Draft Review

1. Fausto Mota, CF, St. Louis Cardinals: The kid has everything but power at the plate. I was a little intrigued that he went number 1 overall. CF is a tough position to fill and he will do it with style.

Grade: A

2. Aaron Gload, P, Houston Astros: From what I can tell the best pitcher in the draft. Won't reach projections but still almost 80's across the board is pretty damn good.

Grade: A+

3. Tim Carillo, SS, Louisville Colonels: Range for SS is suspect but might be better than I am seeing.  Has speed and some pretty good hitting skills with power.

Grade: A

4. Yamid Ordaz, CF, Anaheim Angels: Might be a bit short of range but me thinks adequate enough maybe, excellent glove and arm. Decent speed and knows how to use it. Batting is powerfully tremendous, future MVP.

Grade: A+

5.  Carlos Alomar, P, Washington D.C. Senators: Might be a little weak in the pitch department but other than that a very nice power starter.

Grade: A

6.  Cedrick Swann, P, Helena Hot Pockets: Health is a big drawback and might have slipped a few places because of it. If he stays healthy (a big if but worth the risk), will be one tough hombre on the mound.

Grade: A-

7.  Dick Berry, SS, Washington D.C. Senators: To me he was the best player on my board and I had three of the first six picks. Why did he drop is a good question. Has good power hitting skills for a SS, lacks the speed but can still be wily enough to steal a few bases. Range might be a little questionable but I think adequate enough to play the position.

Grade: A

8. Julian Saltalamacchia, P, Montreal Expos: Extremely good #1 starter but will take some development time for sure.

Grade: A+

9.  Arthur Holt, SS, Dover Dung Beetles: A project player for sure, has lots of works ahead. Could turn into a good defensive SS but hitting skills are a little undesirable in the contact department and lacks speed.

Grade: B

10. Corky Jeffcoat, SS, Texas Rangers: I be a little miffed, could be my scouting. I see his range as quite weak to play anywhere other than LF, that can't be right. I would say SS is out of the question however at any rate. Could turn into a decent hitter but not sure I see that happening either. I'm so confused as his overall says otherwise. Red herring?

Grade: B

11. Grover Eyre, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies: A sound power hitter and defensive 1B. May have some developmental strain but think it will be small.

Grade: A

12. Merv Christenson, P, Milwaukee Brewers: Solid middle reliever and maybe a sometimes starter. Biggest knock is after the first two pitches the repertoire is weak.

Grade: A-

13. Shawn Gordon, SS, San Diego Padres: Range could be problematic for SS and health could be an issue.  Good hitter with a some power behind him.

Grade: B+

14.  J.J. Lowe, P, Detroit Tigers: First Setup type pitcher taken. Off-speed fly-ball pitcher with some weak splits, me thinks being a Closer is out. If it wasn't for his control and pitches, I would consider him out.

Grade: B

15. David Johnson, CF, Minnesota Twins:

Grade:

16.  Julio Baerga, P, Seattle Mariners: His health and durability aside, ummm, and umnm, an unobtainable right split that might not be ML worthy. Im' not sure what to think as he has some skill in the pitching department.

Grade: B -

17. Kelly Young, 2B, Kansas City Royals: Playing 2B is not a strong suit, playing it for an entire season is even less of a strong suit. Then again he can hit the ball with some power which makes a part time starter valuable except when he wants a lot money.

Grade: B

18. Welington Amarista, P, Arizona Diamondbacks: Surely his splits gain more developmental skill than what I am seeing? Maybe not if he slipped this far down the draft. Looks more like a lefty but still looks like a good quality pitcher to me.

Grade: B

19. Orber Plata, P, San Francisco Giants: If his right split gets into the 60's and control to the upper 80's, he could be a good Closer.

Grade; B+

20. Harry Moscoso, P, Baltimore Orioles: Anemic health and serious control issues, sometimes they do well but most of the time..NOT.

Grade: C+

21. Danny Pierzynski, SS, Toronto Blue Jays:  Plus play but error minded at SS or CF, GG at 2B or 3B maybe. Such a contrast in hitting, good eye and contact but no power or luck and lack of speed doesn't help.

Grade: C+

22. Bennie Wagner, 2B, New York Mets: 2B is iffy but not out of the question. Has a good eye, decent splits and high contact with base stealing speed. I'll pat myself on the back as I got the best player left on my board.

Grade: B+

23. Terry Hill, 2B, Cincinnati Reds: Has the range but little else defensively to be a strong candidate for the infield. Has a good eye, some power and a little speed but questionable splits and contact.

Grade: B-

24. Ike Maybin, 2B, Little Rock Heads: This was one of the few HS players on my board I could see, not bad for 0 scouting. Has some unobtainable projections but still could be a good 2B/CF. Has speed but poor base running ability..grrr. Hitting is more less decent with mixed obtainable abilities. Little Rock may be hoping he doesn't sign and spent the money in the Intl Market.

Grade: B-

25. Tony Clemens, P, Mexico City Diablos Rojos: If his right split develops, he could have a great career instead of a decent one but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Grade: B-

26. Hipolito Gonzales, P, Pittsburgh Pirates: Low durability with high stamina makes high pitch counts rough. Couple that with somewhat anemic projections could doom his career in the majors, but one never knows.

Grade: C

27. Andrew Fischbach, P, San Francisco Giants:

Grade:

28.  Pedro Posada, P, Pittsburgh Pirates: Health could be an issue. Good control and pitches, splits might be a little weak.

Grade: B+

29.  Eric Wheat, CF, Colorado Springs Sky Sox: If he develops well could become a solid player at 2B and at the plate.

Grade:B+

30. Bob Crabtree, P, Salem Super Sequoias:

Grade:

31.  Bernie Feliz, CF, Boston Red Sox: Range could be weak to adequate but the glove is deficient for CF. Has speed and knows how to use it. Has a great eye and hits well against the righties and so-so against lefties. Power and contact impaired hurts his cause further.

Grade: B-

32.  Bob McKain, P, Chicago Cubs: Another pitcher with the odd contrast of stamina to durability and somewhat questionable splits ta boot.  Control and pitches are admirable however.

Grade: B

33. Frank Evers, P, Chicago Cubs: Health and control are big issues. Has very good splits and pitches which looks unjust to weak control. I'm not sure Chicago fans will embrace him however.

Grade: C+

34. Humberto Franco, SS, Florida Marlins: My scouts had him rated high on my board initially but I put an end to that. Yes I do believe he can play a good SS but it ends there. Speed is lacking and hitting could be somewhat unindigenous. Not a bad pick this late in the first round however.

Grade: B-

35.  Adam Casey, RF, Atlanta Braves: Solid at 1B defensively and possible RF though weak in the glove.  Has a decent eye, great right split and power. Unfortunately it stops there.

Grade: C+