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And with the 12th overall pick, the A's select...

Countdown_tiny by Taj Adib on

Jemile Weeks, 2B, University of Miami.

Shrug. We were one pick away from having Smoak drop to us, and instead, Beane goes ahead and picks a guy no one expected him to 24 hours ago.

The Good: Weeks is a switch-hitting two-bagger who sprays line drives to all fields and has pretty good speed. He's got big-league bloodlines as his older brother is Milwaukee Brewers star Ricke Weeks. He's athletic enough to possibly be moved to center field, where his offensive approach and speed would play better. He's got pretty good, but not outstanding, plate discipline as he's walked either as much or slightly more often than he has struck out each season at Miami.

The Bad: He's definitely the lesser of the family talent-wise. He's not a particularly adept defender at 2nd and will never have plus power.

Personally, I'm not really thrilled with this pick. Sure, the organization is lacking in impact middle-infield talent, but Weeks is not projected to be the next Pedroia or Tulowitski.  The Cards just took Brett Wallace, a Bay Area native and superior offensive player to Weeks right after the A's pick, who I thought would have been a better pick.

We have to wait until the 2nd round for the next pick as the A's do not have any compensatory sandwich picks this year. It's gonna be a long wait.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

With their 2nd round selection, 58th overall, the A's take:

RHP Tyson Ross , out of Cal!

I am very pleased that Ross fell into the 2nd round and that Billy made the decision to nab him. Tyson is an Oakland-native who has led the Cal Bear pitching staff the last few years. He's a tall (6'6) righty starter with good stuff. He had an awesome sophomore season but after dealing with some health issues at the beginning of this year, he's been kin of inconsistent. He's got awesome make up (as he was one of the leaders of the Team USA squad last summer).

I'm truly excited about this pick. Mechanically, some scouts have been put off by Ross's abrupt mechanics. However, others note that he is fairly new to pitching, is a tremendous athlete and has all the arm and lower body strength needed to become a top-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.

Plus, he was born and raised in Oakland. Can't get anymore local than that! Yippee!

...and in the 3rd round the A's took:

Catcher Petey Paramore out of ASU.

Solid pick there. Paramore was probably one of the to-5 catchers in the class. He's apparently a defensive stalwart, but he can switch hit and is another contact-oriented hitter that doesn't strike out much. He's also reportedly pretty good with runners in scoring position! Score!

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Hope BB, Forst and Co. are Right

And you are not. Now what are the odds of that?

by madmongoose on Jun 5, 2008 12:28 PM PDT   0 recs

hilarious

wow, a fan gave his opinion, and you’re response is “well, the team is smarter than you”. You do realize that we all know that we’re not GM’s, and that this site wouldn’t exist without people giving their opinions? You should really stop instigating people.

by ohmangoAs on Jun 5, 2008 1:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think this one's a little benign...

I read it as if he were just saying he hopes the front office made a good choice, and threw a little joke on the end of it. I’m not saying you’re trying to cause trouble, here, I’m just saying let’s give the guy the benefit of the doubt so we don’t have another 78-comment pissing contest.

President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium

by Joey C. on Jun 5, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

thank you

exactly right. very benign—I understand that taj and others understand the draft and prospects a lot better than many of us who don’t have the time to be up on it. I was simply joshing that I hoped the A’s were smarter than he was giving them credit for. But absolutely benign.

by madmongoose on Jun 5, 2008 9:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm disgusted

I think Weeks was somewhere around the 20-25th best player in this draft, and we drafted him at #12. I’m not quite sure how he is really better than Josh Horton, who was drafted much later last year.

Beane & Co. know far more about baseball than I, but for now I can be nothing but disappointed with this pick.

by BlameChannel53 on Jun 5, 2008 12:39 PM PDT   0 recs

Maybe the team philosophy is changing?

Speed is perhaps becoming undervalued and BB is trying to exploit this? We are stealing a lot more then we ever have, more aggressive on the bases. Weeks looks like a Carlos Gonzales type player, no? I have faith and want to believe the A’s braintrust knows what theyr’e doing. I just hope we KICK SOME ANGELS BUTT this weekend!

by A'sfansince1970 on Jun 5, 2008 12:40 PM PDT   0 recs

Well

We’re going to kick the Angels butt in the draft!!!! They don’t pick until 70-something!!! We Win!!!

by Colorado Fan on Jun 5, 2008 1:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

billy beane is the GM for a reason

have some faith in Billy beane and CO. look what he has done with the team we have now. maybe beane is trying to bring back the old days when rickey henderson would swap a bag everytime he gets on. as u can see the A’s have been running quite alot lately and it has done more good than bad.

by Wreckonized on Jun 5, 2008 12:42 PM PDT   0 recs

Well, you know who we have to trust.

Many, many on AN in last year’s draft bagged on the organization for picking Simmons and Doolittle. Well so far, the organization looks good for that despite AN.

by TheRaiderWay on Jun 5, 2008 12:43 PM PDT   0 recs

That's a good point

Both of them are looking like really nice picks right now.

by Blez on Jun 5, 2008 12:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

very true

i believe many of these same naysayers (not calling anyone out by name), were pissed off with the a’s last year for picking guys like simmons and doolittle.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 5, 2008 2:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball America...

had the A’s projected to pick Weeks. So did Keith Law, but I can’t find his mock draft anywhere on ESPN now.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 5, 2008 12:44 PM PDT   0 recs

Just to think

If we had lost to the Rangers one more time last year, we’d have Justin Smoak right now.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jun 5, 2008 12:44 PM PDT   0 recs

Maybe the team realized that

and that’s why they’re playing so poorly against the Rangers this year.

by Blez on Jun 5, 2008 12:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Just to think

If he’d decided to play pro-ball instead of college ball 4 years ago, we would have Justin Smoak right now

by GusanoQuemador on Jun 5, 2008 1:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If he had made that decision some time after the draft, you mean.

If he had decided before the draft, and anyone had a hint of it, he would have been claimed much higher four years ago.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Jun 5, 2008 1:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The younger Weeks is apparently more adept at 2B than the elder

So there’s a decent chance, it seems, that he might stick. My problem is that he sounds like Bobby Crosby: The Early Years—trying way too hard to pull the ball over the fence, not content to use all fields. Which it would seem a guy without plus power would want to do.

Beane certainly knows better than I, so call it good.

President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium

by Joey C. on Jun 5, 2008 12:44 PM PDT   0 recs

I really, really dislike the negativity towards the A's

and the monday morning quarterback directed at everyone from Emil Brown to Billy Beane himself… Really hate it.

That said, seems like Wallace would have been a better pick. Thats why I get paid the big bucks to run this team, though.

by As Fan in the Bronx on Jun 5, 2008 1:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Emil Brown and Billy Beane lol

One of these things is not like the other (Hint: Beane is good at things).

by iamawesomer on Jun 5, 2008 1:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm not being negative.

Saying that you’d rather have the team select someone with a bigger power potential is not being negative, just pragmatic, in my mind. I’m sure the front office had good reasons to take Weeks and he might turn out to be a good player. But from a straight-up impact standpoint, I don’t think he was the best value pick in the slot. I like Weeks’ speed and contact-oriented approach and I’m hoping I’m dead wrong about being skeptical.

by Taj Adib on Jun 5, 2008 1:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why does such a wonderful man like such terrible things? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 5, 2008 1:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cake baby?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 5, 2008 1:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Have your cake, and eat it too.

Another good point. Nevertheless, I like Wallace.

by As Fan in the Bronx on Jun 5, 2008 1:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can't have your cake

and eat it too?

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jun 5, 2008 1:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This may be a cheap pick for the A's

like Jeremy Brown…they won’t have to pay Weeks top 12 $...siign hin for second rd. money. Essentially, A’s being cheap again

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 1:08 PM PDT   0 recs

And your evidence for this is...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 5, 2008 1:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The A's have really only gone under slot in one year

That was the Moneyball darft, where they had a ton of picks. I don’t think this was a money pick, it was a need pick.

by BlameChannel53 on Jun 5, 2008 1:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Everyone in the front office

Has said that they don’t draft based on needs, they just go after the best player. I don’t see any reason for them to lie to us about this philosophy.

by GusanoQuemador on Jun 5, 2008 1:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know what the A's said

I also know that not one propsect maven has Weeks listed as the 12th best player in the draft. The A’s may truly have valued Weeks as the BPA when they drafted, and if that is the case we will see whether their scouting was correct. The A’s would never admit they draft for need, because no team ever does; it does not mean that teams don’t draft for need.

by BlameChannel53 on Jun 5, 2008 1:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Namely...?

Have the A’s gone under slot for any pick since Wolff acquired the team?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 5, 2008 1:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can someone post an actual link to signing bonuses?

Can’t remember where the info is located…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 5, 2008 2:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i said may.....just something A's have done in the past

Jeremy Brown was not a first rd type pick, but took him because they liked his ability and new he would sign on the cheap end

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 1:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And do you really see the A's paying eight figures for a draft pick?

There’s cheap and there’s being responsible with your money. Too soon to say one way or the other here.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Jun 5, 2008 1:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i understand A's economics...everyone is surprised they took Weeks, but it makes

sense to take him because he would be cheaper than Wallace or Friedrich

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 1:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why does it make sense to take him because he'd be cheaper

Instead of paying more money to get a guy who is better?

by mikev on Jun 5, 2008 2:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

because the A's are cheap!!!!!!!!

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 2:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Jeremy Brown, Stephen Obenchain..

were they not under slot 1st rd. picks?

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 2:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

... in 2002...

when the team had 7 first round picks… and moronic ownership…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 5, 2008 2:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Que Pasa Amigo?

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 2:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

its not my money

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 2:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And that's a non-answer

Stand behind your opinion. If the A’s are cheap for going about it the way they are, it sounds like you’d rather see them fork over a bunch of money instead.

They don’t do that even at the Major League level except in rare instances. Why would you expect them to do it with a draft pick when they don’t have the money for it?

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Jun 5, 2008 2:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i understand...I've followed them long enough to understand how they spend their money

it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 2:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Because nobody else is (besides the Yankees and Tigers)

and it seems like they’ve been spending a lot more money on foreign scouting and signing, so it could be estimated that they are putting more money into building from within.

If that means spending $10M on a draft pick instead of spending $30M on a free agent, that’s a big chunk of money saved, isn’t it?

by mikev on Jun 5, 2008 2:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That kind of goes back to what I read about...

...in Away Games, talking about Tejada and others when the A’s had more of a presence in the Dominican and surrounding areas. The philosophy was “why spend X amount of dollars on one or two players when you can spend the same amount on ten or fifteen and have a better chance of some of them panning out?”

But even then, they were talking more about spreading around $1 million or so, not $10 or more.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Jun 5, 2008 2:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The cost of amateur players of any sort, even first-round picks

is so low that it can, for all practical purposes, be assumed to be zero.

Given that, it never makes any sense to pick someone other than the best player for your organization.

For whatever reason, however, 20-odd major league organizations appear not to have realized this.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 5, 2008 3:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This logic works for dating, too.

Girl 1: “I went on a date with ABB4L. He’s so cheap!”

Girl 2: “Why? Because he didn’t want to spend $200 on dinner?”

Girl 1: “Hey, it’s not my money!”

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Jun 5, 2008 6:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So should the girl spread it around

and simultaneously date 10 guys who each spend $20.00? (Guess what she’s probably spreading around?)

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jun 5, 2008 6:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

as disappointed as i am

making a statement like this with nothing to back it up is just stupid.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 5, 2008 2:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Talk about taking the wind out of my sails

I’m sure Beane knows a whole lot more than any of us do but it just seems like a reach picking Weeks here. He doesn’t seem like he could ever be an impact type of player that will ever hit more than 12-15 hrs in a season if that. Hes an average defender at best at 2B. If Beane sees the next Jimmy Rollins here I have no problem with this pick but I can say I’m really disapointed now.

by AthleticsReign on Jun 5, 2008 1:08 PM PDT   0 recs

Could it be that Beane is suddenly loving speed?

And realizing the value of having it on your roster. Remember this team picked up Rajai Davis and they’re essentially using him as nothing more than a pinch runner right now.

And the A’s also seem to feel like it’s been a long time since they’ve had a true leadoff hitter. Maybe they just feel that Weeks would fit that slot nicely and be able to steal a bag or two when they need one.

by Blez on Jun 5, 2008 1:14 PM PDT   0 recs

bodes back

to the time Herb Washington was on the roster.

by sarchasmic on Jun 5, 2008 1:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He's going to wait a hell of a long time for a lead off hitter....

What’s best case for this Weeks on the A’s? 3 Years? And that’s….

Hey. Could this be a message to Ellis’ agent?

by As Fan in the Bronx on Jun 5, 2008 1:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think it's speed per se...

but more like pure athleticism. The pick is not nearly as risky if you consider that Weeks’ speed and instincts could help him transition to center field, which, as we’ve seen, is a lot more of a difficult position to fill internally than 2nd base.

by Taj Adib on Jun 5, 2008 1:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

okay, sure, speed is nice

rajai davis cost the team… a roster spot.
jamile weeks is the #12 overall pick! the highest a’s pick since zito in 1999! four spots before where they took swisher!
when are the a’s next going to be bad enough to pick #12?

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 5, 2008 3:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well maybe he'll be a bona fide lead-off guy that we

don’t currently have.

I’m okay with the pick as long as Jemile pans out. Smoak is really just another 1B where we are stacked and speed is something we lack

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Jun 5, 2008 1:15 PM PDT   0 recs

I agree...

The path for him to be the future 2nd baseman and hitting at the top of the lineup is clearly there.

A's Fan in Philly

by Duby on Jun 5, 2008 1:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah what good is a guy with potential 30-40 hr power if you already have other 1Bs...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 5, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We couldn't get Smoak anyways

It wasn’t Weeks over Smoak. It was Weeks over Wallace.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jun 6, 2008 1:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bud Selig appears..

To be drunk.

A's Fan in Philly

by Duby on Jun 5, 2008 1:17 PM PDT   0 recs

From Keith Law

This is the riskiest pick so far. He can’t play anywhere but second base in the infield, so he has to hit well enough to be a major league regular. He’s a plus runner; he needs to be more contact-oriented with wood. With metal, he’s too pull-oriented, and he’ll have to adjust that. He has a better chance to be a plus defender at second base than his brother, Rickie Weeks.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on Jun 5, 2008 1:20 PM PDT   0 recs

I thought he was a tool?

"Looks like you brought two too many."

by BWH on Jun 5, 2008 2:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This really sucks. We drafted a guy who most everyone thought would go in the late 1st round, maybe supplimental round

instead, we draft him 12th.

We better be giving him low pick money, because its a waste to draft someone who should be that low and pay him a ton.

And for those who say In Beane We Trust, remember that Beane hasn’t exactly enthralled us with his first round picks in recent years.

2007: James Simmons
2006: None (Esteban Loaiza)
2005: Cliff Pennington
2004: Landon Powell, Danny Putnam
2003: Brad Sullivan, Brian Snyder

Of those picks, only Simmons is a top prospect. Powell is ailing in AAA and could be a backup if he gets healthy and hits. Putnam’s peak is 5th Outfielder, and he was already DFA’d once. Pennington’s busted. Sullivan and Snyder have busted as well.

by Zonis on Jun 5, 2008 1:36 PM PDT   0 recs

you forgot Buck, which turned out ok

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jun 5, 2008 1:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He wasn't a first round pick.

"We were s--, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on Jun 5, 2008 1:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

he was a supplemental 1st rd....same difference

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." -