Prospective A's 2008 first round draft targets

The Lack of certainty at the top of the draft makes it tough to project who will be there when the A's pick with the 12th overall selection. Of the possible names that might last til 12, their are a lot of players that would be good fits for the A's but none would be the guarenteed pick if available at 12. I will profile each of the possible names that will be there. Then I will rank them based on who I think the A's need the most:

Potential Targets:

1B:
1. Justin Smoak- He is the most unlikely of all the possible A's targets to fall due to the switch hitters potential to hit 35-40 hr's and possibly play GG defense at first. However, their are 4 other 1B prospects who profile similar to smoak, 5 if Alvarez can't stick at 3B, and possible signability issues leave the door open to a slide.

2. Yonder Alonzo- The A's should only consider Alonzo if they believe he's a lock to bat .300 and hit 30 hr's annually. Huge bonus demands make pick even less likely.

2B:
1. Jemile Weeks- would be the biggest foreseeable reach the A's could make. Weeks ceiling is believed to be a .280 hitter with 10-15hr's and 30-35 sb's. However, he is still suprisingly raw for a college prospect, and may not sniff that potential. might have to move off second base to which wouldn't help the A's given the gult of current OF prospects.

SS:
1. Gordon Beckham- While unlikely, their are more potential scenario's in which he could slide to the A's than you would think. The reasons for Drafting him are obvious for selecting him- he plays shortstop (infield huge organizational need), he will hit .280 with solid dicipline and 15-20 hr's annually with a chance for more. He would also be the best available player.

3B:
1. Brett Lawrie- A true wild card in the draft. He is also someone who absolutly no one has mentioned as being a possibility for the A's at 12. However, I can think of many reason why he makes perfect sense for the A's. First, his value has skyrocketed, even to the point where the reds would consider him at 7, after going on a rediculous power surge while touring with the canadian national team- even smacking hits off of the likes of royals pitchers Kyle Davies and Luke Hochevar. Scouts tab him as the best hitter to come out of Canada since Justin Morneau and some feel he could be better. He should hit at least .280 with 25+ hr potential and has the athletic ability to play a strong third defensively. As well, despite the fact that he is a high schooler, his bat is said to be far advanced and some feel he could major league pitching right now. Their certainly should be concern about how fast he's shot up draft boards. However, This could be the A's best chance to nab a potentially special player through the draft.

2. Brett Wallace- What can I say about Brett Wallace- that hasn't already been said. If he had any type of body resembling a third basemen the A's would be drooling at the possibility of putting a bat like his in the middle of their future lineup- and they still might be. Scouts say hes almost a lock to put up numbers of .300 .400 and 25+ hr's annually. As well, unlike the A's other top power prospects, he puts up power numbers while keeping down strikeouts. He even went 16-20 on SB's. Superman right?... uh yeah.... well if superman was 6-1 245 on a good day and nicknamed the Walrus by scouts. The harsh reality is that no thirdbasemen has been able to hold up at 3b with a similar body type to Wallace's. He committed 10 errors in about 60 games, which isn't terrible, but his ranges figures to be severely limited by an ungodly thick lower body. If the A's draft him they will certainly make him play his way off third. But if he does, they would have created a serious loggam at 1b/DH. The bat might be too good to pass up though.

SP
1. Aaron Hicks- Two way player who has first round talent as an Outfielder and Pitcher. A's believed to want him as a pitcher but he has expressed his desire to play OF instead. He has Ace potential with a mid- 90's fast ball and a good breaking pitch. Despite A's obsurd pitching depth he offers them the All-Star caliber upside as an ace that few if any of the A's pitchers possess. High Risk/ High Reward Pick.

2. Ethan Martin- Same story as Hicks 3B/SP. Throws mid-90's with potential for plus curve. He is also said to have potential plus power at the plate and could be a potential GG'er defensively at 3B- as he came into the season as a potential 1st round selection at third. However, everyone seems to peg him as a future pitcher.

3. Christian Friedrich- College pitcher who offers a good fastball and curveball mix. Profile's as a potential no. 3 pitcher and draws some comparisons to Zito (when he was an A of course). However, this is the one pick I would strongly dispise due to the fact that he offers very little chance of becoming a frontline starter (we already have enough 3-5 guys). I highly doubt the A's go this route.

1. Justin Smoak 1B
2. Gordon Beckham SS
3. Brett Lawrie 3B
4. Aaron Hicks SP
5. Brett Wallace 1B/3B
6 Ethan Martin SP
7. Yonder Alonzo 1B
8. Jemile Weeks 2B
9. Christian Friedrich SP

Final Analysis: Obviously, you take Smoak or Beckham if they fall. As well, Anytime you can add a potential Ace (Hicks, Martin) you tend jump at the opportunity. Finally, if the A's take Brett Wallace- I am in the minority but I think he will be able to hold up at third (at least for the first couple years once he reaches the majors) and he would make the A's future lineup scary good.

However, my pick is BRETT LAWRIE because of his versatility to play 3B & 2B, his advanced bat, plus power potential, and ability to move quickly through the minors despite being a highschooler.