Current Preference List (3/22/2012)

[McNulty]

All our bust belongs to Zunino.

[WV O's]

There should be someone available that doesn't command much, if any, over traditional slot, but is still more than worthy of a fourth overall selection. It's a solid draft to be picking 4th, and Baltimore could easily end-up with the best player in the draft, looking back four years from now.

Good to hear. But why mention "that doesn't command much, if any, over traditional slot"? Do you foresee money being an issue with this first pick?

[WV O's]

I really want Giolito to heal well and show this late in the year, then we pick him and get another Bundy in our system! If not...Buxton. But I am not asking for much.

[RZNJ]

I really want Giolito to heal well and show this late in the year, then we pick him and get another Bundy in our system! If not...Buxton. But I am not asking for much.

If he does that, he probably doesn't get to four. Better to hope that he's not all the way back at the time of the draft. Elbows don't scare me like shoulders do and I think they are being overly cautious (and rightfully so) with his injury. I would pop him at #4 even if he's not throwing 100% by the draft but he probably will be.

[RZNJ]

All our bust belongs to Zunino.

What don't you like about him?

[allstar1579]

If he does that, he probably doesn't get to four. Better to hope that he's not all the way back at the time of the draft. Elbows don't scare me like shoulders do and I think they are being overly cautious (and rightfully so) with his injury. I would pop him at #4 even if he's not throwing 100% by the draft but he probably will be.

As long as he's throwing again a little before the draft I think he moves back up to the top 5, but injury concerns will do funny things. Look at Rendon last year. He's a SPECIAL arm though, no doubt. Like up near (probably a tick below) Bundy.

[The Maestro]

Stotle, first off, thanks for the great info as always. I'm curious, for a guy like Buxton who doesn't face top notch competition during the school year, how make or break are the tournaments or showcases that he would participate in? Secondly, if you were the Orioles and both were available at #4, would you select Buxton and his ceiling or Zunnino and his probability? Thanks.

[Stotle]

Stotle, first off, thanks for the great info as always. I'm curious, for a guy like Buxton who doesn't face top notch competition during the school year, how make or break are the tournaments or showcases that he would participate in? Secondly, if you were the Orioles and both were available at #4, would you select Buxton and his ceiling or Zunnino and his probability? Thanks.

The big showcases and tournaments are a huge deal. Not just because it gives evaluators a place to see the top guys play against each other, but the events tend to draw the high level decision-makers. Buxton showed very well at Under Armour, and it really helped his stock.

That said, he'll be expected to show well throughout the spring. If you start to struggle against uneven competition, it has the potential to do damage at the top of the board (though you can get away with it later in the 1st and sandwich round).

[Stotle]

Good to hear. But why mention "that doesn't command much, if any, over traditional slot"? Do you foresee money being an issue with this first pick?

General comment regarding decision-making at the top of the draft and putting a number on kids.

[allstar1579]

From Nick's tweets at the game it looks like Zimmer is sharp today and very much a candidate for #1.

[RZNJ]

From Nick's tweets at the game it looks like Zimmer is sharp today and very much a candidate for #1.

Second straight complete game shutout.

http://www.usfdons.com/sports/m-base...20120324ayjm0u

[oriolekid]

I'm really starting to like Stryker Trahan. I'd put him up there with Buxton and Gio in terms of highest upside in the draft tier. Power potential is as high as it gets for a catcher, and he's solid defensibly behind the plate, and has also played 1st and 3rd so if we draft him, and Wieters is still going strong at catcher in 3 years, we can switch him to 1st.

[RZNJ]

I'm really starting to like Stryker Trahan. I'd put him up there with Buxton and Gio in terms of highest upside in the draft tier. Power potential is as high as it gets for a catcher, and he's solid defensibly behind the plate, and has also played 1st and 3rd so if we draft him, and Wieters is still going strong at catcher in 3 years, we can switch him to 1st.

My concerns about Trahan are about his arm stength. Watch these two videos and tell me what you think. He looks like he is very quick to get rid of the ball but the pure arm strength looks below ML average. Both courtesy of YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-rBQbWL-2U


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUwfiFq3vk

[allstar1579]

More notes from Nick today, Appel looks good, 93-96 (where's he's been all season) with a good 84 mph power curve, CH just looks average though, so he might just be a 2.5 pitch pitcher at this point. I'm interested to get his take when he gets back of Zimmer v. Appel.

I think Appel, and Zimmer are looking like locks for the top 4 right now. With Zunino in there too, it should leave a pool of those guys, Marrero, Giolito (if not badly injured), and Buxton hanging around that #4 spot. Should be an interesting article next week from Nick on what he thinks about #4.

[RZNJ]

More notes from Nick today, Appel looks good, 93-96 (where's he's been all season) with a good 84 mph power curve, CH just looks average though, so he might just be a 2.5 pitch pitcher at this point. I'm interested to get his take when he gets back of Zimmer v. Appel.

I think Appel, and Zimmer are looking like locks for the top 4 right now. With Zunino in there too, it should leave a pool of those guys, Marrero, Giolito (if not badly injured), and Buxton hanging around that #4 spot. Should be an interesting article next week from Nick on what he thinks about #4.

The more players who step up as elite talents, the better it is for us.