[EmpireWF]

The annual draft is this Thursday and for the first time in history, it will be televised on ESPN2 (starting at 2pm eastern). In recent years the draft was available to internet users (where it's literally a couple of guys sitting near phones while the teams make their picks via speakerphone...don't know how that will change for TV now).

Usually BaseballAmerica is the place to go for everything on the draft, so here's some info about some of the top prospects.

1. LHP David Price, Vanderbilt
-Almost guaranteed #1 pick by Tampa Bay.
2. RHP Rick Porcello, Seton Hall Prep
-May go to North Carolina...may be a client of Scott Boras
3. C Matt Wieters, Georgia Tech
4. 1B/3B Mike Moustakas, Chatsworth (Calif.) HS
5. 3B Josh Vitters, Cypress (Calif.) HS
6. OF Jason Heyward, Henry County (Georg.) HS
7. LHP Ross Detwiler, Missouri State
8. LHP Daniel Moskos, Clemson
9. RHP Jarrod Parker, Norwell (Ind.) HS
10. 1B/3B Beau Mills, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)

To see the draft order, again, check out Baseball America.

[Lefty Noob]

Hmm... the Bucs have the #4 pick. Hope we land one of those lefties.

[azrael492]

I see the Reds have 8 picks. That is a few less than I thought. I remember reading somewhere they would have 10 picks in the draft.

They already have a lot of hitting talent. I hope this year they can load up on pitching.

[bears9]

maybe one of those pitchers slipps to the cubs at 3

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I hate to gamble on pitching in round one...Brien Taylor, Van Poppel, and the injured Prior come to mind.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I hate to gamble on pitching in round one...Brien Taylor, Van Poppel, and the injured Prior come to mind.

Hmm, you do have a point there, Goth. On the other hand, you have Justin Verlander and Philip Hughes in 2004, Chad Cordero in 2003, Cole Hamels and Matt Cain in 2002, Aaron Heilman and Jeremy Bonderman in 2001... so you CAN get good pitching talent in the first round.

[Neopet_Girl]

1965 Rick Monday Kansas City Athletics Outfielder 1966 Steve Chilcott New York Mets Catcher 1967 Ron Blomberg New York Yankees First baseman 1968 Tim Foli New York Mets Shortstop 1969 Jeff Burroughs Washington Senators Outfielder 1970 Mike Ivie San Diego Padres Catcher 1971 Danny Goodwin Chicago White Sox Catcher 1972 Dave Roberts San Diego Padres Third baseman 1973 David Clyde Texas Rangers Pitcher 1974 Bill Almon San Diego Padres Shortstop 1975 Danny Goodwin[2] California Angels Catcher 1976 Floyd Bannister Houston Astros Pitcher 1977 Harold Baines Chicago White Sox Outfielder 1978 Bob Horner Atlanta Braves Third baseman 1979 Al Chambers Seattle Mariners Outfielder 1980 Darryl Strawberry New York Mets Outfielder 1981 Mike Moore Seattle Mariners Pitcher 1982 Shawon Dunston Chicago Cubs Shortstop 1983 Tim Belcher Minnesota Twins Pitcher 1984 Shawn Abner New York Mets Outfielder 1985 B.J. Surhoff Milwaukee Brewers Catcher 1986 Jeff King Pittsburgh Pirates Third baseman 1987 Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle Mariners Outfielder 1988 Andy Benes San Diego Padres Pitcher 1989 Ben McDonald Baltimore Orioles Pitcher 1990 Chipper Jones Atlanta Braves Shortstop 1991 Brien Taylor New York Yankees Pitcher 1992 Phil Nevin Houston Astros Third baseman 1993 Alex Rodriguez Seattle Mariners Shortstop 1994 Paul Wilson New York Mets Pitcher 1995 Darin Erstad Anaheim Angels Outfielder 1996 Kris Benson Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher 1997 Matt Anderson Detroit Tigers Pitcher 1998 Pat Burrell Philadelphia Phillies Third baseman 1999 Josh Hamilton Tampa Bay Devil Rays Outfielder 2000 Adrián González Florida Marlins First baseman 2001 Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins Catcher 2002 Bryan Bullington Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher 2003 Delmon Young Tampa Bay Devil Rays Outfielder 2004 Matt Bush San Diego Padres Shortstop 2005 Justin Upton Arizona Diamondbacks Shortstop 2006 Luke Hochevar Kansas City Royals Pitcher 2007 (Player TBD - June 7 2007) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (position

Here is the history of the first guy that gets picked.
Oh and I guess Tampa has the 1st pick this time. Just like 1999 and 2003, so maybe we will get 2011 as well. LOL Bet you guys missed me yesterday. LOL.

[Neopet_Girl]

well, it was a list when I posted it. What happened? Did I do it wrong? LOL.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Hmm, you do have a point there, Goth. On the other hand, you have Justin Verlander and Philip Hughes in 2004, Chad Cordero in 2003, Cole Hamels and Matt Cain in 2002, Aaron Heilman and Jeremy Bonderman in 2001... so you CAN get good pitching talent in the first round.

We'll find out Saturday, but hopefully you can add Homer Bailey to that list.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

It's a crap shoot as any draft. But pitcher's seem to get hurt a lot easier. Now, the A's and Braves farm system seem to develop pitchers okay. but with most farms, it's a crap shoot.

[EmpireWF]

I think the pattern now is for franchises to draft college pitchers so they have more experience at a higher level and I guess are more "ready" to make it to the big leagues quicker. Teams likely always want the pitcher since it's always tougher to get a quality arm unless you're paying for it BIGTIME in free-agency.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I think the pattern now is for franchises to draft college pitchers so they have more experience at a higher level and I guess are more "ready" to make it to the big leagues quicker. Teams likely always want the pitcher since it's always tougher to get a quality arm unless you're paying for it BIGTIME in free-agency.

I would rather take a college kid than an arm that is going to take 3-5 year to develop in round 1.

[MJHMarc]

It's always interesting how Scott Boras represents all of the future and current stars in baseball. It is almost a monopoly.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I would rather take a college kid than an arm that is going to take 3-5 year to develop in round 1.

But it's not like the NFL or NBA draft. Rarely does a player who is drafted make it to the big leagues within 2-3 years. Of course you have guys like Joe Smith (Mets), Chad Cordero (Nationals), Stephen Drew (DBacks), etc. but I doubt a team drafts for immediate need.

And as far as Boras goes, he doesn't have all the players signed but he has a good chunk of them because they know they'll get a great deal usually. Of course most teams hate dealing with Boras (some teams in fact refuse to even talk to a player who's represented by the guy) and this always has an effect on who's drafted and where.

[EmpireWF]

Here is BaseBall America's latest projection for this afternoon's draft (starts in an hour).