MOD: Reds

While O'Brien's first draft was interesting, there's still a long way to go in recovering from Bowden's organization-building methods.  

My inclination now, especially looking at this year's available talent, is to draft for skills.  It's tough to articulate, and I'm not even completely sure what I mean by it, but I know that the organization lacks a lot of things that winning organizations have.  

For example, with all of the emphasis on tools, the organization hasn't had anyone with any real leadoff skills (aside from Larkin, who, team player that he was, didn't like leading off) since Bip Roberts.  Or how 'bout a catcher that was good with his pitchers and was considered a leader?  Dan Wilson's the last such guy I can remember.  Guys with definable and obvious skills have been passed over for guys with measurable "talent".  

My very preliminary top three would be, in no particular order:  Ellsbury, Pennington, and Carillo.  The way this draft looks, it would probably be better to restock the hitting in the system, and this comes from someone who thinks you can never draft enough pitching.

An early look at the second round possibilities:  the shortstop from Cuba, and Brian Pettway (from Arkansas?), a college RF who can drive the ball all over the park and can throw.

I may be a biased Aggie, but I think that Pennington would be the best available pick at the 12 slot. The Reds don't succeed with internal pitchers, so why waste this slot on a pitcher, especially another in the long run of high school pitchers? I'd also shy away from a catcher here. There's no one really special, they're risky, and decent ones are found both late in the draft and on the free market. There's probably ten catchers at Triple-A who could slot into a major league role without blinking.

JD's going to hammer me on this one, but why not take the best high school arm in the draft after doing so last season with Bailey? All the caveats about the Reds pitchers being complete busts and the obvious things about taking a college pitcher.

True, maybe he's 4-5 years away like Bailey but are the Reds going to compete within that time span? It doesn't seem so with the pitching we have now. I could see taking Clement but the latest Baseball America Draft Tracker has him going in the top 10 picks now.

If we are only looking at catching and starting pitching, assuming Clement is taken, there is no way the Reds are snagging up Pelfrey, Romero, Hochevar, or Hansen.

What do you guys think about Wade Townsend or Matt Torra with this pick?

After reading the boards and trying to get a feel for this thing, here is how I think the top 11 picks are going down:

ARI-BJ Upton (SS)
KCR-Alex Gordon (3B)
SEA-Cameron Maybin (OF)
WAS-Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
MIL-Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
TOR-Ricky Romero (LHP)
COL-Mike Pelfrey (RHP)
TBD-Luke Hochevar (RHP)
NYM-Craig Hansen (RHP)
DET-Ryan Braun (3B)
PIT-Jay Bruce (OF)

Tulowitzki is probably a huge stretch for the Nationals due to the Guzman signing and him being close to the majors, but Washington doesn't have any SS prospects and Guzman isn't or never was the answer to begin with.

So if we are looking for the best offensive upside player then we have:

Andrew McCutchen
CJ Henry
Jacoby Ellsbury

If we are looking at pure pitching projectability then I think we have

Chris Volstad

If we want to look at the college pitcher/catcher route then I have:

Jeff Clement
Wade Townsend
Cesar Carillo
Matt Torra

I wouldn't take Teagarden if Clement is gone b/c of the perception that he can't hit. My favorite guy would be Townsend, but I wouldn't draft him due to all the talk that he's better suited to the pen.

I'm a tools-junkie so despite my better judgement, I think the Reds have to go Chris Volstad here. It's a risky pick and completely in line with what has basically ruined the Reds system, but it's no secret the Reds need starting pitching and I can't see taking a guy like Townsend, Carillo, or Torra ahead of Volstad.

At 6'7" and just 195lbs, he's already hitting 95mph on the radar and reports have his mechanics being very smooth and fluid. His curve and change are said to be good secondary pitches and his control looks great at the high school level. This season he struck out 98 hitters in 69 innings while walking only 8 batters, posting a 0.41 ERA. Not that it matters much, but he had a GPA of 3.8 in high school and was a member of the National Honors Society so character probably isn't an issue.

I can see Clement here if he's available, but if he isn't, I'm not sure I'd go with other players outside of Volstad, Henry, or McCutchen.

1st round: If either Braun/Clement are available I would pick them. I am pretty sure both won't be, so I would take whichever is left. If they are both gone, McCutchen is a good pick. Also I like either Carrilo or Tora.

2nd round: If Broadway/Marceaux fall, they are good picks. Also I would have to take a long look at Eli Lorg.

3rd round: Chris Mason, if he's available.

I love Clement.  I'm not as high on Townsend.  He throws in the low to mid 90's, but many people think he will be a future closer.  We don't need a future closer, we need starters.

If Clement is gone, I also like Chris Volstad.  I know we haven't had much luck with HS pitchers, but that we cannot continue to be that unlucky.  Thats all it is luck.  I think we need to improve our farm system and if we get lucky with Bailey and Volstad, our staff will be out of this world.  Not only is he projectable, his numbers say he has good control.  98/8 K/BB ratio is good no matter what level it happens on.  

As much as I like Volstad I'd have to go Clement here if he's available. He's probably the best catching prospect in the last 3 years going back to the 2002 draft. I've heard that he is now projected to be able to stay behind the plate, but just awhile ago scouts had thought Clement might have to move to the OF. I don't think it's a big deal but something to think about.

fallimento curatore museo nacional de arte de cataluna telecomandi carte geographique algerie banco de estado presidente del banco chiamate da banco san geminiano mode of action tommy hilfiger sport file eliminati dal cestino banco di credito cooperativo file audio cd southern charms com champagne private quanto tempo si puo sognare serpenti della carta dei servizi rom pokemon green affitti appartamenti privati ente del turismo di in newsgroup caravan milano al aborto appartamenti a lignano sabbiadoro gioco carte uno no cd pc games studio max patch esclusione sociale banco s geminiano quadri cornici