"The 2nd Overall Pick Beginning to Emerge?"

[TTown]

RealGM's lead headline at the moment concerns us:

ESPN - Dustin Ackley is probably going to be the pick after Stephen Strasburg in the June 9 draft. The University of North Carolina junior can really hit, as his career 100 extra-base hits, 127 walks and 73 strikeouts underscore, not to mention the 1.273 OPS he has put up in this his draft year.

He is projected as an MLB center fielder.

"Let him put in the time, and he will be an outstanding second baseman," says his coach Mike Fox.

The Mariners have the second ovearll pick and could make Ackley the cornerstone of their franchise as the Yankees did with Derek Jeter and the Indians did with Grady Sizemore. He is regarded as having the same kind of intangibles.

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... to_emerge/

Has a link at the end to a longer Peter Gammons article about him.

Beating Oakland at the end of last year hurt (we were so awful we didn't even know how to lose properly...) because of missing out on Strassy, but this kid sounds pretty awesome.

[BlackMamba]

the kid is being compared to derek jeter?

[jumanji]

Big picture i still cringe when i think the Ms couldn't lose one in the final weekend of the season to get a shot at Strasburg, 102 losses doesnt look any differant to me than 101.

Ackley seems like a bigtime hitter but may need a position, i always hear you dont draft a 1st baseman that high (not my opinion) and his arm trouble may make playing another position a challenge so i dont know if it's a given he's the unanimous 2nd pick. I think at one time Grant Green was a clear favorite seeing as the team needs some infield help. He's struggled a bit this year and for some reason he reminds me a little of Bobby Crosby.

[BlackMamba]

isn't he projected as a mlb cf?

[jumanji]

isn't he projected as a mlb cf?

I've heard several positions, anywhere from 1st base to 2nd to the outfield. My guess is his bat is what will get him drafted and they'll find a spot for him somewhere in the field. Looking to years 2 and 3 of his career he'll maybe be a replacement for a Branyon or an Ichiro. Having said that i'm not sure Jeff Clement cant be a future 1st baseman and i still like Michael Saunders in the outfield.

[BlackMamba]

the thing is that, maybe it was because of the past administration, but the mariner's don't have clear good talents and prospects or at least that's what they have shown. who has been the last great mariner player coming out of the farm system? arod?

[Ex-hippie]

the thing is that, maybe it was because of the past administration, but the mariner's don't have clear good talents and prospects or at least that's what they have shown. who has been the last great mariner player coming out of the farm system? arod?

Felix?

One thing they do have in the system that's starting to show promise is outfielders. Balentien is up now, Saunders should be there for opening day 2010, Ackley and Halman are probably targeting 2011, Denny Almonte in 2012. Dennis Raben can get back into the picture and maybe shoot for 2011 as well. And of course Franklin Gutierrez is in the picture for as long as he's under team control.

As for Clement, at this stage I think he has to make it as a catcher or be out of the plans altogether. I don't think his bat is any better than Raben's or Mike Carp's, so I don't see him as the first baseman or DH of the future. If the organization is higher on Adam Moore than on Clement -- and I think right now it is -- then it's probably time to trade Clement. Unfortunately, the market for him right now isn't full of teams teams saying "ooh, Jeff Clement might be available, let's do everything we can to get him!" Rather, the trade market consists of teams saying "hey, the Mariners might be ready to give up on Jeff Clement, let's see if we can steal him."

[BlackMamba]

so felix is jut playing under the wrong team?

[jumanji]

the thing is that, maybe it was because of the past administration, but the mariner's don't have clear good talents and prospects or at least that's what they have shown. who has been the last great mariner player coming out of the farm system? arod?

Felix?

One thing they do have in the system that's starting to show promise is outfielders. Balentien is up now, Saunders should be there for opening day 2010, Ackley and Halman are probably targeting 2011, Denny Almonte in 2012. Dennis Raben can get back into the picture and maybe shoot for 2011 as well. And of course Franklin Gutierrez is in the picture for as long as he's under team control.

As for Clement, at this stage I think he has to make it as a catcher or be out of the plans altogether. I don't think his bat is any better than Raben's or Mike Carp's, so I don't see him as the first baseman or DH of the future. If the organization is higher on Adam Moore than on Clement -- and I think right now it is -- then it's probably time to trade Clement. Unfortunately, the market for him right now isn't full of teams teams saying "ooh, Jeff Clement might be available, let's do everything we can to get him!" Rather, the trade market consists of teams saying "hey, the Mariners might be ready to give up on Jeff Clement, let's see if we can steal him."

Good points, i like the outfield and Gutierrez has looked pretty good. Where i think they are lacking is the infield, to me it's a trainwreck. Beltre is on his way out after this year and they'd like to move Yuni.

Clement cant catch worth a darn but he can hit i think and his bat is starting to come around. The thing he has going for him is he was such a high pick in a great draft (2005). I'd like to see him get a chance at 1st but would welcome a trade for some talent, not just triple A types like they usually end up with.

[Sweezo]

Problem is other teams have to be aware that Clement's knee is bothering him again, hence the reason Moore was supposedly called up. A catcher being blocked from the MLB club with poor-to-mediocre defensive skills and knee issues? No one's going to give up much for him as this point...

[jumanji]

I still cringe when i see the names they passed up to take this guy: Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, Jay Bruce. If Clement can hit, which i think he can, there will be a place for him in the field or at DH, it's not like they're a good hitting team. As for catcher i've given up on that.

[jumanji]

Ackley just hit two homers against Duke (not sure the magnitude of that accomplishment). My question is does he start on June 10th for the Mariners?

[jumanji]

Good article on Ackely by Larry Stone in the Times this morning. Ackley really sounds like a great building block for the future. I like that he can potentially play several differant positions and his bat should be well received in Seattle.

As for bats Saunders and Clement continue to hit very well at Tacoma. I'm actually looking forward to the second half of the season and maybe seeing a lineup at the big league level that can actually score some runs.

[BlackMamba]

according to wiretap ackely is the lock for the mariners.

[Ex-hippie]

Interesting statement in Keith Law's draft projection:

(The Mariners are) also going to take Ferguson HS (Miami) catcher Stephen Baron with one of their picks after this one, probably at 33, in a pre-draft deal.

The scouting report on Baron is that he's a defense-first catcher:

If he hits just a little, he's a big-league backup, and of course any more offense gives him a chance to be a regular.

Pardon me if I'm not excited, based on that report. And even if he turns out to be a good bit better than that, I still don't quite get it. First, why would a team zero in on a specific player in the baseball draft rather than always, always, always go BPA (subject to salary concerns)? And if a team does focus on one player, why would it be someone at Adam Moore's and (hopefully) Jeff Clement's position?

Oh, and in Law's draft prospect rankings, Baron comes in at... #97 overall. This is what the team is committed to doing with the #33 pick?

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Oh, and in Law's draft prospect rankings, Baron comes in at... #97 overall. This is what the team is committed to doing with the #33 pick?

BILLY BEANE BILLY BEANE BILLY BEANE IN Z WE TRUST

In all seriousness...I'm just so confused. Beyond Strasburg, this draft sounds a lot like the NBA draft in its general awfulness. Ackley probably won't be an All-Star at the next level. Of course, if the Mariners take him, I'd be happy to be wrong.

I'm also not sure whether we're better off drafting pitchers or position players; I know that we should draft "BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE" because it doesn't f**king matter, but...somehow, it seems to.

[jumanji]

Oh, and in Law's draft prospect rankings, Baron comes in at... #97 overall. This is what the team is committed to doing with the #33 pick?

BILLY BEANE BILLY BEANE BILLY BEANE IN Z WE TRUST

In all seriousness...I'm just so confused. Beyond Strasburg, this draft sounds a lot like the NBA draft in its general awfulness. Ackley probably won't be an All-Star at the next level. Of course, if the Mariners take him, I'd be happy to be wrong.

I'm also not sure whether we're better off drafting pitchers or position players; I know that we should draft "BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE" because it doesn't f**king matter, but...somehow, it seems to.

Nothing i've seen or read about Ackley indicates that he wont be an All Star. I think the only question is what position he plays.

[Ex-hippie]

What I've read about Ackley is that he might or might not come back as a centefielder after Tommy John surgery. He's a good fielder out there, but the question is whether he'll be able to make the throws. If he can, he'll be a plus bat and a plus glove at a premium position, which will mean some All Star selections in his future. If not, he's a first baseman, where his value is diminished (though he'll probably adapt as a pretty good fielder there, for what it's worth). Pretty much the same thing as we're discussing with Jeff Clement these days.

On the plus side, it's nice to know that he comes pre-Tommy John'd.

[HeavyP]

Pardon me if I'm not excited, based on that report. And even if he turns out to be a good bit better than that, I still don't quite get it. First, why would a team zero in on a specific player in the baseball draft rather than always, always, always go BPA (subject to salary concerns)? And if a team does focus on one player, why would it be someone at Adam Moore's and (hopefully) Jeff Clement's position?

Oh, and in Law's draft prospect rankings, Baron comes in at... #97 overall. This is what the team is committed to doing with the #33 pick?

From my understanding the Mariners are pulling a Billy Beane move and getting a 'wink wink nudge nudge' money deal with Baron. Essentially saying, we'll take you a whole 2 rounds earlier if you'll sign for 3rd round money instead of 1st. Then, they can take a chance on a pitcher who wants more money and therefore will slip. I've heard the names of Matt Purke, Jacob Turner, or James Paxton.

Ackley's coach has talked about him being able to play 2b in the majors, drawing comparisons to Ian Kinsler. Take that for what you will

I keep mentioning this site for those of you who are really interested in the draft coming up: http://projectprospect.com/article/archive/2009-College-Coverage

People on that website's message board think to seem it's Ackley's spot to lose, with Scheppers or Alex White as other possibilities.

[jumanji]

Pardon me if I'm not excited, based on that report. And even if he turns out to be a good bit better than that, I still don't quite get it. First, why would a team zero in on a specific player in the baseball draft rather than always, always, always go BPA (subject to salary concerns)? And if a team does focus on one player, why would it be someone at Adam Moore's and (hopefully) Jeff Clement's position?

Oh, and in Law's draft prospect rankings, Baron comes in at... #97 overall. This is what the team is committed to doing with the #33 pick?

From my understanding the Mariners are pulling a Billy Beane move and getting a 'wink wink nudge nudge' money deal with Baron. Essentially saying, we'll take you a whole 2 rounds earlier if you'll sign for 3rd round money instead of 1st. Then, they can take a chance on a pitcher who wants more money and therefore will slip. I've heard the names of Matt Purke, Jacob Turner, or James Paxton.

Ackley's coach has talked about him being able to play 2b in the majors, drawing comparisons to Ian Kinsler. Take that for what you will

I keep mentioning this site for those of you who are really interested in the draft coming up: http://projectprospect.com/article/archive/2009-College-Coverage

People on that website's message board think to seem it's Ackley's spot to lose, with Scheppers or Alex White as other possibilities.

I've heard Chase Utley's name mentioned when it comes to Ackley, i'll take either of those guys and maybe they could move Lopez to 3rd. The sooner they break up that rockpile at 3rd and SS (Beltre and Betancourt) the better.