Should we go for another arm, or target a SS?

[better]

I am rooting for the Orioles to get another highly ranked college pitcher in the first round this year.

[Arthur_Bryant]

Originally Posted by ThisIsOurHouse

As for the loss of the 2nd round pick, we will just have more money to pick high potential guys like Coffey (22), Arrieta (5), and Beal (14). We have some great scouts, I'm sure this draft will be just as effective as the past couple.

Yes, but the overslot opportunities after Round Two will probably be pitchers. Especially if you are talking about good 20-21 YO bats who can quickly be moved into the upper levels of the system, which is the big deficiency.

I like the idea of loading up on arms, but at some point the imbalance becomes a problem. That point is reached, in part, when legitimate prospects are held back because there's no slot in the rotation at their proper MiL level. IMO that is likely to be the case at Delmarva this season, and possibly at Norfolk as well in the latter half of the season. (EDIT: Looking again at the depth chart, things could fill up in a hurry at Aberdeen and Bluefield too).

That doesn't mean they should overdraft in Round One to get a hitter. If Taillon is available, and Harper isn't, then at this point Taillon seems to be the way to go. But the Gonzalez signing is probably going to mean that they will add no legit bat to the upper levels this season.

[jerios55]

Originally Posted by osgolfer

Check with Stotle but I don't believe we have a second round pick this year. We lost it when we signed Gonzalez.

I wrote that in November before we lost the pick

[osgolfer]

Sorry didn't check the date. Some of these threads go on for months. I have a question for some our draft experts. Do you think the o's might go after someone like Sales as bargin pick to keep adding pitching? Are there any high quality left handers that can be had later in the draft?

[Stotle]

Originally Posted by osgolfer

Sorry didn't check the date. Some of these threads go on for months. I have a question for some our draft experts. Do you think the o's might go after someone like Sales as bargin pick to keep adding pitching? Are there any high quality left handers that can be had later in the draft?

Class is shy on college lefties. BAL could use it's third round pick on a prepster like Biddle or Ziomek both lefties).

Chris Sale (LHP, FGCU) is in top 10 range -- might not be a reach at 3 come June. Right now, I think some of the righties are better bets (Sale may be headed to the pen as a pro if he can't maintain his stuff -- great arm, though).

[Greg Pappas]

Originally Posted by osgolfer

Sorry didn't check the date. Some of these threads go on for months. I have a question for some our draft experts. Do you think the o's might go after someone like Sales as bargin pick to keep adding pitching? Are there any high quality left handers that can be had later in the draft?

Both Chris Sale (Florida Gulf Coast) and Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi) appear to headline the lefty crop this year, though there are a number of other quality left-handers that could entice the Birds. James Paxton (Kentucky) is back after failing to sign last year, and he has demonstrated dynamic stuff when he's on, while Sammy Solis (San Diego), Chris Hernandez (Miami) and Bryan Morgado (Tennessee) may threaten the 1st round as well. This is a fairly weak prep class for lefties, but there are those that may be available past Round Two that we'd consider, headlined by Stotle's pair- Ziomek & Biddle.