One stop shop for the Twins 2012 First-Year Player Draft

[cmb0252]

There is a great article about who the Twins should draft, studying risk vs reward, by Nate Gilmore at Puckett Pond. Check it out:

http://puckettspond.com/2012/05/15/what-type-of-player-should-the-twins-draft/

[Shane Wahl]

That is a very good article, thank you. I think the Twins perhaps should reverse what they have generally done in the past. Instead of college pitchers (after the #2 pick) and high school position players, they should look at college hitters and high school pitchers.

 

Gleeman has said that anyone who doesn't draft the BPA is "almost an idiot" and I understand the argument for taking the BPA. But I don't think it is clear, ESPECIALLY when we are talking about a high school player (5 tools or 4??) who the BPA is in the first place. God, just from the three college pitchers--which is the best? It makes me laugh when I hear BPA in a draft of so many players, especially when comparing HS and college players.

 

When I say that "need" is important I am not talking simply about the current Twins, but about the organization as a whole, up and down. Good starting pitchers, catchers, and third basemen are almost nowhere to be found in a system that generally doesn't trade away prospects, so bringing in players to provide depth where there is none based on need is not idiotic.

[Mike Sixel]

Just a reminder, at least one scout thinks Buxton is not the best OF prospect he's seen this year, so it is not clear cut that he's the best player available. The scout is the other one on ESPN, not Law....

[Shane Wahl]

Furthermore, what defines "best player available"? Simply the highest ceiling? What about the most likely outcome, if we are in the business of making predictions about who will be the actual best player?

[Riverbrian]

Furthermore, what defines "best player available"? Simply the highest ceiling? What about the most likely outcome, if we are in the business of making predictions about who will be the actual best player?

BPA is the smart thing to do with a high pick like this. However, that BPA better damn well be... Clearly... Without question the best player available if he is not one of the college arms. If the Twins take this toolsy Buxton and they wait 5 years for him to be Plouffe like. It will go down as the worst possible miss drafting into perhaps the only organizational strength at a time when they cant screw around. As opposed to drafting College pitching that could be on the roster in 2 to 3 years and fills perhaps the worst organizational hole in perhaps all MLB organizations.

 

Bottom line if they miss with a college arm... It would be at least forgivable. Cuz they tried. Miss with Buxton and you risk a longer period of mediocre or below. Pitching is the way back kids.

 

Weak draft or not... This is an important draft... Those scouts better be focused.

[cmb0252]

Keliy McDaniel is one of the scouts that is helping Law this year, Jason Grey left to work for the Rays, and he feels Almora is a better overall prospect than Buxton. He said he is the best prospect he has seen all year. A head of Buxton, Gausman, and Zunino. John Sickels/Matt Garroich over at minorleagueball.com are both not very high on Buxton either. Does that mean he isn't the best overall prospect from this draft? No. Most of the top experts from baseballamerica, Keith Law of ESPN, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, and several other sites feel Buxton is the clear cut best player of the draft. Now, does that mean he is? Once again, no.

 

IMO the best player in the draft is Correa and the Twins haven't even been linked to him. In the end it doesn't really matter who you, me, Keith Law, Keliy McDaniel, or anyone else feels is the best player but what our scouts think. What I care about is that the Twins take the best player on their board, that hasn't always been the case, whom ever that may be. Obviously it is a lot of fun to debate and talk about but I think Riverbrain nailed it on the head. No matter how weak the draft is, this is a very important draft, and the scouts better not screw it up.

[cmb0252]

Someone posted this on a different site but i'm stealing it. Via Mayo of MLB.com-

Teams will have private workouts as things get a little closer, so they can get a longer look at a player. Case in point: Carlos Correa, currently ranked No. 5 on our Draft Top 100, worked out for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins pick at No. 2 overall. Keep in mind that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a front-runner there, but they are taking a longer look at the talented shortstop from Puerto Rico.