Bay Area Baseball

Maybin is a five tool athlete.

Original Picks
6 Ricky Romero Toronto Blue Jays
7 Troy Tulowitzki Colorado Rockies
8 Wade Townsend Tampa Bay Devil Rays
9 Mike Pelfrey New York Mets
10 Cameron Maybin Detroit Tigers

New Picks
6 Toronto Blue Jays - Cameron Maybin, OF - Five tool star should be in the majors to stay in 2009. Toronto would be lucky to have him along side Vernon Wells and Alex Rios for years to come.
7 Colorado Rockies - Matt Gamel, 3B - A built in replacement at either corner for Garret Atkins or Todd Helton, Gamel is a power bat who could fill a role in the Colorado lineup.
8 Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Andrew McCutchen, OF - It might be overkill to have this athlete in the Rays system, but he would look great in the outfield with BJ Upton and Carl Crawford.
9 New York Mets - Mike Pelfrey, RHP - The Mets have to be pleased with the way that Pelfrey progressed in 2008. He looks like he will be able to support Johan Santana in the #2 spot in their rotation.
10 Detroit Tigers - Brian Matusz, LHP - He didn’t sign in 2005, but the 08 first rounder is the type of lefthander teams dream about with three pitches that rate at above-average.

Original Order:
11 Max Scherzer Arizona Diamondbacks
12 Kasey Kiker Texas Rangers
13 Tyler Colvin Chicago Cubs
14 Travis Snider Toronto Blue Jays
15 Chris Marrero Washington Nationals

New Picks:
11 Arizona Diamondbacks - Andrew Miller, LHP - His 95 mph fastball from the left side still shows promise in Florida. Arizona couldn’t pass him at this spot.
12 Texas Rangers - Chris Davis, 1B - They got him significantly later in 2006, but his powerful run through the minor leagues and in the majors in 08 have Davis looking like the future in the middle of the lineup for Texas.
13 Chicago Cubs - Max Scherzer, RHP - Dominated in limited innings last season for Arizona with an abundance of strikeouts. Hard luck robbed him of several wins but he looks like a keeper in the middle of the rotation.
14 Toronto Blue Jays - Justin Masterson, RHP - Red Sox pitcher had a run of success as a starter and reliever this past year while showing that he could pitch in tight situations. Masterson’s build and movement are ideal for a middle to front of the rotation pitcher if he can maintain his health. He would step in nicely for AJ Burnett.
15 Washington Nationals - Jeremy Jeffress, RHP - Triple digits fastball has his ceiling as high as any minor league pitcher around. His drug problem looks to be behind him and Washington wouldn’t need an immediate answer anyways as they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Wieters has yet to play a game in the majors, but if you were picking a catcher for the next five years in this division, the sharp decline of Varitek and Posada dictates that Wieters would be the choice.

1. Carl Crawford, Rays LF - Arguably the fastest guy in the division
2. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 2B - MVP gets him into the lineup
3. David Ortiz, Red Sox DH - When healthy still one of the top clutch hitters in the league.
4. Mark Teixiera, Yankees 1B - New acquisition should fit right into competitive division.
5. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees 3B - Barely beats out Youkilis and Longoria with superior talent despite less playoff success.
6. Nick Markakis, Orioles RF - Orioles only representative is an RBI machine.
7. BJ Upton, Rays CF - Speedy Upton is a five tool guy.
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees SS - Jeter is still the premiere shortstop in the premiere division in baseball.
9. Matt Wieters, Orioles C - Here’s a pick for the future, Wieters is the star for this division in the future.

Backup IF - Evan Longoria, Rays - Great fielder and hitter is quickly becoming the Rays best player.
Backup OF - Jason Bay, Red Sox - Quickly becoming a player in the division.
Pinch Hitter - Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox - Clutch hitter is one of the most difficult at bats in baseball.
Pinch Runner - Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox - Excellent base runner as well as speedy defender.