Even if the dude is the next Keith Hernandez, this team has a lot of other needs.

This mock draft is a near worst case scenario for the Nats, in my opinion. They are left with choosing another college pitcher (none of them are really hot prospects … solid guys but not special) or a 1B from college (Alonso) or HS (Hosmer).

I’ll reiterate my hopes that the White Sox pass on GBeckham

I don’t think that mock will happen though. I think that one of the Beckhams or Crow will be there for the Nats and that will be the pick. If I had to bet money on it based on all I’ve read, I’d say Crow right now.

I just look at that flock of 1Bs and cringe a little, that’s all.

Agreed re your hopes on G. Beckham.

I just would prefer a college guy there. The Nationals have taken their share of prep guys already. Aside from TBeckham, the HS guys are gambles (all HS guys are gambles more than their college counterparts, I know). I just don’t see the ‘no doubt about it’ HS guy.

If Crow slides there, that would be great. Yes I know the Nationals have loaded up on pitching but Crow is the top arm in the draft in my estimation. Getting him at #9 would be a steal.

If TBeckham is there, I would be floored. Happy but floored. One of those eight teams has to take him.

I’d be very excited with either Beckham, although Gordon looks so small that part of me thinks he won’t translate that power to the pros.

Crow is awesome. He’s probably the real #1 to be fair. As a fan, I just really want a bat. I’d be extremely excited with Crow or Hosmer, and pretty excited about a Beckham.

Not saying it’ll be like this, but if the right buzz proves true, you could see this:

TB-Posey
Pitt-Matusz
KC-Alvarez
Balt-Crow
SF-Smoak
FLA-Skipworth
Cinn-Kelly
Chi-Wallace

Again, this is highly unlikely, but I’ve have read various reports about these teams and these players. I agree with you that TBeck has to be taken… it would be too good to be true.

Skipworth seems more likely to fall through the cracks and is a big favorite with Boone. If he falls to us we will take him. That seems more likely than Beckham or Crow. I think Alonso makes sense for the team because he is farther along on the development chart. He looks like he is 26-27 and since he was born in Cuba he may well be a little older. I don’t see the logjam of 30-homer guys playing 1b for us anywhere in the system. Marrero is only 19 and has two very important years to go. Alonso could play 1b in 2009.

With pick #9, I’m hoping for best available player of: (1) Alvarez, (2) T. Beckham, (3) Matusz, (4) G. Beckham, (5) Skipworth, (6) Posey, (7) Hosmer, (8) Crow, (9) Collier, (10) Hicks, (11) Freidrich and (12) Hunt. I’d pass on Smoak and Alonso. With pick #55 or 87, I’m hoping for Jacob Thompson of UVA.

I wonder if they would consider Wallace #9. He can RAKE.

Andrew: I could see that. They could move him to the OF.

I believe you take the highest ceiling guy in this situation. Hosmer has a much much higher ceiling than Alonso. Plus you’re not blocking Marrero(I believe Hosmer can play OF). You’d have Marrero, Burgess, and Hosmer all growing together and coming up at about the same time. This team is building to be good for the long haul.

We as fans may suffer a year or two longer, but the wait should be worth it. Look no further than the Capitals to see what building responsibly can do. They have a great, young team that should be good for a long time.

I hadn’t heard about the age thing with Alonso… interesting.

Great coverage of the draft. Your quality coverage and attention to the comment section seems to attract many reasoned comments from other draft junkies. It seems to be a labor of love for you. I am among the group that appreciates your effort and enjoys reading regularly.

I still hope they take Gordon Beckham if he is there #9, assuming the top pitchers aren’t.

He has a nice FB 92-93 on the gun according to the Seton Hall kids shooting their gun, but the ball is flat with little movement, and he throws a 12-6 curve ball that he has trouble throwing for strikes. He throws just two pitches and does not have great command of either. He tends to overthrow the FB which leads it to stay up in the zone.

Against teams in the big east, he overpowers the lineup the first time threw because of sheer velocity, but he really struggles the second time threw because there is little deception with his stuff and he tends to get behind in the count.

Maybe I am being a little tough on him, but after watching him today, I know he must be kicking himself by not taking that money.

Marrero is the team’s best hitting prospect and you simply do not draft a player to block him unless that player is by far the best on the board.

Also, yes Marrero is the teams best hitting prospect, but when you draft a player you don’t draft to block someone else, you draft to get the best talent in your system regardless of anything else.

Unless the player is by far the best, you don’t block Marrero. If it’s close between two or more players you take the player at the other position… and Marrero is more of a sure thing than anyone they’ll likely be drafting.

IMO, the only player at 1B that you could argue taking is Smoak and there’s a chance you could move him to LF. Hosmer can definitely move to LF.

I like Smoak, but if he’s the pick I’ll be disappointed if it’s over someone like Crow or Hosmer.

All things being equal, I’d lean towards the college guy. The Nationals have put together several drafts centered around HS bats and it would be nice to balance it out some.