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Sunday, May 04, 2008

TBO: Who Will Rays Draft? Let The Guessing Begin

Hey, Rays...Schlichting or get off the pot!

Who will he be visiting? The Rays won’t get into specifics, but it’s a safe bet their choice will come from the following pool: Vanderbilt 3B Pedro Alvarez, Griffin (Ga.) High SS Tim Beckham, Florida State C Buster Posey, Missouri RHP Aaron Crow, University of San Diego LHP Brian Matusz and Riverside (Calif.) Patriot High C Kyle Skipworth.

Like his former Commodores teammate Price, Alvarez has been ranked atop Baseball America’s prospect list throughout the college and high school season. He maintained that standing despite breaking a bone in his hand in the season opener Feb. 22. Alvarez - who, it should be noted, is a Scott Boras client - returned to the lineup April 1 and was hitting .299 with three homers and a .413 on-base percentage in 21 games entering the weekend.

There have been rumblings the Rays won’t take Alvarez because of the investment they have made in Evan Longoria, but the team denies that will have an impact.

“Just because of Evan, we certainly wouldn’t run away,” Harrison said. “Certainly if we thought Pedro Alvarez was the best player in the draft for us, we would certainly find someplace for him to land.”

Repoz Posted: May 04, 2008 at 12:54 AM | 3 comment(s)
Related News: General, Minor Leagues, Prospect Reports, Tampa Bay

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1. MM1f Posted: May 04, 2008 at 12:46 AM (#2768301)

Allan Simpson said that there had been "discussions" in the Front Office about University of Georgia star shortstop Gordon Beckham currently hitting .418/.532/.876 with 21 homers and 16-17 steals and a 36-17 BB-K.

He isn't as toolsy as others but he is a top 10-15 type pick after the year he has had and it is possible the Rays could reach for him if they believe he is a true MLB SS defensively

2. MM1f Posted: May 04, 2008 at 04:33 AM (#2768321)

Alvarez's conference numbers, for what it is worth, are much better than his overall numbers and probably give you a better indication of his talent this year.
His first couple games back from injury he went 1-9 or something against midweek teams, understandable for a hitter returning from missing a month with a wrist fracture.
That isn't the entire reason his out of conference numbers are so crap though.
There isn't really any good reason he went 0-5 vs West Ky for some reason.

His out of conf numbers (mostly vs Lipscomb, Belmont, MTSU, crap like that).. 6-36 with 4 doubles
SEC numbers (vs. #1 conf ERA in country)... 21-60, 5 doubles, 3 HR

Usually a top college hitter in a top conf would hit, say, .300 vs the conference teams and .400 vs the Belmonts of the NCAA.

Predictably he does get walked more in out-of-conf games (9 in 9 games vs. 7 in 14) with the weaker pitchers afraid to face him. He also Ks more 8 in 36 AB vs 10 in 60 AB. So he is probably just pressing and chasing the stuff the bad pitchers are tossing out of the zone.

He is probably just fine despite his numbers on the year being less that what they usually are. I didn't see him as a .300 MLB hitter before this anyway

3. GregD Posted: May 04, 2008 at 11:15 AM (#2768407)

My family and I have had Alvarez's father as a "black car" driver to the airport a couple of times, or at least a guy who claims to be Alvarez's father. My brother follows SEC baseball and engaged with him on pretty detailed terms, asking how he turned down the bonus offers out of high school, and the father was very adamant that he would drive a car for a decade if it gave Pedro the flexibility to do what he wants and earn what he's worth. This sounds like an ideal Boras client to me! The father is an extremely affable and justifiably proud man.

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Sunday, May 04, 2008

TBO: Who Will Rays Draft? Let The Guessing Begin

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