Metal Bats Longing For Wood
Posted 06-02-2008 at 12:17 AM by DLow28
The NCAA Baseball Tournament is underway! Anyone? ...[I]Anyone[/I]?
Don't worry, you are not the only one who did not know. This yearly quest for the College World Series is not a spectacle on par with it's counter-parts in March Madness and the flawed BCS.
Watching my school compete in yet another tournament, seeded 4th nationally with the tradition of making an early exit among us, Florida State is playing tough and riding the winds of arguably the best player in the nation. Buster Posey hit four home runs including a grand slam during today's double header. Mind you, he played catcher for both games in their entirety which is rarely done.
As I sit in my bed watching the west coast regional tournaments finish up, I can only think about what is going to happen on Thursday when the Major League Baseball teams pick these kids to be their future. Millions of questions go through team's minds as they strategize who fits their build better.
Does your team need Major League ready talent?
Does your team need to get younger?
Does your team have the budget to get and hold a great star who wants money?
Does this prospect have the build to be a wooden bat swinger?
I would love to go in depth on my mock draft board, but only if that interests the readers! However, I'll post some highlights of it now.
[B]Pick #1 - Tampa Bay Rays -[/B] Buster Posey, Catcher out of Florida State University
[I]Reason[/I]: The Rays have the age factor on lock, they are set for a while, save for closer Troy Percival and one or two more. The Rays need to get better asap, Buster Posey delivers as he has one of the most "Wood-Ready" swings in the NCAA and can play catcher behind Dioner Navarro. He can even move back to his original position at shortstop as the Rays struggle at that position with Jason Bartlett. (This is all assuming the Rays think he is as Major League ready as I do :thumbup:, he will probably be going to the Durham Bulls and wait in the wings with last year's number 1 overall pick David Price.
[B]Pick #5 - San Francisco Giants -[/B] Pedro Alvarez, 3B out of Vanderbilt.
[I]Reason[/I]: Arguably, well not so much, this kid has the best swing in college. There is only ONE downfall about this prospect that has two words: Scott Boras... I don't believe the Rays, the Pirates, the Royals or the Orioles will pick him up due to the money issue. The Giants need some hitters and that left field ocean is calling!
I hope you guys enjoyed my first PGP blog post as you will be getting a lot more :) Post comments, good and bad at all times; also, if you want more or less of something tell me!
You can expect comedic, serious, informational, and random blogs from this neck of the woods, ENJOY!
Don't worry, you are not the only one who did not know. This yearly quest for the College World Series is not a spectacle on par with it's counter-parts in March Madness and the flawed BCS.
Watching my school compete in yet another tournament, seeded 4th nationally with the tradition of making an early exit among us, Florida State is playing tough and riding the winds of arguably the best player in the nation. Buster Posey hit four home runs including a grand slam during today's double header. Mind you, he played catcher for both games in their entirety which is rarely done.
As I sit in my bed watching the west coast regional tournaments finish up, I can only think about what is going to happen on Thursday when the Major League Baseball teams pick these kids to be their future. Millions of questions go through team's minds as they strategize who fits their build better.
Does your team need Major League ready talent?
Does your team need to get younger?
Does your team have the budget to get and hold a great star who wants money?
Does this prospect have the build to be a wooden bat swinger?
I would love to go in depth on my mock draft board, but only if that interests the readers! However, I'll post some highlights of it now.
[B]Pick #1 - Tampa Bay Rays -[/B] Buster Posey, Catcher out of Florida State University
[I]Reason[/I]: The Rays have the age factor on lock, they are set for a while, save for closer Troy Percival and one or two more. The Rays need to get better asap, Buster Posey delivers as he has one of the most "Wood-Ready" swings in the NCAA and can play catcher behind Dioner Navarro. He can even move back to his original position at shortstop as the Rays struggle at that position with Jason Bartlett. (This is all assuming the Rays think he is as Major League ready as I do :thumbup:, he will probably be going to the Durham Bulls and wait in the wings with last year's number 1 overall pick David Price.
[B]Pick #5 - San Francisco Giants -[/B] Pedro Alvarez, 3B out of Vanderbilt.
[I]Reason[/I]: Arguably, well not so much, this kid has the best swing in college. There is only ONE downfall about this prospect that has two words: Scott Boras... I don't believe the Rays, the Pirates, the Royals or the Orioles will pick him up due to the money issue. The Giants need some hitters and that left field ocean is calling!
I hope you guys enjoyed my first PGP blog post as you will be getting a lot more :) Post comments, good and bad at all times; also, if you want more or less of something tell me!
You can expect comedic, serious, informational, and random blogs from this neck of the woods, ENJOY!
Total Comments 4
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if alvarez somehow is not selected by the d-rays, he will not make it past pittsburgh.
the royals and the orioles are also not afraid to deal with scott boras (see the moustakas/wieters selections last season). |
 
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you could very well be right. I just don't think that the Rays need a hitting 3B as much as they need catching and/or a shortstop.
As always, thanks for the comment! |
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i agree with the whole "organizational needs" argument... the thing is the major league baseball draft doesn't work that way. while alvarez remains the consensus best player available, posey could still get popped number one due to being a major league caliber talent at a more reasonable price.
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I understand that the draft doesn't work the way other drafts work, but I do also know that money is an issue when down the road Alvarez could be out of range for a team. Look at the Rays and Marlins in years past, they couldn't or just flat out refused to pay a little more and had to let go of all-start talent.
Alvarez could go to a low-budget team in hope to change that team, or just as trade-bait. I do understand your point that you cannot pass on the best player on the board, but I still believe that the Rays will go with Posey over Alvarez. Now, how far Alvarez falls is where we disagree :) I hope that made sense. |
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Recent Blog Entries by DLow28
- Metal Bats Longing For Wood (06-02-2008)
