Dream Draft: Team John Manuel
by John Manuel
March 16, 2006
| Pick |
Player, Position, Organization (Age as of April 1, 2006) |
| 1. |
Felix Hernandez, rhp, Mariners (19) |
| 2. |
Grady Sizemore, of, Indians (23) |
| 3. |
Jhonny Peralta, ss, Indians (23) |
| 4. |
Mark Buehrle, lhp, White Sox (27) |
| 5. |
David Ortiz, dh, Red Sox (30) |
| 6. |
Justin Verlander, rhp, Tigers (23) |
| 7. |
Lance Berkman, of, Astros (30) |
| 8. |
C.C. Sabathia, lhp, Indians (25) |
| 9. |
Carlos Quentin, of, Diamondbacks (23) |
| 10. |
John Patterson, rhp, Nationals (28) |
My Philosophy: Because everyone was available, drafting players who could both help a team now and still help in 2010 was not only possible but fairly easy. My tiebreakers were: lefthanded trumps righthanded for hitters and pitchers, the younger the better, and of course, personal link to the player.
My Draft: I felt like I executed my plan, though I drafted more pitchers than I thought I would going in. I love my first eight picks and like the fliers I took in the ninth (Carlos Quentin) and 10th (John Patterson) rounds.
Best Draft: Matt Meyers and Will Lingo both had a good mix of young and old, hitter and pitcher, toolsy and more subtle talents.
Worst Draft: I love Ryan Zimmerman, but not as a second-rounder. I thought Chris Kline took most of his players a round too early, with the exception of Victor Martinez and Huston Street. Jim Callis' draft skewed too young for me, and I have injury questions about the top two pitchers he picked (Mark Prior, Roy Halladay).
Best Pick: Martinez in the fourth round was stout, and so was Michael Young. I felt the fourth round looked better than the third round.
Worst Pick: Conor Jackson in the fifth round didn't do it for me. The other bats in that round have a lot more thunder, and so did the ones in the sixth and seventh rounds.
He Wasn't Taken?: Jose Reyes and Chris Carpenter were in the mix for my last two picks, and I'm shocked neither one went off the board.
That Hurt: I made a mistake in taking Quentin in front of Street. I wanted both for sentimental reasons, and I should have known to take Street, whom I almost took in the eighth round.
Baseball America
