Predicting the 2000 BBSBL Draft (16-30)!

16. Kansas City Royals - 2B Jose Lopez
Talent Ratings: A/G/F/A/F/B
Range: B/C
Speed/Stealing Ability: C/D
Other Positions: 3B
The Royals were closer this season, but they have basically been proving that the 100 win season, which seems so long ago, was the exception rather than the rule. They have a solid lineup right now, but they could definitely use a future second baseman. Jose Lopez offers probably their best bet there. Though his MLB career fizzled a bit early, he definitely had some talent, and that should reflect well here in BBSBL. He'll need some help to be productive, but he's a decent hitter, has solid power, and is incredibly patient at the plate. Solid chance at being a productive player.
ETA: 3 to 4 Seasons


17. Los Angeles Dodgers (from TOR) - RF Shin-Soo Choo
Talent Ratings: G/G/F/A/A/F
Range: B
Speed/Stealing Ability: B/B
Outfielder Arm: C
Ready for some Shin-Soo Choo action? Well you have some time to wait. Definitely a raw prospect but has some nice talent. Good hitter with decent power and good speed, Choo has good potential that could possibly see him taken a little higher, but I think he'll be raw, which may drop him down a bit in the draft. He's also a solid defensive player. He'll be in the minors for awhile, but if he develops nicely, he will be a very good player.
ETA: 5 to 7 Seasons


18. Chicago Cubs (from NYY) - SP Chien-Ming Wang
Talent Ratings: A/G/B/G/P
Chicago doesn't need another pitcher, but I can't see play passing up on some Wang. He has pretty good starting talents, but will obviously need some help in Hits. The Brilliant in Homers offsets his Poor in Strikeouts pretty well. He is raw, and will probably need some good years in the Minors before he could even think of being ready for the big leagues, but play has more than enough time to give him. Unfortunately, he will be Injury Prone, but at #18, you can't argue with this value.
ETA: 3 to 5 Seasons


19. Anaheim Angels (from COL) - 3B Garrett Atkins
Talent Ratings: G/G/F/A/A/A
Range: C/C
Speed/Stealing Ability: C/D
Other Positions: 1B
The Angels are coming off an excellent season for them, having made the playoffs for the first time since the league began. On top of a good squad, they also have a pretty solid farm system. A position of future need is definitely third base, so adding Atkins would be a solid move for them. He is a good hitter, who does a bit of everything. He won't be a star, but he should definitely contribute soon and be a valuable player. With some extra help, he could be a good middle of the lineup kind of player.
ETA: 2 to 3 Seasons


20. Cincinnati Reds - C Mike Napoli
Talent Ratings: A/A/P/G/G/P
Range: C
Speed/Stealing Ability: D/D
Catcher Arm: C
Napoli is a pretty good Catcher prospect. He's an average hitter, but he has good power and will take some Walks. Unfortunately he will also strikeout almost once every three times he steps up to the plate. But he will be a pretty good slugger if given the proper development time. Maybe with some attention to his Hits, he could be one of the better hitting catchers around. Will need some work for sure, but worth taking a chance on mid to late in the first round.
ETA: 4 to 5 Seasons


21. Philadelphia Phillies - 2B Kelly Johnson
Talent Ratings: A/G/A/A/A/F
Range: B
Speed/Stealing Ability: B/C
He was listed at SS, but I have no idea why, he's a 2B for sure. He's raw, but he has solid talent. Not going to wow anyone right out of the gates, but he can definitely become a productive player with some time. The Phillies are in a pretty good shape. Good team in the Majors and a good farm system. They could use a 2B for the future once Boone is done, and Johnson is at least 4 years away. He may or may not be the answer, but he could be worth taking the chance.
ETA: 4 to 5 Seasons


22. Anaheim Angels - 1B Adam LaRoche
Talent Ratings: A/G/F/G/A/F
The Angels grab LaRoche with their next first round pick. They could use him at 1B eventually, or as a DH. He is a decent hitter, and has good slugging talent. He will struggle with strikeouts, but that can be forgiven if his other production makes up for it. At the point in the draft, I think LaRoche is excellent value at #22.
ETA: 3 to 4 Seasons


23. Baltimore Orioles - 1B Mike Morse
Talent Ratings: G/A/P/A/F/F
Range: B/C
Speed/Stealing Ability: D/D
Outfield Arm: C
Other Positions: RF/LF
The Orioles once again had a good year but missed out on the playoffs, and they are stuck with a late first that they could probably be better served to move, but if they don't I think they go with Mike Morse here. They could use a versatile player like Morse. He can play 1B if Orioles have Cust at DH, or he could help in the outfield. Orioles need help now, which none of the players left are, so they probably trade down or for other talent.
ETA: 4 to 5 Seasons


24. Philadelphia Phillies (from CHW) - SP Francisco Liriano
Talent Ratings: G/G/G/F/B
The Phillies pick up Liriano with their second pick in the first round. The Phillies are in a position where they can take a chance on Liriano. His Walks are rough, but his talent elsewhere is awesome. He is a hard-throwing strikeout machine. He needs a lot of time to develop, and if he can catch a nice PD to his Walks, he could be very good. Worth taking a chance on considering the talent left.
ETA: 4 to 5 Seasons


25. Pittsburgh Pirates (from SF) - 2B Freddy Sanchez
Talent Ratings: G/G/F/F/F/B
Range: B/C
Speed/Stealing Ability: B/D
Other Positions: 3B
Pirates add Freddy Sanchez with their second first round pick. Sanchez is an interesting prospect. He could go higher, maybe lower. He's a good hitter but has no power and isn't going to draw many Walks. He won't strikeout often, and he has good speed, but he isn't polished running the bases. His development could go either way. He can play some 3B as well. Could be a nice player for Pittsburgh.
ETA: 2 to 5 Seasons


26. Chicaco Cubs - RF Brad Hawpe
Talent Ratings: A/G/F/G/F/F
Range: C
Speed/Stealing Ability: C/D
Outfield Arm: C
Pickings are getting slimmer and slimmer, I really think Chicago should try to package these later picks, but I think if they don't, they'll pick someone they can boost the value of and package for talent. They could go pitching here possibly, but Hawpe offers some power plus with a boost in Hits he could be a good player. Highly unlikely he'd stay a Cub, but with some time in the Minors he could have some value.
ETA: 3 to 4 Seasons


27. Houston Astros - RF Xavier Nady
Talent Ratings: A/G/P/A/F/A
Range: B/C/C
Speed/Stealing Ability: C/D
Outfield Arm: C
Other Positions: 1B/LF
Astros are closing in on their window, so they could really do any amount of things with this pick. I think they just go ahead and try to build up their farm system with a solid guy in Xavier Nady. He is versatile, and with a little help could be serviceable. He could contribute relatively soon compared to some of the other prospects down here.
ETA: 2 to 3 Seasons


28. Pittsburgh Pirates (from ATL) - SP Ervin Santana
Talent Ratings: A/G/A/A/A
And to add to their stockpile, the Pirates take a chance on Ervin Santana. Solid all-around, they hope to stash him and see what happens. He could easily become a good 4th or 5th starter, and if he catches a nice boost along the way, he could be better than that. He doesn't wow you with anything, but he is a safe pick at this point, and the Pirates could use another arm in the farm system. Going to be a long road to catch Houston and Chicago.
ETA: 4 to 5 Seasons


29. Chicago Cubs (from OAK) - CP Bobby Jenks
Talent Ratings: G/A/G/A/B
The only relief pitcher I have going in the first round. The case could be made for a guy like Qualls or Casilla to go late in the first, so depending on how some of these bats end up being rated, I could possibly see that happening, but for now I see just Jenks being taken. Jenks has a nasty arm and should have pretty good ratings/talent all around. He will have all the tools to be a top closer in the league, but the only question around him is if he can stay healthy. He will be Injury Prone, but probably the most valuable reliever to come from the draft this season.
ETA: 3 to 5 Seasons


30. New York Yankees (from BOS) - SP Rich Harden
Talent Ratings: G/B/A/F/B
We close the first round with the Yankees taking a chance on Rich Harden. Harden will probably be pretty sexy in everything but Walks, which is tough of course, but given his talent in other areas, he should be worth chancing late 1st to early 2nd round. TIA his Walks, and he could be a very solid rotation starter. He should be ready to play in a few seasons. He'll be fanning batters left and right. He could struggle with injuries, but I think he'd be worth taking a chance on.
ETA: 2 to 3 Seasons