So, Josh Fields was up. Then I think people on the board got a little over enthusiastic about the young man. And then, there was a Friedrich backlash vote. Just callin' em as I see em. Not that that was a bad pick by any means. I thought they were probably 1 and 2 and not separated by that much. So now we get to Toronto. A team that has graduated a lot of young pitchers in the last year or so. There system is a pretty balanced one without a lot of impact prospects outside of Snyder. They really could go anywhere with this p... lire la suite
Lien du post: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/4/27/461596/milb-mock-draft-pick-17-to
So, Josh Fields was up. Then I think people on the board got a little over enthusiastic about the young man. And then, there was a Friedrich backlash vote. Just callin' em as I see em. Not that that was a bad pick by any means. I thought they were probably 1 and 2 and not separated by that much. So now we get to Toronto. A team that has graduated a lot of young pitchers in the last year or so. There system is a pretty balanced one without a lot of impact prospects outside of Snyder. They really could go anywhere with this pick. JP has misfired a bit on his first round selections, lets see if he can break that trend. 17. Toronto Who does the Toronto Blue Jays draft at #17?
Aaron Hicks gets drafted by the Mets in the mock. The Mets to me have been a team that has drafted college pitchers/toolsy outfielders, and signed a lot of ceiling guys internationally. I think that they get a hybrid a really toolsy, ceiling guy. I voted differently, but once again I wouldn't scream too much over this selection. Did anyone else see Alan Simpson's mock top 10 on PG Crosschecker? There is a lot of buzz that the guy we have going #13 being Tampa's target at #1. Buster Posey is a skyrocketing 17. Toronto - Brett Wallace-1B-Arizona St.
17. Toronto
2008 NBA Mock Draft Rush is an excellent jump shooter that has improved his off-the-dribble game substantially. Unlike his older brother Kareem, Brandon is a plus defender with the potential to become an excellent defender. He has great length and moves his feet well. Coming back from the knee injury in such a short time was an impressive feat. However, having suffered the injury in the first place may limit how high he can climb in this draft, even with good workouts, because it’s chock-full-o-wings. Rush would be a fantastic fit in Phoenix, almost regardless of who they hire to coach, because he could contribute right away in any penetrate-and-kick offense. But he also has the skills to be much more than just a spot up shooter. 17. Toronto D.J. Augustin, Texas, PG I see Augustin as an insurance policy in the event that Toronto trades T.J. Ford, which may be easier said than done given his medical history. Otherwise, with Delfino perhaps hitting the market, Le Mans (France) forward Nicolas Batum could be the selection. Much of what NJ does in the draft will depend on whether they decide to break up Carter & Jefferson. But Rod Thorn also has decisions to make on Nenad Kristic and DeSagana Diop. It's a fairly safe bet that only one or neither makes it to Brooklyn with the Nets. So drafting yet another big would still be in order for the Nets. I am not a fan of Jordan’s, but frankly I’d be stunned if someone doesn’t take a shot at him long before NJ at 21. You can’t order athletic, post-oriented 7-footers like this kid from a catalog but I think he should go in the 20s because of some major red flags (some of which typically accompany young bigs). I know a lot of Knicks fans are intrigued by this kid but he is a project in all capital letters. He may turn out to be something but you’re probably not gonna know for quite some time. The things he did well at A&M-shoot a high percentage and board-come with substantial caveats. He shot a high percentage but doesn’t have much of a post game. He scored mostly on alley-oops and putbacks. I’ve seen reports of good hands but that was not my impression from the games I saw, and he was certainly turnover prone (3+ per pace-adjusted 40). In this draft class Jordan is a decent but not exceptional rebounder and shot blocker. Consider also that despite rarely being in major foul trouble (he had 4 fouls only once) Jordan only played about 20 mpg, coming off the bench behind a clearly inferior talent. Like a lot of big kids his energy and intensity came and went-and mostly went-so that by the end of the season he was injured and hardly played. Even if he matures, I wouldn’t say the sky is the limit. He may only ever be as good as DeSagana Diop. This is the right kind of gamble for NJ if they keep this pick. They could pair him with their two emerging bigs (Boone and Sean Williams) without asking too much of him, which might be helpful in his development. Final thoughts: I expect to see a fair amount of wheeling and dealing in this draft. Interestingly, I think a number of teams selecting in the late teens and twenties would like wing players but this draft seems thin at SG/SF but deep with rebounding frontcourt players. This is a much stronger rebounding class than last year's class. Some of the players I have described as “decent but not great” rebounders (e.g., DeAndre Jordan, DeVon Hardin, Robin Lopez) would have looked much better in last year's class. So teams between, say, 8 and 15 looking to add rebounding depth might do well to entertain offers to trade down.
We are down to the wire folks; down to the nitty-gritty. With just three picks to go until the SB Nation Mock Draft gets to #59, players like Chris Johnson, Trevor Laws, Earl Bennett, and now John Carlson are all gone. This leaves our community rep in the mock draft, Shake n Bake, in a bit of a pickle (hehe, love that stupid phrase). Ok, though I am not the person charged with the responsibility for making this pick (ohthankyouthankyouGod), I feel it is my duty to help Shake get gauge what the community wants. I think we all agree that if Matt Forte is still there at #59, Shake's job is easy. We all like Forte, and so do the Colts. But what about some of the other players? Click the flip to find out more. If Forte is gone, and with GB, Miami, and Jacksonville still ahead of Indy it is possible Forte could go. If he does go, it's not the end of the world. There are still plenty of excellent players to snag, but the question is who? For some, I've done profiles. TE Dustin Keller will likely be there, unless Jacksonville snags him in their desperate need for a TE, or GB who has jettisoned Bubba Franks. LBer Xavier Adibi out of Va Tech could be an option, but when was the last time Indy used a second round pick on a LBer? Mike Peterson in 2000? For my money (and again, like all of you this is just my opinion; Shake makes the pick), I would take Doucet, Keller, or just go ahead and reach for Marcus Howard out of Georgia. Why? Because Howard might be there in the third round, but he won't be there in round 4. John Greco, OT out of Toledo, will also be gone in round 4. Since we cannot trade in this mock, it makes sense to get Howard now and use the 3rd round to snag Greco. If Matt Forte is gone at pick #59 in the SB Nation Mock Draft, who should Shake n Bake pick?
With a week until the NBA draft, I thought I’d go through the mock drafts on the web and see which players the Knicks are thought to take. Additionally I took each of these players & found were other mock drafts thought they would be selected. Chad Ford Mock 5.0 MOCK Anthony Randolph, F Eric Gordon, SG O.J. Mayo, SG Danilo Gallinari, SF Russell Westbrook, PG DJ Augustin, PG Draft Express 12 6 3 10 7 11 Most people think OJ Mayo will be gone before the Knicks draft, but no one had him going past the Knicks. I found it ironic that these mockers would have both Memphis and Seattle passing the Mayo. The Grizzlies do have Mike Miller, but they could easily move him if they wanted. And besides do they see the 28 year old as a cog in their next playoff caliber team? As for the Sonics - I know they have Kevin Durant at SG, which kinda makes sense for the rail thin teenager. But like the folks that created the show Webster - you should really be thinking about what you’re going to do when the kid grows up. He’s going to be a forward sooner or later. You could even consider taking Mayo and trying him at point until everyone grows up. It seems shortsighted to pass on a talented player now, because your franchise player hasn’t filled out yet. It seems that Anthony Randolph and Gallinari have slipped on most boards. That report about coach D’Antoni being unimpressed with Gallinari’s video must have been noted by just about every draft expert. These two players are seemingly opposites: one has the athleticism (Randolph), the other the skill (Gallinari). GMs taking either of these will be gambling that their player can gain the opposite.
Well, it looks like the Dolphins and the Jaguars made Shake n Bake's decision easy. At pick #59, Shake made the obvious (and best) choice, Matt Forte. Here's Shake's explanation why he chose Forte:Joseph Addai performs best in a RB tandem, he split time his whole college career and the Colts won the Super Bowl while pairing him with Dom Rhodes. Unfortunately Kenton Keith doesn't have the hands to play for the Colts as shown by the multiple dump-off that he not only couldn't catch, but several times tipped into the air, causing interceptions. A Colts RB needs to block well, catch the ball out of the backfield, not fumble and be a good runner, in that order. Three out of four isn't good enough. Especially when it's job #2 that is their weakness. Matt Forte can do all four. He's a great blocker, so much so he can lead block for Addai in a 2 RB set in addition to his outstanding pass blocking. He wasn't a huge receiving threat, but showed good hands and route running. He never had fumble problems. As a runner his pounding style will contrast the smaller Addai. Forte is a high character guy and a tremendously hard worker. Forte's weakness is a lack of big play explosiveness, a weakness that the Colts don't mind in a RB and shared by Addai and a post knee injury Edge James. Forte gives the Colts the flexibility they lose with Utecht's departure. Without another RB, TE or WR the Colts are locked into a Marvin, Wayne, Clark, Gonzalez and Addai lineup with no depth behind them.You can read the rest of Shake's write-up, and my take, over at Mocking the Draft. With less than four days to go to the draft, SB Nation will end its mock draft right on time with a very solid prognostication of how the draft could go. Damn fine job this year by TheSportsGuru, BrianG, and Matt Miller. They organized this thing damn near to perfection. Also, a special thanks to Shake n Bake for taking the initiative to draft for the Colts this year, and for creating a very good write-up. Poll
So, this is my last, pathetic attempt at a mock draft. I've done more mocks this year than any other year, and the reason why is I've been more focused on this year's draft than any other. It was a goal of mine (a small one, mind you) to have better draft coverage in 2008. I hope I've done that for you guys. So, without further ado, here's my final mock with explanations: 2 (59): Matt Forte' (RB, Tulane) I have a suspicion that East Carolina's Chris Johnson will get gobbled up by a team like San Diego or Tampa Bay, aka teams looking for part-time RBs with game-changing ability. Unless Chicago takes Forte' at pick #44, I think he will fall to Indy. If he does, it's a major coup. Forte' is a complete stud, and much better than other backs ranked higher than him. He's a more complete player than Mendenhall and doesn't have the injury concerns Jonathan Stewart does. Forte' would add a totally new dimension to the Colts offense, which will be in the top 5 in running the football next year if it sports both Addai and Forte'. 3 (93): John Greco (OT, Toledo) Colts fans expect DE Marcus Howard of Georgia to get drafted here, and he will likely be here at pick #94, but I think the Colts will pass on him to take Greco. The Colts are very big on Greco, and he fits the kind of player Howard Mudd loves to coach. If drafted by Indy, he will likely will play guard his rookie year, challenging Dylan Gandy for the starting spot. With the nagging injuries plaguing RT Ryan Diem of late, and the inconsistent play of Charlie Johnson, Greco is versatile enough to play guard and tackle, if needed. I think the Colts look at Greco as their future RT. 4 (127): Jack Williams (CB, Kent State) According to DraftTek, Marcus Howard is still on the board at this pick. If he is, the Colts will obviously take him with a big grin on their faces. However, in reality he's likely gone here, which means a player like Jack Williams is perfect. Williams is a proto-typical Cover 2 corner who can contribute immediately on special teams. With Dante Hughes returning and Michael Coe growing into his own, the Colts will have a strong stable of CBs for the first time in a dog's age. 5 (161): Arman Shields (WR, Richmond) This is actually a very tough pick because I think there are three guys in this area the Colts have targeted, but all three will be gone by the 6th round. C Kory Lichtensteiger, DT Carlton Powell, and LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar will all be there, and each offers something very special. But WR is a need position in this draft, and if a talented prospect like Arman Shields is still sitting there in the 5th round, you take him. I don't care what Jim Irsay, Bill Polian, or Tony Dungy say. Until I see Marvin Harrison playing like Marvin Harrison, one has to assume he is still hurt. Shields offers speed, quickness, great route running, and good hands. He'll struggle his rookie year a bit, but eventually he'll catch on and play some slot receiver. Well, there you have it. I am likely 100% completely wrong about this mock draft. Hell, if I get one player right out of this, just one, I'll consider myself a genius (yeah, I have low standards for genius). You'll notice I left off players like QB Kevin O'Connell. Folks, I would be shocked if the Colts took a QB. I know they aren't happy with Jim Sorgi, but the reality is there aren't many good QBs in the later rounds of the draft. Maybe they will take someone like O'Connell, and I hope they do. But, a mock draft is a guesstimate of what the team may do, and what they should do. You'll also notice that many of these draft picks come from small schools or division IIA schools. This is because Bill Polian and the Colts do not subscribe to the "big school" mentality when it comes to drafting, and considering the Colts are the best sports franchise on the planet, I think that pretty much blows the "big school "theory out of the water. The best players do not come from Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan, or LSU. Like Polian says, "If you can play, we will find you." I've seen far too many busts come from big schools, and too many great players from small schools, to subscribe to the "big school" theory.
If you want to be a scouting director, ask in the comment thread. I will update the main thread to indicate who each director is. Once you see your name on the list, please start a Mock Organization Diary, titled MOD:Cardinals or MOD:Giants or whatever your team is. Remember, you MUST be available for the Mock Draft on Saturday, May 31st, at 12:00 PM central time. Duties of the Scouting Director include managing the conversation in the MOD Diary threads. This is a collaborative effort. I don't want you to run your threads like a dictator, but approach it like you are really a scouting director and the other participants are your scouts, farm analysts, etc. Each scouting director should have a deputy to run the draft if the SD has to step away or cancel at the last minute. Toronto: ofsticksandbats
2008 NBA Mock Draft I’ll update the mock from time to time as the process unfolds but I wanted to get something up prior to Orlando and team workouts. This mock is less a prediction and more a record of what I would do as the GM of each team. Although I anticipate that trades will change the draft order, perhaps radically, my interest is in matching player and team. Therefore I keep the teams in their given draft order but highlight spots where I expect trades. Rose is the best overall prospect in this draft. Although Beasley might fill an immediate need for scoring Rose creates scoring opportunities for teammates. And what really moves him ahead of Beasley for my money is his defensive value. I think he's the 2nd best perimeter defender in this draft (behind Russell Westbrook). Beasley is the best offensive talent in the draft. Although he seems more of a mid post than a low post player he gets to the line an impressive amount (.59 FTAs/FGA or 10 FTAs per pace-adjusted 40) and is a beast on the boards (14.6 rebs per pace-adjusted 40).* On the other hand, though I have seen Beasley play only infrequently, he seems like an indifferent defender. Perhaps no franchise is better than Miami though at getting indifferent defenders to exert effort on that end of the floor. This is obviously where the draft gets interesting. No consensus has emerged on who the 3rd best player in this draft is. Mayo could easily solidify this spot with stellar workouts despite his so-so freshman season. He is very strong, unselfish, and a good defender, all underappreciated aspects of his game that may serve him well in workouts and interviews. He's also, I think, a better complement to Randy Foye than is Jerryd Bayless. Kevin McHale is close to Mayo's now-former agent Bill Duffy and has scouted Mayo extensively. I doubt Westbrook goes off the board at #6. However, none of the remaining forwards (Gallinardi, Randolph, Love, or Greene) after Beasley strike me as having higher upside than Chandler or Lee. I suspect the new brass will try to package this pick with a bad contract (e.g., Randolph, Jeffries, Snacks) and flip it. The player I’d target in a trade down scenario is Westbrook, who has all-NBA defensive potential. If he had any PG skills he'd be a lock for the top ten. I fully expect his stock to rise once workouts start because his athleticism and motor are tailor-made for that process. Larry Brown isn't going to play any rookie chosen at this spot anyway, so if Randolph is available at this point in the draft it seems wise to gamble on his upside. He has a lot of tools but doesn't know how to play the game just yet. The best situation for him is one where he can sit and watch for a while (and keep Adam Morrison company). I doubt Rod Thorn keeps this pick. He appears ready to blow up that roster. So, I see #10 and 21 packaged to get a player or to move up. Like Randolph, Greene is a high upside forward with size and skill but lacking experience.