It's Christmas Time in June!

by Tyler Bleszinski on Jun 1, 2008 11:22 PM PDT

Well, not really, but Billy Beane has told me that his favorite time of the year is when the A's are drafting. And believe it or not, but the A's will be drafting this Thursday. They will also be drafting earlier than they have in a few years, drafting 12th overall. Tampa Bay, despite their excellence in 08, will be drafting first overall.

The mock drafts are appearing all over the place, including places like Minor League Ball and AN's very own Taj Adib is participating in a mock draft himself . What's funny is that Justin Smoak, the player the A's once had under their control is now projected to go pretty early. Minor League Ball had him going third overall and Taj's draft had him going fifth. Regardless, it makes a tear roll down my cheek much like that Indian seeing that trash being thrown into the street. Especially when several sites seem to think Smoak could likely wind up across the Bay in those horrid orange and black unis.

Any way, I figured I'd open up a front page thread and get some discussion going leading up to this Thursday's MLB draft. What should the A's do? Who will be left? I imagine that the contract demands shouldn't stand in the way this year given that the A's have more funds available. I wanted to get to this topic with Beane but our interview, as long as it was, wound up getting cut short because I needed to run off to another meeting.

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Hope against hope Beckham falls

If not, I still see Wallace in an A’s uni or at least a Canadians one.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jun 1, 2008 11:41 PM PDT reply actions

whoa

you cut short the Beane interview?! Now that’s big time.

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Jun 2, 2008 6:40 AM PDT reply actions

Well, if it's Christmas and you're an Athletic ...

you better wear one of these.

Jalapeño

by Ice Cream on Jun 2, 2008 6:41 AM PDT reply actions

You know Blez...

if the demands of running SB Nation are hindering your ability to interview the hierarchy of the Oakland management you could always send in one of your crack staff to do the leg work for you. I’m sure someone on the staff could ask these questions in your stead.

Like me.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jun 2, 2008 7:26 AM PDT reply actions

Weren't you at AN Day when Beane was there?

;-)

by Tyler Bleszinski on Jun 2, 2008 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes I was

For some reason no one called me when I raised my hand to ask a question.

:-D

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jun 2, 2008 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Brett Wallace

My guess is Billy Beane selects Brett Wallace from ASU. He fits the mold of an Oakland Athletic. He gets on base a lot, works the count and hits for power. Of course just when you think you have Beane figured out he switches on you and selects a high school pitcher. Should be interesting to watch unfold and my personal bias is for Wallace as I’m also a HUGE ASU fan.

PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Jun 2, 2008 8:26 AM PDT reply actions

absolutely

monster. i posted on minorleagueball a couple times about this. i played against him in showcases and summer tournaments for years. beast.

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jun 2, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Brett Wallace

is probably the pick but I wouldn’t be upset taking high schoolers Brett Lawrie or Ethan Martin.

by speedchaser9 on Jun 2, 2008 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

It seems to me that whether Wallace is the pick or not

is really dependant on the team’s opinion of his ability to play third base.

If he can stay there, yeah. Picking him is kind of a no-brainer. But virtually all the accounts I’ve read have him moving to first or, at best, corner OF, which is not what the A’s need.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 2, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions

that may be

but he would immediately be our best hitting prospect

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jun 2, 2008 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions