Monday Morning

by John Sickels on Jun 2, 2025 12:25 PM EDT

A stormy Monday morning here in East Central Kansas. Some thoughts...

There is some confusion about the Mock Draft...I did a radio interview on XM yesterday and the host thought that the Mock Draft was MY prediction for what will happen Thursday. That's not true, of course...but I will post my prediction later today.

I'm also thinking ahead to the Shadow Draft. Last week I decided on Brett Wallace for the college hitter likely to be available to my Fake Twins at 14, but the last couple of days I've started to think that perhaps Zach Collier would fit my needs better at 14, since I could still slot in advanced guys in the 27 and 31 picks. How would this look?

14) Zach Collier, OF
27) Ike Davis, OF
31) Best available college hitter still available

Then in the second and third round I might look at pitching.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Interesting

So you went from thinking about taking 2 pitchers in the first 3 picks to taking none? What caused you to change your mind?

by jfish26101 on Jun 2, 2025 12:30 PM EDT 0 recs

pitchers

I never said I would take pitchers in the first two picks….I need hitting talent.

by John Sickels on Jun 2, 2025 12:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Hmm…that is weird. I thought earlier you were looking at Fields at 14 and then the best available arm at 31. I remember early you were thinking hitters but thought you changed your direction. My bad I guess…

by jfish26101 on Jun 2, 2025 12:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

fields

Originally I was thinking of Fields yes but then I decided to focus on hitting.

by John Sickels on Jun 2, 2025 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Brett Lawrie

Visited the Dome over the weekend in preparation for the draft. The Twins are indicating that if he’s available at 27, they might take him. What are your thoughts on Lawrie?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jun 2, 2025 12:55 PM EDT 0 recs

lawrie

I dunno….he sounds great…looks good on video, scouts seem to love his bat. I am considering him too, and the Twins might be looking for a Justin Morneau type repeat in finding a hard-hitting Canadian.

But I like Collier a lot and he seems like he’ll have more defensive value than Lawrie in addition to a strong bat.

by John Sickels on Jun 2, 2025 2:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

27?

From what I hear, they are now expected to take him at 14.

No way he lasts to 27 at this point, too much momentum.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jun 2, 2025 3:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Zach Collier

I think he’d be a great fit for the Twins at 14. I was shocked that he fell to the Yankees in our mock. Really didn’t think that would happen - I know it won’t on June 5th.

Lawrie was another guy we targeted, looks like he could develop into a very good hitter. Plus he might even work out at C.

by batonball on Jun 2, 2025 1:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Ike Davis/Brett Wallace/Zach Collier/SS

I don’t think Ike Davis will last to 27. He’d be a good pick for a lot of teams in the 20-26 range.

As for Wallace v. Collier, I went with the better pure and more sure hitter in the mock draft in Wallace. There are enough scouts that think Wallace has a decent chance to remain at 3rd base that I went ahead and grabbed him without thinking twice really. Wallace is going to hit and thats what you need to get at 14, a sure bet to hit. However, I’m not sure Wallace lasts to 14 in the real draft. If he doesn’t, I think Brett Lawrie is the next best pick.

I also think you need to grab a good left side infielder with at least one of those first round picks. I was kicking myself minutes after taking Havens over Collier at 27 because I thought I could sneak Collier to 31 and I had a feeling Havens would go to the Red Sox. Collier was #4 on my board at 14. However, once guys like Flaherty, Niko Vasquez and Ladendorf went off the board before my next pick, I was glad to have grabbed Havens. He’s hit very well with wood in the Cape Cod league and he had a very good 2008 season at USC. He should also have just enough tools to stay at shortstop. Some would consider him BPA at 27.

BTW, what did the XM guys say about the Twins mock draft?

by UncleBuck44 on Jun 2, 2025 1:12 PM EDT 0 recs

XM

they were wondering mostly about Pedro Alvarez going to the Rays in the Mock.

by John Sickels on Jun 2, 2025 2:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

John?

What did you think of my mock for the Twins?

by UncleBuck44 on Jun 2, 2025 2:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wallace won't be there at 14, Davis wont fall to 27

Collier might be a reach IMO. I feel like the Twins never go for college hitters, but if I’m you I go for best position player regardless of high-school/college.

Looking at overall talent, would it really be that bad to get a pitcher, assuming the top tier hitters are gone? Cashner has a good chance of being there, and there is going to be a run at high school pitchers where you are. I might look at a second tier hitter in the late first, though.

by Daniel Berlyn on Jun 2, 2025 1:39 PM EDT 0 recs