Community Mock Draft: Fourth Pick

by jcb9 on May 25, 2009 7:15 PM PDT Comment 15 comments

#1: Stephen Strasburg RHP, San Diego State University (Washington Nationals)

#2: Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina (Seattle Mariners)

Ackley was the overwhelming choice for #2, but Crow won the #3 vote with a plurality of just over 30%. Most of the rest of the vote was split by Grant Green, Donovan Tate, Tyler Matzek, Alex White, and Kyle Gibson.

For this round, I added a few new names - Mike Minor, Michael Trout, and Tim Wheeler. At this point I think pretty much all the names I'm familiar with are already on the list, so I'd appreciate suggestions for who to add next time around.

Next up are the Pittsburgh Pirates. They have something of a history of being cheap-asses in he draft, going for signability and affordability over top tier talent - most famously by selected Bryan Bullington #1 overall in 2002. Even at the time, the Pirates admitted that being a fourth starter or so was probably his ceiling. They tried to change that last year, drafting Pedro Alvarez second overall and Tanner Scheppers (a top talent who fell due to injury) in the second round. However, they got a bit burned by Alvarez on his contract and Scheppers didn't sign and is again available in the draft.

Who will the Pittsburgh Pirates draft with the #4 pick?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

Donavon Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

Poll

Who will the Pittsburgh Pirates select with the #4 pick?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

1 votes

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

28 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

1 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

18 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

17 votes

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

0 votes

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

1 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

6 votes

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

5 votes

Donavon Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

7 votes

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

2 votes

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

6 votes

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

28 votes

Write-in Vote (Explain in comments)

1 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

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I’m wondering if they Pirates might go off the board with this pick. As I indicated in the post, they’re probably feeling a bit burned by how things went with Alvarez’s contract last year – and Alvarez has gotten off to a slow start in the minors, too. Last year, the Pirates had new management who reportedly wanted to make a statement by drafting the best player available and spending the money necessary to sign him. Now, I wonder if they might not be so eager.

This is just a pet theory, though – no actual evidence to support it. So I’m curious what other people think.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.

by jcb9 on May 25, 2009 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, a list of the Pirates last 10 #1 picks may be useful, if a little sad:

1999: Bobby Bradley RHP
2000: Sean Burnett RHP
2001: John Van Benschoten, rhp
2002: Bryan Bullington RHP
2003: Paul Maholm, lhp
2004: Neil Walker, c
2005: Andrew McCutchen, of
2006: Brad Lincoln, rhp
2007: Daniel Moskos, lhp
2008: Pedro Alvarez 3B

It’s almost enough to make a Pirates fan long for the days of Kris Benson and Jeff King.

by jcb9 on May 25, 2009 7:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That is pretty depressing, and puts things in perspective

Not so proud adoptive parent of the set-up man.
This is definitely not Howry do it!

by CB30 on May 25, 2009 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could you imagine if they had drafter Wieters though? Alvarez and Wieters anchoring that team would be a scary combination. Think Morneau and Mauer with more power.

by gimpsta7 on May 25, 2009 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like McCutchen as a prospect. The rest of the list though…bleh. I remember Lincoln mentioned in conjuction with Lincecum basically as a “haw haw look what you passed up” type of thing.

Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 26, 2009 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the Pirates newer ownership

and with Neal Huntington leading the way they got to be thinking BPA. Heard they are in on Green but gotta believe they are leaning Kyle Gibson here.

by wilriv21 on May 25, 2009 7:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ll guess it’s a high-school rightie — Jacob Turner, Shelby Miller, or Zach Wheeler.

by Grant on May 25, 2009 8:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Miller

very intrigued about this kid and hope SF has him high on their board

by wilriv21 on May 25, 2009 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, there are a couple of names to add, I guess.

by jcb9 on May 25, 2009 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could seem them going for Tyler Matzek, a polished HS lefty who won’t cost a fortune. Shelby Miller makes sense, too.

After the nasty negotiations of last year, I kind of see Pittsburgh staying away from a tough-sign like Turner.

by Dan from NM on May 25, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’ll be some pitcher….but not at all clear which one.

Adoptive Parent of Francisco Peguero. He can throw, he can run, he can hit(fastballs), and he's Dominican. What else do you need to know?

"Obviously I’m not doing things like going toe-to-toe with a ninja. Find me a ninja, for one."--Brian Wilson

by haverecords on May 25, 2009 9:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I guessed Alex White, but who knows? They’ve obviously had a poor history of drafting pitchers (just like us with hitters), but I think they have to take a pitcher in the first round. I would assume they’d prefer a college pitcher, but…..

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on May 26, 2009 6:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Kind of pointless

To say who’s gonna draft who (whom?) cos when draft day rolls around, we get surprise after surprise. I just said Green because I expect someone to overrate him. Who better than the Pirates!

Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 26, 2009 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs