The Draft

[Eddiey]

The MLB draft will be held on June 5th. Who do you think the Rays should
select?
My choice would be high school shortstop Tim Beckham. I have my doubts
that Reed Brignac, now in Durham, will ever be a top of the line
major league shortstop.
The consensus seems to think the Rays will draft catcher James Posey
from Florida State. It looks like Navi will be a Ray for a long time so
I don't think Posey would fill what I believe to be the more immediate need
of one day first class shortstop.

[Richard]

Five tool shortstop Beckham

[raysnbran]

Though I don't follow this stuff that much, I do agree from what I hear that Beckham will be our pick, or the 2nd pick overall. You don't know how HS kids will react once they switch to wood bats, and leave home for some small town somewhere, but it sounds like he has all the tools to be successful.

[Eddiey]

[QUOTE=Richard;1204267]Five tool shortstop Beckham[/QU

You're right on. He is a five tool player. One major league GM compared
Beckham to Bj Upton. Theres no doubt in my mind that Beckham should
be the pick. Its true that the Rays minor league system is thin when it
comes to catchers but I still think that Beckham is far superior to Posey.
The need pick would be Posey but the best player with greatest potential
is Beckham.

[tonypug]

Remember Posey started at shortstop as a freshman at FSU. He has also played every position, including pitcher, and has a number of saves. The Rays really like versatile players and Posey fits the bill. High School players are hard to gauge, some good ones never adaptto wooden bats.Posey uses aluminum in College but has played a lot with wooden bats.

[Eddiey]

Tim Beckham was drafted number 1 by the Rays.
Posey went number 5 to the Giants.

[tonypug]

Beckham seems to project as a B J Upton type of player. There doesn't appear to be an immediate need, so Beckham can be brought along slowly , which is the Rays preferred approach. Posey will reach the majors before Beckham, but the Giants have a more immediate need.