The 2008 Draft: My Take

Ok, I have been receiving some questions on my take on the Yankees 2008 Draft. I will talk about the top 5 picks and then give my best draft picks, best valued picks, sleeper picks, thats a reach picks, and just bad picks. I also included at the end who I thought would be tough signs.

#1 Pick - Gerrit Cole - RHP HS
Ok, first I must say I love picking kids that were huge Yankees fans growing up and that COle was most likely the best arm in the draft. But I am just not a big fan of this because of 1 reason: I cannot make sense of giving a 17 year old kid who has some issues before he can pitch, which likely won't be for atleast 4 years, a $7 million dollar signing bonus, which his agent, non other than Mr. Scott Boras says will take for Cole to don the pinstripes. I can't see giving Cole more than 2 million and thats even stretching it. First, he's too young at this point to gauge if he is worth that amount. Second, I'd rather invest that money in someone that can help immediatley from the free agency pool, and third Cole has some question marks that just don't garner $7 million dollars.

#2 Pick (Sandwich pick) - Jeremy Bleich - LHP Stanford
I'm not a huge fan of Bleich, or Stanford pitchers for that matter, but I love the pick. A left handed arm that will be able to help us within 2 years, possibily after 1 year. We are desperate for left handed arms and this is a young left handed arm who I am told will not require a huge signing bonus. He pitched in the PAC-10, which is a powerhouse conference and he had pretty good success there, which tells me quite a bit about him. There are some injury related questions, similar to that of a guy you may of heard of...Joba Chamberlain.

#3 Pick - Scott Bittle - RHP Mississippi
I really like the pick of Bittle, a closer at Mississippi, he doesn't have much leverage in money talks as he is done with his eligibility and a huge Yankee fan means we will likely see Bittle in Staten Island before long. Bittle has a pitch that is virtually unhittable that is a combo of 3 pitches that he calls "The Thing".

#4 Pick - David Adams - 2nd Base/SS - Virginia
Already in the farm and making the most of his time in Staten Island. He is not hitting to his abilities, but it is not uncommon for newbies to have some struggles adjusting to the minors. I think this pick had some great value in it, especially since he was an early sign and was able to jump right into the system. Too early for a good prediction - but think 2014.

#5 Pick Corban Joseph - SS - HS
Corban is competing with Angelini to be the heir to Yankee Legend Derek Jeter. Corban was signed rather quickly and unlike Angelini will play a full minor league schedule - Angelini only played in 2 games. I think Angelini is the superior player, but with both of them under 20 it is nice to have such highly regarded players to puch each other. If Corban is not Jeter's heir, he will be some other teams star unless he is moved to 2nd Base or 3rd. All and all a great pick.

Best Draft Picks (In no particular order)
LHP Jeremy Bleich (Sandwich pick)
SS Corban Joseph (4th Round)
C Kyle Higashioka (7th Round)
OF Dan Brewer (8th Round)
RHP Mikey O'Brien (9th Round)
RHP Luke Greinke (12th Round)
SHP Pat Venditte (20th Round)

Best Value Picks
2nd Base/SS David Adams (3rd Round)
SS Corban Joseph (4th Round)
RHP Mikey O'Brien (9th Round)
OF Jack Rye (13th Round)
RHP David Phelps (14th Round)
SS/3rd Base Addison Maruszak (17th Round)
SHP Pat Venditte (20th Round)

Sleeper Picks
RHP Brett Marshall (6th Round)
RHP David Phelps (9th Round)
OF Jack Rye (13th Round)
SS/3rd Addison Maruszak (17th Round)
3rd Base Mike Lyon (24th Round)
C Jeff Nutt (25th Round)
OF Chad Gross (28th Round)

That's a Reach Picks
RHP Gerrit Cole (1st Round) NOTE only because I do not feel is worth $7 million
LHP Jeremy Bleich (Sandwich Round) I love this pick, don't get me wrong, just think we could have made it around the 4th Round and got more value out of the sandwich pick.
OF Ray Kruml (11th Round)
RHP Brandon Braboy (18th Round)


Just Bad Picks
LHP Blake Monar - the kid just isn't going to sign, and if he does, he isn't worth what he will get (26th Round)
OF Michael Jones (30th Round)
All in all, I thought I was a decent draft, Jones was the worst pick in history as he is just playing for summer money, Jones will enter the NFL next year and never wear the pinstripes, why waste the pick and money?

Tough Signs
Gerrit Cole
Kyle Higashioka
Brett Marshall
Blake Monar


Pinstriped As Always.
Laura