Community Mock Draft: Fifth Pick

by jcb9 on May 28, 2009 9:00 AM PDT Comment 23 comments

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

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

#3: Aaron Crow RHP, Fort Worth Cats (San Diego Padres)

#4: Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Gibson won in a runoff over Alex White, another RHP from the University of North Carolina. Also receiving a lot of votes in the initial thread were Grant Green, shortstop from USC, and Tyler Matzek, a high school lefty.

Next up are the Baltimore Orioles. Last year they drafted Brian Matusz, a college lefty, fourth overall, but their system is best known for catcher Matt Wieters.

Scouting reports:

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood High School (Texas)

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)

Donavan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Jacob Turner RHP, Westminster High School (Missouri)

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

I've added Shelby Miller and Jacob Turner, two high school pitchers, to the voting They were both oversights - they should've already been on the list. D'oh!

Poll

Who will the Baltimore Orioles take with the fifth draft pick?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

1 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

2 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

14 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

19 votes

Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood High School (Texas)

2 votes

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

1 votes

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

0 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

18 votes

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

0 votes

Donavan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

9 votes

Jacob Turner RHP, Westminster High School (Missouri)

0 votes

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

1 votes

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

8 votes

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

27 votes

Write-in Vote (explain in comments)

1 votes

103 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

1 recs | Comment 23 comments

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Comments

I voted Grant Green. If Aaron Crow is available in real life, I actually think they’ll take him, and if I had to predict, that would be my guess, because I think the Padres will take Tate.

But if not, I think maybe they’d like to defy current conventional wisdom, and pick a guy they think is undervalued. It’s possible they’d like a SS to pair with Brian Roberts for a few years, particularly with Billy Rowell not panning out so far. On the other hand, it is a pitching-heavy draft and they could easily take Matzek, Miller, White, or Scheppers.

I don’t think Givens, Trout, Davis, Minor, or Tim Wheeler will be selected in the top 15.

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

by Lyle on May 28, 2009 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Givens, Trout, Davis, Minor, or Tim Wheeler will be selected in the top 15.

I don’t necessarily think so either, but I included Givens, Trout, Davis, and Minor because their names have come up in various other mock drafts I’ve seen, and Wheeler because Brute mentioned him.

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 28, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I wasn’t disparaging your list, jcb. Just trying to look smarter than I actually am by predicting that the sun would rise in the East tomorrow. : )

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

by Lyle on May 28, 2009 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sort of like I’m trying to look smarter than I am by putting together these polls in the first place?

by jcb9 on May 28, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shhh

I won’t tell if you won’t tell. I’m pretty sure nobody heard us….

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

by Lyle on May 29, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Scheppers… I think I did this because I’m hoping that Matzek falls to the Giants, but my official explanation is that Scheppers has electric stuff, is pretty polished, and isn’t too far from the majors.

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on May 28, 2009 9:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was just reading over BA’s top 100 for the draft. A couple of thoughts…

After Strasburg and Ackley, Tate is at #3. Regarding his hitting, BA says that he isn’t polished, doesn’t have a natural feel for hitting, and tends to get pull happy. They compared him to Jeff Francoeur, but with more feel for hitting. Overall, he seems like a great talent, with a ton of speed and a great arm. Even if he never becomes a star hitting, I wouldn’t mind having someone like that roaming the outfield at May’s Field. OTOH, if the hitting doesn’t develop, he’s probably not worth the #6 pick and a huge signing bonus. I agree with what other people have said re: the money perhaps being better spent on a cheaper sure-thing in the draft and some high-ceiling Latin American talent.

Gibson is at #4 and I am starting to like him more and more. Yes, he doesn’t have the mid-90’s fastball, but he throws a good two-seemer, and has two of the best secondary pitches in the draft and excellent command. Fastballs are sexy, but this guy sounds like he could be a very good pitcher, which would be better than having someone who can throw hard, but who can never put it all together.

Turner is at #5. BA seems to be particularly high on him. His three-quarters delivery is easy and he has some very good life to his fastball (92-94, topping out at 98). He has the makings of a good curveball and changeup, although he is inconsistent in commanding the curveball. BA seemed impressed by his overall makeup. On the downside, he is represented by Boras and is rumored to be seeking $7 million (money given to Beckett and Porcello).

Matzek is down at #8. We’ve already heard a lot about him, but it sounds like he brings a good overall package, but doesn’t have quite the ceiling of some of the other pitchers (see, fastball velocity). BA says that he tops out at 94, which doesn’t sound bad. They say that he has “a rare blend of quality stuff, pitching smarts and ease of delivery” but they don’t really rave about any of his pitches.

I dunno… I like the high ceiling guys. That’s probably not always the best way to build the a team, but the fan in me wants the Giants to find the next Juan Marichal or Barry Bonds. But, again, that player could be some 16 yo kid from the DR, not Turner or Tate. I like reading about the players, but the more I think about this the more believe that I’ll be relatively excited about and happy with the player that GIANTS BRASS!!! decides to take.

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on May 28, 2009 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope this isn’t what actually happens on draft day – I would really like to see either Matzek or Gibson selected by the Giants. I wouldn’t mind Scheppers, but the injury risk there is huge

Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.

by theghostofjasonellison on May 28, 2009 10:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, Matzek, at least, looks like he’ll still be there at #6 in our little draft.

by jcb9 on May 28, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My claim to fame is that I worked with Tanner Scheppers’ sister at a camp a few years ago and taught her to drive a manual transmission.

I’m hoping this will somehow translate into free tickets if the Giants draft him.

Oh, and I think the Orioles go with Green.

by ben p on May 28, 2009 10:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure that he’ll be happy that you taught her how to drive a manual transmission.

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on May 28, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How to drive a stick?

Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all

If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.

by baetown415 on May 28, 2009 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, if all he heard was “sister” and “drive stick” I’d be in trouble.

Heh.

by ben p on May 29, 2009 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Grant Green

The Orioles are on the rise and can select a player to play alongside Roberts. With one of the best OFs in baseball (Reimold, Jones, Markakis), a very high ceiling catcher (Wieters) and an all-star 2b the Birds could improve very fast. And that is without mentioning their pitching prospects which there are quite a few.

by wilriv21 on May 28, 2009 11:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Tate

But I think they will take Gibson. I personally feel they should go offense this year, because although you can never have enough pitching, they are stocked with pitching in the system. I bet the Padres take Tate, the Pirates take Aaron Crow and then that opens up the door for the O’s to take Gibson. The next best available option for them might be Grant Green, but they would be foolish to pass on Gibson if he is available.

by backtocali on May 28, 2009 11:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I kind of hope they tae Green....

….‘cause he’s a guy I don’t really want.

by jcb9 on May 28, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

“They” being the Orioles, that is.

by jcb9 on May 28, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I went Sheppers. He is arguably close to MLB and they need pitching.

by out machine on May 28, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I just realized that Purke is a lefty, not a righty. OOPS.

by jcb9 on May 28, 2009 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Tanner Scheppers

Everything I’ve read indicates that the O’s are thinking pitching, and I personally feel that Green is an overdraft at 5, so they’d take Scheppers in this situation. I also agree that they would take Crow here, were he available.

Proud member of the Adopt-a-Giant program (Aaron Rowand)

by antinous on May 28, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it would be poetic if the Orioles did draft him after the Pirates failed to sign him, considering they also have Wieters, whom the Pirates should have drafted.

by kaliber on May 28, 2009 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poetic?

I hate Poems

The San Francisco Giants: Where old men go to die.

by GrahamCrakalaka on May 28, 2009 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Turtles.

Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below .500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Lowering the Quality of Internet Discourse Since 1985™

by S.F. Giangst on May 29, 2009 8:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs