Last year I represented the Yankees in John Sickel’s mock draft over at Minor League Ball, but this year I decided against it because it was just way too time consuming. Mock drafts are still fun however, so I kept track of who I would have taken in each of the Yanks’ spots. Here’s a little breakdown of my mock mock draft, as well as the picks that were actually made.

Round 1, Pick 28
Mike’s Pick: Robbie Ross, LHP, Lexington Christian Academy (Ky.)
Actual Pick: Zach Collier, OF, Chino Hills HS (Ca.)

Gerrit Cole was off the board, having gone to the Cubbies with the 19th pick. Collier has a ton of helium right now as a toolsy, Austin Jackson type player, and is a very good pick at 28. I went with Ross because, well, I felt he was the best player left on the board. He’s a power lefty with a very good slider and lots of polish. I was really hoping for Illinois prep RHP Jake Ordorizzi, but he went to the Padres at 23. (Ross eventually went to the Royals at #36, and I took him in the sandwich round of the UBBMD)

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John posted his comparison of the Yanks real draft with our Mock Draft, the results:

Same first round pick, which is intriguing. The Mock draft has a higher upside with the third and fourth round guys who dropped due to signability in real life. Suttle was more popular in the mock draft than in the real draft apparently. Which class would you rather have? If the Mock guys are signable (and the Yankees have the money to do it) that’s quite attractive, but on the other hand I like both Pope and Suttle, too.

I like my draft better, and that’s almost entirely because I made the picks. And dammit, Barry Enright will be a solid Major League starter some day!

But hey, I took Brackman and Venditte, the Yanks took Brackman and Venditte … great minds think alike.

I had a lot of fun with this, but boy, lemme tell you that it is not nearly as easy as it looks. You’ve got your eyes set on Player A, and just as it looks like your going to get him, BAM! he’s gone. Or worse, you’re getting ready to pluck the guy you’ve had your eye on for the last 15 picks, them all of a sudden a guy you really didn’t anticipate being able to draft is right there for a taking. It’s a different animal on the inside.

Here’s the thinking behind my picks:

Round 1, Pick #30: Andrew Brackman, RHP, NC State
It came down to this: there was just too much talent and upside for me to pass on him. Yeah he missed some time with a tired arm (not to mention having to attend the funeral of an ex-girlfriend who was killed in a car accident), but you just take this kid, introduce him to Nardi Contreras, and let him go.

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The first round of the Mock Draft over at John Sickels’ Minor League Ball is complete. Here’s the picks:

1. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: David Price, LHP, VandyÂ
2. Kansas City Royals: Matt Wieters, C, Georgia TechÂ
3. Chicago Cubs: Rick Porcello, RHP, Seton Hall Prep (NJ)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Josh Vitters, 3B, Cypress High (Ca.)Â
5. Baltimore Orioles: Mike Moustakas, 3B, Chatsworth High (Ca.)Â
6. Washington Nationals: Beau Mills, 3B/1B, Lewis-Clark StateÂ
7. Milwaukee Brewers: Jarrod Parker, RHP, Norwell High (In.)
8. Colorado Rockies: Ross Detwiler, LHP, Missouri StateÂ
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jason Heyward, OF, Henry County High (Ga.)Â
10. San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner, South Caldwell High (NC)
11. Seattle Mariners: Phillippe Aumont, RHP, Ecole Du Versant HS (Quebec)
12. Florida Marlins: Matt Harvey, RHP, Fitch High (Ct.)
13. Cleveland Indians: Danny Moskos, LHP, Clemson
14. Atlanta Braves: Josh Smoker, LHP, Calhoun High (Ga.)
15. Cincinnati Reds: Matt Dominguez, 3B, Chatsworth High (Ca.)
16. Toronto Blue Jays: Devin Mesoraco, C, Punxsutawney High (Pa.)Â
17. Texas Rangers: Blake Beavan, RHP, Irving High (Tx.)
18. St. Louis Cardinals: Kevin Ahrens, 3B, Memorial High (Tx.)
19. Philadelphia Phillies: Justin Jackson, SS, Roberson High (NC)
20. Los Angeles Dodgers: Tim Alderson, RHP, Horizon High (Az.)
21. Toronto Blue Jays: Nick Noonan, SS, Francis Parker High (Ca.)
22. San Francisco Giants: Corey Brown, OF, Oklahoma State
23. San Diego Padres: Michael Main, RHP/OF, Deland High (Fl.)
24. Texas Rangers: Julio Borbon, OF, Tennesee
25. Chicago White Sox: Matt LaPorta, 1B, Florida
26. Oakland Athletics: Casey Weathers, RHP, Vanderbilt
27. Detroit Tigers: Todd Frazier, SS, Rutgers
28. Minnesota Twins: Matt Mangini, 3B, Oklahoma State
29. San Francisco Giants: Nevin Griffith, RHP, Middleton High (Fl.)
30. New York Yankees: Andrew Brackman, RHP, NC State

I’ll explain the thinking behind our picks later on, the draft is moving too fast to do it now…

The 2007 Mock Draft over at John Sickels Minor League Ball takes place today at 3 EST.

If you’re interested in giving some final thoughts on players to consider, draft strategy, etc, go to the latest diary thread. The previous thread is here.

I’ll provide a recap of our picks later today.

Just wanted to make a quick little announcement and say that Joe and I (and maybe Ben if he’s interested) will be acting as co-scouting directors for the Yankees in this year’s Mock Draft over at John Sickel’s Minor League Ball.

If you don’t know what the Mock Draft is, go here to find out. We’ll periodically update you on our progress, and I’m sure we’ll do something cool for draft day.

We’re looking for some help with scouting guys/doing research, so if you’re interested in lending a hand, here’s the diary thread. Remember, this is NOT about who we think the Yanks should pick, it’s about who we’d pick if we were in charge. But most of all, this is about having fun, so come join in and help pick the next wave of great Yankee prospects!