NL Central GM Drafting Tendencies
-Dexter-Sports
9:57 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Lets take a look at draft tendencies of current general managers of the NL Central to give us a feel of what could happen on draft day.
Chicago Cubs: Jim Hendry - Hendry is known to wheel and deal to get a player at the deadline if he is in the hunt, and he drafts with nearly the same philosophy. Hendry and his staff is most likely to go after the best available no matter what their major league needs are. A good example is drafting Josh Vitters last year, knowing that he had locked up Aramis Ramirez long term. Hendry isn't afraid to take underdeveloped pitching that needs a lot of work and will always be a good drafter because he goes after the best available.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Zach Collier, OF Chino Hills (CA.) HS
Cincinnati Reds: Walt Jocketty - This will be an interesting draft for the Reds with new management in place. Jocketty has been known in the past to not worry too much about the draft, but that was in a different era and market. With the Cardinals, he could assemble a team via trade and free agency. In Cincinnati, the situation will be a lot different. He will have to continue the Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey and Joey Votto type success in order to build the Reds into a winner. It will really be hard to tell what he goes after but I would have to say pitching will be on his mind.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Aaron Crow, RHP Missouri
Milwaukee Brewers: Doug Melvin - Melvin is the reason the Brewers fielded an above .500 club last year. Unlike most of the NL Central GMs, Melvin has put his team together from scratch and very rarely has gone to the outside for help. (Fransisco Cordero, Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron..etc.) Melvin has always had a tendency to go for a power hitter and adjusting according to system needs (Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Matt LaPorta). Melvin has also found his fair share of great pitching (Gallardo 2005, Jeremy Jeffress 2006). Look for Melvin to continue this run of great usage of draft picks.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Jason Castro, C Stanford
St. Louis Cardinals: John Mozeliak - Mozeliak has a great history when it comes to evaluating talent to draft. Before serving as the assistant GM, Mozeliak was a scouting director. He knows this organization inside and out, and it will show in his first draft at the helm. The Cardinals took pitchers in their first three picks in last seasons draft. Mozeliak will most likely continue the trend.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Tim Mellville, RHP Holt (MO.) HS
Pittsburgh Pirates: Neal Huntington - Huntington will also be at the helm for the first time this draft but he is definitely not new to the scouting process. Huntington was one of the most respected scouts in his hey day with the Indians. The Pirates will look to develop better hitters in it's system. The Pirates haven't developed a true hitter from within since Aramis Ramirez. Huntington should have some secret hitters up his sleeve that nobody knows about.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Pedro Alvarez, 3B Vanderbilt
Houston Astros: Ed Wade - Wade is mostly known for his successful rebuild of the Phillies beginning in 2000. Wade, who brought in Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell is best known for building from within. Wade is looking to improve on a good young nucleus that includes Hunter Pence, J.R. Towles and speedster Micheal Bourn. Though Wade has made some bad decisions trade wise, he is usually a pretty good drafter. Look for Wade to focus on pitching in the first couple rounds.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Tanner Scheppers, RHP Fresno State
9:57 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Lets take a look at draft tendencies of current general managers of the NL Central to give us a feel of what could happen on draft day.
Chicago Cubs: Jim Hendry - Hendry is known to wheel and deal to get a player at the deadline if he is in the hunt, and he drafts with nearly the same philosophy. Hendry and his staff is most likely to go after the best available no matter what their major league needs are. A good example is drafting Josh Vitters last year, knowing that he had locked up Aramis Ramirez long term. Hendry isn't afraid to take underdeveloped pitching that needs a lot of work and will always be a good drafter because he goes after the best available.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Zach Collier, OF Chino Hills (CA.) HS
Cincinnati Reds: Walt Jocketty - This will be an interesting draft for the Reds with new management in place. Jocketty has been known in the past to not worry too much about the draft, but that was in a different era and market. With the Cardinals, he could assemble a team via trade and free agency. In Cincinnati, the situation will be a lot different. He will have to continue the Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey and Joey Votto type success in order to build the Reds into a winner. It will really be hard to tell what he goes after but I would have to say pitching will be on his mind.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Aaron Crow, RHP Missouri
Milwaukee Brewers: Doug Melvin - Melvin is the reason the Brewers fielded an above .500 club last year. Unlike most of the NL Central GMs, Melvin has put his team together from scratch and very rarely has gone to the outside for help. (Fransisco Cordero, Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron..etc.) Melvin has always had a tendency to go for a power hitter and adjusting according to system needs (Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Matt LaPorta). Melvin has also found his fair share of great pitching (Gallardo 2005, Jeremy Jeffress 2006). Look for Melvin to continue this run of great usage of draft picks.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Jason Castro, C Stanford
St. Louis Cardinals: John Mozeliak - Mozeliak has a great history when it comes to evaluating talent to draft. Before serving as the assistant GM, Mozeliak was a scouting director. He knows this organization inside and out, and it will show in his first draft at the helm. The Cardinals took pitchers in their first three picks in last seasons draft. Mozeliak will most likely continue the trend.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Tim Mellville, RHP Holt (MO.) HS
Pittsburgh Pirates: Neal Huntington - Huntington will also be at the helm for the first time this draft but he is definitely not new to the scouting process. Huntington was one of the most respected scouts in his hey day with the Indians. The Pirates will look to develop better hitters in it's system. The Pirates haven't developed a true hitter from within since Aramis Ramirez. Huntington should have some secret hitters up his sleeve that nobody knows about.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Pedro Alvarez, 3B Vanderbilt
Houston Astros: Ed Wade - Wade is mostly known for his successful rebuild of the Phillies beginning in 2000. Wade, who brought in Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell is best known for building from within. Wade is looking to improve on a good young nucleus that includes Hunter Pence, J.R. Towles and speedster Micheal Bourn. Though Wade has made some bad decisions trade wise, he is usually a pretty good drafter. Look for Wade to focus on pitching in the first couple rounds.
2008 Dexter-Sports Projected First Round Pick: Tanner Scheppers, RHP Fresno State
