How you hope the draft falls

[gunnarthor]

I assume every single one of us would like to see a crazy scenario where Appel or Gray falls to us at #4 but, assuming those two are gone in the first two picks, how to hope the draft falls for us, a month out?

 

I think Colorado takes Bryant so we'll take Manaea. In the 2nd round, I could see someone like Ryan Boldt falling to them.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think I'd rather go pitching in round 2. Probably something like Manaea/Stewart in round 1 and then an HS arm if they took Manaea or a college arm if they took Stewart.

[cmb0252]

If Appel and Gray are gone, about a 99% chance that they are, the popular answer is going to be Manaea. I wouldn't have a problem with this pick but I'm hoping the Twins draft Bryant or Stewart who are 3/4 on my board. College pitchers that are taken in the top 5 normally don't have as many question marks as Manaea which scares me off. If Manaea can regain his cape cod stuff in his next 4 starts before the draft I could easily change my choice.

 

For the second round I see Windle, another college arm, being the popular choice. While there is value getting a guy like Windle at 43 I'm just not a fan. I like upside and Windle has none of that. Ryan Boldt would be a steal in the second round and unless his injury is worse than reported I doubt he makes it there. Kyle Serrano is my favorite underrated prospect in the draft. Super young (won't be 18 till June), throws in 92-95 range, dad coaches the Tenn baseball team, and best of all already has a 70 grade curve ball. Only draw back is his size, 6 foot, but that didn't stop the Twins from taking JO last year.

[zenser]

I would love for the Twins to take Bryant. If he goes 3 (assuming Appel and Grey go 1-2), I really like Kohl Stewart. Manaea scares me a little bit but if the Twins end up with Manaea, I wouldn't be too disappointed.

[Mike Sixel]

I just don't know.....had you asked me 2 weeks ago (and I am sure I did say something) I would have screamed pitcher. I still think Stewart or Manaea are good decisions, but I'm warming to Bryant. It should be one of those three, anyone else and I'd likely be disappointed until proven wrong.

[ashbury]

I'd like to see them package their #4 pick with a backup quarterback and trade up to #2.

 

Failing that, I'm honestly OK with whatever present the Twins scouts put under the Christmas (in June) tree for me. This is just not something I feel like I have any informed opinion about, however much I read.

[johnnydakota]

For the 3rd round Carlos Salazar is very interesting player , with a 97mph fastball he is currently ranked in mlbs list in the high 60s , if we end up taking a bat in round 1 , i hope we go pitcher pitcher for rounds 2 and 3 , then maybe come back for 1 of those left handed hitting catchers for round 4

[70charger]

I'd like to see them package their #4 pick with a backup quarterback and trade up to #2.

 

Failing that, I'm honestly OK with whatever present the Twins scouts put under the Christmas (in June) tree for me. This is just not something I feel like I have any informed opinion about, however much I read.

 

You and me both. And yet we keep reading.

[Jason]

At least two pitchers in the first three picks and the Twins draft Bryant.

[nicksaviking]

Ok, so sounds like he consensus is that we won't complain as long as it's Bryant, Stewart or Manaea.

[kab21]

I'm hoping for Bryant and I'm okay with Manaea and Stewart. Part of me really wants Stewart but I'm pretty sure that the Twins have him rated the lowest. They might be more aggressive now but they are still a conservative org and Stewart isn't an obvious BPA there.

 

I get the feeling that the Twins could throw a curveball in the draft. HS catcher. I'm not really sure how I would feel about that.

 

I really don't care who the Twins draft in the 2nd-4th rounds. I hope that there are a few pitchers but the Twins have some leeway after several nice drafts. It would be nice if they cut back on their RP'er quota though.

 

Last 3 drafts rds 1s-4

Berrios (1s)

Walker (3rd)

Harrison (1s) - I think the Twins 2nd rd'er is now higher than this pick due to the new CBA

Goodrum (2nd)

Rosario (4th)

[Reginald Maudling's Shin]

I'm hoping for Bryant and I'm okay with Manaea and Stewart. Part of me really wants Stewart but I'm pretty sure that the Twins have him rated the lowest. They might be more aggressive now but they are still a conservative org and Stewart isn't an obvious BPA there.

 

I get the feeling that the Twins could throw a curveball in the draft. HS catcher. I'm not really sure how I would feel about that.

 

I really don't care who the Twins draft in the 2nd-4th rounds. I hope that there are a few pitchers but the Twins have some leeway after several nice drafts. It would be nice if they cut back on their RP'er quota though.

 

Last 3 drafts rds 1s-4

Berrios (1s)

Walker (3rd)

Harrison (1s) - I think the Twins 2nd rd'er is now higher than this pick due to the new CBA

Goodrum (2nd)

Rosario (4th)

About the relief pitchers, do they take these guys thinking they know more than the college managers? I didn't look to see if other teams do this, but if not you would think you could get them in later rounds. For all I know it's standard practice for MLB teams to convert college relievers to starters, but it seems like they used some relatively high picks to do so. Of course at this point it's hard to argue with the results.

[kab21]

I think the Twins decided that the starters available were unimpressive. I'm guessing that the washout rate of HS pitchers is really high after the first rd so they decided to roll the dice on some relievers with velocity hoping that that they worked out. These guys also come with a backup plan. The results haven't been that great yet though. Duffey has done well in low A but I usually don't get excited about college ballplayers until they are promoted 1-2 levels above that. Chargois and Bard are injured while Melatokis hasn't been that great (control problems).

 

Hopefully this strategy isn't repeated again this year. I don't really care if they go pitcher or hitter in rds 2-5 because I'm just happy if any of them make it as a prospect and they have done well in the last 3 drafts.

[Mike Sixel]

Manea with another bad outing....one NL scout said if this was a deep draft that he might not got in the first round!

 

And Bryant will go to Colorado......meaning the Twins are left with a RH high schooler, HS catchers, and HS OFers......too bad you can't trade draft picks.

[nicksaviking]

Is it wrong that I hope Jeff Gray gets busted with a dead hooker in his car just so he drops a couple spots?

[gunnarthor]

Is it wrong that I hope Jeff Gray gets busted with a dead hooker in his car just so he drops a couple spots?

 

I was thinking about this the other day. What if Gray starts having tightness in his forearm, ala Gibson, and sees a drop in velocity? Houston panics and takes one of the GA OFers to save money and help create a really good young core, since Correa isn't going to fly to the majors. Cubs pounce on Appel. Rockies are left wondering about some mysterious arm issue and have been falling in love with Bryant's pull power at Coors field. They take Bryant leaving Gray to fall to us. We take him.

 

Four months later, he needs TJ surgery.

[maxisagod]

Is it wrong that I hope Jeff Gray gets busted with a dead hooker in his car just so he drops a couple spots?

 

Dead hookers are your solution for everything!

[lightfoot789]

I would like:

Manaea (LHP) 1st Round

Anderson (RHP) 2nd Round

That would provide possibly 2 starting pitchers for the future or some needed trade bait if we need a middle infielder or catcher in the near future. Both are big kids and should be quality arms sooner than later. I would load up on high school position players after the 2nd round or go the college reliever route again to solidify the bullpen in near future.

[kab21]

I would be very happy if the Astros took an underslot pick at 1-1. They could Meadows/Frazier/catcher and save 2M. Even if Appel/Gray went in the next two picks I would love to have Bryant on the Twins. That leaves them short on pitching still but a Buxton/Rosario/Sano/Arcia/Bryant lineup at the end of Mauer's career is something to get excited about.

[gunnarthor]

I would be very happy if the Astros took an underslot pick at 1-1. They could Meadows/Frazier/catcher and save 2M. Even if Appel/Gray went in the next two picks I would love to have Bryant on the Twins. That leaves them short on pitching still but a Buxton/Rosario/Sano/Arcia/Bryant lineup at the end of Mauer's career is something to get excited about.

 

Yeah, I think the Astos are the wild card but from what I've read, it seems like they'll grab Gray. Bumer.

[kab21]

The Astros won't save significant bonus money if they take Gray. If they want to repeat last year's draft success then they need aim for a guy that is projected in the lower half of the top ten instead of one that is a lock for the top 3 picks.

 

One interesting twist would have the Astros taking Meadows/Frazier #1, the Cubs taking Gray at #2 because they prefer him and then Colorado deciding if they want to deal with Appel or take Bryant. I think Boras represents half of the top 10 draft prospects so it will be hard/foolish for any team to avoid him but Appel is going to be a tough sign even at the Twins pick since Boras can make a legitimate case that he is the best player in the draft. I think Appel would be foolish to pass up slot+5% of the draft pool but Boras does his own thing.

[diehardtwinsfan]

No one knew the Astro's were taking Correa until they took him, everyone thought Appel was going to Houston.

 

Now that said, I think Houston would be pretty silly to pass up on Appel and Gray, but there's something to be said for the fact that neither of these guys need much seasoning so drafting them means that their core won't be up until the arb years of Appel/Gray.

 

This isn't a bad idea given that there are a few intriguing HS options that may not get drafted due to a strong college commit (Stewart being one of them). It allows them to get 2 first rounders for the price of 1 and add a couple more first rounder talents to a fairly impressive core of players.

[ashbury]

Dead hookers are your solution for everything!

 

You've got the quote wrong: "Ah, dead hookers. The cause of, and the solution to, all of life's problems."

[ALessKosherScott]

As long as they stop taking college relievers with questionable deliveries in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, I'll be happy.

[Brodin4Calder]

Appel or Gray would be amazing, but very unlikely. I think we take Manaea at 4, atleast I hope we do. A lefty with his stuff doesnt come around alot. If none of them are available I dont see how we pass on Bryant.

[3rd Inning Stretch]

Simply put, we obtain one of Gray, Appel, Bryant, or Frazier...in that order of preference.

 

Just say no to Manaea.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not sure what the hate is on Manaea... Yeah, he's not going to be in the big leagues next year, but hard throwing lefties like him don't exactly grow on trees. If the big 3 are gone, there really is nothing that distinguishes a guy like Manaea from a guy like Frazier... and given the need and the fact that he would fit nicely in to the 2015 timeframe, I'd take Manaea...

 

Actually, I think personally I'd lean towards Stewart, but Manaea is a much safer bet at 4 and wouldn't fault the Twins for taking him instead.

[nicksaviking]

I'm not sure what the hate is on Manaea... Yeah, he's not going to be in the big leagues next year, but hard throwing lefties like him don't exactly grow on trees.

 

That's just it though, he hasn't exactly been a hard thrower this spring and the question is, was the Cape Cod season a mirage, or is there a lurking injury.

 

I'm not too sure Braden Shipley hasn't passed Manaea on the list of most desirable college arms. The more I read the more I like him. After Bryant, I don't much like the bats either.

[cmb0252]

During the Cape Cod league Manaea showed a 65-70 grade fastball, a 65-70 slider, and a 50 change up that had potential to be better. That's ace quality grades. Since the Cape Cod league Manaea has shown nothing to makes me feel he is a top 5 talent. His fastball has been sitting in the low 90s, was in the 80s last week, while his secondary stuff has been inconsistent at best. While he has been injured which might account for the quality of his stuff do you really want to take a guy at 4 with injury concerns?

 

As for Shipley, while he has potential to be a front line starter, I'm just not a fan of his stuff. He is still very raw because he hasn't been pitching that long and is a risky pick that high IMO.

 

Like most I prefer Bryant or Stewart to Frazier but that doesn't mean Frazier isn't a hell of a talent. Law mentioned that Frazier easily has the best bat speed in this draft and maybe the best bat speed he has seen. While bat speed doesn't guarantee success it is a good indicator.

[kab21]

I'm not sure what the hate is on Manaea... Yeah, he's not going to be in the big leagues next year, but hard throwing lefties like him don't exactly grow on trees. If the big 3 are gone, there really is nothing that distinguishes a guy like Manaea from a guy like Frazier... and given the need and the fact that he would fit nicely in to the 2015 timeframe, I'd take Manaea...

 

Actually, I think personally I'd lean towards Stewart, but Manaea is a much safer bet at 4 and wouldn't fault the Twins for taking him instead.

 

Have you missed the reports of nagging injuries, inconsistent secondary pitches (especially the change) and a drop in velocity?

 

Shipley might be a better pick at this point but there are a lot of talented players in the next tier. I would really like it if the Twins drafted an arm that ended above average but the pickings are slim. My #1 priority is that the Twins end up with an above average player with this pick regardless if it is a hitter or pitcher.