Comments on: Weekend Pirates Draft Prospects Preview: 5/11-5/13

By: Michael Shaeffer

Michael Shaeffer — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:05:00 +0000

You always want to pick the best player available in the draft. You can’t draft for need. You’re picking kids who won’t make an impact on the ML level for 5-7 years at minimum. Your needs then could be substantially different than what your needs are now.

By: KingCobra15

KingCobra15 — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:33:00 +0000

as said before, the Pirates need to go with the best play available, regardless of position. I, too, would like to see a bat taken at #8 but if the best guy available is an arm you need to take em.

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:53:00 +0000

here is my opinion about the draft…..I really do have a feeling that in no order, Appel, Buxton, Zunino, Gausman, Giolito, Zimmer, Correa will be the first 7 picks in the draft. I personally like Richie Shaffer (corner infielder from Clemson) and Stephen Piscotty (corner infielder from Stanford). both are power bats, more specifically Shaffer and Piscotty is more of a higher average gap hitter. I have been reading that most people are rating those two around the 12-15 range so it wouldnt be that big of a jump and I have been hearing Shaffer’s draft stock has started to rise and he could be peaking in the top 10 picks when its all said and done. so if those 7 guys goes first 7 picks in a row, I actually would probably take Shaffer because he’s the best power bat in the draft, over guys like Fried or Almora

By: szielinski

szielinski — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:27:00 +0000

I greatly hope the Pirates take a hitter with their pick. Correa once looked like he’d fall to the Pirates…. Anyway, Shaffer looks to be a viable candidate at 1.8 as does Almora. It would not bother me much if the team took Cecchini or Hawkins. Fried would be acceptable too. After all, the Pirates lack a high-ceiling lefthanded pitcher in the minors. But if Giolito falls to the Pirates, I’d say they have an obvious choice to make.

Consider this starting rotation:

Taillon
Heredia
Cole
Giolito
Any one of about 100 future ML quality starting pitchers the Pirates now have in the minors or Charlie Morton or James McDonald.

It’s impossible to have too many high-ceiling players. Once, long ago, the Pirates had Maz playing out the last years of his career. Dave Cash, Rennie Stennett and Willie Randolph were on hand as Maz’s replacement! Having this kind of depth is the goal!