Bay Area Baseball

1. Andrew McCutchen - OF - A - ETA 2009 - Comp - Matt Kemp
2. Pedro Alvarez - 3B - A - ETA 2010 - Comp - Aramis Ramirez
3. Brad Lincoln - RHP - B - ETA 2010 - Comp - Aaron Harang
4. Jose Tabata - OF - B - ETA 2009 - Delmon Young
5. Daniel McCutchen - RHP - C+ - ETA 2009 - Kevin Correia

Alvarez is a raker who was taken with Pittsburgh’s first pick in the draft. McCutchen has taken a little longer than some expected, but he is a toolsy and athletic player who should be Pittsburgh’s center fielder for years to come. Lincoln proved that his control was unaffected by his injury and should move through the system quickly.

Tabata drove in runs and ran enough to show that he could still be a force in the future potentially alongside McCutchen and Nate McClouth in the Pirates outfield. Dan McCutchen also came over from New York in the Xavier Nady trade and should be in the rotation this season.

Buchholz might benefit from a change of scenery.

Original Picks
11 Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates
12 Jay Bruce Cincinnati Reds
13 Brandon Snyder Baltimore Orioles
14 Trevor Crowe Cleveland Indians
15 Lance Broadway Chicago White Sox

New Picks
11 Pittsburgh Pirates - Jacoby Ellsbury, OF - Speedy Ellsbury is a gold glove caliber defender and has the potential to be an elite leadoff man.
12 Cincinnati Reds - Colby Rasmus, OF - Rasmus isn’t Jay Bruce, but his ceiling is still high enough that if he can stay healthy he should be a top outfielder.
13 Baltimore Orioles - Clay Buchholz, RHP - They can always use more pitching in Baltimore, and Buchholz has some of the best stuff in the draft.
14 Cleveland Indians - Kevin Slowey, RHP - Control artist looks like he should be a solid pitcher for Minnesota. An innings eater who is able to keep his team in the game while throwing constant strikes.
15 Chicago White Sox - Jeremy Hellickson, RHP - Rays pitcher was 11-5 with 2.96 ERA. Power pitcher would be a great solution for the Javier Vazquez replacement.

You bet Joba Chamberlain goes in the top five this time around.

Original Order:
1 Luke Hochevar Kansas City Royals
2 Greg Reynolds Colorado Rockies
3 Evan Longoria Tampa Bay Rays
4 Brad Lincoln Pittsburgh Pirates
5 Brandon Morrow Seattle Mariners

New Picks

1 Kansas City Royals - Tim Lincecum, RHP - Should be no doubt about this choice, Lincecum won the National League Cy Young in 2008, while Hochevar went 6-13 with an earned run average north of 5.

2 Colorado Rockies - Evan Longoria, 3B - He went third in 06 and would move up if it happened again, Reynolds has been a disappointment while Longoria has all the makings of a perennial all star.
3 Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Joba Chamberlain, RHP - Righty flamethrower was drafted low because of injury concerns, he hasn’t done much to alleviate those by missing starts last season but his incredible repertoire would fit right in with the Rays’ pitching depth.
4 Pittsburgh Pirates – Matt Laporta, OF/1B – Sure Laporta didn’t sign with the Red Sox, who drafted him, but his premium bat would certainly be worth first round money in hindsight.
5 Seattle Mariners – Clayton Kershaw, LHP – The top high school lefty in the draft has experienced some major league success so far. His future looks bright and he should be in the Dodgers rotation this year. Seattle has to be happy with the selection of Morrow, but Kershaw’s upside as a lefthander surpasses that of the right-handed Morrow.