a couple of things things going for him...teammates/coaches/players love him in the 'ol locker room (why this goes first, I don't know)...he can hit for some power...and he can play a good LF. Hopefully there's an AL contender desperate enough and convinced that a few days a week as a DH will be rest enough to maximize what he has left. Come oooooon Tigers.

Prior, what's Correa expected to move to? 3B/RF? If he moves at all it's 3B, where he could develop into a Ryan Zimmerman-esque player. Just to toss it out there again...Always hoped that Baez's next position after SS is 2B.

Yeah but guys like Manny Machado and other elite HS prospects didn't have an "expect him to make a move" thing going for them. That's literally my own knock on Correa during this draft process. Don't construe this as a knock on Almora, because we've already talked age, on both these guys. But I think in Correa and maybe in Almora's case too, their being so young, has led to more development this season than most others. Compared to? Machado was 17 when drafted...same for ARod...Justin Upton was 17...the difference between them and Correa is 2 months or so IIRC (that Correa is a September birthday). Maybe Correa being from Puerto Rico was less scouted than those guys? That would be closer to the boost you're looking for.

Yeah but guys like Manny Machado and other elite HS prospects didn't have an "expect him to make a move" thing going for them. That's literally my own knock on Correa during this draft process.

Makeup is a real thing, and I don't think Starlin Castro has the makeup of The Ideal #3 hitter. I'm not an extremist one way or another...I've watched too much baseball to not appreciate SOME of the world of intangibles. The Yankees even buy that stuff and they (might) have been ahead of pretty much every franchise when it comes to statistical analysis back in the 80's. There's probably I could totally be wrong on Castro as a #3 hitter, but this is something I totally buy until I'm totally wrong. I wonder if being in the three hole is what's affected his already not ideal patience at the plate...Maybe or maybe not.