"day to dead".

Powell was selected 42 picks ahead of Suzuki, in the first round, compared to the second for Suzuki. Their relative pick placements would give Powell roughly double the expected value of Suzuki.

In 2004, both were assigned to Low-A Vancouver and roughly split time, with Suzuki getting a few more PAs. Suzuki was also quite a bit more productive. The difference, though, was almost due to batting average. Suzuki hit for a tad more power, Powell drew more walks. Powell showed better control of the plate, 26 bb:22 k compared to 18 bb:26 k for Zooks. Suzuki's OBP was also buoyed by unsustainable/ed HBP-rate.

Powell missed 2005 due to an off season injury. Kurt Suzuki, promoted to High-A, though improved his strike zone control, with 63 bb: 61 k. He hit for a bit more power, but that's likely attributable to the more favorable offensive environment of the CA League.

In 2006 Suzuki sustained his strike zone improvement in AA but saw his power fall off significantly, as expected, given the less hitter friendly league.

In 2007, though, AAA proved quite a bit more difficult for Suzuki. His k-rate jumped enormously while his bb-rate fell. From a positive bb:k ratio, it fell to a much more average 1:2. His power also disappeared entirely. After being promoted to the majors, his BABIP fell dramatically, while his walk and k-rates remained similar.

Throughout his career, Suzuki as shown moderate power, at best, good contact skills and a good ability to draw a walk. His upside is probably something like .280/.380/.400 -- pretty good for a catcher but far from great.

In 2006, Powell had an up and down year. His bb:k fell badly. His power actually improved, but his walks fell off significantly. Other than a couple of extra singles, though, it was very comparable to Suzuki's performance at the same level.

In 2007, Powell tore up Texas league. His plate control came back (36:40) and his power took off (.210 isoSlg) While he didn't draw walks as well as he did in 2004, it was as good as anything Suzuki ever posted with much better power. At the same level, Zooks posted an almost identical batting average and OBP but a dramatically lower Slg.

In terms of performance at comparable levels, there's no question that Powell has a lot more power potential than Suzuki. In terms of development, both players have successfully completed one level per healthy year. Scouts agree that Powell is the much better defensive player.

There are two things, though, that Suzuki has on Powell:
1. MLB and AAA success. Powell fell a year behind due to his catastrophic 2005 injury. He's been successful since he got back but he has not yet had the opportunity to prove himself as the highest levels.
2. Age -- due to his attempt to enter the draft a year early, he ended up starting college a year late. and is a year and a half older than Suzuki, despite both leaving college in the same year, after their Junior seasons.

Powell has the real potential to be a star player. His upside is in the neighborhood of .270/400/.500. His downside, of course, includes AAA wash-up and injury-prone backup with rapidly declining physical abilities.

Suzuki is a better bet to be a quality MLB starter. Powell is a better bet to be a MLB star. Which bet do you want to take?