Here are a bunch of snippets from around the internet focusing on the Rays and the 2008 MLB Draft. There is still no indication that the Rays have made a decision between Buster Posey or Tim Beckham.
First, Keith Law projects the Rays to take Buster Posey.
1. Tampa Bay — Buster Posey, C, Florida State
The Rays are down to Posey and Tim Beckham, equally strong choices. Posey probably will cost them more but reach the majors faster, while Beckham is the better long-term prospect.
Baseball Prospectus also has the Rays selecting Posey.
1. Tampa Bay Rays
This is not like last year, when the Rays had the first overall pick and everyone knew for months that the team would select Vanderbilt left-hander David Price. This is more like 2003, when Tampa had the first overall pick and waited until literally minutes before the draft to choose Delmon Young over Rickie Weeks. This time around, the choice is between Florida State catcher Buster Posey and Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham (with Vanderbilt’s Pedro Alvarez still in the mix, but a long shot), but the circumstances are much different for the now-contending Rays. Posey is the safer pick, a player who could make it to The Show quickly while providing nearly Gold Glove-level defense and contributing at the plate by hitting .280-plus with 15-20 home runs and 70 walks. That’s an All-Star at the position, and more importantly, he’d be ready to help over the next few years, when the rest of Tampa’s embarrassing amount of talent is lined up to make a long-term run.
Selection: Buster Posey, C, Florida State
Conversely, John Manuel from Baseball America thinks the Rays will select Tim Beckham.
Ben (Centerville, OH): Outside of the Rays does any organization have more good young starting pitchng than the Reds (Volquez, Cueto, Bailey, Thompson, Maloney, Wood, Ramierez, Jukich, Smith, Smit, Lotzkar, Ravin)?
John Manuel: Some of those guys you listed, Ban, are not really worth discussing in this context. I like Josh Ravin and Ben Jukich and even Alexander Smit to some extent but they are all a ways away or have lower ceilings (Jukich). The Yankees’ pitching depth is in the premier department; so is Minnesota’s. The Reds aren’t as good as those teams in my opinion at the minor league level. Oakland’s group is quite good too, I’m a fan of Cahill, Simmons, Anderson, have amended my prior ways on H.A. Rodriguez . . . pity about FAutino de los Santos but that’s what depth is for.
St Thomas (San Antonio): Hi Jim, Would you shy away from toolsy players that might have problems translating those tools into production? Whats your opinion on players that shoot up the draft out of nowhere would you draft them over players that you have seen for years and know what they are as baseball players?
John Manuel: Two interesting questions. Jim did a column recently warning teams from drafting players whose fifth-best tool is the bat. That’s what the game is about today — can you hit? That tool dwarfs all others for position players. If you hit, they’ll find a spot for you. It’s just hard to justify first-round money on guys whose fifth tool is hitting. As for “out of nowhere” guys, some players are just out of nowhere for us media types and draftniks; they are not out of nowhere for many scouts.
Jordan (Rocky Hill, CT): Price or Kershaw?
John Manuel: Price.
Kevin (DRaysBay): Let’s hear it: Posey or Beckham, who do you see the Rays going for?
John Manuel: Beckham
marie: (san francisco):: Where do you see Buster Posey going if he does not go #1? Is there any chance that he falls to giants at #5?
John Manuel: Yes; I think Posey’s got a lot of interest at 1, 3 and 5, if he doesn’t go to one of those three spots, I also see him going at 7 or 8 if he somehow falls.
Keith Law thinks Buster Posey is a “sure fire” All-Star.
Rob (Alaska): If the Rays tab Posey for “need,” is he really THAT much better than Navarro, who’s still only 24?
Keith Law: Yes, he’s way better than the guy who hit .227/.286/.356 last year. Navarro’s hitting about .400 on balls in play, but has no secondary skills and no history of hitting for average like this.
John (Astoria, NY): Do you think the Rays call up David Price later this year? He’s been “lights out” in the minors so far.
Keith Law: I think they’ll take it slow with him because of his arm - to avoid overtaxing him down the stretch.
Joe(Flint,MI): Are willing to go on record and declare a player in this years draft a sure fire MLB All-Star?
Keith Law: Posey’s the obvious one - great defense, can hit, and plays a position where All-Stars are hard to find.
Ryan (Pittsburgh): Do you see Pedro Alvarez successfully coming back from his hand injury or might this be something that bothers him for a while? I read somewhere that this injury can, at least temporarily, sap someone of their power
Keith Law: He might not be 100% all year, but long term, he’ll get back to full strength. It’s a long recovery time, but not a permanent setback.
Scott Albany, NY: If the Rays go with Posey do you think he could make through the system in time for 2010?
Keith Law: Yes.
Finally, Kevin Goldstein from Baseball Prospectus compares Posey to Jorge Posada.
Marco (San Diego): Kevin, IF you had the chance to trade #1 overall this year, for the chance to draft Strasburg (or someone else you REALLY like) in next year’s draft would you do it? If so is there someone you’d be all over at #1 next year?
Kevin Goldstein: I need to think about that, I’m leaning towards getting Strasburg.
marie (somewhere in san francisco): If Buster Posey does not go #1 then where will he go? Are the rumors that signability may be an issue with him true?
Kevin Goldstein: There are some signability issues, in that last year Matt Wieters got $6 million and while CAA isn’t Boras, they’re not exactly going to let their client come cheaply. If he doesn’t go 1, he doesn’t go past 5, and everyone except Baltimore at 4 would kick the tires on him.
Paul (Kansas City): Kevin, could you explain (at least briefly) what has changed to make your mock draft a mockery?
Kevin Goldstein: Everything? Here’s the thing, Based on calls, emails and text messages I’ve gotten today, the Rays are taking Posey or Beckham, and I think it’s flipped six times. Most of the time Pittsburgh is taking Alvarez, and sometimes they’re not. I wish I had 24 more hours, but deadlines are deadlines and I think in the end, if you judge the mock by everything that was written, as opposed to just the team:pick — it’ll end up pretty good really.
Goldeye99 (Wpg): Hey Kevin, thks for the chat. Sorry, not a draft question, but is Desmond Jennings still injured (back?)? When is he due to start playing? Thanks and like every baseball fan should, I’ll be spending my day at work tomorrow reading all of BPs draft coverage!
Kevin Goldstein: He came back this week and is 3-for-7 with a home run in two games at High-A Vero Beach. Get pumped about him, because I am.
ChrisLDuncan (Sioux City, IA): In your last article you said that Posey isn’t a true impact player…correct me if I’m wrong but a catcher that plays GG defense hits 20 HRs and takes 75 walks a season he’ll be around .280/.380/.480 with GG defense, that’s a WARP around eight or so; which will make him most likely a top five catcher in five years behind McCann, Soto, and Martin perhaps Wieters, s how is that not an impact player?
Kevin Goldstein: You might be right. I was talking to our very own Steven Goldstein about this, and he said, “Isn’t that pretty much Jorge Posada.”
Justin (Burbank): I’m trying to understand why scouts can’t see Posey developing into a 25Hr plus guy? Isn’t he performing at a really high level in a pretty competitive ACC?
Kevin Goldstein: Because college stats don’t mean much more than high school ones? He’s performing riduclously well in a very nice park, but scouts don’t see all of the power translating in the pros. If you are looking for a good example of this, go look up Khalil Greene’s numbers at Clemson.
ericmilburn (San Francisco): Without even throwing a pitch, you had both David Price and Rick Porcello in the top 12 prospects in all of baseball. Do you see any of this years’ draft picks making it into the top 10 in similar fashion?
Kevin Goldstein: Actually, no.
