Anyone who follows the Major League draft understands the risk involved.  Each player is evaluated on his probable ceiling, but in reality, very few players reach that ceiling, or come close.  History shows that several first round picks will never play in the Major Leagues despite the millions invested.  Teams also deal with signing risk - the Dodgers today, having drafted Zach Lee, face that risk as Lee, committed to play quarterback at LSU in the fall, may be unsignable or very expensive to sign.

The risk inherent in the Major League draft runs both ways, however.  Players who are drafted have to decide whether to sign or whether to return to school or in some cases, independent ball.  In the case of high school players, they have to decide whether to attend a four-year school and stay out of the draft the next two or three years, or to attend a junior college.  Sometimes the decision not to sign pays off -- sometimes it does not.   More below.  

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Players under strong consideration, in no particular order:

No. 15 -- Yasmani Grandal (C-Miami), Chris Sale (LHP-FGC), Michael Choice (OF, UTA), Alex Wimmers (RHP, OSU), Kolbrin Vitek (2B, Ball State), Asher Wojciechowski (RHP, Citadel), Bryce Brentz (OF, MTSU), Brandon Workman (RHP, Texas), Christian Colon (SS-Fullerton), Kellin Deglan (c-Canada HS).  Deglan is the only HS player I've seen projected to Texas at No. 15.

Here we are looking for a signable player - many of these players will be gone (the first four on the list most likely) and Colon may have signability issues that would require taking a pass.  Who am I missing?

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This is the third Rangers MOD - the first two are here and here.  Since we posted these, the Rangers have filed for bankruptcy and there are certainly questions about what this filing means for the team's amateur draft budget.

This development is particularly ill-timed because the Rangers have 4 of the first 49 picks and 6 picks overall in the first three rounds.  Ranger fans have to hope the ownership situation and bankruptcy and sale are wrapped up quickly to allow the new ownership group to supplement the current spending limits.  In the meantime, can the Rangers afford to draft a player that would require much more than slot money to sign in the hopes this will occur (Austin Wilson at No. 22, for example)?  Who is really calling the shots for Texas in this draft? 

With this said, the Rangers will probably take the safest possible selection at No. 15 and may gamble a bit with the No. 22 pick, which, as far as I can tell, would return a compensation pick in 2011 if not signed.  The Rangers would probably play it safe, fiscally speaking, in the compensation, 2nd and 3rd rounds.

That said, a few questions:

1.  Who do you consider to be the most signable picks that make sense for Texas at No. 15?

2.  What will Texas' draft philosophy be regarding the No. 22 pick?

3.  What players would Texas be targeting with the two supplemental picks (No. 45 and 49)?

4.  What players will Texas be looking for in the 2nd and 3rd rounds?

I am representing the Texas Rangers in a 3-round mock draft that will be held over at John Sickels' Minor League Ball blog on June 5th.  There is an organization diary set up there but I wanted to post this here as well so that anyone interested in making suggestions or discussing possible Ranger selections can comment.

I have attached another poll, this time listing four high school pitchers that have a reasonable chance of being available for the Rangers at No. 15, their first selection.  The poll for college hitters is here, the poll for college pitchers is here -- a poll for high school position players is here.

This is the second MOD for the Texas Rangers.  The first one is here.  In that diary, among other things, we looked at several possible choices (pardon the pun) for the #15 and #22 picks - these included Chris Sale, Alex Wimmers, Kyle Parker, Yordy Cabrera, Stefan Sabol, Michael Choice, Brandon Workman and Sammy Solis.  After the jump, I'll start the further discussion with a few more potential selections.

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I am representing the Texas Rangers in a 3-round mock draft that will be held over at John Sickels' Minor League Ball blog on June 5th.  There is an organization diary set up there but I wanted to post this here as well so that anyone interested in making suggestions or discussing possible Ranger selections can comment.

I have attached another poll, this time listing four high school position players that have a reasonable chance of being available for the Rangers at No. 15, their first selection.  The poll for college hitters is here, the poll for college pitchers is here -- a poll for high school pitchers will follow.

I am representing the Texas Rangers in a 3-round mock draft that will be held over at John Sickels' Minor League Ball blog on June 5th.  There is an organization diary set up there but I wanted to post this here as well so that anyone interested in making suggestions or discussing possible Ranger selections can comment.

I have attached another poll, this time listing four college pitchers that have a reasonable chance of being available for the Rangers at No. 15, their first selection.  The poll for college hitters is here -- a poll for high school pitchers and hitters will follow.

I am representing the Texas Rangers in a 3-round mock draft that will be held over at John Sickels' Minor League Ball blog on June 5th.  There is an organization diary set up there but I wanted to post this here as well so that anyone interested in making suggestions or discussing possible Ranger selections can comment.

I have attached a poll and have listed four players that have a reasonable chance of being available for the Rangers at No. 15, their first selection.  I'll run similar polls for college pitchers and for high school pitchers and hitters also this week.

Greetings, Ranger fans.  The MLB Mock Draft is less than a month away.  The Ranger have 4 of the first 50 draft picks, so this is an important draft for the team (aren't they all?).

More after the jump:

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I first played Ichthyomancy on May 17, nailed two of my three picks, and was everafter hooked.  In the six weeks since, I have compiled 29 points and have moved toward the middle of the pack.

Catching Colombo and the others ahead of me may be a tall order.  However I suspect Ichthyomancy is a game that goes to the steady, not the swift.  If I can remain steady, I have a chance to prevail.

I have compiled five points on attendance, 13 on PG and 11 on AAB.  In the 33 games played, that equates to 15% on attendance, 39% on POG and 33% on AAB.  

More below.  You have been warned.

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