Bay Area Baseball

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden resigned last week amid rumors of bonus skimming and the Esmailyn Gonzalez fake name fake age scandal. Bowden presided over one of the worst franchise constructions – or perhaps destructions – in recent memory. Washington has made a variety of bizarre moves from the acquisitions of Alfonso Soriano to the inability to sign first round pick Aaron Crow.
Whoever takes the reigns has a number of decisions to make about repositioning the team. Whoever this unlucky person is should start with this list:

1. Sign Crow, the Missouri righthander was the best pitcher in college baseball last season and would instantly become perhaps the franchise’s closest pitcher to the majors besides Jordan Zimmerman.
2. Draft Stephen Strasburg with the #1 overall pick, and sign him. Strasburg, who hit 101 on the gun a number of times last season, is without question D1 baseball’s finest starter. He struck out over 20 in a game and was the only college player on Team USA at the Olympics last season.
3. Trade Elijah Dukes. Dukes is just trouble. No team needs a guy who threatens women and children. Not to mention Dukes has never even had a season that reflects his so called prodigious talent.
4. Rebuild through international free agency and the draft. Ignore the Adam Dunn’s of the world – admit that the team is nowhere near contention and spend the money on young players instead of flawed veterans like Dunn.
5. Attempt to trade aging players. Cristian Guzman had a better average than Ichiro Suzuki last season – explore trade possibilities for him, Dukes, Dunn and anyone else making more than $5 million.

Braun’s powerful swing and the grand slam you see in the commercials gets him to the top of our re-draft.

Original Picks
1 Justin Upton Arizona Diamondbacks
2 Alex Gordon Kansas City Royals
3 Jeff Clement Seattle Mariners
4 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals
5 Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers

New Picks
1 Arizona Diamondbacks - Ryan Braun, OF - Arizona loves Upton’s superstar potential, but Braun is already the superstar run producer that every team wants.
2 Kansas City Royals - Justin Upton, OF - Upton still has the greatest potential of any player in this draft, and in a year or two he could be back at the top.
3 Seattle Mariners - Troy Tulowitzki, SS - Tulo is a franchise shortstop and Clement was unable to secure the job for a lousy Seattle team.
4 Washington Nationals - Matt Garza, RHP - The hard throwing Garza was 2-0 in the ALCS against Boston and would be the ace of the Nationals weak staff.
5 Milwaukee Brewers - Jay Bruce, OF - Sure losing Braun would be a huge blow to the Brewers, but Bruce, whose power is equally enticing, would be a nice consolation with the fifth overall pick.

Kennedy wouldn’t reach the first round this time.

Original Order:
21 Ian Kennedy New York Yankees
22 Colton Willems Washington Nationals
23 Maxwell Sapp Houston Astros
24 Cody Johnson Atlanta Braves
25 Hank Conger Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Original Order:
21 New York Yankees - Jordan Walden, RHP - Hard throwing Walden looks like he could be a difference maker in the near future after a strong performance at two levels in 2008. Kennedy is already persona non grata in New York.
22 Washington Nationals - Greg Reynolds, RHP - Still has potential despite tough year in Colorado’s Coors Field.
23 Houston Astros - Jeff Samarzdija, RHP - Powerful righthander rode his high 90’s fastball to the major leagues in 08, could be an impact starter or reliever in 09.
24 Atlanta Braves - Cedric Hunter, OF - Would be just another strong outfielder in the stable of Atlanta outfielders.
25 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Hank Conger, C/DH - Angels officials love Conger, who battled injury and wasn’t able to catch much in 2008. His bat will dictate his success in 2009.