Mock Draft: 5-29-08

[Greg Pappas]

With less than a week to go, this will be my next to last Mock before the draft happens next Thursday.

A surprising change at #1, but to me it makes the most sense.

ROUND 1

1 Rays > *Pedro Alvarez, 3B/1B, Vanderbilt

2 Pirates > Tim Beckham, H.S. SS, (GA)

3 Royals > Buster Posey, C, Florida State

4 Orioles > #Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina

5 Giants > Gordon Beckham, SS, Georgia

6 Marlins > *Brian Matusz, LHSP, San Diego

7 Reds > Aaron Crow, RHSP, Missouri

8 White Sox > *Kyle Skipworth, H.S. C, (CA)

9 Nationals > *Eric Hosmer, H.S. 1B, (FL)

10 Astros > Shooter Hunt, RHSP, Tulane

11 Rangers > *Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami

12 Athletics > *Brett Wallace, 1B, Arizona State

13 Cardinals > Tim Melville, H.S. RHSP, (MO)

14 Twins > Casey Kelly, H.S. SS, (FL)

15 Dodgers > Aaron Hicks, H.S. CF/RHSP, (CA)

16 Brewers > Josh Fields, Closer, Georgia

17 Blue Jays > Brett Lawrie, H.S. 3B/LF (Canada)

18 Mets > Ethan Martin, H.S. RHSP, (GA)

19 Cubs > Jake Odorizzi, H.S. RHSP, (IL)

20 Mariners > *C. Friedrich, LHSP, E. Kentucky

21 Tigers > Andrew Cashner, RHSP, TCU

22 Mets > *Jason Castro, College C, Stanford

23 Padres > *Zach Collier, H.S. OF, (CA)

24 Phillies > Ross Seaton, H.S. RHSP, (TX)

25 Rockies > *R. Havens, 2B, South Carolina

26 D'Backs > *Kyle Lobstein, H.S. LHSP, (AZ)

27 Twins > #Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami

28 Yankees > *David Cooper, 1B, California

29 Indians > *Conor Gillaspie, 3B, Witchita State

30 Red Sox > Anthony Hewitt, H.S. SS/OF, (CT)

SUPPLEMENTAL ROUND 1

31 Twins > *Ike Davis, 1B/OF, Arizona State

32 Brewers > Lance Lynn, RHSP, Mississippi

33 Mets > *Brett DeVall, H.S. LHSP, (FL)

34 Phillies > Tanner Scheppers, RHSP, Fresno St

35 Brewers > Gerrit Cole, H.S. RHP, (CA)

36 Royals > Tyler Ladendorf, S/2, Howard (TX)

37 Giants > *Dennis Raben, OF, Miami

38 Astros > *Mike Montgomery, H.S. LHSP, (CA)

39 Cardinals > *Robbie Ross, H.S. LHSP, (KY)

40 Braves > *Jay Austin, H.S. CF, (GA)

41 Cubs > Tyler Sample, H.S. RHSP, (CO)

42 Padres > Bryan Price, Closer, Rice

43 D'Backs > Destin Hood, H.S. OF, (AL)

44 Yankees > *Wade Miley, LHSP, SE-Louisiana

45 Red Sox > *Dan Schlereth, Closer, Arizona

46 Padres > Chris Carpenter, RHSP, Kent St

ROUND 2

47 Rays > Zeke Spruill, H.S. RHSP, (GA)

48 Pirates > Daniel Webb, H.S. RHSP, (KY)

49 Royals > *Allan Dykstra, 1B, Wake Forest

50 Orioles > *Brett Mooneyham, H.S. LHSP, (CA)

[McNulty]

Boy, I'd love it if Dykstra dropped to us in round 2.

Ike Davis certainly dropped quite a bit.

[Duke2010]

Great stuff Greg, and boy I hope you are right about Smoak. I've been on his side since last year, and it sure would be sweet to see him once again teaming up with Matt Wieters. In a perfect world, I would love to grab Smoak at #4, and then I'd take Landendorf at 50. Unfortunately for us, he seems to be establishing himself to go a bit sooner than that.

On a non mock related note, Greg, where is Cole St. Clair slated to go next week? I know he's had some injury concerns in the past, but he's always been thought of as a very good talent.

[Greg Pappas]

Boy, I'd love it if Dykstra dropped to us in round 2.

Ike Davis certainly dropped quite a bit.

If the typical odds go the way they always do, I'll be right, on what... 5 of the 50?

[Greg Pappas]

Great stuff Greg, and boy I hope you are right about Smoak. I've been on his side since last year, and it sure would be sweet to see him once again teaming up with Matt Wieters. In a perfect world, I would love to grab Smoak at #4, and then I'd take Landendorf at 50. Unfortunately for us, he seems to be establishing himself to go a bit sooner than that.

On a non mock related note, Greg, where is Cole St. Clair slated to go next week? I know he's had some injury concerns in the past, but he's always been thought of as a very good talent.

Thanks.

St. Clair is slated for R4-R6, but he could sneak into R3 with a bit of luck.

[Bmo24Ph]

Who's the kid you projected us to take in the 2nd round?

[Camden_yardbird]

Josh Fields and Chris Caprenter? Odd.

[PlumOriole]

After looking at the BA Draft Preview the other night, I'm hoping Dykstra falls to us in RD 2 if we go with Matusz in the 1st.

[Greg Pappas]

Josh Fields and Chris Caprenter? Odd.

What's odd? Familiar names?

[Hank Scorpio]

Greg, you really think we'll pass on Matusz to take Smoak?

I'd like to believe that, but oof.... I dunno. I love the idea of having Wieters and Smoak in our system.

[Greg Pappas]

Who's the kid you projected us to take in the 2nd round?

Scott Boras advisee and stud HS lefty starter > Brett Mooneyham.

Brett is a California kid, son of former ML'er (1 yr) and 1st round pick Bill, and his affiliation with Boras has many teams concerned about being able to sign him. Some teams rate Mooneyham as the best prep lefty on their board, although that is mainly based on projection.

At 6' 5-220, Mooneyham is a big kid, with a 90-91 FB, touching 94, and a good slider with above average potential. He has been wild this year as he is growing into his body (growth spurt) and has walked 43 in 46 IP. Mooneyham has a commitment to Stanford, and if he goes there, in three years he could find himself going early first round... or not.

Risky pick, major upside... we'll see.

[DiehardO's]

Hey Greg do you know anything about a local prospect Kevin Brady?

[420gamewinners]

I don't see Tampa taking Alvarez first. The only reason is, is that Alvarez is a Boras client. Tampa likes to sign their good young prospects long term early. Boras is known to have his clients test the FA market. I look for Tampa to pick T. Beckham or Posey.

[Greg Pappas]

Hey Greg do you know anything about a local prospect Kevin Brady?

Not a great deal...

Height: 6-3

Weight: 200

B/T: L/R

Birthdate: 9/7/90

Grad Year: 2008

High School: Gaithersburg (Md.) HS

GPA: 3.36

Brady was this year's Rise Magazine and Gatorade's 'Maryland Baseball Player of the Year'.

Brady was stellar last season' date=' his junior campaign, in which [i']he threw three no-hitters and a perfect game[/i]. He put up the following line in 58 IP> 0.84 ERA while striking out 112 batters. This season he experience stiffness in his throwing shoulder (right), limiting his innings, but he again posted great numbers on the year.

Brady features a 89-91mph FB, but I'm unaware of much more. He projects as a top ten rounds prospect, but has committed to Clemson and may come out in three years drafted much higher.

[OsandBohs11]

Would Gordon Beckham be much of a reach at #4? We need a franchise SS and he could also have pretty decent power in the majors.

Any chance of us taking Posey and putting him somewhere other than catcher? Can't he play a lot of positions?