2008 draft standings

[colbyjack]

Alright, I can't hold out any longer. I usually post the current standings in relationship to next year's draft earlier than this, but I refrained from doing so earlier this summer because quite frankly, the Brewers draft standing for next June wasn't a concern of mine. I was hoping they would be somewhere around 20, as that would likely mean pretty good things for the big-league Brewers (plus, I didn't want to jinx them).

 

I hope this will un-jinx the Brewers and get them back on track, fully recognizing I do not have any cosmic powers that would allow that to happen, but hey, I'm a quirky fan too.

 

Anyway, as of today, 8/29/07, this is how the raw draft order would shake out (keep in mind tie-breakers are awarded to the team that had the worse record from the previous year...all of the first and first-round supplemental picks signed from this past June, and only two second rounders went unsigned as far as the new unsigned draft pick compensation rules are concerned):

 

1. Devil Rays (.394)

2. White Sox (.432)

3. Nationals (.436)

4. Marlins (.436)

5. Astros (.439)

6. Royals (.446)

7. Orioles (.446)

8. Pirates (.450)

9. Rangers (.450)

10. Reds (.455)

11. Giants (.459)

12. A's (.485)

13. Brewers (.496)

14. Cardinals (.500)

15. Rockies (.508)

16. Blue Jays (.508)

17. Twins (.508)

18. Braves (.511)

19. Cubs (.515)

20. Dodgers (.523)

21. Phillies (.527)

22. Tigers (.538)

23. Padres (.550)

24. Yankees (.553)

25. Diamondbacks (.556)

26. Mets (.557)

27. Mariners (.562)

28. Indians (.565)

29. Angels (.591)

30. Red Sox (.606)

 

If the D-Rays continue to be the worst team in baseball, they would own the first overall pick for the second consecutive year, and the fourth time in their brief existence. Their highest draft standing was 2005 when they selected Wade Townsend 8th overall (ouch). I know the D-Rays are budding with young talent, but that organization needs to find a way to turn things around in a hurry, as I can think of a few cities around the nation that are more deserving of a franchise.

 

The White Sox and Astros certainly have fallen hard, fast.

[homer]

Just out of curiosity, what is the lowest the Devil Rays have picked in their history after their first draft? Have they ever been outside the top five?

[colbyjack]

Without looking, I believe it was in 2005 when they took Wade Townsend 8th overall (they did draft at the end of the first round before the team started playing as the organization was able to draft a year or two before their big-league existence in an effort to begin stockpiling talent).

[homer]

Yeah I knew the expansion teams picked at the end of the round for a couple of years - I tried to word that in my original post but I wasn't too clear.

 

Man, what a sorry franchise in many different respects. If they could develop some pitching they might be something in a year or two.

[colbyjack]

The D-Rays do have quite a bit of pitching talent moving up the minor league ladder (Jeff Niemann, Jacob McGee, Wade Davis, Matt Walker, Jeremy Hellickson and David Price), but even if 3 of those guys pan out, which will be quite the trick to pull, they're still going to need more.

 

No doubting the D-Rays bats, as you alluded to, but if this keeps up they really need to find a new home for that franchise.

[colbyjack]

John Manuel has a nice story up on the draft blog concerning the race for the #1 overall pick. The D-Rays, who have been hot as of late, aren't alone in this quest:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=235

[colbyjack]

Cosmic powers indeed...

 

Draft standings as of games player through September 13th, the D-Rays gaining (losing) ground but holding steady:

 

1. Devil Rays (.415)

2. White Sox (.425)

3. Orioles (.428)

4. Marlins (.432)

5. Astros (.432)

6. Royals (.434)

7. Pirates (.445)

8. Nationals (.445)

9. Giants (.452)

10. Reds (.459)

11. Rangers (.473)

12. Cardinals (.479)

13. Athletics (.486)

14. Twins (.493)

15. Blue Jays (.500)

16. Braves (.507)

17. Brewers (.510)

18. Cubs (.514)

19. Rockies (.521)

20. Phillies (.527)

21. Dodgers (.527)

22. Mariners (.531)

23. Padres (.538)

24. Tigers (.544)

25. Diamondbacks (.565)

26. Yankees (.568)

27. Mets (.572)

28. Indians (.582)

29. Angels (.589)

30. Red Sox (.605)

[colbyjack]

Man, I hate doing this, but consider it therapy after the Brewers have been booted from the playoffs. I haven't really shared my thoughts elsewhere, but I will say it felt good to have games in September that mattered again, and hopefully that doesn't go away for years and years.

 

Anyway, The D-Rays have locked up the #1 pick for next June's draft. While everyone thinks Pedro Alvarez is the consensus #1 player at this point in time, I really can't see the D-Rays taking anything other than a college pitcher at this point in time given their need for arms over bats.

 

The Royals right now are tied with the Pirates for the second worse record, but "win" the tie-breaker since they have been worse, longer. So, not only could the D-Rays repeat as having the first overall pick, but the Royals could have the second overall pick for the second consecutive year.

 

1. Devil Rays (.406)

2. Royals (.425)

3. Pirates (.425)

4. Orioles (.431)

5. Giants (.438)

6. Marlins (.438)

7. Reds (.444)

8. Astros (.444)

9. White Sox (.444)

10. Nationals (.450)

11. Rangers (.469)

12. Athletics (.469)

13. Cardinals (.475)

14. Twins (.488)

15. Brewers (.506)

16. Dodgers (.506)

17. Blue Jays (.513)

18. Cubs (.525)

19. Braves (.525)

20. Mariners (.538)

21. Rockies (.544)

22. Tigers (.544)

23. Mets (.544)

24. Phillies (.550)

25. Padres (.556)

26. Diamondbacks (.563)

27. Yankees (.575)

28. Angels (.581)

29. Indians (.594)

30. Red Sox (.594)

 

I want to see the Brewers win both games to close out the season, and hope the Dodgers and Blue Jays do the same. I never like seeing the team in a position to lose their first-round pick, even if the team may stand to have some comp picks, but I'd rather they approach the offseason knowing they can sign whoever they want without losing that first-rounder. And since expectations will be that much greater for the team next year, I predict a busy offseason.

[colbyjack]

The Dodgers finished 82-80, meaning the Brewers will pick 16th in next year's draft. I'm glad the Brewers won every game possible to close the season, but again, it would have been nice to finish the season with the 15th worst schedule as opposed to the 15th best just for free agency purposes in regards to the draft.

 

I'm sure most people don't care about that right now.

[splitterpfj]

I care about it cj, I'm glad they won today, it would have been wrong to roll over with a playoff berth at stake for the Padres, but I do wish we had the number 15 spot.

[patrickgpe]

it is bad to potentially loose a first round pick, but I am going to guess even if we sign a class a free agent, we will gain at least a first through compensatory picks.

[Gopher74]

it is bad to potentially loose a first round pick, but I am going to guess even if we sign a class a free agent, we will gain at least a first through compensatory picks.

I'd be curious as to how big of a factor that plays into our off-season. Obviously you're not going to go after a Tony Graffinino type and give up a first round pick, but would Melvin sign a guy like Mike Cameron to a two year deal and forfeit that first rounder?

How about Troy Percival? What type of FA is he going to be?

And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but we can't decline Jenks option, and then offer him arbitration?

 

So who do we really have that's likely to bring a couple first rounders in return? Linebrink and Coco obviously, but that's about it, correct?

 

[colbyjack]

My most recent Crack of the Bat focuses on the raw draft order for next year as well as some of the names to remember:

 

http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/crackthebat/patrick_ebert/07_10_08_drays_pick_first/