Today's Draft

by rghan on Jun 8, 2009 6:24 PM PDT in Minor Leagues

They've got five of the top forty-eight picks. This is it: the Halos' shot at restocking a farm system that has lost its once perennial luster.

At least, that's the story line currently being tossed around. Personally, I don't think the present state of the farm is so dire, but five picks are five picks, and tomorrow's draft is going to be exciting. Here are my under-educated predictions of what will unfold:

If power/speed combos Tim Wheeler, Everett Williams, Mike Trout or even Jared Mitchell remain available, look for the Halos to use either of their 24th or 25th picks to secure an athletic, high-upside centerfielder. It's iffy whether those guys will still be around, but I think the Halos will lean towards an outfielder over, say, catcher Max Stassi or shortstop Jiovanni Mier.
Top five pick Kyle Gibson, a big right-handed sinkerballer currently pitching for Missouri, just suffered a stress fracture in his forearm. That makes it possible, if not especially likely, that he's still available towards the end of the first round, giving Bane and Co a chance to pull off their annual high stakes gamble.
I'd be perfectly happy if 6'5" lefty Tyler Skaggs is our best option at pick 25.
I bet the Halos lean towards pitching in their sandwich selections, causing many a Halos' fan to scream into the night. No idea who those arms will be, but I think the scouting team will play to their strengths. Look for two pitchers and a slight overdraft of a power bat - Chris Dominguez fits that mold.
My hunch is that the Halos go after corner power types in the 2nd, 3rd, and/or 4th rounds. Prepsters Jeff Balm (1b), Matt Davidson (3b), Randal Grichuk (of) and Jonathan Singleton (1b), and college kids Chris Dominguez (3b), Tommy Mendonca (3b), Marc Krauss (of), and Kent Matthes (of) are just a few names, but they seem to be the big mashers that the Halos will still have a shot at.

Again, this is the first draft that I've really combed over, so these are just hunches. We'll see what happens!

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Comments

Pass on Gibson, Get Skaggs

He’s had an insane workload in college. Andy Seiler did a great piece about how overworked he was on his draft blog.

I agree with you that Skaggs seems like at great pick with our first choice. If they’re still there, I wouldn’t mind Matt Hobgood or Chad James. For a sandwich pick, someone like Kyle Heckathorn or Madison Younginer could turn into great bullpen guys or closers

As for hitters, i agree about Trout and Mitchell and if for some reason Fuentes is still there, he would be a great CF as well. Davidson and Malm both sound good though according to BA, Malm is a really strong USC commit and I’d hate to not be able to sign a guy.

If we could end up with a good prep arm and a potential future CF in the first round i’d be pretty satisfied.

by HaloFanInDC on Jun 8, 2009 7:16 PM PDT reply actions

Good info regarding Gibson

That stress fracture didn’t appear out of nowhere.

Preps rhp Hobgood and lhp James both look good to me. Given the Halos snobbish attitude towards projectable athletes, I’d love to see them take a shot at Hobgood, whom BA compares to a young Goose Gossage.

What’s your line on Fuentes? You’re putting him higher on the board than BA, who still has him around in the second round due to his relative lack of power (he’s a tall, 160 pound left-handed-hitting centerfielder with classic leadoff tools. Despite Carlos Beltran being his uncle, he’s not known for HR power). Do you know something more?

by rghan on Jun 9, 2009 1:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Man

picking well could really help us continue our golden age…..

RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09

by vlad IS my man on Jun 8, 2009 7:53 PM PDT reply actions

Mike Trout?

Go with him. We’ve already had one player with a fish for a last name and that worked out well!

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Jun 8, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

i love your web site. i have only been streaming for a few games and am enjoying talking ot other angel fans, even though they have been going thru a tough time of late

by salmonforever on Jun 8, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

i can live w/another true Angel, Chuck Finley

by salmonforever on Jun 8, 2009 9:43 PM PDT reply actions

Uh it may not be a bad idea to get a few arms again.......

earlier this year I would have said get tons of bats……but now I think it should be about 60/40 power/pitching.

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 8, 2009 10:31 PM PDT reply actions

Link to OC Register Post on Bane's thinking

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2009/06/08/more-on-angels-draft-strategy/25977/ . Sounds like Chris Dominguez is Saxon’s idea and not Bane’s. Chris may still be available when we pick in the supplemental round, but I doubt it.

by rghan on Jun 9, 2009 2:02 AM PDT reply actions