Draft daze, the day before

Rays officials by all indications are still deciding who to make the first pick in Thursday's draft, which starts at 2 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN2.

The experts on this draft are the staff at Baseball America, and here's the latest from guru Jim Callis:

Sorry, Vanderbilt. All indications are the Commodores will not become the first college team to produce back-to-back No. 1 overall picks. While Vandy third baseman Pedro Alvarez ranked first on BA’s draft board, he’s about third on Tampa’s board, according to industry sources. The top spot remains undecided. According to BA’s sources, the Rays’ scouting department prefers Georgia prep shortstop Tim Beckham, the kind of toolsy, middle-of-the-diamond athlete the Rays have drafted repeatedly—the kind of athletes that have put the Rays in first place in the American League East as the draft approaches. Others in the organization, such as de facto GM Andrew Friedman, are said to prefer Florida State catcher Buster Posey as the perfect complement to the organization’s impressive current stockpile of talent. Of course Posey also can stake his claim as this draft class’ top talent based on his offensive and defensive prowess at such a premium position.

Comments

[Edgar]

Gordon Beckham
strength: hit for power and average. Defense is solid
weakness: can he step it up to the next level and can he handle MLB pitching.
status: solid MLB plyer and possibly a sleeper in the draft along with Smoak. Best suited up as a 2B.

Summary
MLB comparison
Tim Beckham: Jimmy Rollins
Gordon Beckham: Aaron Hill
Buster Posey: Dan Wilson or Joe Oliver
Pedro Alvarez: Billy Butler or Scott Hattenberg
Justin Smoak: Mark Texiera
Aaron Crow: Mike Pelfrey
Yonder Alonzo: Adrian Gonzalez
Brian Matusz: Brian Anderson(former Indians,Royals, and Diamondbacks pitcher; tried out for the Rays)
Eric Housmer: Paul Wilder or Ben Broussard(at best)

in the draft I would prefer Tim Beckham but not to far behind
Justin Smoak

[Edgar]

Brian Matusz
strength: Strikeout artist and has starter stuff; potential
weakness: competition that he faced in college and needs to develop a couple of pitches
status: MLB average pitcher but not a superstar and could see him as a reliever down the road

Aaron Crow
strength: See Matusz
weakness See Matusz
status: servicable starter in the MLB but not a superstar. average at best

[Edgar]

Eric Housmer
strength: Hit .470 with 11 HR and 27 RBI in 33 games.
weakness: age and seasoning
status: Those stats are typical high school numbers. If he goes to college, he can be a productive player. If not, he will not make it to the big show.

Yonder Alonzo
strength: hits for average and power. Defensively is above average.
weakness: not a speed burner
status: above average 1B (i.e. Adrian Gonzalez)

[Edgar]

Buster Posey
strength: versatile player and can hit for average (i.e. Joe Mauer)
weakness: Not enough experience being a catcher. Played several weak college teams.
status: Not to impressed as a player and has journeymen catcher written all over him.

Justin Smoak
strength: Switch hitter with power and hits for average. Excellent with his glove.
weakness: not a speed burner
status: successful MLB player and a future All Star. Sleeper pick and comparison to Mark Texiera.

[Edgar]

Here is my scouting report on each following player

Tim Beckham
strength: 5 tool player
weakness: age and seasoning
(Note: Can he be the next Jimmy Rollins defensively at SS or BJ Upton at SS)
status: successful MLB player

Pedro Alvarez
strength: potential power and above average at 3B
weakness: looks like a 120 to 140 SO hitter with a .230 to .250 in the majors)
status: average at best in MLB

[Corey]

Alvarez is represented by Boras and indications are he'll ask for $10 Million. The Rays won't do that when they can get Beckham or Posey for 4-5M. Personally, I would go with Smoak or Hosmer and add a big bat to the system.

[Bodog]

Bill, if by what you say, then the first pick should be Alvarez and not Beckham, Personally, reading the above article tells me that those experts from Baseball America don't have a clue of what they are talking about - it's all spectulative. Read the article carefully, according to BA, industry sources have Alvarez ABOUT third on the Rays board. Well, the top three choices have been Posey, Beckham, or Alvarez, and the order depends on what so called expert is making the call.
Secondly, I don't know what they mean by industry sources, does that mean Rays personell or personell from baseball people around the MLB. See that part escapes me, now it's down to two choices Posey and Beckham. We know that Posey is an outstanding catcher and the kid is a terrific SS. I'm just throwing this out there, but the Rays have been talking about shifting Longo to SS to give Bartlett a rest during the course of the season. My thought, draft Alvarez, who handles the bat very well and has a pretty good glove at third. According to those same expert reports, Alvarez has the best chance of playing at the major league level sooner than Posey or Beckham. Bill, I said all of that to simply say this, whomever the Rays draft first will come to SIGNIBILITY. Plain and simple

[Bill]

I agree. Beckham has to be the pick. Take the best player available regardless of need. You can always trade for 'need' later.........look at Delmon Young.

[Steve]

Usually it is not wise to ignore your scouting department.If most of them prefer Beckham over Posey, the Rays should take Beckham.The scouts are the ones who have followed the draftees for some time.