Not who -- but *what* should the Jays focus their 2007 draft on filling?
P | 70 (44.03%) |
C | 10 (6.29%) |
Cor IF | 11 (6.92%) |
Mid IF | 21 (13.21%) |
OF | 1 (0.63%) |
Offense regardless of position | 46 (28.93%) |
159 votes | 7 featured comments
Well, having 2 first round picks, 3 sandwich picks, and 2 second round picks it's not really an either or situation.
But a SS, 3B, C and some pitching with those first 7 picks would certainly fit the bill.
But a SS, 3B, C and some pitching with those first 7 picks would certainly fit the bill.
I wouldn't mind coming out of those seven picks with a SS, 3B, CF, C and three starting pitchers - in no particular order. The SS talent isn't looking promising though.
I think I clicked on OF, but really, just take the best player available (relative to position, of course) unless you're trying to fill an immediate ML level need (which is rare in the MLB draft). If you end up with too many OF or 1B and not enough middle IF, well, that's why trading is important. Fans here have been clamouring for years for the Jays to finally trade for a good SS prospect. That type of thing becomes a lot easier if/when they have "too many" players available at a position. For instance, the Jays had McGriff (with Fielder waiting), traded McGriff to fill other positions because Olerud was ready to go. Olerud was traded in part because Delgado was ready, etc....If the top prospects the Jays have now turn out to be 1B, find a trading partner later (Look at who the Yankees play there).
Because of the wild unpredictability of prospects, and that we don't really know who is going to become a solid major leaguer and who is going to flame out, I think it makes sense to draft pitching, pitching, and more pitching. There's no club in MLB that's ever had the luxury of saying "we couldn't use another good pitcher," and with injuries as common as they are today, that's unlikely to change. Good pitching prospects are always worth a pretty penny in trades, and such trades could be used to fill holes later (see Overbay).
With those 7 highest picks I'd like to see 4 or 5 pitchers and the rest being the best hitting prospects, preferrably going for 3rd base, shortstop and catcher in no particular order.
It looks to me like position players are relatively easy to acquire during free agency while each pitcher gets a ton of teams bidding on him. Given that the Jays will probably never be a New York, Boston, St. Louis, etc. for being able to attract talent on a franchise reputation basis, the Jays probably need to acquire all their pitchers in the draft, so I say focus there.
Of course, you don't want to reach and take second round talent in the first or anything, but within reason, I think they should focus on pitching.
Of course, you don't want to reach and take second round talent in the first or anything, but within reason, I think they should focus on pitching.