Bryce Harper a Met? - Thoughts On The 2010 MLB Draft

Thoughts on the 2010 MLB Draft:

It’s November 1st… far too early to figure this out yet, but I do have some thoughts at this point in the process… everybody has C Bryce Harper projected as the first player picked in the draft, by the Washington Nationals. Remember, my rankings don’t include my opinion, so naturally, he is ranked first here, but this kid has nowhere to go but down and I can’t see him being picked by the Nats for any reason. If he plays a sub-par season, pass… but, just as important, if he doesn’t, his agent will demand Strasberg money which just isn’t in the Nats checking account. No, right now, he’s a big-market pick only, which means he could drop as far as 7th, when the Mets pick… the 2010 draft projects out, talent wise, as a light one, which always means heavy emphasis on pitching. Moreover, the LHP crop is weak, and, right now, there looks to be at least 15 RHPs in the first 32 picks… RHP Jameson Tallion has shot up the charts this past month, passing Anthony Ranaudo as the top projected right hander. Tallison, Ranaudo and A.J. Cole look certain to go in the first six picks. DeAndre Smelter dropped sharply this month due to lack of press, which usually means lack of summer work… SS Christian Colon still projects out as a top 5 pick, even after going down with two broken bones in his left leg in summer ball. High schooler Manny Machado has shot up the shortstop list and right now projects as the other SS that will be drafted in the first round… right now, five left hand pitchers will be drafted in the first round. That’s 21 pitchers in the first 32 picks. Mississippi’s Drew Pomerance looks to be the first one picked, but high schooler Chris Sale should join him as one of the top 10 picks. Three more college pitchers, James Paxton (Kentucky), Josh Osich (Oregon State), and Bryan Morgado (Tennessee) round of the top five… there will be no second baseman or first baseman drafted in the first round. The talent just isn’t there… right now, there is no “number one bat” in this draft. What happens in the upcoming season will determine the value of the hitters. OF Leon Washington went unsigned in the last draft and, rightnow, projects out as the top outfielder drafted. Past that, it’s all speculation.