I would love to see Rick Porcello at #6, Ive read we want to make a splash this year and meeting his (and Boras) demands would go a long way toward making that true. I’d be really suprised if Weiters was availabe, some sites have him going #1. I think we should take either Porcello or Moustakas, both young guys with extremely high ceilings.

Ive seen Neil Ramirez linked to the Nats on other sites and would like that pick too. Also, both Michael Burgess (think Gary Sheffield) and Wendell Fairley(Carl Crawford) are toolsy outfielders with very hight ceilings and are both late1/sandwich picks.

After the sandwich picks its a crapshoot tho. One player Ive really started ot like is Matt LaPorta, a big power hitting 1B from Florida, something the Nats are in need of but hes more of a mid 1st round pick.

Great job tho, can’t wait for the next one.

Here’s a link to a site that has a mock draft of the MLB first round: http://www.mynhldraft.com/2007

I know it says “mynhldraft”, they have multiple mocks for different sports, even professional lacrosse.

It’s currently down until 5 p.m. but in one mock, they had the Nats taking Matt Harvey, I forget what it is now.

Keep up the great work.

Also, what about Tim Alderson at 31? Good arm, fantastic control, weird delivery.

As for #31, Alderson is a wild card. I think he is one of those guys who would be better served going to college where he would clarify where he best fits, in the rotation or out of the pen.

Brown is an intriguing guy, but I think a team may grab him in the #20-25 range. Kyle Russell from Texas could be a gamble as a draft eligible sophomore, assuming the Nationals are ready to pay to make him leave prior to his junior year. If they go with an arm early, a bat here makes sense. In my draft, I grabbed a bat, hence the choice of Cecil there (who also could be off the board in the first round). Aaron Poreda is a sleeper here as well.

At #49, we have entered the “god only knows who will be here zone” Noonan would be a great pick at #49, but I see him going earlier, say the mid-30s. I would clearly take Noonan over Jackson if both were available.

No arguments from me about the merits of St. Clair or Kunz. Both are worthy options but I’d take Neil Ramirez over either of them. And honestly, it’s an equal crapshoot whether St. Clair, Kunz, or Roemer develops so grabbing any of them at #71 seems plausible.

Put you on the spot! Heyward or Aumont?

I had a dream and David Price dropped, like Andy Miller from last year, and became available for the Nationals at #6….The dream depended on the Orioles acting stupid at #5 BUT had Tampa selecting Josh Vitters(3B) they have enough young pitchers and need a hitting 3b; K.C. selecting Rich Porcella (RHP) they would rather pay big money for “young potential”, Cubs taking Matt Wieters (CA) they need him badly; Pirates selecting Mike Moustakas (3B/1B) they have young pitchers but need a 3b; Orioles selecting either Detwiler(LHP)-Moskas(LHP)-Beavan-(RHP)-Parker(RHP)-Bumgarner(LHP) or a position player and the Nationals take David Price who could compete for a staters job in 2008. Will my dream come true?

Assuming Tampa goes for a hitter which would be nuts given their lack of pitching depth in the minors. But let’s just say the Rays’ track record with top tier pitchers scares them off of Price. And build on that with your Royals assumption of going younger pitcher since they grabbed Hochevar in 2006. Add to that Cubs grab Wieters because of their recent history with top 5 SPs. I cannot for the life of me believe that the Pirates would pass on Price. The Orioles would also be hard-pressed and as you say idiotic to grab one of thise arms over Price.

I’d place the chances of Price at #6 at about 0.0001%. So there is a chance.

I understand the value in building the pitching up but the perception I get from the actions taken in last year’s draft is that the Nationals have their reservations about overpaying for high school pitchers. Willems went for slot but Sean Black went to Seton Hall because the Nationals would not go above it. I’m not sure they are ready to pay $4M+ for a prep arm. The guys there are talented, no question. But if Mike Rizzo’s presence has any say on the happenings, I think it’s going to be a bat.

2002 - 1 Sergio Santos, ss, Mater Dei HS, Hacienda Heights, Calif.

2003 - 1 Conor Jackson 3b U. of California & 1 Carlos Quentin of Stanford U.

2004 - 1 Stephen Drew ss Florida State U.

2005 - 1 Justin Upton ss Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, Va. & 1S Matt Torra rhp U. of Massachusetts

2006 - 1 Max Scherzer rhp Missouri & 1S Brooks Brown rhp Georgia

Rizzo shied away from the prep school arms early (and typically the D-Backs were picking in the top half of the draft, 2002 withstanding).

I’m not saying the #31 or more likely the #49 won’t be used for a HS arm, I just see the Nationals targeting the best available bat at #6.

31 Kentrail Davis

49 Brett Cecil

1) D. Price
2) R. Porcello
3) J. Vitters
4) M. Moustakas - Pittsburgh won’t mess with Boras
5) R. Detwiler -
6) WIETERS

Ideal world, Price or Porcello drops, otherwise, the choice is between Wieters and Scherzer…

I’d go Wieters at 6, then take pitchers with the next three picks (31, 49, 68) and perhaps a Tony Thomas will be available at 71-

Price
Detwiler
Weiters
Vitters
Aumont
Top 5…

I still think Heyward is a real reach at #6 and I would rather see us take Moustakas or a pitcher at 6 and then Burgess or Wendell Fairley at 31. Should be interesting