Grading the Draft! (1-14)

Grading the Draft!

First Round Draft Grades (Picks 1-14)[/center]

The World Series is set, but that's not the only excitement around the league. The draft is in full swing, and the first round is essentially over with. So while the Giants and the White Sox battle it out, let's take a look at how the less fortunate teams are doing in the draft.

Keep in mind, when I am evaluating talent/picks I automatically assume a TIA will be applied to said talent/pick.


1. Cleveland Indians - Albert "The Machine" Pujols
The consensus #1 pick (even though the homer in me would've taken Cabrera). The Indians are hot garbage, so they need all the help they can get. Only other option here was to perhaps trade down for multiple picks and some other talent. The Cubs would've been a great option there, and may have helped the Indians team out a little more, but how can you pass on Pujols? The fact that the guy should be Brilliant in Homers aside, Pujols should become one of, if not the top hitter in the game. He'll take a few years to be ready, so I am sure the Indians will keep tanking it up. No-brainer pick.
Grade: A


2. San Diego Padres - Miguel Cabrera
One of my personal favorite players, Miguel Cabrera was an easy choice here. GM aaron dicked around a bit, but we all knew he was taking Cabrera. I wouldn't even consider trading down here, but it was an option to grab someone like Reyes and some extra goodies. Cabrera will battle it out for MVP year-in and year-out, and it's scary to imagine how nice he'll be with a TIA to Walks. He's not quite Pujols, but he's a 15 year old stud (Though I highly doubt he was 240lbs when he was 15). I'm not sure aaron will want Cabrera in the outfield or at 3B, and with a young Derek Lee on board it'll be interesting to see what happens at 1B, but Cabrera going to spend years in the minors anyways. Easy choice in my opinion, but I'll dock aaron for contemplating trading down.
Grade: B+


3. Texas Rangers - Josh Hamilton
First surprise pick for me. I really felt Texas could've used Peavy or Beckett a lot more here, but Hamilton isn't too shabby obviously. It's unfortunate DB doesn't do enough around here to make some cash, because Hamilton could really benefit from a TIA to Walks. Hamilton and Big Daddy Holliday will definitely be a nice offensive combo, but the Rangers need pitching help. I think the allure of bringing Hamilton to the Rangers was too much for DB.
Grade: B-


4. New York Mets - Jake Peavy
This is a tough one here. Being a Marlins homer aside, I like Beckett a little more than Peavy. A little more developed, better duration, nice ground ball perecentage. Then again he is injury proned, and Peavy has a sexy Brilliant, so I can see the preference I suppose. Mets have some good pitching prospects, but Peavy will definitely bolster that even more. I would've gone Reyes or Beckett here, but Peavy is still nice and will carry the Mets into the future.
Grade: B


5. Minnesota Twins - Jose Reyes
Reyes is a sexy pick here. Reyes easily could've gone higher, and grabbing him at #5 is very nice. Twins shopped the pick around, which was also a very viable option for their squad, but I think they will be very happy with Reyes. Only issue is Reyes is a long ways off from seeing time in the Majors, and the Twins are already losing money with a $65 Mil payroll. They have an uphill battle with their market, so I'm not sure if they are looking to keep tanking. Either way, keep Reyes and have a stud in 3 or 4 years, or trade him for a nice haul. Lots of good options for Minnesota.
Grade: A


6. Cincinnati Reds - Josh Beckett
The Reds get the best pitcher in the draft at #6? Awesome. Stutter seems like a Marlins fan, so I know he'll be looking to keep Beckett for the long haul, which isn't a bad idea consider how good he is. He is injury prone, but I believe his future is very bright. Bump his duration up to A, and you may have one of the top pitchers in the league for a long time. He'll probably be ready in a few years, so the Reds have a few years to get some more talent to go with Beckett. No idea how he fell this far, but good job by Reds to jump on it.
Grade: A+


7. Montreal Expos - Ben Sheets
The Expors are already stacked with young talent, but they were probably missing one or two more pitchers of the future. Well, they got another here with Sheets. Ben Sheets comes into the league with the always awesome Brilliant in Walks, along with a good duration, solid ground ball percentage, and Good talent in hitting. Probably too early to consider Crawford here, and Expos already have Soriano in the infield, so I think Sheets was the right pick here. Pump a TIA into his HRs and he'll be sick.
Grade: B+


8. Chicago Cubs - John Lackey
The Cubs have claimed the NL next season, so play needs to put his money where his mouth is. They already have a pretty sick trio in pitching, but adding Lackey will help round it out nicely. Cubs have a lot of talent, so undoubtedly their future is bright, but I don't see them competing with Houston unless they plan on flipping some of their prospects. Anyways, a TIA to Lackey's Hits makes him one of the top pitchers in the draft, so a very good pick here.
Grade: B+


9. St. Louis Cardinals - Justin Morneau
St. Louis doesn't have much. They are a mediocre, middle of the pack team, and they don't have a good farm system. All his young pitchers need a TIA in a crucial area, Torres and Young are solid, but nothing special. Morneau will be a good step into building his farm up. Throw him a TIA in Walks and he will be a very nice 1B in 3 or 4 years. St. Louis spent a little too much money to be a mediocre team, and they aren't getting much better. I think the Cardinals should have shipped off Stottlemyre for some prospects or picks, but not even re-signing him was the wrong move regardless. Morneau is a good pick here, but St. Louis needs a lot of help, might have been better served to trade down here.
Grade: B-


10. Chicago Cubs - Carl Crawford
The Cubs already have a lead-off threat with Ichiro, but throwing Crawford in the mix will be a nice 1-2 punch to kick off the lineup. The speed is awesome, it seems pretty hard to come by around the league, so that's a great pick-up. Cubs came into the draft with a lot of picks, and Crawford is a good pick up, but I really felt the Cubs should've made a bigger move up to get one of the top guys. Crawford isn't going to be ready for awhile, and Chicago is already tight on the expansion draft protection side of things as it is.
Grade: B


11. Kansas City Royals - Barry Zito
The Royals aren't in a good spot. Team is losing money and they have less than a million in cash on hand. They have a few players who look nice but aren't producing as much as you'd like. Their farm system is average at best, so it's time to jump on that. So they go with Barry Zito. Now Zito isn't a bad player, but there were better options if you ask me. Several of them. Zito has a nice ground ball percentage, but is injury prone and suffers in the clutch. He also will need a TIA in Walks to ever become a good pitcher in the league. That being the case, Bedard would have been a better selection here. I would have gone with Bedard or Phillips here. With a little work, Zito might be nice. At least he can fall back on being a reliever if it doesn't work out.
Grade: C


12. Anaheim Angels - Brandon Phillips
Angels could have gone with a few different options here. They need pitching, Blevins is very nice, and Miller isn't too shabby, but they could use another pitching prospect or two. Bedard would've been great here. However, getting Phillips at 12 is pretty nice. I feel teams passed on him because he's not your typical 2B. Not very fast and the Walk rating/talent hurts him, but he should become a very good bat. He's a long way away from contributing, but if he can become a good hitter and longballer, then this pick will have paid off. That being said, I would've taken Bedard here.
Grade: B-


13. Florida Marlins - Erik Bedard
Marlins trade for this pick to select Erik Bedard. Bedard with a TIA to Walks is a great pitching prospect. Pair him with Sabathia, Mulder, Suazo, and Valdes gives the Marlins a pretty stacked staff for the future. He is injury prone, but has a good duration and holds runners well. Also he's a lefty, which is always nice. He needs some time in the minors, but should be ready in a few seasons. Marlins could have gone with Roberts or Pagan here, but it's hard to turn down a SP who will be a 5 Star Prospect after a TIA.
Grade: B


14. Detroit Tigers - Brian Roberts
Roberts really flew under the radar. He plays good defense, bring speed and base-stealing, and has some great starting talents. He's a switch-hitter and a future lead-off threat. Throw him a TIA to his Walks and you've got an awesome player here. He might even be ready in a year or two. Detroit is in a ridiculous division, so they need to stockpile a few players in the minors before they'll be able to take on NY, BOS, and BAL. Great pick here.
Grade: A-