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Run by The Trentonian's Nick Peruffo, this blog will provide daily multimedia coverage of the Trenton Thunder.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Welcome to Draft Eve

How many of you are stoked for the MLB Draft (now in prime time!)? I know I am. I will be at work for most of it, but will be following closely on my computer.

We know Stephen Strasburg will go first to the Nationals (even though I'm sure -- just like football -- Washington will take every bit of its allotted time before announcing its pick). After that, though, everything gets a bit muddied, especially when you throw in the stress fracture to Missouri right-hander Kyle Gibson.

Also, according to Baseball America, projected number two pick Dustin Ackley have some pie-in-the-sky demands that may cause him to drop deeper into the first round.

As for the local teams: The Phillies and Mets lost their first-round picks to the Mariners and Angels when they signed Raul Ibanez and Francisco Rodriguez, but I'm sure they're both just fine with those trade offs. The Yankees still have a first-rounder, though, because they failed to sign last year's top pick, Gerrit Cole, who instead went to UCLA.

The Angels and Diamondbacks both have consecutive picks in the first round, and Los Angeles of Anaheim has five picks in the first 51, so they might go a long way to reestablishing themselves and their farm system.

Also, while visions of Strasburgs dance in your head, here are some of the best picks by numbers over the last 25 or so years of the draft.

#1 Picks: David Price, Justin Upton, Joe Mauer, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Pat Burrell, Darin Erstad, Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey Jr., Darryl Strawberry

#2 Picks: Justin Verlander, B.J. Upton, Mark Prior, Josh Beckett, Tony Clark, Will Clark, Joe Carter

#3 Picks: Evan Longoria, Lou Montanez, Troy Glaus, Mike Lieberthal, Matt Williams

#4 Picks: Ryan Zimmerman, Kerry Wood, Kevin Brown, Barry Larkin

#5 Picks: Matt Wieters, Brandon Morrow, Ryan Braun, Mark Teixeira, J.D. Drew, Vernon Wells, Jack McDowell, Kent Mercker

#6 Picks: Zack Greinke, Rocco Baldelli, Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds

#7 Picks: Clayton Kershaw, Troy Tulowitzki, Nick Markakis, Prince Fielder, Trot Nixon, Dan Wilson, Frank Thomas,

#8 Picks: John Van Benschoten, Felipe Lopez, Todd Helton, Todd Walker, Jim Abbott, Jay Bell

#9 Picks: Mike Pelfrey, John Danks, Jeff Francis, Barry Zito, Michael Cuddyer, Geoff Jenkins, Mark Kotsay, Kevin Appier, Ron Darling

#10 Picks: Tim Lincecum, Ian Stewart, Cameron Maybin, Carlos Pena, Jon Garland, Eric Chavez, Ben Sheets, Jaret Wright, Carl Everett, Charles Johnson, Robin Ventura, Mark McGwire, Kelly Gruber

and just for fun

#31 Picks: J.P. Howell, Aaron Heilman, Jarrod Washburn, Kirt Manwaring ... and GREG MADDUX

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