LAA MOD #2

Unfortunately, due to the MOD Directory not working as planned (people continued to rec the daily posts without need to, pushing the Directory off the front page), I'm having to post this. Sorry in advance, but I wanted to make sure that anybody interested got to weigh in on my draft process.

As we approach the Minor League Ball Mock Draft, I've been trying to figure out how the rest of the community will draft in the first 17 picks, in preparation for my own first selection at No. 18. This is how I think the first 17 picks will go, in no particular order:

Bryce Harper
Jameson Taillon
Manny Machado
Yasmani Grandal
Karsten Whitson
Josh Sale
Dylan Covey
Stetson Allie
Drew Pomeranz
Austin Wilson
Matt Harvey
Michael Choice
Nick Castellanos
Zach Cox
Chris Sale
Anthony Ranaudo
Deck McGuire

There are a few guys in play who could jump into the conversation:

James Paxton (could vary a lot over the next few days)
A.J. Cole (upside)
Zach Lee (Minor League Ball Mock Drafters love upside, don't care about signability)
Christian Colon (safer pick seems to be slipping slightly)
Alex Wimmers (I think he drops like a rock here though)
Kolbrin Vitek (might go to a team that wants a blend of safety of upside in a college bat)

Out of the 17 I listed, the most likely candidates to drop are probably Ranaudo and Choice. Ranaudo doesn't make sense for me given signability and I prefer Vitek to Choice. Matt Harvey and Chris Sale jump out to me as guys that might slip a bit, and I'd take either of them. I'm skeptical that any of the top HS pitchers will get to me, and all would be signability issues save perhaps A.J. Cole.

(Preliminary) Big Board for 18:

1. Chris Sale, LHP
2. Matt Harvey, RHP
3. Christian Colon, SS (I'll bet he'll sign with the Angels)
4. Kolbrin Vitek, 2B (I really like his bat, think he'll improve by concentrating on hitting)
5. Brandon Workman, RHP (love his arm, seems like a guy the real Angels would take)

At 29 and 30, it gets a little dicier. I expect all of the names I listed above to be gone by 29 (with the possible exceptions of Lee, who won't be signable by me, and Wimmers, who I probably would take at 30). I don't intend to get out of the first round without at least one prep arm, but fortunately I really like the guys that should be on the board. I'm also big on prep C Justin O'Connor - his athleticism and raw power make me look past my typical aversion to prep catchers. If I didn't get Colon or Vitek at 18, a college bat would be a nice addition at the end of the first as well.

(Preliminary) Big(ger) Board for 29 $ 30:

1. Alex Wimmers, RHP (guessing a 30 percent chance that he is here)
2. Peter Tago, RHP (I am REALLY high on him)
3. Justin O'Connor, C (high upside prep bat)
4. Mike Folty!@#$%^&*, RHP (the Tago back-up plan, big on him too)
5. Sammy Solis, LHP (a solid college lefty to add safety to the class)
6. Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B (slight overdraft but as safe a college bat as you can get here)
7. Cam Bedrosian, RHP (an upper half of the first round guy if he was 2 inches taller)
8. Jarrett Parker, OF (toolsy college guy, might blossom outside UVA)
9. Chevez Clarke, OF (good feeling about him)
10. Drew Vettleson, OF (nice bat)

Heading into the last two early picks (37 and 40), decisions have to be made. Since I'll be off the clock for 40+ picks, overdrafts are a reasonable possibility if it's somebody I'm really big on and they'll likely be off the board by the time I'm up again. So I'll jump ahead to the board.

(Preliminary) Big Board for picks 37 and 40:

1. Austin Wates, OF (like the tools)
2. Hunter Morris, 1B (I like how he raised his game this year, good bat)
3. Reggie Golden, OF (nice talent, would he would first round money?)
4. Robbie Aviles, RHP (don't like him as much as others, but if he was here I'd look)
5. Delino DeShields, OF (all speed, don't trust the rest but he'd be an interesting selection)