I have sent e-mails to MLBlogs and to MLB themselves.  My Blog has been moved into readerless purgatory somehow and no one knows how to correct the issue.  So my Blog based around Thursday’s draft is falling on blind eyes during the most important time of the year, one could say.  Very unfortunate.

I don’t know if anyone will ever see or have a chance to read my Mock Draft, but I will do one anyway.  Best Guess is listed first, others listed second.  and of course, bonus demands and the Boras effect can ruin the best of predictions.

1. Tampa Bay-David Price should be the only option
2. Kansas City-Rick Porcello, but I would pick Weiters
3. Cubs-Josh Vitters, Mike Moustakas, Or Matt Weiters
4. Pittsburgh-Matt Weiters, or one of other four from above
5. Baltimore-Ross Detwiler, smart pick with pitching coach Leo Mazzone
6. Washington-Mike Moustakas or maybe Dan Moskos
7. Milwaukee-Phillipe Aumount, Blake Beavan
8. Colorado-Matt Dominguez, Dan Moskos, or Jason Heyward, could be wrong
9. Arizona-Jason Heyward, Jarrod Parker, Blake Beavan, maybe Beau Mills
10. San Francisco-Beau Mills, Aaron Poreda, Devon Mesoraco, Yasmil Grandal
11. Seattle-Casey Weathers, Beau Mills, Blake Beavan
12. Florida-Blake Beavan, Madison Baumgarner, Jarrod Parker, Michael Main
13. Cleveland-Madison Baumgarner, Matt Dominguez, Devon Mesoraco
14. Atlanta-Josh Smoker or Jason Heyward if he is still available
15. Cincinnati-Kevin Ahrens, Casey Weathers if available, Devon Mesoraco
16. Toronto-Dan Moskos, Aaron Poreda, Jarrod Parker, Joe Savery
17. Texas-Matt Harvey, Julio Borbon, Michael Main, Joe Savery
18. St. Louis-Andrew Brackman, Matt Harvey, James Simmons, Nick Schmidt
19. Philadelphia-Jarrod Parker, Devon Mesoraco, Michael Burgess, Matt Harvey
20. LA Dodgers-Jake McGeary, or whatever other HS pitcher drops to them
21. Toronto-James Simmons, Nick Schmidt, Aaron Poreda, Wes Roemer
22. San Francisco-Aaron Poreda, Nick Schmidt, Casey Weathers if he falls
23. San Diego-Nick Schmidt, Devon Mesoraco, Nick Noonan
24. Texas-Michael Main, Julio Borbon, Andrew Brackman if he falls
25. White Sox-Chris Withrow, Devon Mesoraco, Yasmil Grandal
26. Oakland-Matt LaPorta, Kyle Russell, Sean Doolittle, Devon Mesoraco
27. Detroit-Devon Mesoraco, Tim Alderson, Michael Burgess, Nevin Griffith
28. Minnesota-Peter Kozma, Will Middlebrooks, Nick Noonan, Wendell Fairley
29. San Francisco-Brett Cecil, Yasmil Grandal, Mitch Canham,
30. New York AL-Julio Borbon, Kyle Russell, Michael Burgess, Matt Mangini

The 2005 Aflac High School Baseball Classic brings together 38 of the best draft eligible high school players in the country.  Lots of scouts show up to evaluate this select group of talented players.  But less than half the players will end up signing contracts and going pro.  The players from the 2004 and 2005 Aflac Classics were drafted in 2005 and 2006.  In 2006 only 17 of the 38 signed.  Less than half of the players signed each year.  This will be the third year that Aflac Classic players can be drafted.

Thanks again for the reader comments.  Here are the answers: 

#1  "Who out of this years draft do you see being in the show quickest and able to make an impact?"

The players I see making it to the majors the quickest would mostly be the bullpen guys.  Guys like
Brett Cecil from Maryland, Wynn Pelzer from Clemson,
Cole St. Clair from Texas
Eddie Kunz from Oregon State,
Sam Demel from TCU,
Jordan Chambless from Tx A&M,
Casey Weathers from Vanderbilt, and Blair Erickson from Cal-Irvine could all make a quick rise to the majors.  But it all depends on the teams that draft them.  Looking at the hitters, I would say that Matt LaPorta from Florida,
Matt Weiters of Georgia Tech,
Kellen Kulbacki of James Madison, and Beau Mills of Lewis & Clark have the best chance.  Starting pitchers get fast-tracked based on team need as well.  That being said, I could see both Ross Detwiler and David Price in the majors sometime in 2008.  Plus there is always the chance that Price goes straight to the majors if he gets a Major League contract from Tampa Bay as the #1 overall pick.  It doesn’t happen very often, but it could happen. 

#2  "What about the sensational left-hander, John Flanagan, from Belleville West (IL) High School?? Where do you see him in the overall picture?"

John Flanagan appears to be a solid, successful high school pitcher.  He is a 6’5" left-hander with excellent command.  He also sounds like he is leaning toward signing rather than going to college.  All these things lead me to believe he will drafted anywhere between the 3rd-6th rounds.  Seattle does a good job of drafting local players from the Pacific Northwest.  So they could possibly pick Flanagan a little early, possibly with the 52nd overall pick they received from Kansas City for signing Gil Meche.

#3 "Great stuff, I am assuming you are waiting to see if guys like Scherzer, Latos and Walden sign. Where would they be rated if they were included?"

Great question!  Latos and Walden were in my opinion two of the top high school pitchers from last years draft.  They dropped in last years draft and went to junior college.  If they don’t sign before the draft, they would both be first round picks in 2007.  Scherzer would be best served by signing before the draft.  Being represented by Scott Boras is a huge handicap for players wanting to start major league careers.  He has done his part to wreck more careers than any other agent.  Scherzer is currently pitching independant league ball.  Reports have his velocity in the low 90′s, but his fastball is straight and hittable.  So he could be the next Alan Embree, instead of the next Barry Zito.  If he goes back into the draft, the Cardinals might be interested with either pick 18, or pick 36.  I could also see Detroit taking him at #27, the Yankees at pick 30, or the pitching starved Washington Nationals at pick 31.

Jonathan Mayo has his draft chat going right now. So hopefully some of you "draft-heads" out there are joining in the fun. The servers at work will not allow me access. I have updated my Top 100 list somewhat, and I will do so again next week. Enjoy the rankings and have a good weekend.