More mocking the Braves pick in the 2009 draft

by gondeee on Jun 9, 2009 3:00 PM EDT

We already saw Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus select Alex White for the Braves in their mock drafts, and now ESPN's Keith Law does the same:

7. Atlanta Braves
Alex White, RHP, North Carolina: Update -- Baltimore taking Zack Wheeler, San Francisco taking Tyler Matzek and Atlanta taking Alex White all seem pretty strong. Atlanta would love to take Matt Purke, but the word is the higher-ups won't pay that much over slot.

Purke is a new name we haven't heard, and remember, there are always pre-draft deals than can be worked out and allow a team to have more confidence in selecting a "tough sign." That's three votes for Alex White, but MLB's Jonathan Mayo has the Braves passing up Whte:

7. Atlanta Braves: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt University
The Braves are still hoping for one of the top high school arms to drop -- namely, Wheeler -- but in a scenario in which he's gone, they'd choose the arm they like the best. It might surprise some, but Minor might be their best guy still on the board at that point. If somehow Minor and White are both gone, don't be shocked if they take a chance at signing Matt Purke.

Everyone knows the Braves want Wheeler, but that's just like two years ago when everyone knew the Braves really wanted Jason Heyward, but no one thought he would fall that far. Somehow the Braves willed that to happen, so we'll see if other teams shy away from a guy who may have his heart set on the Braves as much as they have their heart set on him.

John Sickels also did a mock draft on his site, with the Braves taking White (as well as an intriguing second round pick).

The draft open thread posts at 5:45pm.

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Comments

We don’t have a second rounder…

And I still can’t picture us taking a college arm…

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jun 9, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

I’m hearing nothing but pitcher, pitcher, pitcher…

Are there no fielders worth taking around our spot or are we just that desperate for some young arms?

by pancanbra on Jun 9, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

That’s pretty much the case. Ackley is the only for sure top ten guy that is a hitter. And he’s almost as much a lock for Seattle as Strasburg is to Washington.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jun 9, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I asked the same question in another thread

I am kindof liking Green (based on what I have read about him today) and he is pretty highly regarded. He doesn’t seem that he would be over-drafted at #7, but I guess that depends on who else (Wheeler, Matzek, etc) is available to us when we are on the clock.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

NO COLLEGE PITCHERS.

"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!

by bigjoe on Jun 9, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Serious question here

Why not?

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

From the Braves point of view, they don’t want a college pitcher who has probably been messed up for 3 years by their coach

by eaheckman10 on Jun 9, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

That, and we really don’t need one. When you think COLLEGE PITCHER, you’re not thinking seasoning in the minors, you’re thinking a year or two tops. Our rotation is set for the next couple years, we don’t need to draft a guy that can help us that quickly, and if he’s not in the majors, he’ll be rotting in AAA, retarding his growth. Look at Hochevar.

by bigjoe on Jun 9, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

good points, both.

I thought there may be a track record against college pitchers in the MLB or something like that.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really a track record….but theres a clear pattern that they reach the majors quicker than HS pitchers. But then again, thats true for all college players. If there was a college position player aside from Ackley in the top 10, thats who I’d prefer, since thats the side of the ball we really need help on. Aside from that, just take a high school arm and be done with it.

by bigjoe on Jun 9, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Green? What’s your take on him?

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t like a whole lot about him. He really hurt his value this year.

I want nothing to do with Tate either, so heres hoping the Padres take him

by bigjoe on Jun 9, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

They’re not much less risky than HS arms for one while offering less projection. I agree with bigjoe that we don’t need a Mike Minor in our system if it’s at the expense of getting Matzek, Purke, etc. We have such depth of future #3/4 starters that drafting another is a bit of a waste.

by 17843 on Jun 9, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions