Today, Major League Baseball moves its draft to the big stage- live television.  While it will never generate the same glory and hype of its sister drafts in the NFL and NBA, the MLB Draft has attracted more attention over the last ten years for several reasons:  1.)  teams' increased reliance on the farm system, 2.) the explosion of the internet and 3.) teams have more reliable information that seemingly has led to more reliable picks. 

For the Cincinnati Reds, post Jim Bowden nightmare days, the draft has been the reason for the recent revival.  Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey, Yonder Alonso, and Drew Stubbs all were recent #1 picks and all look to be contributors to pulling the dream from a perpetual losing cycle.  (The other post- Bowden #1 pick, Devin Mesorasco, looks to be a huge flop.)  So who is this year's crucial Reds pick?  Its a complete guess and is not worth the time.  But a wish list of players to avoid and players to crave at #9 overall is a task worth taking.  So we start with an asterisk... the Reds have no chance of selecting wunderkid Stephen Strasburg or even North Carolina's Dustin Ackley so let's not even consider them...

PLAYERS TO AVOID
1.  Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri:  In Baseball America's mock draft from last Friday, they had the Reds taking Gibson.  This would be a shock unless the Reds have been asleep the past month.  Gibson's velocity has dropped to the mid 80s.  The Missouri coaching staff claims its forearm tightness and nothing to worry about.  Well, that diagnosis seems to be the preamble to major shoulder problems and spending $6- $7 million on probable shoulder problems does not sound like a sound investment.

2.  Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats:  The Reds almost took Crow last year, but passed him on down to Bowden and the Nationals who did not sign him.  Crow is pitching well in the Independent League, but there is not a single scouting report out there that thinks he is a potential #1 or #2 starter.

3.  Bobby Borchering, 3B, HS:  Sure, this kid has a high ceiling and is one of the best high school position players in the draft, but he plays 3B and the Reds are loaded in the Minors at that position.

WATCH DRAFT ONLINE

PLAYERS TO HOPE FOR
1.  Donavan Tate, OF, HS:  Many outlets have him as the best athlete in the draft.  He probably will not last until #9. but his agent, the Devil himself, Scott Boras, may scare some teams away.

2.  Tyler Matzek, LHP, HS:  There is a glut of highly regarded high school pitchers in this draft.  Matzek just recently moved to the front of this pack.

3.  Grant Green, SS, USC:  His performance this year has dropped his stock slightly from #2 overall to a mid- first rounder.  Still, he is, by far, the best shortstop available and shortstop is a position of need for the Reds and that is putting it mildly.

4.  Jacob Turner, RHP, HS:  The hard- throwing righty is running neck and neck with Matzek for the distinction of first high school pitcher picked.  He has a smooth delivery, which is always a health bonus.  He is also represented by the Devil so he may drop to the Reds.

5.  Alex White, RHP, UNC:  College pitchers have more polish, more years of health on their arms, and they can start at higher levels of the Minors.  Alex White could help the Reds by late 2010 or early 2011. 

MLB reds, mlb draft, kyle gibson, aaron crow, bobby borchering, donavan tate, tyler matzek, grant green, jacob turner, alex white