MiLB Mock Draft: Pick 2 Pittsburgh

by Terry Ryan Jr on Apr 6, 2008 4:54 PM EDT Comment 26 comments

Who's going #2 to the Bucs? You would think that an impact bat would settle nicely here. The new Pirates brass has talked about going over slot. So do they go cheap, or for one of the college sluggers?

Also, I am trying to figure out some sort of range finder. If you vote other please specify

1. Tampa Bay - Aaron Crow-RHP-Mizzou
2. Pittsburgh
3. Kansas City
4. Baltimore
5. San Francisco
6. Florida
7. Cincinnati
8. Chicago (AL)
9. Washington
10. Houston
11. Texas
12. Oakland
13. St. Louis
14. Minnesota
15. Los Angeles (NL)
16. Milwaukee
17. Toronto
18. New York (NL)
19. Chicago (NL)
20. Seattle
21. Detroit
22. New York (NL)
23. San Diego
24. Philadelphia
25. Colorado
26. Arizona
27. Minnesota
28. New York (AL)
29. Cleveland
30. Boston

Poll

Who's going to Pittsburgh #2 overall

Pedro Alvarez

155 votes

Justin Smoak

9 votes

Tim Beckham

38 votes

Brian Matusz

9 votes

Yonder Alonzo

0 votes

Tim Melville

1 votes

Other

1 votes

213 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs | Comment 26 comments

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Comments

Alvarez

Most likely Pedro, unless there is a signability issue...is there?

by homerun21 on Apr 6, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pirates pick

Well I honestly think they end up with Crow who will later have arm problems just like most of the Pirates picks.

Since Crow is going to the Rays in our mock, I picked Alvarez. BA keeps saying over and over how the Pirates are looking to make a statement and I think there are some serious concerns whether Walker will be the player they thought he could be. Because of those 2 things and Crow already being taken, I picked Alvarez but I'll stil be incredibly shocked if it happens simply because it's the Pirates.

by jfish26101 on Apr 6, 2008 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re

Pittsburgh's been burned enough by their drafted pitchers to take another here.

by rdf8585 on Apr 6, 2008 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

They have less SP depth then the Rays so if he is there I just think it will be hard to pass up. I'd say it's 50/50 if both are there but this early it's so hard to tell.

by jfish26101 on Apr 6, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, next?

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Apr 6, 2008 7:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Royals

I don't think we have to stay on this one for too long. Alvarez in a landslide.

by supermets on Apr 6, 2008 7:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re-count

I want a recount on the Rays pick, they take another pitcher? Yeah you can never have enough pitching but I think this would be pushing it to a new limit. Kazmir-Shields-Garza-McGee-Price-Davis-Crow-Niemann-Sonny/Edwin ... why stop there, we could deal Desmond Jennings for a pitching prospect.

by hybrid on Apr 6, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's to too

early to take Alvarez at #1 because of the health issues.

1941 .406

by FrozenTed9 on Apr 6, 2008 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedro

Alvarez hit a solo HR on Friday night and then hit another out today going 2-4 with a BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR and 2b. Not saying he's fully healed, I am just saying he is a beast...

by rhodehead on Apr 6, 2008 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah no doubt

I voted for Crow but If he stays healthy I'd be voting him on draft day.

1941 .406

by FrozenTed9 on Apr 6, 2008 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitching prospects flame out

Plus, you could always deal a good pitching prospect or even established pitcher (Kazmir, for instance) for position prospects/young position players.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Apr 6, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Well

I think that helps my case even more and I didnt even bring it up. Pitchers flame out so why take one over a guy who everyone likes a lot. Because he got hit by a pitch and got hurt? That's not a very good reason especially when it isn't/wasn't long term. The Rays have 2 established pitchers and already a handful to take the last 3 spots, the need just isnt there when a talent like Pedro is.

by hybrid on Apr 6, 2008 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

But they also have Carlos Pena locked up at first and Evan Longoria looking like he'll take over third. I could see Tim Beckham, but I still think the strategy for the first pick should be "best talent on the board", which at this point would be Crow. And the idea behind taking lots of pitchers is that even if one of those high picks flames out, you have more.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Apr 6, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

100 votes

is what I'll try to do for a cutoff. I am sorry that I was out of town over a good portion of the weekend, but I will keep up on this

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
Crash Davis

by Terry Ryan Jr on Apr 6, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re:

I see your point, I just don't agree with it in this instance. To me the best talent is Alavrez by a good margin, pitchers flame out all the time like you said ... and a touted hitter from college is a much better option IMO. Also I think Alvarez could handle RF or move to 1B after his contract ends, he's a good enough athlete to make the move. Also it's not like the young pitchers are far off either, all are in AA/AAA (Price will be soon), I think it just creates more of a problem with a log jam potentially and the Rays have no one reallt after Jennings as far as bats go (Left Longoria out since he is basically MLB ready).

by hybrid on Apr 6, 2008 8:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can see your claims

But I think the consensus on the board was that the best talent was Crow rather than Alvarez. I can see both- personally I'm fond of Tim Beckham, but a good college pitcher is nothing to sneer at.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Apr 6, 2008 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boras

I realize it may be getting ahead of ourselves to consider signability at this point, but have the Pirates or Rays ever drafted a Boras client in the 1st round? I know Alvarez is a Boras client and I've heard Crow may be as well.

I know both clubs are talking about making a splash, but it's easier to say that at this point than on June 1st when Alvarez and/or Crow are floating $10 mill bonus demands.

by deezle on Apr 6, 2008 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think at this point

all we can really do is guess the best that we can. Alvarez could get his wrist shattered tomorrow and everything would be out of whack. Who represents who will make a difference, but at this point I don't know how much stock we can put in that fact

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
Crash Davis

by Terry Ryan Jr on Apr 6, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I agree.

I know it's only a few months but a lot can and usually does change. Just go back and look at the draft boards some of these sites had and how quickly players jumped up them.

And I know everyone loves to say "take the best player available" but that just isn't always as simple as people like to make it out to be. Position wise, Alvarez doesn't make sense to the Rays just as he doesn't make sense money wise to the Pirates. Take the Braves, they have a history of taking local talents and HS kids.

It's easy to sit in our leather chairs at the comp and say who we feel is the right pick but that doesn't mean jack. There are a lot of issues to weigh and unfortunately for MLB teams the draft is often a crap shoot even if you take the consensus best talent.

by jfish26101 on Apr 6, 2008 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agents

The Boras rumors with Crow were false. He is being represented by the Hendricks brothers. Alvarez, however, is with Boras.

by SBcaptain2 on Apr 7, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have a link?

That would be great if true. I hate seeing teams pass on the best prospects because of Boras and his games.

by deezle on Apr 7, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No link...

but Jim Callis said it.

by SBcaptain2 on Apr 7, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the link

right here

I don't see anything about any other representation, but I do see that he refutes the Boras claim

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
Crash Davis

by Terry Ryan Jr on Apr 7, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs