I Love Being Right!

According to MLB.com , The Rays will select SS, Tim Beckham with the 1st pick in today's Amateur draft.

Here's a snipet of the article from MLB.com:


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Before the team had made its decision, Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison called Beckham "a really good player at a premium position."



"Middle of the field player, very good athlete, an advanced bat," Harrison said. "Has a real good awareness on the field. He plays the game with a great deal of enthusiasm. And then when you spend time with him away from the field, he's the same guy. He's a fun guy to be around."

...Beckham stands 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, which lends him the physical stature to play most positions. Harrison said Beckham "absolutely" will be a shortstop in the Rays organization. A five-tool player, he is said to have the prerequisite range to remain at shortstop.
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I've heard it said that Beckham's got some holes in his swing, but that he has good "hitters'-hands", and should excell under the proper tutelage. I, for one, look forward to seeing him progress through the ranks.

Draft Day is upon us...Tomorrow

With the 2008 amateur draft just hours away I've decided to sound off on it just as everyone else is; of course my guess is as good as yours as to whom the Rays will pick with the first overall pick in the draft but I figured i'd take a stab at it. Most experts, pundits, and baseball faithful have narrowed it down to 2 players, Buster Posey, C, FSU or Tim Beckham, SS, Griffin HS.
Kevin Goldstein from baseballprospectus.com says it'll be Posey...
Here's what I say:

"With the first pick of the 2008 amateur draft the Tampa Bay Rays select...




wait for it...






...Tim Beckham, SS-Griffin HS,Ga"






Why?

In my humble opinion, Beckham has the tools... he's a prototypical "5-tool" guy. He may not be ready as quickly as Posey, but the Rays line-up isn't in need of any quick-fixes right now, espesially behind the plate where Navi is calling great games and hitting very well, to boot.