Is it too early to start worrying about the 2010 draft?

by joet on Aug 17, 2009 10:47 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

We're an hour and 15 minutes away from the Nationals not being able to sign Strasburg. That means he goes back into the draft for next year, unless Boras figures out some way to screw with the system and get him to be a free agent. This would likely take lawsuits I'm guessing, which could drag on for a long time. Long enough that Strasburg could still end up in the draft even as they fight it out in court.

Now, the Nationals are a lock for last place. However, they can't draft him again without his permission anyway, which won't be granted of course. That means the race is on for the second to worst record in the league.

So I guess the question is, even though it would suck to lose another 30+ games, does the potential for getting Strasburg kind of make it ok? Andy is (correctly) trading away as many veterans as possible. Our rotation and lineup are looking really, really thin, at least with proven players. And we could start bringing up Snyder, Arrieta, Patton, etc. to take their lumps for the last month of the season and nobody would fault us for it.

I understand that we need to start developing a winning culture and all that. And I don't want the young guys exposed to too much losing right away. I also don't think you can just tank for 40+ games (nor would I suggest it), especially in baseball.

But if we do continue to suck, the good might outweigh the bad, right? Of course, they still might sign him.

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The third overall pick is pretty important too

Because Washington will probably pass on Harper if they can’t get Strasburg done.

If Harper is a once-in-a-generation talent, then we need to sign him irrespective of his price/position/age, but if he is just the best HS player this year, then we should pass, and the third overall pick becomes less important.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Aug 17, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's too early for me to worry about the draft

Although I get what you’re saying. Logically I understand that if you’re not competing then you might as well have a better draft position, but I’ve never been able to root for that (the way Baltimo has ;). It just goes against everything I feel in my body when I’m watching the team.

I’m not sure that Harper is a once-in-a-generation talent. I know he’s been super hyped and he will most definitely be the most talented player in the draft and if the O’s have the chance they should take him in a heartbeat. But I’ve read a number of baseball people’s opinions that say he’s a great talent but there is no telling what will happen to his body as he grows up and starts to fill out. That doesn’t mean you don’t take him, of course, but it’s a concern.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Aug 17, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

for the record

i can never actively root for the orioles to lose a game. i’ll watch most of the rest of them from here on out and i’ll be pissed every time they suck. however, i can’t deny that i won’t feel some comfort in knowing that the losses may take us to a phenomenal player next june when i look at the standings every few days.

by joet on Aug 17, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You also wonder how his head will fill out

I’m not comparing the two, but Rowell was also a cocky kid coming out of HS and I don’t think it served him well when he hit a wall.

by drj on Aug 18, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not ashamed

In the end, winning is good for us!

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Aug 19, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

*losing is good for us.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Aug 19, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hm

I read what you wrote and I knew what you meant, but I didn’t notice it was wrong. My head rewrote it to say that in the end it will help us win, as in the future.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Aug 19, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's really weird

Because the same thing happened to me as is evidenced by the fact that I didn’t correct my mistake even after checking before posting. Odd.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Aug 20, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just FYI

You mentioned Patton in your post, but the team has already shut him down for the rest of the season.

"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson

by Brotz13 on Aug 18, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

now that strasburg's signed...

we don’t have that silver lining to every upcoming loss. so who would we want in next year’s draft? i know it’s ridiculously early, and all the names will change after next year’s season, but do you guys know who’s generating the most early buzz?

"If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

by zenmaster on Aug 18, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bryce Harper. by far.

by kba26 on Aug 18, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh

If you think the Nats do worse than us and take Harper, then yeah, we’re not in the best shape, but we could still definitely tank and win the number one overall.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Aug 19, 2009 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mychal Givens

Givens is a really good signing by tho O’s.

by br0nxb0mbers23 on Aug 19, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Nats are definitely not a lock for last pick anymore

Don’t count the O’s out

by U2boy417 on Aug 19, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention KC and PIT

It’s a race to the bottom!

"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson

by Brotz13 on Aug 20, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Nats

are 8 games back of us with 19 games left in the season, so our chances of getting the number one pick are nearly impossible.

There is a three way race for pick 2 between The O’s, KC, and Pittsburgh. Possibly Cleveland if they really tank. The best possible scenario is to have The Nats get scared off by Harper’s asking price, and he falls into our laps like the Matt Wieters/Pirates debacle.

Given what not just media says, but what scouts say about this kid, he is a better high school prospect than Griffey jr, and A-Rod were. I know he’s cocky, but these guys aren’t here to be my pal. They are there to make our Orioles a better team. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

When you're born into the human race you're given a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you're given a front row seat. And some of us have notepads.-George Carlin

by Afghanistan Steve on Sep 15, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs