As we are approaching the ammy draft on Thursday, Sheff and I decided to do a mock draft. We each pick for each team in the first round and give our reasons. Hopefully this adds a little fun to the draft and the league and gets some conversation going. This also replaces the yearly ammy preview, showing through the mock draft who we think the top players are. Here we go!1. ATL: Nick- SP Carlos Zambrano. Despite having great pitching prospects already, they can get the hitting they need at 3 and 4. So, they’ll take the best pitcher in the draft.
Steve- RF Ed Delahanty. With 4 quality pitching talents in the minors, the Braves will look to get the guy who could become the best table setter in the league.
2. SF (BAL): Nick- RF Ed Delahanty. You can’t pass up a table setter like this. He will help the Giants score a lot of runs.
Steve- SP Carlos Zambrano. With Chien-Ming Wang, the Giants will a tremendous 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
3. ATL (KC): Nick- CF Ken Williams. Here’s where they’ll go hitting. Williams is a great 5-tool player and a great addition to the middle of their lineup.
Steve- CF Ken Williams. Should hit in the 3 hole for years to come.
4. ATL (MIL): Nick- 3B Al Rosen. Going hitting again, Rosen will help this offense and is a good fielder.
Steve- 3B Al Rosen. It won’t be long before Rosen is a premier 3B in this league.
5. CIN (COL): Nick- SP Daisuke Matsuzaka. Going to Cincinnati will give him a great opportunity to succeed. I believe he will.
Steve- SP Daisuke Matsuzaka. This guy is a gamble, but should be interesting to watch. With 6 decent pitches, his upside is huge.
6. NYN: Nick- LF Ray Blade. A poor fielder, but plenty of pop to drive in runs.
Steve- CF Jack Ryan. Not the Tom Clancy character, but a very solid hitter with decent speed.
7. HOU: Nick- CF Jack Ryan. Ryan will be a welcome addition to a mediocre outfield.
Steve- LF Rocky Colavito. With his GF, Pull and Power ratings he could hit a ton of homers.
8. KC (CHN): Nick- 3B Eddie Yost. He’s got a pretty good bat and fills a hole for the Royals.
Steve- 2B Josh Barfield. Barfield is a good hitting 2B with decent defensive abilities.
9. TOR: Nick- SP Eddie Plank. The smart pick is to take a good pitcher that will eat up a lot of innings. Plank fits the bill.
Steve- SP John Ward. A little older, but with 2 very good pitches and 2 more solid ones, he could be a nice #2.
10. CLE: Nick- SP John Ward. This team needs starting pitching and Ward is the best on the board.
Steve- SP Eddie Plank. After trading Dave Dravecky, they probably have the worst starting pitching talent in the league.
11. SD (OAK): Nick- 2B Josh Barfield. Barfield is a great talent that fills a much- needed hole for them.
Steve- 2B Bid McPhee. McPhee has similar offensive skills to Ozzie Smith and a decent glove as well.
12. ANA: Nick- 3B Akinori Iwamura. A good fielder and a good hitter makes him a smart pick to fill the hole at the hot corner.
Steve- LF Ray Blades. Cecil Fielder’s lack of ability to make contact could mean his days as a starter are numbered.
13. ATL (DET): Nick- LF Rocky Colavito. Everybody needs a homerun hitter to drive in runs. Colavito will be a good candidate for this in Atlanta.
Steve- SP Frank Owen. He’s probably the best starter on the board still.
14. STL (SF): Nick- C Cal McVey. The best catcher in the draft fills a hole nicely in the middle of the first round.
Steve- 1B Rudy York. GM Worst is unhappy with Dale Alexander’s fielding. York is a solid fielder and is a big upgrade on Lucerne Blue at the plate.
15. BOS: Nick- 1B Rudy York. York provides a little anxiety for pitchers, which is something Boston desperately needs.
Steve- RF Dante Bichette. This team is in bad need of someone with some pop. Bichette could immediately hit in the 3 or 4 hole.
16. SEA: Nick- RP Les Owen. As relief pitching becomes more important, it becomes crucial to take them high. Seattle will take the best one here.
Steve- 3B Akinori Iwamura. Aki Iwa will fill the M’s most glaring need at third base.
17. BOS (SD): Nick- RF Dante Bichette. Great value this late in the draft will help their power issues as a team.
Steve- RF Jim Smith. Red Sox get another solid bat to add to their weak hitting lineup.
18. BAL (PHI): Nick- 2B Bid McPhee. Great speed and good fielding make him a welcome addition to the Orioles infield.
Steve- C Cal McVey. The best receiver in this draft would be a nice fit in Baltimore.
19. TOR (STL): Nick- SP Frank Owen. It’s always wise to stock up on pitching. Owen is a good pickup at this point.
Steve- RP Les Owen. Frank’s brother should be one of the best long or middle relievers in Habla some day.
20. LA: Nick- RF Jim Smith. He’ll help bring some youth to an aging outfield.
Steve- SP George Bradley. His good curve and knuckler could help fill a rotation spot in the future.
21. TOR (CIN): Nick- SS Dave Bancroft.
Steve- SS Dave Bancroft.
22. DET (PIT): Nick- SP George Bradley.
Steve- SP Jake Weimer.
23. CHA: Nick- RP Tom Henke.
Steve- RP Tom Henke.
24. TOR (FLA): Nick- SP Jake Weimer.
Steve- 3B Eddie Yost.
25. DET (TEX): Nick- SS Troy Tulowitzki.
Steve- CF Lloyd Waner.
26. MON: Nick- RP Hideki Okajima.
Steve- RP Hideki Okajima.
27. COL (MIN): Nick- CF Lloyd Waner.
Steve- 1B Greg Walker.
28. NYA: Nick- SP Jimmie DeShong.
Steve- SP Jimmie DeShong.
