Considerations For A's With 12th Pick

When great pitchers like Cain & Lincecum can net you a player like Rios, you take pitching if it's the best available option. Always take the best available talent in the draft.

How is this a giants thread again?

We are talking about Giants fans here, can't fault them from trying to steal some of our thunder. I mean when you have a team as hopeless as the skirts across the Bay trying to pawn a AAAA team for a MLB club whats there to say? They don't even have one "prospect" on their major league roster just unknown crap until proven otherwise.

Back to the subject at hand. The A's should pick up Beckham if he should slip so far(doubtful) or a projectable arm if nothing else is available.

A's need to focus on infield position players in the draft. The A's minor league depth is stocked with Pitchers, and has quite a few 1B/DH/Corner Outfielders. And they have enough players who can 'play' Centerfield for now, with Aaron Cunningham and Jermaine Mitchell being the true CF'ers of the bunch.

But the A's have absolutly no one in the infield. No one in Middle Infield, and nothing at Third Base.

So even if they draft a middle infielder who will move off Short and be a 2nd Baseman or 3rd Baseman, its still worth it since they don't have anyone to man those positions anyways.

Mark Ellis is in his last year, Eric Chavez is crippled, and Bobby Crosby has apparently learned how to hit for the first time in his career, but is brittle as hell.

The A's should sign the best talent they can get, and worry about the other stuff later.

But they do need someone to play SS next year after Ellis leaves. So getting a SS sooner rather then later would be best.

Off topic, but wouldn't it be really funny if Brad Radke Came out of retirement to pitch for the A's. That would be a crazy experienced bullpen.

If Beckham is still available when the Nationals' #7 pick comes up, they'll probably take him. This draft is going to be all about the middle infield since the Nats basically don't have one after this year. Both Beckhams will be Top-10 picks.

To be honest this is the draft I foresee coming at the end I'll explain why:

1) Issac Galloway OF - Rays
2) Brian Matusz LHP - Pirates
3) Brett Devail LHP - Royals
4) Justin Smoak 1B - Orioles
5) Pedro Alverez 3B - Giants
6) Tim Beckham SS/2B - Marlins
7) Jacob Thompson RHP - Reds
8) Aaron Hicks OF - White Sox
9) Tyson Ross RHP - Nationals
10) Kyle Long LHP/1B - Astros
11) Brett Wallace 1B - Rangers
12) Brandon Crawford SS - A's
13) Gordan Beckham SS - Cardinals
14) Jemile Weeks 2B - Twins
15) Gerrit Cole RHP - Dodgers
16) Kyle Skipworth C - Brewers
17) Luke Burnett RHP - Jays
18) Yonder Alonso 1B - Mets
19) Cody Satterwire RHP - Cubs
20) Aaron Crow RHP - Mariners
21) Harold Martinez SS - Tigers
22) Lance Lynn - Mets
23) Jordan Danks OF - Padres
24) Petey Paramore C - Philies
25) Daniel Webb RHP - Rockies
26) Quinton Miller RHP - D-Backs
27) Walker Kelly LHP - Twins
28) Eric Hosmer 1B - Yankees
29) Buster Posey C - Indians
30) Hunter Cervenka RHP - Red Sox

***SIGH*** Now to explain:

Now I know most people dont think there's a chance in hell for Alverez to slip past the top three to the Giants at #5. But the Rays are so stacked they're going to go with a High-Risk, High-Reward type of guy, like Galloway. The Pirates are set with some postions but desperatley need impact arms, like Matusz. The Royals need to restock the system with young talent after graduating Gordan, Butler and Hochevar to the big team last year, perfect fit for Devail. The O's are pretty set at everywhere but 1B and the corner outfield spots, with the firesale they had, plus they took Billy Rowell in 06 he's the future, Smoak can be apart of that future soon. Then the Giants take the best pure player in the draft, Alvarez, because their orgazational needs are evrything but pitching.

I've read a lot of people saying how it would be great if we took Gordan Beckham with the 12th, but the top and most versitle infielder in the draft is UCLA SS Brandon Crawford, carrer .327 hitter & .405 OBP, a little pop 13 HR, and his strik-out to walk reation is 24K's to 49 walks. He's a Billy Beane Pick.

If you have any more questions about my mock draft post them and i'll answer them as time goes on.