As close as they'll get to tipping their hand...

[bjkrautk]

Under the guidance of scouting director Jack Zduriencik, the Milwaukee Brewers have used the "best available player" approach in making first-round selections in the June draft.

 

With hopes of returning to a competitive mode at the big-league level as soon as possible, the Brewers also must consider drafting for "need." This year, there's a chance the two philosophies could merge when they make the fifth pick in the draft June 7.

 

The Brewers certainly are aware of what they need most in their organization at this particular point in time.

 

"We're probably more position player-challenged than pitcher-challenged," said assistant general manager Gord Ash. "Some of our pitchers are starting to blossom.

 

"We're short of catching and we're short at third base. Those are the positions where we have the least depth."

 

It just so happens that this year's draft features some highly coveted college third basemen. Nebraska's Alex Gordon is a left-handed hitter with power whom many scouts consider one of the best to emerge at his position in several years.

 

Virginia's Ryan Zimmerman also has wowed scouts with his superior fielding ability and budding power, and is projected to move quickly to the majors. Ryan Braun of Miami is another collegiate third baseman of note but not rated at the same level of Gordon or Zimmerman.

 

If Gordon slips to the fifth spot, which is unlikely, the Brewers almost certainly would select him. Word has it that the Washington Nationals, who pick just ahead of Milwaukee, have Zimmerman in their sights.

 

Justin Upton, a high school shortstop / outfielder from Chesapeake, Va., and brother of Tampa Bay's top prospect, B.J. Upton, is considered a sure bet to be taken first by Arizona. The next two teams in the draft order are Kansas City and Seattle.

 

The Mariners signed free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre to a five-year deal last winter and shouldn't be in the market for a third baseman. And there have been rumors that the Royals will watch their budget and select a player who won't cost so much to sign.

 

Most of the top-rated pitchers are in the college ranks, such as Tennessee's Luke Hochevar, Wichita State's Mike Pelfrey and St. John's closer Craig Hansen. But each of those pitchers is represented by agent Scott Boras, whose clients always take a long time to sign - if they sign at all - and usually at top dollar.

 

Two of Boras' first-round clients from the 2004 draft - right-hander Jered Weaver (picked 12th by Anaheim) and shortstop Stephen Drew (14th by Arizona) - have yet to sign and could re-enter the draft. Their availability would shake up this year's first round even more.

 

"We did a study of (Boras') clients and the study told us a lot of the highly touted pitchers he represents never really materialize," said Ash. "So, the battle you're going to fight is not really worth it.

 

"It doesn't help if you draft a pitcher and he doesn't sign and report."

 

There are some high-quality college catchers available as well, including Southern California's Jeff Clement and Texas' Taylor Teagarden. Neither is considered a potential top-five pick, however.

 

"When you draft that high, you still have to get the best player you can get," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "You can't make the mistake of drafting a catcher because you need one, but he's the 25th-best player.

 

"There are some pretty good third basemen in the draft and we could use a third baseman. We'll have to analyze that when the time comes. And pitching is always attractive. You can't count them out."

 

While uncertain about how the picks above them will unfold, the Brewers have shown keen interest in Cameron Maybin, a high school outfielder from Asheville, N.C., whom some have compared to Ken Griffey Jr. at that age. In the previous five drafts directed by Zduriencik, the Brewers have taken high school players in the first round four times.

 

The one time they didn't go to the prep ranks was in 2003, when Southern University second baseman Rickie Weeks was a no-brainer with the second pick. Zduriencik plays his draft cards very close to his vest, but it would be no shock if the Brewers go for Maybin with the fifth pick.

 

"You know with high school picks, they're all four or five years down the road," said Melvin, who says he is not feeling pressure to pick players closer to the majors under new owner Mark Attanasio.

 

"We still have to stay with our plan and make the right decisions on draft picks. We're not going to go outside the box and do something that doesn't make sense for us."

 

The Brewers have no second-round pick this year, having forfeited it to Oakland to sign free-agent catcher Damian Miller. That makes it more important to do the right thing with the first pick, not to mention Nos. 3, 4, 5, etc.

 

Other players who have drawn the Brewers' interest include Long Beach State shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who could be moved to third base, as well as California State Fullerton lefty Ricky Romero and Miami right-hander Cesar Carillo.

 

www.jsonline.com/sports/brew/may05/327672.asp

 

If this were the NFL, I'd wonder if they were smokescreening. Since it isn't, it requires a few thoughts:

 

- Is it wrong to hold out hope Seattle opts for Maybin (in the hopes that one of the third basemen falls to us)?

- Interesting that they'd study Boras clients like that....I wonder how they went about setting a control group.

- It's wrong to compare a player at any age to Ken Griffey, Jr. (unless you mean Griffey circa 2005...in which case that's just being mean)

- You probably don't make a comment about catchers like that if you consider Clement anywhere near top 5.

[PeaveyFury]

Definitely one of the most informative articles the JS has run this year.

 

Is it wrong to hold out hope Seattle opts for Maybin (in the hopes that one of the third basemen falls to us)?

 

Not wrong at all to hope. If Seattle takes Maybin and KC does something stupid, would the Nats still select Zimmerman, who they seem to be really high on? If Gordon fell to us, it'd be a fantastic bit of luck, but its definitely possible.

 

Like you said, Clement is definitely out, much to my dismay, also Hochevar and Pelfrey. I hope we draft BPA, but I like the position talent available at #5 over any of the pitchers available anyway.

[scoop53714]

no mention of Drew or Weaver. Does anyone think either could be the pick?

[PeaveyFury]

no mention of Drew or Weaver. Does anyone think either could be the pick?

 

Nope. They said no Boras pitchers, so that means no Weaver, and I'd be surprized if they took Drew. If one or both did come back in, that could mean that one of the guys that should be taken ahead of us could fall to #5.

[colbyjack]

Nice draft story from the MJS. Nice to see them do their homework.

 

They may have contributed towards BA's mock draft, but we're hearing the same names now, none really surprising. As I and some others have guessed, it sounds like the Boras clients are out of the picture, and as noted, it sounds as though Clement isn't thought of as worthy of the #5 pick, again, as I guessed. The Brewers are so much fun to follow draft-wise since they truly do focus on the best player available. While a 3B seems to make so much sense, as does Clement, they're not going to reach for one if someone like Maybin falls in their lap.

[The Big Cheese]

This is my third year where I've really gotten into following the baseball draft, and I think I'm going to be on the Maybin bandwagon this year!

 

Zimmerman sounds like a solid pick, but does he project to be a better overall player than Maybin?

 

I'm not saying he's going to be Griffey, but geez, a 5-tool caliber CF is awfully attractive.

 

Right now, my board looks like this...

 

1. Justin Upton

2. Alex Gordon

3. Cameron Maybin

4. Ryan Zimmerman

[brewerjamie15]

I dunno. I've tried in the past to show interest in the baeball draft, but it's hard to get into it. I mean, drafting HS kids takes a long time before you seen them at all, College kids take a while too. Thats -if they even sign and report-. I would agree that 3rd and Catcher are prime, but I'd set my priority at catcher. Thirdbasemen will always be around. Look at what we've had recently at Catcher.

[UWRyan428]

If Gordon were to fall, I would tend to believe that the Nats would still go with Zimmerman. The Nats are owned by the MLB and, thus, probably don't have the money to give him the type of contract that he'd be wanting. If Gordon gets past the Royals, which could only be over the money Gordon would want, then the Nats are guaranteed not to pony up the money. It would have to be approved by the MLB Owners' Assoc. and they are not likely to approve such a deal. The Mariners are the wildcard, and the only justification for them not taking him seems to be Adrian Beltre and Gordon's demand for a guaranteed MLB contract. But Beltre isn't lighting the world on fire and you can't draft for necessity, as so many draft pundits have esposed. In the end, however, it would be a public relations nightmare if the Royals passed on Gordon, considering the lowly state of their team. They need to give their fans the idea that they are actually attempting to raise the level of their success.

[JoeHova]

1. Justin Upton

2. Alex Gordon

3. Cameron Maybin

4. Ryan Zimmerman

 

 

That looks good to me. Hopefully a couple teams above the Brewers will mess up and allow the Crew to have their choice of a couple of those guys. (BA has AZ being interested in that reliever at #1. If that happens, it'd be great, as KC appears to be too cheap to take one of the top 4-5 guys. Seattle is also said to be in love with the LBSU shortstop, if they take him, it's possible that the Brewers could have their choice from among 3 of the top 4 guys. Not too likely though, I guess.)

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd still draft Clement and I'd put him in a Brewer uniform immediately. He could not possibly do worse than Chad Moeller.

[paul253]

is there any chance we take Drew? without a second rounder, thats a lot of extra money to use for the first rounder, and there is no way Drew would be willing to go another year unsigned is there? i apologize if this has been brought up already, i dont follow the draft threads very much?

[Brewer Backer]

I think the chances of us drafting either Drew or Weaver are just about nill. The Brewers will take one of the 3B or Maybin, guaranteed.

[dadofandrew]

Personally, I think Drew will be a better player than any of the 3B. I'd take Maybin if he were available, if not, I'd take Drew and spend the dough.