For heaven's sake say NO! to a pitcher with pick #4!!!

[DocJJ]

I think we'll have a decent rotation with the best 5 guys out of:

Cabrera

Guthrie

Lowen

Burres

Olson

Liz

Arrieta

Tillman

Erbe

Hernandez

Spoone

Bascom

Berken

Bergesen

Butler

Beato

Penn

Yes, I understand the temptation to pick Matusz.

But for heaven's sake look at the O's lineup:

highest average: Roberts .263. Next is Jones .253. Next is the entire team under .250!!!!!

For G-d's sake draft some guys who can hit the freakin' ball....!!!!!!

Thanks. I feel better now.:cussing:

[Pruke]

I think we'll have a decent rotation with the best 5 guys out of:

Cabrera

Guthrie

Lowen

Burres

Olson

Liz

Arrieta

Tillman

Erbe

Hernandez

Spoone

Bascom

Berken

Bergesen

Butler

Beato

Penn

Yes, I understand the temptation to pick Matusz.

But for heaven's sake look at the O's lineup:

highest average: Roberts .263. Next is Jones .253. Next is the entire team under .250!!!!!

For G-d's sake draft some guys who can hit the freakin' ball....!!!!!!

Thanks. I feel better now.:cussing:

I don't think I'll cry if we draft Matusz, but if the first three picks are some combination of T Beckham, P Alvarez and B Posey - who would you take over Matusz?

Here is a list of non-pitchers

Gordon Beckham SS R/R 6-0 185 Georgia JR 21 .402 199 69 80 16 1 22 55 16

Eric Hosmer 1B L/L 6-4 215 American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. SR 18 .487 76 44 37 4 2 11 26 14

Justin Smoak 1B S/L 6-4 215 South Carolina JR 21 .391 197 50 77 17 0 19 56 1

Kyle Skipworth C L/R 6-3 195 Patriot HS, Rubidoux, Calif. SR 18 .584 77 45 45 11 1 12 44 3

Yonder Alonso 1B L/R 6-2 215 Miami JR 21 .373 150 61 56 10 1 15 51 8

Aaron Hicks RHP/ OF S/R 6-2 175 Wilson HS, Long Beach SR 18 .500 74 42 37 11 4 4 21 35

[Bmo24Ph]

Smoak please.

[TakebackOPACY]

Smoak please.

Scrounge the internet. None of the 'experts' are predicting the O's should or will take Smoak over Matusz or Crow.

The closer we get, the more the experts seem to be focusing on this conclusion/prediction:

T Beckham and P Alvarez will go in the Top 3; the O's will take a pitcher unless they rate G. Beckham higher on their board. G. Beckham is usually in the #6-10 range on indendent player rankings that are indifferent to the actual draft order.

It's frustrating, but there seems to be almost a consensus out there.

[birdtown]

All things being equal, I would prefer an advanced college bat with our first round selection. But with that being said, Mastuz is ranked by baseball america to be the #2 overall prospect in the draft. We shouldn't be too upset if the O's are able to get the #2 talent with the #4 pick. The only reason that some are skeptical of him being a true ace at the major league level is due to the fact that he doesn't run his fastball into the mid to upper 90's. I would prefer to have a pitcher with 4 above average pitches than a fireballer who only has a hard slider to go along with it.....especially considering that Mastuz can throw all 4 for strikes. I'll take baseball america's word that Mastuz is a top flight talent.

It will not hurt my feelings to welcome Matusz into our promising stable of pitchers.

[DocJJ]

But then who will hit?

Wieters. OK.

But he's only allowed to bat once in the lineup. So, our lineup will be:

1. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power

2. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

3. Nick Markakis

4. Matt Wieters

5. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

6. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

7. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

8. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

9. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

Yuck!

Take a hitter- Smoak, G. Beckham, Y. Alonso, E. Hosmer. I don't care, just pick one.

[blakesta]

But then who will hit?

Wieters. OK.

But he's only allowed to bat once in the lineup. So, our lineup will be:

1. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power

2. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

3. Nick Markakis

4. Matt Wieters

5. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

6. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

7. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

8. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

9. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

Yuck!

Take a hitter- Smoak, G. Beckham, Y. Alonso, E. Hosmer. I don't care, just pick one.

I agree, we really do need hitters rather than more pitchers.

My preferred pick would be Smoak.

[furryburres]

If you really want great hitters, it's very easy to find huge power potential later in the draft. Also, if they've got a real scouting eye, they could end up with a late round gem like Austin Jackson, Desmond Jennings, etc.

It seems that more great hitters come from later parts of the draft then pitchers.

That being said, Matusz' ceiling isn't high enough for me to want him above Becks, Smoak, Hosmer, and more or less every other hitter reputed in the top 20.

On an interesting side note, the O's drafted Scheppers back in 2005, and didn't sign him. Bet they wished they had signed him, eh?

[furryburres]

But then who will hit?

Wieters. OK.

But he's only allowed to bat once in the lineup. So, our lineup will be:

1. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power

2. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

3. Nick Markakis

4. Matt Wieters

5. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

6. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

7. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

8. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

9. Some guy who hits .240 with minimal power.

Yuck!

Take a hitter- Smoak, G. Beckham, Y. Alonso, E. Hosmer. I don't care, just pick one.

Are you forgetting that we happen to have two young, developing talents named Brandon Snyder and Billy Rowell, who could both mature into middle-of-the-lineup hitters? What about Adam Jones or Nolan Reimold? All of these guys could probably hit 25 pops a year, with Reimold, Rowell, and Jones exceeding 30.

Not to say we don't need bats, but the situation isn't THAT dire.

[66-70-83-??]

I'd prefer a hitter but if Jordan feels Matusz is the best talent available, I won't whine too much.

Me neither.

Plus, in baseball, the development cycle is usually at least a couple of years (unlike 1st rd picks in NFL or NBA).

A lot can happen in a few years. Although we appear deep in pitching prospects, they could tank miserably.

I say take the most talented player- pitcher or hitter.

It is true that you can never have too much pitching. The pitchers can always be traded. Having *too many* would be a nice problem to have.

[wildcard]

Smoak's reported poor defense scares me.

If Alvarez is not available, I'd take Matusz.

[mapierce]

If T-Beckham, Posey & Alvarez are gone by the 4th pick I'd prefer Jordan to select Smoak. An advanced college bat that can progress through our system at the same time basically as Wieters. Though I'd definitely pick Matusz before Gordan Beckham. Obviously Jordan knows what he's doing so hopefully he'll draft the best available player at the 4 spot. I just keep hoping Alvarez somehow slips to us like Wieters did last year at 5.

[66-70-83-??]

Smoak's reported poor defense scares me.

If Alvarez is not available, I'd take Matusz.

Not according to this guy....

Defense:

He is far and away better than other potential 1B - Alonso, Dykstra, and Wallace. Most scouts view Smoak as a potential gold glove 1B, which really helps his draft position over other 1B. It is easier for a scouting director to rationalize a 1B in the top 10 when you know he adds another element to your team.

http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2008/04/17/top-prospect-justin-smoak/

And from a write up at BP on Team USA (June 2007).

First Base: Justin Smoak, sophomore, South Carolina: After leaving nothing to prove in the Cape Cod League last summer, Smoak gives the team a sure-handed defender at first, an asset Sean Doolittle afforded them a season ago. However, Smoak also offers fantastic power, hitting 22 home runs as a sophomore. He’s projected to be drafted in the 2008 draft’s top ten.

If you look hard enough at any of these guys you will see stuff to give you doubts.

[RVAbird]

Smoak's reported poor defense scares me.

If Alvarez is not available, I'd take Matusz.

Where have you read this??? Everything I've read describes Smoak as an above-average defender at worst.

[LookinUp]

I'll be perfectly happy taking the best available player; pitcher or hitter.