Post by The Duke on Apr 9, 2008 7:40:48 GMT -5
What direction do you see the Reds going with their first pick at No. 7? Do you think new special advisor Walt Jocketty will have any influence on the pick and the rest of their draft?
Adam Canada
Charleston, W.Va.
First, my standard caveat on speculation two months in advance of the draft: The following is an educated guess, not any inside scoop. Teams haven't started zeroing in on guys yet.
The four players who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack—Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez, San Diego lefthander Brian Matusz, Missouri righty Aaron Crow and Tim Beckham—all figure to be gone by the time the Reds pick. The next two players on our midseason Top 50 list are first basemen, Florida high schooler Eric Hosmer and South Carolina's Justin Smoak, but Cincinnati already has a long-term first baseman in Joey Votto.
The Reds took catcher Devin Mesoraco with their 2007 first-rounder, so they won't go for another backstop (Florida State's Buster Posey or California prepster Kyle Skipworth) with their top choice this year. The only position player who would make much sense is Gordon Beckham, and I think Cincinnati is more likely to select a pitcher. The three top candidates at this point are all righthanders: Tulane's Shooter Hunt, Fresno State's Tanner Scheppers and Holt High's (Wentzville, Mo.) Tim Melville. Eastern Kentucky lefthander Christian Friedrich could factor into the mix, but I like the righties more.
Jocketty won't have much influence on the Reds' draft. As general manager of the Cardinals, he wasn't very involved in St. Louis' drafts, and Cincinnati lets scouting director Chris Buckley pretty much run his own show.
I still like Friedrich the best out of all those pitchers, and the Reds desperately need a lefty, especially a top lefty prospect.
