Who should I draft?

[damientheomen3]

I'm doing the 2009 MLB quickstart, playing as the Nationals, and I have the first overall draft choice, but I'm stuck between three players:

1. SP Steven Strasburg

8/5/5 overall (1-10), 10/8/8 talent, 20 yrs old, 8 endurance, 6 work ethic

Obviously, everyone knows Strasburg. He's intriguing because of how developed he already is, but there is one, more talented starting pitcher in the bunch.

2. SP Milas Hupkes

3/6/1 overall, 10/9/8 talent, 17 yrs old, 4 endurance, 8 work ethic

One thing that makes him really intriguing is the fact that he has 5 pitches rated at or better than 8 out of 10. He has a high work ethic, and is more talented then Steven Strasburg, but I already have Michael Ynoa developing in the minors, so the talent difference isn't too much of a big deal for me.

3. RF Mike Kirby

1/1/1/1/1 overall, 8/8/9/9/4 talent, 6 outfield range, 7 error, 6 arm, 7 speed, 7 stealing, 9 running instincts, 7 work ethic, 17 yrs old

He's really talented, but I have a talented outfield, with Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge being over 3 stars and young, and 2 young, intriguing outfielder prospects in the minors.

Who would you draft?

[Stokes36]

I'd draft Kirby. When torn between a pitcher and hitter(if you value them both the same), I go with the hitter almost always, mainly because the hitters play every day, and affect the game in multiple ways(hitting,fielding,baserunning).

And he's 17 years old!

Kirby,Hupkes,Strasburg would be the way I would rank em.

[POKeefe]

Ace pitchers are the toughest things to find. It's very easy to put together a solid lineup with no elite hitters, but it's very tough to find 3-4 ace type pitchers. Good pitching always beats good hitting. I'd draft Strasburg simply because he's the least risky and has the best chance of hitting his potential. Hupkes's stamina will hold him back from being a true ace.

[ptwarr18]

Originally Posted by POKeefe

Ace pitchers are the toughest things to find. It's very easy to put together a solid lineup with no elite hitters, but it's very tough to find 3-4 ace type pitchers. Good pitching always beats good hitting. I'd draft Strasburg simply because he's the least risky and has the best chance of hitting his potential. Hupkes's stamina will hold him back from being a true ace.

I totally agree with this. Strasburg is near ready, which you're not going to find often.

A previous poster made the comment that Kirby is only 17... for a top prospect, I sometimes view that as a negative, since he's far far away from his potential and has lots of time to regresss - He's got a high risk but still a high reward. On the other hand, 17 year olds with borderline ML talent I like loading up on because they are usually more low risk high reward since you're drafting them later.

All the players are good but I'd go Strasburg, Hupkes, Kirby

[Kelric]

Even if Strasburg only develops to an 8/6/6 or something similar, you should still have yourself a serviceable starter. Low risk, high reward with him. I'd take him.

[kq76]

Strasburg definitely. I agree with the first replier in that if you're torn between a pitcher and hitter who are about as equal as they can be, go for the hitter (less injury risk, more playing time), but these guys aren't very equal at all. Strasburg is far closer to his potential so as Kelric said he's high reward low risk.

[Jaxxvain]

I usually take the hitter, then spend the next 10 years or so wishing I took the pitcher.

Strasburg, Hupkes, Kirby.

[TLB1975]

What about Dustin Ackley? In most 2009 quick starts I've done he's been the best hitter out there and has typically been the #2 pick behind Strausburg

[damientheomen3]

Originally Posted by TLB1975

What about Dustin Ackley? In most 2009 quick starts I've done he's been the best hitter out there and has typically been the #2 pick behind Strausburg

Ackley is 9/7/6/8/8, with 8/8/9 running-wise. He's pretty developed, but he lacks a good outfield arm, and I overall value Mike Kirby more than Akley. I like Ackley, but not as the first overall pick.

EDIT: I also see three hitters, besides Kirby, who I would rank above Ackley (a solid fielding catcher with 8 contact and 9 power, a 1B with the same credentials, and a 3B with 8 contact and 8 power, with great fielding ability and can play 2B and SS at a gold glove level)

[TLB1975]

What's surprising is that in real life Ackley is developing primarily this spring training at 2B with the Mariners was drafted with scouts projecting him as a OF/2B guy. I wish the game had given him a 2B ranking because his value to me would have been much greater at that position.

[damientheomen3]

I went with Strasburg.

[Qwerty75]

Originally Posted by TLB1975

What's surprising is that in real life Ackley is developing primarily this spring training at 2B with the Mariners was drafted with scouts projecting him as a OF/2B guy. I wish the game had given him a 2B ranking because his value to me would have been much greater at that position.

You can replicate his learning of 2B. I'm sure he has IF ratings already because he played 1B in college. Give him a little bump up in IF range and a decent Turns DPs and then train him the position in Spring Training and the minors.