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Around SBN: NFL Week One: Previews and Predictions for all 15 games

Draft: What your team needs most.

Foregoing the intricacy of actual players.  I was just lobbying for thoughts on your team and what their top three draft needs are.

Star-divide

Minnesota Twins:

  1. Outfield corners with Power
  2. Middle Infield
  3. Catcher.
Minnesota is pretty deep in pitching all around, but they lack quality in positional players.  Really, there is little power and are relatively few legitimate hitters in the orginazation.  Surprisinly to some I'm sure, I included catcher.  Yeah, there's Joe Mauer, but there's nothing past him.  The Twins ought to know it too, they gave a rostor spot to a mediocre talent like Corky Miller just to keep from losing him last year.  

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Giants
(in no particular order...areas that appear to be weak)
  • catching
  • SS or middle infield, even though we have frandsen we dont have much more and vizquel is old
  • corner OFs
  • pitching, Sabean always is ready to acquire more pitching
Sabean, stop giving away our 1st round draft picks!!

by z4 landshark on Apr 21, 2006 10:42 PM EDT reply actions  

Corner OF?
If a great corner OF was available, sure.  Schierholtz, Ortmeier, Eddy Martinez-Esteve, Todd Linden, and Brian Horwitz all have their warts, but the Giants are probably better off in those positions than anywhere.

Catching is a joke.

Corner IF may be a bigger need than middle IF.

IMO, the Giants are dangerously thin in starting pitching prospects.  This is a pitching draft.  They should draft pitching.

by DrBGiantsfan on Apr 22, 2006 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

Red Sox
Also in no particular order, here are the areas of weakness in the organization:

-Corner outfield spots, particularly with power potential
-3rd base
-1st base
-Catcher

That being said, they're going to draft the best player available, even if he shares a position with one of the Sox top prospects.  They'll take a second baseman if he's there, even if they have Pedroia and Lowrie at the position (unsure if Lowrie will stay at SS)

They desperately need some power bats in the system.  I don't really see anyone with big power potential other than Soto, and he's as raw as they come.  

by Jgaztambide on Apr 21, 2006 10:49 PM EDT reply actions  

Rays'
What the Rays need:

-Pitching (obviously, although they have decent depth)
-Catcher
-Infielder's (NONE in the lower minors outside of Brignac)

"Chuck Lamar, you're fired"- Stuart Sternburg.

by Tyler on Apr 21, 2006 11:43 PM EDT reply actions  

i don't know
i see what you're saying, but i think maybe the rays should draft an outfielder instead.  toolsy outfielders are so fun, you know?

by wily mo on Apr 22, 2006 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

On second thought
Drew Stubbs or bust.  We need him.  He'd be perfect!
"Chuck Lamar, you're fired"- Stuart Sternburg.

by Tyler on Apr 22, 2006 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Padres
What the Pads need:

Pitching
3rd Baseman

by Mix Won Soon on Apr 22, 2006 12:10 AM EDT reply actions  

Red Sox
The best player on the board.

Getting away from being a smartass though:

  1. Power
  2. Pitching
  3. Power
  4. Pitching
  5. Tude

by templeUsox on Apr 22, 2006 12:54 AM EDT reply actions  

Rangers
Needs:
  • Corner Outfield: Mayberry is our only legit cof prospect. (Maybe Harrison or Sinisi.)
  • Center Field: RJ Anderson is a long ways away (and RAW), and Herren has shaky at best (and RAW).
  • Pitching: Everyone needs more pitching... Even when you have good depth like we do. (Diamond, Danks, Volquez, Hurley, Schlact, ect...)
Strengths
  • Catching: Teagerden, Nickeas, Pina, Killian, and Christian Santana... plus Laird is still young and is looking very good.
  • Middle Infield: With Kinsler just breaking in and Arias at AAA, we're solid there, despite limited depth.
Corner Infield: We have Botts in the high minors, plus Whittleman in the low minors, and no opening on the big club for at least three years anyway (barring a trade).
"When you can hit, you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young.

by thedirkatron on Apr 22, 2006 12:57 AM EDT reply actions  

Mayberry...
is a left corner outfield prospect?

by templeUsox on Apr 22, 2006 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

That should be...
"legit corner outfield prospect?"

by templeUsox on Apr 22, 2006 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yes
"When you can hit, you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young.

by thedirkatron on Apr 23, 2006 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

Dodgers
*First Base - I'm not that confident in Loney and not many exciting things are happening here

*Center Field - Kemp is probably better suited for a corner position and needs to show last year wasn't a fluke

*Pitching - you can never have enough can you?

by mckeeno on Apr 22, 2006 1:00 AM EDT reply actions  

dodgers
to add,

-high cieling  LHpower hitter. Whether it be infield corners or outfield corners, it doesnt matter. Just get me a lefty power pat.

-high cieling starters. After billingsley and elbert, it gets thin with high cieling arms.

dodger dream draft
7- LHP Clayton Kershaw
26- 1b/of cody johnson/chris parmelee
31- colton willems

by npurcell on Apr 22, 2006 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

lh power bat
i was thinking the same thing. i saw travis hafner at bat the other day and was thinking, "why don't we have have any lh power potential bats?"

guzman, kemp, & laroche are nice, but all are rh . . .

by kinbote on Apr 22, 2006 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

lh power
didn't mean to shortchange dewitt . . . (loney, ethier, & switch-hitters aybar and d. young have potential as well)

by kinbote on Apr 23, 2006 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

Tigers
*Third base - not much in the way of prospects.

*Catcher - not much in the way of prospects.

*Second base - not much in the way of prospects.

*Short Stop - some but not a ton in the way of advanced prospects.  I do like Hollimon but he is for another thread.

* SP - they have some decent prospects but I think any organization could use more.

Those are the main needs I can think of.  Although I will say that the Tigers can not be picky.  If a high ceiling OF comes along they should pick them.  They simply need more high ceiling prospects....

I know he doesn't have a high ceiling...  but I think Longoria would be a good fit for the Tigers in the first round.  I just don't feel comfortable with a ton of the players at the top...  he seems like a decently safe bet....  which means he is likely gone...  although some might question his power potential at 3rd...

I would go with the best player available at every pick if I was the Tigers...  of course I think that is the best strategy for any organization.

Really when I look at my list, I think Longoria is probably the best first round fit.  Solid player at the hot corner that I think will have at least a decent bat.

by VtTigers on Apr 22, 2006 1:41 AM EDT reply actions  

Braves
*Starting Pitching - At this point, the Braves lack a true stud ace in the minors, to take over for Smoltz when he's done, and when Hudson declines. They need an impact starting pitcher. Depth is actually pretty decent as of now. Preferably grab a less proven guy with more potential than a sure thing guy with a lower ceiling.

*Outfield/1B - Langerhans is a nice player for LF for now, but the Braves could use some other options with more offensive upside in the minors. If Salty doesn't move to 1B, drafting one would be nice. As long as LaRoche is replaced soon...

Other than that, there really isn't a need. Bullpen's future looks fine with Startup/Ascanio/McBride/Boyer/Devine as the nucleus. Shortstop has Elvis the King. Second base has Yunel Escobar (possibly at 2B). 3B has Campbell and Pope. 1B has, most likely, King Jarrod.

http://www.treasuretrooper.com/32645

by brandnew on Apr 22, 2006 2:28 AM EDT reply actions  

Angels
They have enormous talent and depth in the infield, with the likes of Wood, Aybar, Kendrick, and Morales. Probably the best infield of any organization talent-wise. The SS position is overflowing with 5 guys (Wood, Aybar, Phillips, Statia, and Mount). Their pitching is shaky, both the bullpen and starters. Ervin Santana has been the only guy to emerge from the minors and land a starting job within the last year or so. With the exception of Shields and KRod, there's not much depth in the bullpen either.

Needs:
-A bit more college starters/closers, they've tended to go after HS pitchers in the last few drafts.
-The OF spots, especially CF/LF to replace Anderson and Erstad in the future. Vlad should be fine in RF for awhile.

by Dirtbags own the Titans on Apr 22, 2006 3:56 AM EDT reply actions  

Mets
Middle IF - Jose Reyes is still young and may put it together, but the Mets do not have a starting caliber 2B in the organization and are lacking in depth at SS.  Pellot and Castro have shown flashes in the minors, but they are a long way away and have been piling up the errors

Third Base - I know Wright is there, but the Mets do not have another one in the system

Catcher w/ Offense - The Mets keep drafting defensive catchers and the only offensive ones they have are still raw (Flores in particular)

Pitching - What team cannot use pitching?

by mtk52983 on Apr 22, 2006 8:28 AM EDT reply actions  

yankees
ANYTHING...

soon that team will be Zombies...

god save us yankee fans!!!

Just make us younger

(except at 2nd base-Cano will likely man that position for the yanks in many years to come...

A-Rod: 2005 American League MVP

by yanksfan6129 on Apr 22, 2006 9:46 AM EDT reply actions  

Need?
In the NFL you draft according to need, in MLB, with a few notable exceptions, most players won't be ready for a few years, if the Sox go with anything other than a best player available philosophy I'd be disappointed.
God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Apr 22, 2006 9:57 AM EDT reply actions  

Cubs
  1. Outfielder.
  2. Outfielder.
  3. Outfielder.
"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Apr 22, 2006 10:06 AM EDT reply actions  

A's
I frankly don't really know what they need, since they are basically set at every major league position.

Catcher:Kendall has another year, but after that there is Suzuki, Brown (potential backup) and Powell, who if healthy is the best of all three. You could say catcher if you are looking for a high upside high school guy, as there is also potential for Powell to move to 1B/DH because of that injury. Actually, for high upside there is Brandon Recker in Kane County.

1B/DH:Dan Johnson is there (though how long does he continue this slump before Barton is up?), and Barton is right behind him. There is also swisher, who switches between COF/1B. After that in the minors there is potentially Landon Powell. I guess this could be classified as a position of need, a high upside high schooler who would take a while to develop (a Henry Sanchez type).

2B: After Ellis, there is Kevin Mellilo and Cliff Pennington (who i don't see supplanting Crosby unless Beane decides Crosby is too injury prone). Also, there is sweet gloved Gregorio Petit, who has a decent bat as well.

SS: After Crosby, who looks to be here another 4 years, there is possibly Pennington. More would include underrated 05 draftee Jimmy Sellers. Not a position of need.

3B: Eric Chavez.

LF: Kielty and Payton are pretty much stopgaps, though LF might become Swishers most used position. In the minors there is Danny Putnam and breakout candidate Travis Buck. I wouldn't classify this as a position of need, unless we want another huge bat potential. I guess we could put that, as those two are also potential tweeners.

CF: After Kotsay, who has two years including this, there is Javier Herrera, who unluckily is injured for the year (TJ surgery). There is also high upside in Richie Robnett. Pennington could also potentially move to CF. I wouldn't call this a needed position.

RF: Milton Bradley. Who knows how long he will be in Oakland though. This is probably the biggest need, a power hitting RF, toolsy type possibly. Swisher could also be playing here, depending on how things turn out (obviously). Personally, i think Bradley will be here a few more years. I might be blacking out on right fielders in the organization right now. There is Jason Perry, but that's not happening. I guess this would be the biggest need.

SP: Rich Harden. Dan Haren. Joe Blanton. Dan Meyer. Italiano/Lansford/Mazzarro. Komine. DOminguez? No need here.

RP: Street.

I guess the biggest are big hitting corner outfielders.

(After pitcher tells GM he will pitch half of the games, complete them and they will all be QS)The GM has an orgasm and a heart attack at the same time.-Shamus

by ohad on Apr 22, 2006 10:59 AM EDT reply actions  

Needs
Needs based drafting doesn't really happen in the MLB....  I do think that if you are going to draft for needs you draft for organizational needs without really worrying about the MLB team...  Because most of these guys are so far away it is uncertain if the players you are counting on now will still be good a few years from now when the drafted prospect is hopefully ready.

by VtTigers on Apr 22, 2006 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is true
But since there is a thread about it, why not answer the question?
(After pitcher tells GM he will pitch half of the games, complete them and they will all be QS)The GM has an orgasm and a heart attack at the same time.-Shamus

by ohad on Apr 22, 2006 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'd say
Athletic, high upside outfield bats.  Since we don't have glaring needs I would love to see us maybe take a slight gamble on a high upside guy.  this is something you don't see much of throughout the system with the exception of the injured javier herrera and possibly richie robnett.
"Well I believe in the soul..."

by D O on Apr 22, 2006 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree.
I posted my opinion on it.  I was more talking that even though the A's seem set at many positions right now they could always use prospects at every position in the future.

With baseball I see very few positions as set...  unless you are talking about the Cardinals and Pujols.....  Even then it would be good to have depth in case of injury.

by VtTigers on Apr 22, 2006 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

i see
i agree.
(After pitcher tells GM he will pitch half of the games, complete them and they will all be QS)The GM has an orgasm and a heart attack at the same time.-Shamus

by ohad on Apr 22, 2006 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

When in doubt
Draft pitching. Althoug I'd like to see the A's draft some more athletes with speed. I look at Chone Figgins and think "If only..."

by grover on Apr 22, 2006 2:46 PM EDT reply actions  

PItching
I agree - if the question is need, every organization has pitching at the top of their list for the draft. You never have too much pitching and you will always have a need for it down the road.

by TT on Apr 22, 2006 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Cubs
  1. Pitching
  2. Middle infield
  3. Outfield
Too bad this draft sucks as far as high end hitters go, but we should be able to grab a college pitcher hopefully.

I REALLY like Brad Lincoln at 12, but I can't help thinking about Brad Sullivan and others from that school.

by SenorGato88 on Apr 23, 2006 12:41 PM EDT reply actions  

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