Scouting Report on Smoak -- Draft Preview

[Stotle]

I have a scouting report on Smoak up and ready to roll at Craw's Camden Depot. Hope you enjoy the read. Posey comes out tomorrow afternoon, T. Beckham and Pedro will be Saturday and Matusz/Crow will be out Sunday.

As always, feel free to rip me a new one!

[Greg Pappas]

I have a scouting report on Smoak up and ready to roll at Craw's Camden Depot. Hope you enjoy the read. Posey comes out tomorrow afternoon, T. Beckham and Pedro will be Saturday and Matusz/Crow will be out Sunday.

As always, feel free to rip me a new one!

Well done. Good info and a good quality site... congratulations.

My views on Smoak are well stated, but it's nice to see that you approve of him as well.

[Frobby]

Good stuff here. I was disappointed that you aren't so high on G. Beckham, since we have such a glaring need at SS.

[Stotle]

Well done. Good info and a good quality site... congratulations.

My views on Smoak are well stated, but it's nice to see that you approve of him as well.

Thanks, Greg. Craw does all of the work and deserves the credit. I only have a handful of posts -- looking at the detail on MLB-Draft.com, I don't know how you do it!

I think you're right on with Smoak -- he'd be a nice get at 1:4.

[Stotle]

Good stuff here. I was disappointed that you aren't so high on G. Beckham, since we have such a glaring need at SS.

Thank you, sir. I like Beckham a ton as a collegiate player, and I think he can be a useful pro. I just think there are enough concerns to make him a reach at 1:4. There are safer picks with higher ceilings, in my opinion.

[Al Pardo]

Good Stuff

The knock on taking the 4th pick with Smoak is that he plays 1st base and they are easier to come by but the Orioles have had no such luck in recent years.

Year Player OPS Rank (AL)

08 Millar 723 9th

07 Millar 785 8th

06 Millar 811 8th

05 No Oriole qualified

04 Palmeiro 796 8th

03 Conine 799 9th

02 Batista 766 11th

01 Conine 829 9th

00 No Oriole qualified

As you can tell we have been at the bottom of the AL when it comes to 1st base production since Palmeiro's prime years in the late 90's. Smoak seems like a sure thing at least as close as you can come. Draft him and you don't have to worry about 1st for ten years.

[Stotle]

Good Stuff

The knock on taking the 4th pick with Smoak is that he plays 1st base and they are easier to come by but the Orioles have had no such luck in recent years.

Year Player OPS Rank (AL)

08 Millar 723 9th

07 Millar 785 8th

06 Millar 811 8th

05 No Oriole qualified

04 Palmeiro 796 8th

03 Conine 799 9th

02 Batista 766 11th

01 Conine 829 9th

00 No Oriole qualified

As you can tell we have been at the bottom of the AL when it comes to 1st base production since Palmeiro's prime years in the late 90's. Smoak seems like a sure thing at least as close as you can come. Draft him and you don't have to worry about 1st for ten years.

Generally, I agree that 1b is not a Top 5 type of position, but Smoak is a solid pick anywhere from 4-8, in my opinion. He has a good approach and, as Greg has pointed out, is an excellent defender. It's too bad he isn't a little quicker or you could slot him out in LF -- his bat could certainly play there and it would give you more flexibility down the road.

[DiehardO's]

I would be so happy with Smoak, I attend the University of South Carolina right now and watched all the games this year, Smoak is a monster, everytime he stepped to the plate the stadium kinda slowed down and got quite in anticipation of him hitting a dinger

[WebLink21]

Thank you, sir. I like Beckham a ton as a collegiate player, and I think he can be a useful pro. I just think there are enough concerns to make him a reach at 1:4. There are safer picks with higher ceilings, in my opinion.

I agree with you 100% about Beckham. Great college player. I know a lot of people on here don't want to hear it because we have such a need at SS, but I just don't see it carrying over.