Imagine what could have been

[risktaker91]

Thanks again for the painful reminder.

[evilRyu]

I don't see how "Drafting for need" is a good strategy for baseball. With the minor-league system, it can take a player a good 3 years before making it to the big leagues, and by that time, who knows what the situation can be

[Michael Bradley]

I recall when JP first got the job here he joked about passing up on Todd Helton in the 1995 draft for Ariel Prieto (5th pick overall) back when he was scouting in Oakland. History tends to repeat itself, I guess. Although, having Mark McGwire at 1B (with Giambi waiting in the wings) at least made it a reasonable gamble at the time. Passing up on a SS because of Russ Adams looks silly (and I'm being kind when I say that).

[hugehoopsfan]

Yeah, this is really terrible. JP clearly has no eye for young talent. I remember someone posting a while back that he reportedly had deals on the table for David Wright and Ryan Howard (before each of them broke out) but was unwilling to part with some the veteran Jays at the time (Batista and someone else I believe).

[xAIRNESSx]

2005 mlb amatuer draft

#5 overall pick Ryan Braun
#6 overall pick Ricardo Romero
#7 overall pick Troy Tulowitzki

We could've at least drafted this pitcher:

#42 overall pick Clay Buchholz RHP Boston Red Sox

[whiterasta80]

Yeah, this is really terrible. JP clearly has no eye for young talent. I remember someone posting a while back that he reportedly had deals on the table for David Wright and Ryan Howard (before each of them broke out) but was unwilling to part with some the veteran Jays at the time (Batista and someone else I believe).

Lilly was the guy in the Howard deal (along with Gross and Bush IIRC).

Not sure who was to be packaged with Batista.