When can we start looking at 2009? Looks like a great pick will be coming our way!

Both Posey and Skipworth fit the bill for a need of the Nationals … catching. And both are talent-rated around this range of picks. Scouts seem to favor Skipworth over Posey.

Assuming Tim Beckham is gone I am in the Skipworth/Posey camp. Also, I like Aaron Hicks as a 5 tool CF

I read that Mike Rizzo has a history of work with Boras and I can’t see Bowden letting a bat like this get by unless [Pedro] Alvarez or possibly [Justin] Smoak fall to #9.

Where have you read Hosmer could move to left? While Ive read hes a very good 1B, I havent seen anyone say anything about left.

If he tells Bowden, “No I’m a 1B”, that obviously would change the pick, but I’m betting he could and would play left.

When you have an opportunity the Nats have with this pick, you have to make an impact. This is a chance to get a potential superstar at 18 years old. A player many have said is the best high school bat they’ve ever seen. I don’t think you can let that go, unless it’s for Alvarez, who could play in 2009 or Smoak if you like his tools better than his production.

Skipworth sounds great, but I’m betting he’s gone before #9. A catcher with that bat that doesn’t have signability issues? He’ll go very early.

From these posts and other things I have read, there should be someone who can help us available at #9. From Brian’s analysis, sounds like we should steer clear of a HS pitcher with that pick, anything else should probably make it to the bigs.

Of course if Alvarez falls I expect our FO to pick him. Does anyone think he can play second?

As for the presence of Flores, the system has a need for catching depth as much as it does middle infield depth. If a guy like Posey or Skipworth is available and he is the highest rated on the Nationals board, you don’t pass on them because of Flores

With regards to drafting relief pitchers, if that player is the best talent on the board, you select him. In this case, I do not believe Fields is a top 10 talent given the draft pool

I like Eric Hosmer a lot…6-4,210 sweet swinging & power hitting stud!!! If the Nats want to go the high school route again, he’s their man. With Nick Johnson a free agent after 2009 and the Nats still trying to decide where to play Marrero, I was more interested in a college player who could move up quickly BUT I could turn to Hosmer if Smoak & Alonso are represented by Scott Boras.

I’ve read Alonso is not even a good defender at 1B. I doubt they’d take him.

I could see Smoak being the pick if he will move to LF. I’ve read that his numbers are picking up and a lot of scouts just like him for his swing anyway.

I’m starting to wonder if the Nats have a legit shot at Alvarez. It’s starting to look like he’ll drop to at least fourth(Orioles) and if the Os take Smoak(same hometown as Wieters) or G. Beckham(position of need for them and huge stats against good comp), I could easily see him sliding to ninth based on his ties with Boras and his alledged salary/bonus demands. I’d still rate it as a longshot, but it doesn’t seem as impossible to me now as before.

BTW, the Boras clients I’m aware of are Alvarez, Aaron Crow, Eric Hosmer, and Gerrit Cole. I’ve read speculation that Smoak will probably “sign” with him, but haven’t seen that as being official.

Another thing to keep in mind is that they don’t have as many high picks this year so that + the increased revenue will give them a lot of money to spend on #9.

Yet another thing to remember though, is that this years IFA class is supposed to be the best everand they may steer some cash that way.

See my post 15. I, like you, am beginning to feel like something surprising my fall into our hands at 9. Maybe not Alvarez, but you never know. BA, and others, believes there are 4 top-quality players in this draft (Alvarez, Crow, Tim Beckham and Matusz). Could one slip, maybe? If not, Gordon Beckham, Hosmer, Alonzo, Smoak, Posey and others could all help, particularly if a middle infielder or catcher. Wouldn’t touch a high-school arm, though. Also, Rizzo tends to like college, Brown HS players. I think Rizzo will carry the day this year.

I also don’t see them definitely taking a college player at 9 or 56. I think they will take their top rated guy at each spot.

Gordon Beckham(9/16/86) was one day early of being exactly one year younger than Alexander Ovechkin(9/17/85). For that reason alone he should be the pick:)