Here Is Why The Bucs Should Take A Position Player

by primetime99 on May 15, 2011 3:03 AM EDT

2000 Draft 1st Position Player Taken Adrian Gonzalez 1st Pitchers Adam Johnson, Justin Wayne,Stodolka,Harrington

2001 1st PP Joe Mauer Prior, Brazleton, Gavin, Josh Karp

2002 1st PP BJ Upton Bullington, Gruler, Loewen, Everts

2003 1st PP Delmon Young Sleeth, Stauffer, Maholm, Danks

2004 1st PP Matt Bush Verlander, Humber, Niemann, Mark Rogers

2005 1st PP Justin Upton Romero, Pelfrey, Townsend, Lance Broadway

2006 1st PP Longoria Hochevar, Reynolds, Lincoln, Miller

2007 1st PP Moustakas Price, Moskos, Casey Weathers, JParker

2008 1st PP Beckham Matusz, Crow, Martin, Lawrie

2009 1st PP Dustin Ackley Strasburg, Hobgood, Wheeler, Minor

2010 1st PP Bryce Harper Tallion. Pomeranz, Loux, Harvey

Obviously Price and Verlander are the pitching standouts. But look at the list of first position players taken. I play the odds whenever I can, and the odds favor taking the best position player. Rendon.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Cole it is.

by bosten7 on May 15, 2011 5:25 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Okay, whose pretending

to be primetime99? This is a good layout, the research deserves some credit. Although, in glancing through them, I don’t think its quite as open and shut. What was the relative strength of each draft class, e.g.? Also, it is still too early to draw any conclusions from the last 3 (or more?) classes.

What does that mean?!

by Trogluddite on May 15, 2011 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

I agree, good post.

Rendon it is.

by Kosstic518 on May 15, 2011 9:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

ditto, good post

and I think sums up the best case for Rendon, which is that position players are less risky. Though still risky.

Minor nitpick: Lawrie is a position player (assuming it’s Brett Lawrie).

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on May 15, 2011 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

2005 was some kind of draft

Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Zimmerman, Bruce, Tulowitski, Andrew McCutchen. And yes Lawrie is a position player. It was the middle of the nite. I was hungry. The Post was mentally draining, looking up actual facts, unlike just crying my case for Lars.

by primetime99 on May 15, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

yeah, that kind of thing happens

Was no big deal.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on May 15, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

i can live with this primetime, nice job

ive always been on board with Rendon anyways so Ill stick with him

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on May 15, 2011 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

I agree, this version of primetime99 is good.

And this reasoning is certainly part of why I want to take Rendon.

by MarkInDallas on May 15, 2011 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

My only concern

is his injury history. How many of those first overall position players had multiple injuries before they were drafted and didn’t become injury risks in the majors. If Rendon didn’t have all those injuries, I’d be all for him. But with his injuries, I’m not 100% sure we should take him

by PuncSpeedChunk on May 15, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

The shoulder and ankle are unrelated.

So I think that should diminish a portion of the injury concern.

by Kosstic518 on May 15, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really, at least not for me

multiple injuries frighten me a bit. I don’t think taking Rendon would be a bad move in the slightest but there is a ton of risk.

by PuncSpeedChunk on May 15, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Who in your opinion has less risk?

by Kosstic518 on May 15, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Pitchers are injury prone anyway.

There aren’t many position players who are actually injury prone.

by MarkInDallas on May 15, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

You could say Josh Hamilton is injury prone, but I would still take him.

by MarkInDallas on May 15, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Tampa called, they want their time machine back

by white angus on May 15, 2011 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't blame Tampa for releasing him

and it was probably the best thing that ever happened to him

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on May 15, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

but they didnt release him

they assumed no one would take him and left him exposed on the rule5. and he was the 1st overall pick. Steinberg literally said he was shocked that the Cubs took him.

and yes, the Cubs took him with that pick then dealt him to the Reds.

by white angus on May 16, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I forgot he was a rule 5 pick

and I think the Cubs want their time machine back

by WVPiratesfan on May 16, 2011 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Problem is...

the ankle has been injured twice.

by Thunder on May 15, 2011 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

The ankle is the least of his problems this year.

He’s moving fine on it. No lingering effects.

by Slick1 on May 15, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Nicely done.

Keep it up with stuff like this.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on May 15, 2011 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

So in 04, 07, 08, and 09, the first pitcher was or will probably be the best player. In the other 7 drafts, the first position player taken is better.

by Adam Reynolds on May 15, 2011 12:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Although, it’s technically too early to tell for 07-10.

by Adam Reynolds on May 15, 2011 12:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I also think it is interesting...

In most seasons where the pitcher, thus far, has been better than the hitter (2009 being the only exception), the 1st hitter taken was a high school player, and the college hitters have almost all become solid starters, if not better…I am not sure where I was leaning, but this certainly has me thinking Rendon is the way to go. Nice post.

by goodtymes31 on May 15, 2011 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

I’m a little hesitant to draft based on what the difference are between hitters and pitchers in the past. Right now, I’m sitting pretty much equally on the Rendon and Cole sides of the fence. I’ll be thrilled with whoever of those two they take.

by Suffering Buc on May 15, 2011 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

Nice post prime...

I drew up a similar list about a month ago and at the time I did it the position players had accumulated 86.8 WAR to 78.8 for the pitchers. However that should come with an * because as your list shows that last four position players drafted are HS players that haven’t reached the majors yet while Taillon is the only pitcher to not have reached. One would expect Ackley, Moose and Harper to be productive major leaguers so the list will probably diverge even more over the next few years. Nice work! Recd.

by Slick1 on May 15, 2011 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

Rec'd

Well done post.

"I choose to gamble with my life

Twice the risk, four times the prize

Nothing knocks me over"

by lighthouse913 on May 15, 2011 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

Three more weeks of this

Gonna get old fast. I think you could really flip a coin, but I’m leaning more toward Rendon. I’m thinking the guy that we don’t pick is gonna be an All-Star. That’s been our luck the last 18 years or so.

But hey, as long as the guy we pick becomes an All-Star, too, then I’m cool with it!

by mspirate on May 15, 2011 8:08 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, what's the latest on Matt Bush and Tim Beckham?

Is Bush considered a bust now? Haven’t heard one peep outta him since he was drafted.

by mspirate on May 15, 2011 8:08 PM EDT reply actions

He's a relief pitcher now.

Everything that guy just said is bullshit . . .thank you

by Scranton on May 16, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

for the Rays

hits mid to upper 90s too.

by white angus on May 16, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's Why We Should Take Rendon

Thru 52 games:

Batting Average: .322
He’s started all 52 games f/the Rice Owls
So far he’s got 14 doubles, 2 triples, and 5 HR’s
.515 slugging %, .530 OBP
72 walks (in 171 ABs) to only 27 Ks
.952 fielding % (which is worse than Lyle Overpaid last I checked, so he must be really rotten)

What does that mean?!

by Trogluddite on May 15, 2011 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

He only played 2 games in the field...

so we can probably ignore that number. You got love the BB/K ratio. That says quite a bit for a player who is having a “down” year. If his power is gone why is everyone pitching around him. He was up today with Rice down by 1 in the bottom of the 9th with runners on 1st and 3rd and one out. Despite being 0-4 on the day Memphis walked him and put the winning run in scoring position. And yep, the next batter, Rattaree, singled to drive in two and the Owls won. He is getting Barry Bonds like respect from the competition. In my mind Rendon is a no brainer selection at this point.

by Slick1 on May 15, 2011 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

and I think the Pirates just like to be contrarians

by Mr. E on May 16, 2011 6:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Fwiw...

my gut says they’ll pick Rendon unless that shoulder is messed up. Like torn labrum messed up. I see Cole, Hultzen and Bundy most likely fighting it out to be the back-up plan.

by Slick1 on May 16, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions