Official First Round Picks

[And That]

Alright, here we go. Who are the Brewers going to pick? This thread will close once the draft begins.

 

Once the draft begins, Brewerfan will have pick by pick Brewer coverage for every round, with links to player stories and everything you could imagine. It is go time, Jack Z.

 

My pick: Alex Gordon. I think the first four teams will fall into their favorite, signable guys and the Brewers will be left with the Teixiera of '05, Alex Gordon. This is a guy who could turn around the franchise's options at third base for years to come by the end of '06. It may be Loewenesque thinking, but I think he'll fall.

 

Edit:

 

1. D'backs - Mike Pelfrey

2. Royals - Cameron Maybin

3. Mariners - Justin Upton

4. Nationals - Jeff Zimmerman

5. Brewers - Alex Gordon

[paul253]

i say maybin...i think gordon will be gone

[NastyTwig]

Ryan Braun

 

With Maybin still on the board.

[brettac1]

Troy Tulowitzki.

 

Though I hope you're right abou Gordon falling, Toby. I'm going to switch my photo to him now that Clark gets much respect. Also, if it's Tulo I can look forward to numberous WOAH SOLVDD-esque threads with various misspellings.

[NastyTwig]

Four picks, four different players. Got to love Jack Z.

[colbyjack]

I'm going to share this, only because I don't want to sound like "I don't you so" later..

 

When I conducted my interview with the Upton family for Perfect Game, my wife peeked over my shoulder to see a picture of both Justin and B.J. Upton on a story of the two of them the summer B.J. was drafted (and was still unsigned at the time) from MLB.com talking about the two of them, particularly how Justin was wowing scouts at the 2002 Area Code Games. Now, I usually don't bring my wife into baseball discussion, and she certainly doesn't know a lick about the draft other than that she knows of my passion for it. Anyway, at the time, several months ago now, she claimed "he's going to be a Brewer," referring to the younger of the two brothers. She also added that it may not be now, meaning this year, but at some point down the road, but she does have some crazy woman-like prophetic powers.

 

If, as Toby and DHonks project, the D-Backs take a pitcher, I think it's more likely that Justin Upton falls than Alex Gordon, since I'm guessing most teams won't be prepared to take Upton with the Royals and Mariners connected with Alex Gordon.

 

So, while my mind says Cameron Maybin or Ryan Braun, my knowledge of not doubting my wife's uncanny powers say Justin Upton http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

 

If that doesn't jinx the pick, I don't know what does.

[pogokat]

I had the regional scout (larry aaron) tell me a couple of years ago that the brewers were going to take tim battle instead of rickie weeks...he looked dead serious, so i almost believed him...it's funny the way these things shake out..

[brettac1]

That would be unreal, and all of BF.net would owe your wife a debt of gratitude.

[bjkrautk]

I can see a scenario in which Gordon falls to the Brewers, but it would take:

- Arizona going for a pitcher

- KC takes Upton

- Seattle taking Maybin (or Tulowitzki)

- Washington staying locked-in on Zimmerman

 

Arizona is the lynch-pin for any scenario other than {Upton, Gordon, Tulowitzki, Zimmerman}. With 2 of their top 3 relievers (based on IP) carring ERAs hovering around 5, and a legitimate shot at a wild card....would they opt for a pitcher that could come in for the playoff push? Craig Hansen is out there...and there just might be something to the rumor that the D-backs are interested.

 

KC still could go cheap and reach a pre-draft deal with a lower-ranked player....or they could avoid 3b altogether (with Mark Teahen & top prospect Billy Butler already at the position). Less likely than Arizona making a move, but can't be dismissed outright.

 

Of course, even if all that happens, I can't see Seattle passing on Gordon....not with the way Adrian Beltre is earning that long-term contract.

 

Therefore, I'll have to go with Cameron Maybin as my pick. He's not my favorite guy, because there's so much risk with HS players (outfielders & pitchers especially), but there's no denying "the kid's got potential." (Zimmerman would be the guy I'm pulling for, in hopes he could turn into a Jeff Cirillo - type.)

[And That]

Gordon, Hardy, Weeks, Fielder.

 

Just think about it.

 

Jack Z. is locked in on this possibility. And what Jack wants, Jack gets.

[jwaltz]

I would love it if Upton or Gordon fell to us but I can't really fathom that happening. I think it would be too good to be true. Weirder things have happened, of course. If it happens I will jump for joy. I won't jump high or far though. My knees aren't great and you could have measured my vertical in centimeters in my prime.

 

My guess is this:

 

1. Ari: Upton

2. KC: Gordon

3. Sea: Clement

4. DC: Zimmerman

5: Milwaukee Brewers: Maybin.

 

Jack Z loves his high upside highschoolers. I don't think he can pass Maybin up. If not Maybin, then I think he will go Braun. Tulo will be better defensively but we have a bunch of middle infield prospects and Braun could turn out to be very good offensively. I personally would love to see us go with Maybin. I love his upside and his high character.

 

edit: Formated it better.

[And That]

It won't be Tulowitski. Great third baseman, but in the NL Central, you need better than just a good defensive third baseman. Rob Mackoviak plays for Pittsburgh already. And he doesn't even play third.

 

I pick Gordon, but if not Gordon:

 

Upton

Maybin

Zimmerman

Romero

Braun

[PeaveyFury]

AZ- Pelfrey

KC- Upton

Sea- Clement

Was- Zimmerman

 

and the Brewers select Gordon.

 

 

Gordon, Hardy, Weeks, Fielder.

 

Just think about it.

 

No kidding. The only thing better in my mind is Branyan, Hardy, Weeks, Fielder, Clement. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Seriously, Clement is going to be a stud, and we're going to be sorry we passed on him if he's still on the board.

 

Save this thread or burn that prediction about him into your minds if you'd like, and feel free to call me out on it in 2-3 years if I'm wrong.

[RoidRunner]

i got my money on maybin, he reminds me of millege, who is goin to be a stud, plus he doesnt have the charactor issues that millege has. and he doesnt seem to have a injury problem that alot of our guys seem to be having.

[verydrunk2]

I think the Brewers select Jeff Clement knowing just how hard it is to get a good hitting catcher to play in the majors and they just take a chance that his defense will develop much like they did with weeks when everyone was saying there's no way he'd be able to stick at 2nd.

 

Or they do the same with Braun but I'm sticking with the underdog Clement.

[dpapo]

I think the Brewers are going to select Ryan Braun. Both Baseball America and the Journal Sentinel have articles basically guessing it will be Ryan Braun. His name has also been popping up here and there as a possiblity the past few weeks, so assuming Gordan or Zimmerman don't fall to the Brewers pick, which doesn't appear likely at the moment, it will probably come down to Braun, Maybin and Tulowitzki.

Okay, putting together want BA is saying and what is in the Journal Sentinel, I am going to guess that Tulowitzki is the odd man out. Which of course means he'll probably be the pick. But, here it goes:

First off, here is what BA has written,

"They also looked at Tulowitzki, but he balked at the idea of moving to the hot corner."

Okay, now back to JS:

"Tulowitzki, a solid all-around player, could be tempting to the Brewers, who might consider moving him to third base. But Braun projects to have more power, and though some scouts question his defense at third, the Brewers are thought to have no serious reservations."

 

Now something in the Journal Sentinel matches something that is also written in BA.

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

If that player also fills a pressing need, all the better.

Those factors appeared to be converging Monday night as the Brewers made final preparations for the draft today. As a result, there's a good chance they will tab University of Miami third baseman Ryan Braun with the fifth pick of the first round.

"He's a guy we like," general manager Doug Melvin said. "There's a couple of guys we're looking at, and there's a difference of opinion on each one.

"Jack will make the final call. He'll run it by me to make sure I'm OK with it, but it's his call in the end."

 

Now match that with what BA is saying,

 

"Scouting director Jack Zduriencik's preference is believed to be Maybin, but four of Milwaukee's last five first-round picks were high schoolers and GM Doug Melvin wants a more experienced player this time around. The Brewers would love a crack at Gordon or Zimmerman, but instead will address their needs at third base with Braun, one of the best college bats available."

 

So, it sounds as though, unless Gordan or Zimmerman drops, the two players it has come down to is Maybin and Braun. If you believe Melvin that it will be up to Jack Z, then in will be Maybin, however if you believe that Melvin really wants a more experienced player, then it will be Braun. I'm guessing on Braun. Of course, none of this will probably occur, but that is my guess.

 

www.jsonline.com/sports/b...331653.asp

 

insider.espn.go.com/mlb/n...%3d2078618

 

My guess for the first 5 picks:

 

AZ: Upton

KC: Gordon

Sea.: Clement

Wash.: Zimmerman

Mil: Braun

 

I actually like Maybin more than Braun, but whatever the Brewers do, I hope they take who they believe the best player available is.

[Cyanogen5]

As much as I want Gordon, I think it will be Maybin or Braun...I will say Braun, just to be different.

[RyDogg66]

Braun or Clement. What time does this thing kick off?

[gregmag]

Maybin. Sometimes the complicated turns out to be simple, and Jack Z loves toolsy high schoolers, plus I still think there's a better-than-decent chance that Weeks ends up at 3B long term. But I'll take Toby's scenario.

 

Greg.

[Blazer25]

I've been on record with Maybin for a while....

 

 

I also want to go on record as saying I think Tulo will be a bust...I hope we stay far away from him.

[madbad2000]

Amen Blazer...of all the possibilities for our pick...the only one that scares me is tulo.

[xisxisxis]

Gordon, Hardy, Weeks, Fielder.

 

Just think about it.

 

We wouldn't need a decent outfield with that IF. This draft is really exciting because it really looks like there is a ton of different ways for it to go depending on the first few picks.

 

There will be a huge sigh of relief from many here at BF.net because this year I haven't had the time to do much research on the players so I have very few preconceived notions as to who should go where. So when Jack Z picks Wes Helms Jr. in the 2nd round I can't really complain too much. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

I don't have any predictions I'm just here for the free coffee and doughnuts.

[scoop53714]

I am begining to get on board with Braun. Huge numbers plus BA has him ranked 2nd best overall athlete among college players. They also rank him 4th overall in power and 3rd overall in speed. That seems to be a lethal combo.

 

Braun, Hardy, Weeks and Fielder in '07. That would work out just fine.

[Blazer25]

Scoop,

 

Yeah but he's prolly like 100th in fielding...the guy is a bit rough as a fielder (stiff upper body).

 

Plus for me he's one of those long swingers that sometimes have trouble with wood...

 

 

Edit:add hit comment

[Past Member]

I can't believe you have to have to pay to see BA's first round projection. That's pathetic.