milb.scout.com - 6/9/2008
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The Rangers got their man in first-round pick Justin Smoak. But was it enough to give them a passing grade in this year's draft?
2008 Mock Draft First Round
minorleagueball.com 6/1/2008 —
1) Tampa Bay: Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vandy 2) Pittsburgh: Tim Beckham, SS, Georgia HS 3) Kansas City: Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina 4) Baltimore: Eric Hosmer, 1B, Florida HS 5) San Francisco: Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami-Florida 6) Florida: Buster ...
Recapping Day One
farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com 6/6/2008 — Taking a look back at the first day of the Nationals draft, they selected the following six players:
1st round selection RHP Aaron Crow from the University of Missouri. I understand the concern of some about bypassing a bat like Justin Smoak to ...
Posey not Smoak!
leftymalo.com 6/6/2008 — The Giants took Florida State catcher Gerald “Buster” Posey with the fifth pick in the draft. The big surprise is they passed on slugging first baseman Justin Smoak. The bigger surprise is that 10 teams passed on Smoak — he ...
Smoak gets in your eyes
lonestarball.com 6/6/2008 —
Rangers take Justin Smoak at #11, a guy who was expected to go higher.
BA's mock had him at #5 to the Giants. He was #8 on their top 100 rankings, with this scouting report:
A switch-hitting first baseman with power, Smoak draws natural ...
New Rangers newsletter up —
Lone Star Ball
Evan Grant has a new Rangers newsletter up...
Discussion of the attendance problems and why there won't be a retractable roof on TBIA, Justin Smoak, Sidney Ponson, Thomas Diamond, and more...
Check it out...
Wilbur on draft —
Honest Wagner
Wilbur Miller's profiles of the 2008 draft class are up. All hail WTM for surviving this torturous exercise during the DL/Creech era, and maintaining his invaluable site .
In other post-draft linkage, scout.com gives the Bucs the second highest draft grade in MLB: "Beyond just the elite talent at the front of the class, the depth that Pittsburgh added really is remarkable".
Sox sweep Royals, choose SS Beckham —
Tremendous Upside Potential
I never read South Side Sox before this season started. I love Blog-a-Bull, but never realized how great its White Sox counterpart really was. With that said….the guys over there went CRAZY when the Sox passed on South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak to take Geogia shortstop Gordon Beckham. From what I’ve read there and other places, I was hoping the pick would be Smoak. Apparently lots ...
The Review.... —
McCovey Chronicles
If it were my pick, I would have picked Justin Smoak. The switch-hitting power, combined with the the ridiculously high success rate of first-round college first basemen, would have been too much to pass up. That's not even considering how exciting it would be in the short term to see Smoak try and crack the lineup in 2009.
With that out of the way, I'm giddy to have Buster Posey in the ...
2008 MLB Draft: #16-20 —
The Transaction Guy
The 2008 MLB Draft recap is continued with picks 16-20:
16. Brewers- Brett Lawrie SS(Brookswood SS)
The Canadian has very good power and should be able to hit for average. The problem with him is that scouts aren’t sure if he’ll be able to play catcher, as he’s very raw. Eventually, a move to the left side of the infield may take place. GRADE: A-
17. Blue Jays- David ...
Meet the AL West Draft Picks —
FanHouse
Now that the exciting action of MLB's amateur draft has completed it's first round, it's time to take a look at our country's next millionaires. Here's a quick glance at the first round selections by the teams of the AL West. Texas Rangers (11) Justin Smoak , 1B, South Carolina: After trading Mark Teixeira to the Braves last season, the Rangers were left with an opening in the ...
2008 MLB Draft: #11-15 —
The Transaction Guy
Here is a review of picks 11-15 in today’s first round:
11. Rangers- Justin Smoak 1B(South Carolina Columbia)
Easily the most value and probably best pick of the draft so far in my opinion. Texas has an opening at first base and Smoak will be able to fill it. He’s a switch-hitter with exceptional power from both sides of the plate. I expect him to be a centerpiece of their ...
Ross, Murphy follow Smoak —
Postcards from Elysian Fields
The Rangers have taken left-handed pitcher Robert Ross from Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy. He throws 90-92 MPH. Throws hard slider and decent changeup. Pounds the strike zone. Only six-feet title but supposedly a good athlete.
Justin Smoak says he's excited to be with the Rangers. But he declined to talk about how easy or hard it will be for the Rangers to sign him.
The Rangers took ...
2008 MLB Draft: #6-10 —
The Transaction Guy
We continue our look at the 2008 MLB draft with the review of picks 6-10:
6. Marlins- Kyle Skipworth C(Patriot High School)
Skipworth has an outstanding bat with unbelievable power. His defensive game is still quite raw, though, even with a good arm. It will take some time; eventually he might even be moved. Still, it’s a nice pick. GRADE: A-
7. Reds- Yonder Alonso 1B(Miami)
A ...
A request —
Lone Star Ball
Justin Smoak does nothing to alter to third base situation.
Please stop suggesting that either he, or Chris Davis, move to 3B.
Thanks.
Rangers take South Carolina 1B Justin Smoak with 11th pick… —
Young Guns
–The Rangers type of 1st baseman, all bat and limited defense. Per MLB.com, he was one of the best 1B in the draft and his power projects well beyond college. He’s a junior and is a 6′4 220lb switch hitter who throws left. He was born in December, 1986. His full scouting report from MLB.com:
Hitting Ability : Smoak has a real and easy swing and gets coverage through ...
New Ranger: Justin Smoak —
Uwe Blog
The Rangers made their first pick of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft taking University of South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak. Stats on Smoak: He's 21. Stands at 6-4 and 220 pounds. A switch-hitting slugger. He's apparently one of the top first basemen in the draft. Projected to be a Mark Teixeira-like 35-40 homer guy in the majors. Kinda slow, but smart on the bases. Drafted by the A's ...
The Re-Incarnation of Live Thread —
The Front-Row Johnson
(12:30 PM) Heh, the Texas guys are all wearing the same shirt. Aaaand they just took Justin Smoak. Well, at least he won't be with the A's or the Dodgers. I think Peter Gammons just said that Smoak is fully ambidextrous, except with his feet. Does that make him ambipedrous? (12:38 PM) Oakland takes Jemile Weeks. Another overdraft, in my opinion. (12:53 PM) The Dodgers take Ethan Martin. ...
2008 MLB Draft Live Thread! —
The Front-Row Johnson
Whoo! Follow live at MLB.com . It's free! (11:10 AM) Word is that the Devil Rays will pick Tim Beckham. (11:17 AM) MLB.com predicts that the Giants will take Buster Posey, with Justin Smoak falling to 9 and the Washington Nationals. Come on, Giants, I want me some Smoak on the Water two years from now.
A Couple More Mock Drafts —
Nationals Farm Authority
MiLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has updated his “Crystal Ball” and now has the Nationals selecting CA Kyle Skipworth over 1B Justin Smoak.
Yahoo’s Steve Henson has the Nationals selecting RHP Shooter Hunt over 1B Eric Hosmer.
Pre-Draft Jitters —
San Francisco Giants
With the MLB Draft looming this week, there has been much discussion over who the Giants will take with the 5th overall pick. Our own Jonathan Smalls over the MLB Draft blog is convinced we’ll take Justin Smoak, while John Sickels over at Minor League Ball calls for Yonder Alonso. I would personally love to see Smoak if he’s available, followed by a myriad of other talents. My ...
Open Gameday Thread, 5/29 —
McCovey Chronicles
I've been on vacation since last Thursday. Every post from Thursday on was written last week. Vote in the poll!
Poll
Could you tell that I was on vacation?
"Mailing it in"..."vacation"...po-tay-to,...po-tah-to.... You really expected us to know the difference?
Yes. You didn't respond to my poignant commont about Justin Smoak. It was a ...
