Post by redsfanman on May 31, 2018 22:43:53 GMT -5
Another thought, I find I'm not particularly ....anxious...interested...concerned (whatever word, although none of them are totally accurate) about this draft or anything, it's not like there's anybody I feel I REALLY want or anybody being discussed who I'm strongly opposed to. The top 5 or 6 guys have different strengths and weaknesses, but they're really comparable in overall appeal. I don't want Alec Bohm or Joey Bart, but if they're the pick? Fine, I won't really care. If they want a pitcher, can't get Singer, and go for Liberatore? That's fine. Although I'd prefer against Bohm (doesn't fit in) and Bart (catchers can be so injury prone, don't play everyday) for reasons other than talent, I don't think the top 5 or 6 teams can really go wrong. They could conceivably each get at least the second guy on their own draft board. I'm confident the Reds will make a reasonable and smart decision, and I'll be fine with it.
Last year there was a lot of intrigue - would the Twins pick Hunter Greene? Kyle Wright? How high are the Reds on Brendan McKay? Do we want to hear years of LHP vs 1b arguments about Brendan McKay? THAT would be terrifyingly annoying, perhaps my greatest concern was the resulting debate... despite McKay arguably being the safest and most fascinating MLB player in the whole draft (although I really wanted him to go to the AL as a LHP/DH). What the Twins would choose would be a huge deal for the Reds. At this point, in retrospect, I think the top 5 teams should all be really happy with their picks.
In 2016 there was also lots of intrigue. I really wanted Nick Senzel, weeks ahead of draft day. Others wanted Kyle Lewis, who I didn't like at all. Or AJ Puk, who represented a lot of risk, was linked to the Reds frequently. Or the high school options. Would they get Senzel or not??? Would the Phillies grab Senzel, the best player in the draft, or do something stupid (spoiler: they did something stupid)? Would the Reds be forced to select somebody significantly worse because of the Phillies?
2015, the guys I really wanted all got selected before the Reds chose at #11. Lots of options, unknowns in what didn't seem to me like a very deep/strong first round. Candidates with relatively risks of being total busts. A tough call, who to pick, who was the right guy at #11. Not like this year.
This year I'm probably more curious who the Reds select at #47, #72, and #82 than who they draft at #5. Just seems like a bigger deal. Despite a lack of superstar talent at the top, by all reports there's lots of depth.
I just noticed that #81 on the MLBPipeline list is a 3b from Mason, OH... Nick Northcut.
A notable difference between Alec Bohm and Nick Senzel was that Senzel, by draft day, was a fairly well regarded defender at third, who some thought could play 2b. I hear about Bohm possibly winding up at 1b, with terrible speed that makes him a bad option for an outfield corner. Defensive talent keeps Senzel in the infield, while a lack thereof limits Bohm to infield corners. Bohm sounds like a better fit for an AL team.