By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

 

I am still amazed whenever anyone brings up the 1966 baseball draft, when the Mets picked Steve Chilcott, a lefty-hitting catcher from California, over Reggie Jackson. Of course, how could anyone know that Chilcott would only play six seasons before suffering career-ending injuries, never making it out of the Minor Leagues, while Jackson would don Yankee pinstripes and become known simply as "Mr. October?"

 

The Yankees and the Mets are both in Florida to make their picks once again as Draft day is upon us, and while neither team will obtain any of the big prospects, there is never a shortage of positions to be filled. The Mets have eight selections in a sequence of 142, two in the first 50. They have pick No. 42 -- compensation from the Indians, who signed Roberto Hernandez as a free agent -- and the 47th selection, which they received from the Orioles, who signed Chad Bradford also as a free agent. The other six selections are 78th, 94th, 100th, 124th, 154th and 184th. Even if they hadn't forfeited their first-round selection to sign of Moises Alou, they would have picked 29th, still far out of the jackpot numbers.

The most obvious need for the Amazins is a long-term solution at second base, but I expect pitching to once again dominate the draft this year. In each of the last three years the team has selected a righty starter: Kevin Mulvey from Villanova last year, Mike Pelfrey from Wichita State in 2005 and Philip Humber from Rice in 2004. The focus is apparent because you really don't know how much longer Tom Glavine will stick around after reaching 300 wins, and although preliminary reports are good, the jury is still out on how well or for how much longer Pedro Martinez will throw when he returns. Like Martinez, Orlando Hernandez's contract also runs out at the end of 2008, and if you don't re-sign him or he decides to retire, that's three starters that the Mets will have to replace over the next two years.

Meanwhile the Yankees hold the final pick of the first round at No. 30 and will not select again until No. 94. Love or hate the policy, GM Brian Cashman has returned focus on the team's farm system which, despite the loss of Phil Hughes to the DL, is still supposedly busting at the seams with young arms. But if that's the case, how come the big team is still struggling pitching-wise? Position-wise, the outfield, first base, and catcher need to be addressed.

Center fielder Johnny Damon isn't showing the arm strength he used to have, Hideki Matsui will be gone soon, and Bobby Abreu will be a free agent at the end of the season. First base is definitely an option in the draft as Doug Mientkiewicz's contract runs out at the end of the year and Jason Giambi's expires in 2008 (that is if it isn't somehow voided before then). Jorge Posada still has a few years left in his knees behind the plate, but they may want to draft someone next year since no one seems to be the heir apparent.

If you're expecting to see these guys play anytime soon, you'd probably want to head over to either Brooklyn or Staten Island for the Class A Short Season affiliate. "The time needed to develop players is unpredictable and varies from player to player," Mets GM Omar Minaya said last week. None of the players drafted today will be quick fixes, and they're not supposed to be -- that's the point and the reason you have a trade deadline. But that's for another column.

Wanna argue with the Ref? Don't like the call? Go ahead and make your own!