Jameson Taillon Note

[aso513]

Debuted in a scrimmage tonight, peaked at 97mph and high 80's change. Tons of scouts in the stands. Courtesy of Andy Seilers.

[thegreatchris]

My top draft option at the moment, though I'm doubt the Pirates will go the high school SP route.

[aso513]

If not Harper I want Taillon. He could have a Kershaw like ascension to the Majors.

[agent00]

My top draft option at the moment, though I'm doubt the Pirates will go the high school SP route.

I agree.

[Bloop and a Blast]

While I hope that Harper seperates himself as the clear #1 and he falls to us, I wouldn't risk the #2 pick and cost on the HS arm. If Harper is off the board, I would draft Renaudo and perhaps go with a HS arm like Cam Bedrosian (yup, Steve's son) with our second round pick.

[Will]

My top draft option at the moment, though I'm doubt the Pirates will go the high school SP route.

I like Taillon a lot, too. His upside seems higher than Ranaudo's to me, and from perusing the various scouting reports, it doesn't seem like he's been overworked or has poor mechanics or anything that would indicate he's a higher injury risk.

[wvbucco]

Do you think, in terns of draft philosophy, once the system is a little better stocked with talent, that it is better to start taking higher risk (higher reward) picks in the first round, or should one be more cautious and continue to play the odds?  I don't think were at that point yet, but its an interesting question. 

[3Up3Down]

I think no matter the record or draft position drafting college players especially college bats will bring the least risk. College bats tend to be the safest picks when you look back at the past decade or so drafts.

If we continue to spend money on high school talent that has first round grades in the latter rounds then we can afford to be safer in the first round, however we cannot sacrifice talent. Clearly Sanchez was considered the best pick by the Pirates front office with last year's high school arms pool being so deep. I have no problem with this philosophy provided we continue to snatch up high upside high school arms later in the draft. First round high school picks like Kershaw or Hamels are rare and tend to be the exception to the rule as high school talent can be cropped in late rounds.

If the 2010 draft doesn't have that slam dunk pick at No. 2 like Alvarez would you be happy using this same philosophy? I would, but scouting reports on Bentz and Colon don't necessarily merit a selection at No. 2 but neither did Sanchez at No. 4.