MOD: Tigers

by David Tokarz on May 15, 2009 12:17 AM EDT

Detroit picks at:

#58

#89

This draft is going to be crucial to the future success of the Tigers. The Major League roster, as it stands, is incredibly old and won't be able to compete beyond 2009. The farm system stands in ruins after being gutted with trades and promotions. So the Tigers have to be able to use this draft to breathe life into the lifeless wasteland that is their farm.

Target number one for me is going to be a bat. While in previous drafts David Chadd has focused on hard throwing arms, the Tigers system has a few more live arms than competent bats. That's not really saying much, but a couple competent bats to replace older players would be a real godsend, considering the rotation is fairly young. Because of that youthful rotation, I'm probably going to target a couple HS pitchers with high ceilings as well. Currently, I'm looking at grabbing 2 bats and an arm. Of course, all these plans are dependent on the players being the best player available- high ceiling prospects are definitely going to be favored and any player that slips due to signability is going to be snapped up at #9.

Here are the players I'm looking at for the #9 pick. Note that if any very good projected player falls (Crow, Scheppers, Ackley), he's mine.

Grant Green, SS, USC: Sure, he's having a down year. Yes, there are makeup questions. But the tools are there, and he fits a major need for Detroit- 3B or SS. Is he a perfect pick? No, not by far. But I have a feeling that the team who drafts him is going to look pretty smart in a few years.

Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville (GA): Tate is the best HS position player in the draft, and while he's got some good tools, he's still a question mark. He's no Cameron Maybin by far, but if the Tigers want upside and are believers in his tools, they'll pick him.

Tyler Matsek, LHP, Capistrano Valley (Calif.): He's a big, hard-throwing lefty, the kind of guy Dombrowski/Chadd just go nuts for. He's got a good package of breaking pitches and could be a HS guy who moves a little faster than most. But he's also a young pitcher, and TINSTAPP definitely applies.

Matt Purke, LHP, Klein (Tx): Another big, hard throwing lefty. More projectable than proven, he still looks to be a very good prep pitcher. Again, though, I'm wary about drafting HS pitchers that aren't flat out dominant.

I still have to draw up a board for picks #58 and #89, and I'm thinking pitcher in the second and bat in the third. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. That, and I may need a deputy.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Shelby Miller and Jacob Turner

Shelby Miller and Jacob Turner are two other guys I could see the Tigers targeting with the #9 pick. Miller’s power arm certainly fits their recent draft philosophy.

by SBcaptain2 on May 15, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

I'll take a look at them too

Right now, I’m leaning Green, but any advice is appreciated.

by David Tokarz on May 15, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Other rounds

Michael Heller will probably be gone by #58, but if he isn’t I think the Tigers would pounce. He’s an athletic, power-armed kid.

If you want to talk about position players, I’m sure SS Robbie Shields is a guy the Tigers have seen a lot as he plays in their backyard at Florida Southern in Lakeland.

High school SS Daniel Fields out of Detroit is getting some early round buzz and is a guy that could be available in the 3rd round.

There are also plenty of catchers that could be good values in the second and third rounds.

by SBcaptain2 on May 15, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

more other rounds

Luke Bailey – hs catcher from Georgia. The Tigers were on him before he was hurt, I could see them paying him in round two or three if he were still there.

DJ Lemahieu -ss/2b from LSU who they drafted when he was in hs.

Hard throwers who fall further than they should.

by witz57 on May 17, 2009 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

Etc.

The lower minors are pretty barren in terms of catching prospects, so I’d think looking at Bailey would make sense as well. However, the tommy john surgery and Auburn commitment have to be a little scary. In Callis’s last draft chat (free content), he talked up Wil Myers, another high school catching prospect, but one almost sure to be gone by the second round. He was thinking Turner for the first rounder.

by tonyinstl on May 19, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

Not really related

I know this isn’t really related, but seeing as I’ve barely paid attention to college and prep players this year I don’t have much to offer. But out of curiosity are you still enrolled at Wake Forest and should you be a rising junior? I know one big Detroit fan that lived in Johnson two years ago and who i think lived in Huffman this past year.

by OsandRoyals on May 20, 2009 2:34 AM EDT reply actions