Mark Appel just is not an elite prospect in my book or even great... I can't forget how he got rock bad last year against florida st... Gray seems like a one year wonder who might be better as a closer... I go wioth Bryant dude with his power and consistent average throughout his career is very rare... Plus Bryant has gotten better during his junior season now that he doesn't strikeout much and his power and batspeed are both awesome... Then next year in 2014 you go for a Rodon,Beedle or Toussaint...
huh? Appel is worthy of the #1 pick. Few knowledgeable people dispute that. Whether he's worth taking instead of a guy who will sign for under slot and we get a package of players....that is up for debate.
Okay, I want y'all to be as realistic as possible...what chances do we have of signing Bryant under slot at 1.1 and then Kohl Stewart falling to 2.1 and us signing him for top 15 money?
While I don't agree with your thoughts on Appel, I do agree he that Bryant is definitely a special bat. My concern on Bryant is what is his position (besides shades of Phil Nevin and Brett Wallace). Quite a few scouts have said he will have to move to 1st base/LF/RF. power hitting OFs are not difficult to find (the Astros cold pick up a power hitter in the later rounds). A power hitting third baseman with OPS is definitely worth a top overall pick, but an OF, not so much. As far as Appel and Gray, both pitchers would look great in an Astros' uniform. Gray needs to show more than his blazing fastball, he has average secondary stuff. I have reservations about Appel with everything that happened last year and what his numbers look like against top competition. Appel has looked much more dominant this season and would be a great number two pitcher if didn't become an ace. While I am not an advocate of drafting for need vs. BPA, the Astros still lack ToR pitching. You can never have too much pitching and adding an Appel or Gray to the farm system would go a long way with Cosart, Wojo, NiTro, Folty, etc. If Bryant can sick and third and be serviceable, then I'm all in for Bryant, but if he has to move to the outfield, I'll take a pitcher.
I know there are concerns about Bryant having to move positions, but most of what I've read is optimistic about him at 3B. He has easy power while having a lanky, athletic frame and a plus arm.
Position is probably the last thing I'd worry about in the draft. If you think Bryant is clearly the best player then you take him. We're in th AL now anyway, special bats get in the lineup. Personally Appel seems to be the pick.
I actually think Bryant is the best player. Singleton, Altuve, Correa, Springer and Bryant looks like a murderers row with the right development.
As special as Kris Bryant's bat is, he's not Bryce Harper. Harper is a five-tool player. Harper is in left field due to the amount of talent that's the Nationals have (Denard Span). Harper also plays right field as well as left field and will occasionally work center field when Span has the day off. The reason why Span was acquired was not because the Nationals wanted a center fielder, but a lead off hitter.
I disagree with the notion that you don't worry about position. You get less value from Kris Bryant is he becomes a DH. You have plenty of players that you can draft/sign to be a DH. I'm not saying I'd be disappointed if Bryant is the pick, I'm just saying it would be my preference if he could really play third base. If the Astros pick Bryant and he ends up n the outfield, that's fine... an outfield of Springer (CF), Santana (RF) and Bryant (LF) looks pretty damn good. I still thing pitching is the way to go, but if the Astros get a talented player like Bryant I'll be fine with it as well.
He has also moved to the outfield so he wouldn't risk getting injured as a catcher. But I agree Bryant is no Harper
BA Top 250 101. Mason Smith, OF, Rocky Mountain HS, Meridian, Idaho to 250. Tyler Cohen, RHP, Agoura HS (California)
They've been showing on the Top 500 page for a while (both 2012 and 2013), but this is updated, since Appel was #1 yesterday. 29. Austin Wilson 66. Cavan Biggio 2 intriguing names. Biggio for being Biggio, and Wilson for the slide, he was considered potential top 5 coming into the season, and generally regarded as top 10.
Wilson was hurt for a while and people have had questions about how much contact he will make in the pros since high school.
Both Gray and Appel with their second straight mediocre starts. Appel's came with good peripherals. Gray-6.1 ip, 9 hits, 4 er, 1 bb, 3 so Appel-7 ip, 9 hits, 5 er, 1 bb, 11 so Tweet from Heyman earlier: Jon HeymanVerified account?@JonHeymanCBS gm: top 3 picks, in any order, should be jonathan gray, mark appel & kris bryant. "those 3 have separated themselves.''
With every mediocre start by Appel & Gray, I lean further and further toward wanting Kris Bryant, or Clint Frazier for that matter. I'm getting to the point that I'll almost be disappointed if the Astros pick one of the big college SP. This is a good read over on TCB, where the contributors react to all the possibilities at 1-1.
This may describe my feelings as well. Bottom line: I want our 1-1 to be an impact player. Appel / Gray are looking less and less like a dependable #1 starter (not to say they couldnt help a team as a #2 or #3).
Likely appearances from Mark Appel and Kris Bryant. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Astros Pre-Draft Workout tomorrow is in the LA area and will hold three others, Biggio, Pettitte, and Clemens are invited to other ones</p>— Brooks Parker (@Subber10) <a href="https://twitter.com/Subber10/status/335941180862894080">May 19, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
