2009 MLB Draft Thread: June 9th-11th

[Bulltalk]

I think I'm going to get into the draft this year more than in year's past. The draft is on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the week. There are 50 rounds in the draft ( forgot it was that many), and here are the Mariners' picks through the first 4 rounds:

1st Round

--2nd pick
--27th pick (compensation pick for Phillies signing Ibanez)

Supplemental 1st Round Picks

--33rd pick (compensation pick for Phillies signing Ibanez)

2nd Round

--51st pick

3rd Round

--82nd pick

4th Round

--113th pick

Having 4 picks among the first 51 picks in the draft gives the M's some potential to stock the farm with young talent this year. Let's hope Jack Zduriencik and the rest of the M's baseball operations gang can make-good on the draft this year.

[HeavyP]

This article got me fired up even more for Ackley.

http://www.projectprospect.com/article/2009/06/06/ackley-kipnis-and-the-555-club

[TTown]

Agreed. Since we've used our previous three #1's on relievers (sigh...), we should really stock-up on some potential front-line starting pitching and position players with our first few picks. Thanks for this thread, I'll keep checking back to see who we've taken.

[Bulltalk]

This article got me fired up even more for Ackley.

http://www.projectprospect.com/article/2009/06/06/ackley-kipnis-and-the-555-club

The Ackley love has been cresting before the draft. It wasn't long ago that I didn't know who he was, and now I see his name everywhere.

There's still that *tick* in the back of my mind that the Nationals out-of-nowhere could pass on the phenom out of fear of Boras. I don't think they'll pass on Stras, but I'd like the issue settled.

[Bulltalk]

By the way, the first day of the draft (Tuesday) will comprise the first three rounds of the draft, or the first 111 players selected. In other words, the M's will make 5 picks as it stands now tomorrow.

This will be a good way to begin to gauge our new general management in this regard, although it's a slow discovery process. So far, it's hard to argue much with their off-season moves. The signing of Branyan, the trades bringing us Gutierez, Vargas, Chavez, Aardsma, all seem pretty decent. JJ Putz now has 2 saves, an ERA of 5.22, and 19 walks to go along with his 19 strikeouts. Timely sale that seems to have been, especially with our bullpen performing so well without him.

I know some people already have some issues with Wak, but I still kind of like him as a manager. I just like his temperament more than anything else now.

[HeavyP]

I don't have MLB TV, is that the only channel that the MLB draft is going to be on?

[Bulltalk]

I don't have MLB TV, is that the only channel that the MLB draft is going to be on?

I think so, though I don't know so. I think their website will probably be reasonably up-to-snuff. That's where I will pop-in to check such things out. MLB.com

[BlackMamba]

well, i'd like to see the mariners take someone that will be able to produce in the short term.

[BlackMamba]

From Yahoo Sports:

Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, North Carolina: With a quiet demeanor and flawless left-handed swing, Ackley has drawn comparisons to Chase Utley(notes) and Joe Mauer(notes). The Seattle Mariners pick second, so after the Washington Nationals take Stephen Strasburg, new GM Jack Zduriencik will face a tough decision: Take nearly big league-ready pitcher Aaron Crow of Missouri or Ackley. At least that should be the Mariners’ choice – if not, they are in danger of blowing the pick. The only caution with Ackley is that he is recovering from elbow surgery, which relegated him to first base duty this season. If his arm comes back strong, he could move to center field, or even second base. Ackley has exceptional patience at the plate, rarely swings and misses, and his power is developing nicely. He batted over .400 during his Tar Heel career and hit .415 in the wood-bat Cape Cod League last summer. Like Strasburg, Ackley is represented by Scott Boras and his contract could lift in Strasburg’s updraft.

This has to be the M's pick!

[Ex-hippie]

Keith Law's final mock has the M's taking Stanford closer Drew Storen with the other first-round pick. Because if there's one thing the team really needs, it's a relief pitcher coming up through the system.

Okay, okay, Law also says they like Storen as a starter, even though he has been a closer in college. Yeah, and they liked Aumont and Morrow as starters as well; and they, unlike Storen, had recent track records of doing so. What's going to stop Zduriencik from converting this guy to the bullpen at the first sign that it would hasten his promotion to the majors, like we saw with Aumont?

Seriously, Storen would be like the Saer Sene pick. I will be upset if it happens.

[BlackMamba]

why so many pitchers? i think that of the 50 picks of last year, 70-80% were pitchers and i have no idea how they are doing!

[TTown]

I still think Aumont winds up a starter. The WBC crew announcing his start were gushing about him. If we have Morrow and Fields (who I've heard from Georgia fans is completely ineffective if he's not closing), I just can't see Aumont being a 7th inning specialist, or a long reliever. He's got to start..........


......... right?

Yeah, if we take this Stanford kid I'll probably kick my dog.

[TTown]

Strasburg #1 to Washington... shocker... we're on the clock. I'm firmly in the Ackley camp. Let's get it done.

[Ex-hippie]

Ackley it is!

[TTown]

We took Ackley!

[TTown]

I'm going to have to check out Carolina in the CWS this week.

[Ex-hippie]

And John Hart promptly compares his bat to George Brett. I can live with that.

[Ex-hippie]

This is the first time I've watched the MLB draft live, and I have to say, in a lot of ways it's actually more watchable than the NFL draft. Mostly because they keep it moving at a snappy pace with a 4-minute limit. Also, no Jets fans. And no Mel Kiper. Just good stuff to watch all around.

[Sweezo]

Anyone think we would have taken Ackley if the new regime wasn't in place? Or would we have reached for a pitcher because we're stupid?

I like the pick...hopefully he develops quickly.

Now, what happens at #27 and #33?

[Bulltalk]

Finally could check in from work. I got completely hyped into taking Ackley. I guess we're 4 picks away from our second 1st round pick. We've got 2 picks coming up pretty fast. These could really make our draft. Go Z!