Final Draft Projection

[colbyjack]

Here's my last attempt at a mock draft as we enter draft day tomorrow. I'm sticking by my guns that the Royals will not take Andrew Miller...

 

1. Royals: Brad Lincoln

Rumors have the Royals pick down between Miller and Lincoln. $5.5 million, or an easy $4 million pre-draft deal...

2. Rockies: Evan Longoria

The Rockies have worked out Longoria extensively, and don't let the "surprise" pick at the top effect their plan.

3. Devil Rays: Andrew Miller

Miller was a pick of the DRays out of HS, so he would have to give his blessing for it to happen again.

4. Pirates: Greg Reynolds

The Pirates have been focused on college pitching all spring.

5. Mariners: Brandon Morrow

Despite previous reports, the Ms aren't as hot on Hochevar, and will pass on local product Lincecum as well.

6. Tigers: Luke Hochevar

The Tigers aren't afraid of dealing with Boras, and they're happy to have Hochevar fall.

7. Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw

Surprise, surprise, a prep pitcher for the Dodgers.

8. Reds: Tim Lincecum

Everyone has them pegged to take Stubbs, but they would be stupid to pass on a college arm.

9. Orioles: Billy Rowell

The O's have been focused on Rowell for several weeks now.

10. Giants: Chris Parmelee

Reportedly a pre-draft deal is already in place for this one to happen.

11. Diamondbacks: Max Scherzer

The two big Boras pitchers don't fall very far, as the D-Backs add a big arm to their talented system.

12. Rangers: Drew Stubbs

Recent questions surrounding Stubbs causes him to slip a little to the in-state Rangers.

13. Cubs: Travis Snider

The Cubs reportedly are all over the prep bats, and Snider's the best one.

14. Blue Jays: Daniel Bard

If Snider is here, they'll take him, and Matt Antonelli is another favorite.

15. Nationals: Jeremy Jeffress

Another local product for DC.

16. Brewers: Kasey Kiker

The Brewers have liked Kiker's arm all spring, and he performed well at the recent pre-draft workout.

17. Padres: Brett Sinkbeil

The Pads love college players, and Sinkbeil is one of the best relatively no-name arms.

18. Phillies: Kyle Drabek

Some character quirks cause Drabek to fall about 10-15 picks further than he should.

19. Marlins: Chris Marrero

Marrero is a local product, and a perfect match for the Fish.

20. Twins: Hank Conger

Conger's switch-hitting power drops no further.

21. Yankees: David Huff

The Yankees are happy to have this polished southpaw join their system to become trade bait by the 2007 deadline.

22. Nationals: Stephen Englund

Another rumored pre-draft deal.

23. Astros: Joba Chamberlain

Chamberlain has slid a little bit late in the season due to some shaky outings and earlier injury setbacks.

24. Braves: Brett Anderson

The Braves taking a prep pitcher? Crazy.

25. Angels: Colton Willems

The Angels aren't shy about adding prep arms early.

26. Dodgers: Kyler Burke

One of the rising names in the draft, Burke's hitting prowess and overall athleticism are appealing to the Dodgers.

27. Red Sox: Matt Antonelli

The Red Sox have taken a lot of college IF lately, but Antonelli is a local product.

28. Red Sox: Jared Hughes

Two polished products for a team that prefers college players early.

29. White Sox: Stephen King

The defending World Champs add an athletic middle IF to their system.

30. Cardinals: Brooks Brown

Brown is the pick for a team expected to take a college arm. Ian Kennedy is a popular name here.

[gregmag]

Thank you, Colby! Because, surprise, I don't want to see the Brewers draft a prep pitcher, and your prediction is the kiss of death. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif Seriously, great annotations on the mock picks; thanks for everything so far and, in advance, for everything coming.

 

Greg.

[DHonks]

I support the HS lefties, so I don't mind this mock. thanks for all the work Colby...get a good night's sleep

[pogokat]

well, if they do take kiker, i can probably find the guy for an interview...he lives right across the river from my parents

[molitor fan]

I just like the fact that a google search on kiker has the brewerfan snapshot of him as the second item that comes up.....pretty cool.

 

I would like Conger or Sapp, somehow, out of this draft, and am hoping for Scherzer to fall for some reason just to make it interesting.

[GagneCY03]

I love you CJ!

[colbyjack]

This is a picture I took of Kasey Kiker (probably my favorite picture from the trip) at the Aflac All-American Classic scrimmage from last August.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/kiker1.jpg

 

If Kiker is the pick, I'll provide more of my comments from the time with a few links from my coverage at PG.

[colbyjack]

Jim Callis' final projection at Baseball America:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/t...61627.html

 

He too has the Brewers taking Kiker (as does Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com I believe).

 

Callis also projects that Miller falls to the D-Backs with Hochevar going first overall and the Rockies taking Greg Reynolds 2nd overall.

[jwaltz]

I'm kind of hoping the Red Sox take Stephen King. It would be quite ironic.

[medinawi]

I'm more of a draft rubber neck, right around this time I read BA a bit but that's about it. So this question goes out to colby and/or you other draft gurus.

 

how has MLB's slot recommendations changed the first round choices if at all? Are there more or less 1st round reachs and predraft deals due to a team worrying about signings or are Andrew Millers large bonus demands the exception and not the norm?

[filthyfrog]

Colby, nice job on the mock draft and all the work you've put in so far. I just noticed the following on MLB.com's write up of Kiker:

 

Comments: Only questions about makeup have kept him from being at the top of high school pitching depth charts. Fastball sits in mid-90s and he throws a changeup and curve as well.

 

It seems like the Brewers place more emphasis on makeup than other teams, so if the concerns are legit, I could see the Brewers passing on him.

 

I guess we'll find out in a couple hours...

[xisxisxis]

Thank you, Colby! Because, surprise, I don't want to see the Brewers draft a prep pitcher, and your prediction is the kiss of death.

 

There's only 3 things for certain at Brewerfan.net:

 

1) Clancyphile will move any player to any position to satisfy his current obsession;

 

2) Any prospect as part of Chris' screen name will flame out faster than John Steitz;

 

3) The Brewers never draft Colbyjack's favorite round 1 pick. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

I haven't had a chance to enjoy the coverage as much this year which is too bad because Patrick has done a wonderful job. Enjoy draft day. Here's to a college pitcher in Round 1!

[colbyjack]

Kiker's makeup issues are overblown if you ask me.

 

3) The Brewers never draft Colbyjack's favorite round 1 pick.

 

Kiker isn't really my favorite, that was more of a prediction of who they will actually take. I'll tell you my favorites at a later point in time.

[clancyphile]

xisxisxis

 

Uh... I'm actually advocating the Crew should keep Weeks at second.