What's the difference between....

[bigbird]

This is being called the best draft ever for first basement. Draft experts....what is the difference between Smoak and a 1B we could get in Round 2 vs. Matusz and the best pitcher we could get in Round 2.

[Crazysilver03]

If Beckham is still there at #4, I say we take him because we could still grab a decent 1B in the 2nd round. So I would hope Tim is #1 on their draftboard.

[IamtheSkip]

Personally I'd rather take a position player with both picks.

I know you can never have enough arms, but our position player cabinet is empty.

Heck, the thing's got termites and might fall down soon.

[PlumOriole]

I've had the same thought. I would hope if Matusz/Crow is the first pick, that A. Dykstra is the pick in the 2nd IF he is even there.

[RVAbird]

This is being called the best draft ever for first basement. Draft experts....what is the difference between Smoak and a 1B we could get in Round 2 vs. Matusz and the best pitcher we could get in Round 2.

Since pitchers are so risky due to injuries and Matusz doesn't necessarily project as an ace, it seems like it would be easier to get a pitcher to match in the second round than it would be to get a fairly sure thing, middle of the order masher like Smoak who is also a pretty good defensive player.

[Stotle]

Most of the "deep" 1b talent will be off the board by the time BAL picks at 2:4. Someone like Shane Peterson should certainly be around but I don't see him developing into 35+ HR talent (though 25+ is certainly possible). Same with Matusz -- Scheppers might be an equivalent talent if the shoulder injuries don't scare you off.

The best bet is really to ID HS talent that could develop into Smoak or Matusz. THere is a lot of that, especially if you are willing to spend (like Boston).

[RVAbird]

I've had the same thought. I would hope if Matusz/Crow is the first pick, that A. Dykstra is the pick in the 2nd IF he is even there.

I've been very high on Dykstra and if we do take Matusz at 1:4 I would hope he falls to us in the second round, but I will admit he is nowhere near Smoak as a prospect. No aspect of his game, offensive or defensive, is as advanced or polished as Smoak. I'd much prefer we draft Smoak at 1:4 and try to grab a couple Arrieta/Bascom type pitchers in rounds 2-5.

[hoosiers]

If Beckham is still there at #4, I say we take him because we could still grab a decent 1B in the 2nd round. So I would hope Tim is #1 on their draftboard.

This is my preference and has been all along.

Further, Jordan has done well find quality power pitchers after the first four rounds between Arrieta, Spoone and Hernandez.

[Three Run Homer]

Most of the "deep" 1b talent will be off the board by the time BAL picks at 2:4. Someone like Shane Peterson should certainly be around but I don't see him developing into 35+ HR talent (though 25+ is certainly possible). Same with Matusz -- Scheppers might be an equivalent talent if the shoulder injuries don't scare you off.

The best bet is really to ID HS talent that could develop into Smoak or Matusz. THere is a lot of that, especially if you are willing to spend (like Boston).

The O's organization does a pretty good job of scouting and developing high school pitchers. I believe Penn was drafted out of high school, as were Spoone, Britton, Erbe and Bergesen. None of these guys was taken in the first two rounds.

They seem to do a pretty lousy job of developing high school hitters, however, even when we have invested a first round pick. Darnell McDonald, Tripper Johnson, Bryan Bass were all high school hitters taken in the first round; all washed out. The jury is still out on Brandon Snyder and Billy Rowell, but neither of them is exactly inspiring confidence at the moment.

So let's get some college hitters in the first 2-3 rounds, then focus on arms in the later rounds.

[ChrisP]

T-Beck, P in the 2nd, and sign Tex this offseason. :clap3::laughlol:

[Sports Guy]

Baseball is so unique with development that I think this question could be asked about every position...That is why you take the best player on your board regardless of position.

[wayne25]

Since pitchers are so risky due to injuries and Matusz doesn't necessarily project as an ace, it seems like it would be easier to get a pitcher to match in the second round than it would be to get a fairly sure thing, middle of the order masher like Smoak who is also a pretty good defensive player.

Yeah , you would only have to target high potential h.s. pitchers or college pitchers with really good arms but ,perhaps newer to pitching than the more established guys. ALOT EASIER, than doing it the other way around.

[utvolzac]

I hope one of Alvarez or T. Beckham fall to us at 4th.

What are the odds that Alvarez or Beckham are around at 4?

Rays have Longoria at 3B. They could use a C or SS, depending on how they feel about Navarro & Brignac at those positions.

Royals: Could use a C or a SS. They already have Gordon at 3B.

Pirates: Need everything, but have traditionally stayed away from signability picks.

What about Hosmer at 4? I think I would even prefer him to Matsuz or Crow. I just don't think they are elite level pitching prospects.