If we could draft now

Showed great in AFL, high ceiling and could be in the rotation to break Spring training.

Others aren’t even that close in my mind.

Leaning towards Bauer/Bundy combo.

I think he’s the safest pick with highest floor and high ceiling as well.

One thing I struggle with in prospect rankings is there is a time value to these guys. Whatever the upside is of a Bundy or Cole, the point is that Darvish will have positively impact a major league team in 2012 and I don’t believe the perceived higher upside of the other pitchers is enough to offset the guarantee Darvish contributes (and this shouldn’t be debatable, he will contribute, how much is the debate). This is the same reason I have Bauer ahead of Cole FWIW.

In a pure ranking, I go Darvish, Cespedes, Rendon, Bauer, Bundy, Cole.

Rendon’s shoulder worries me more than it probably should, I just feel like Bauer is one of those rare guys that has a high floor and ceiling at the same time.

Yes, they are both Asian and pitched in the NPB. I’m pretty sure 99.99% of you don’t use David Aardsma as a comparison to Roy Halladay, just because they are both Caucasian and from Colorado.

Yes Daisuke was not the greatest thing since sliced bread like he was predicted to be, but Darvish is nothing like Daisuke was.

I would easily take Darvish number 1. I’d take him over Matt Moore. When is the last time an American prospect dominated a level to the tune of 200 IP, 240+ K’s and a sub 2 FIP? That’s what Darvish has done, but because he’s Asian, people automatically make absurd Daisuke comparisons.