Can anyone find the links to the mock drafts that John ran from 2005-2007?  I can only find 2008 in the archives, but I may be an idiot.  I'd like to review them, and possibly do some comparisons to see how things have shaken out since.  2008 was my first year doing the mock, so perhaps they were named differently in the past.  "2007 Mock Draft" didn't turn up anything useful, for instance.  Thanks for your help in advance.

The Rockies' five picks are listed below: 

I badly wanted Mike Leake at #11, but I had Scheppers ranked even higher.  I think he has legitimate ace potential and isn't that far from developing to that level.  Health is obviously a concern, but I think most of it is just lingering from last year and nothing truly up-to-date, and I was willing to gamble.  If not Scheppers or Leaks I was taking Bobby Borchering, who I love and think belongs in the Top 8.

Wheeler fits the Rockies' draft philosophy and his power breakout is very interesting.  A strict value pick here.

Did not like doubling up on outfielders here, especially with the Rockies having CarGo, Fowler, Smith, etc., but Williams I see as a mid-first rounder with his impressive bat and was not going to let him slip.

At #59 I was hoping some of the players I considered at 34 woud slip.  They were, in no particular order, Luke Bailey, Josh Phegley,   Kent Matthes, Garret Gould, Tyler Skaggs, and Alex Wilson.  Instead I took a bit of an overdraft that should help keep my financial outlay down, an important consideration considering I had three first rounders.  That said, I really like Eliopoulos in the second round, and he fits the Rockies well with good fastball movement, a nice changeup, low mileage on his arm, and potential for additional fastball velo as he fills out.  If I didn't take him I was going Zach Von Rosenburg, who I see as very similar.  I went with the lefty who would be cheaper.

For round three I was hoping Jeff Malm would fall to me, but he went later in the second.  I was set to take Robbie Erlin, an underrated left-hander because of his 5'10" height, but he was surprisingly selected before me in round 3.  I think you'll see him go higher than you think in the real draft this week.  I was left with McCallum, an interesting bat with pretty good range at a position that is a weakness for the Rockies.  He also should come cheap and help pay for the extra first rounders.

Thoughts?  Anything you liked, didn't like?

Baseball America just released their latest mock draft.  I'd like to see how that plays into the Rockies' pick at #11.  According to BA Strasburg, Ackley, Minor, Crow, Gibson, Matzek, Wheeler, Scheppers, Turner, and Jenkins will be gone by my pick.  Other than Jenkins and Minor I would likey take any of those players at #11 if they fell there.  However, let's assume that they don't.   Also, let's rule out Donovan Tate and Matt Purke because the Rockies have two extra first rounders and going over slot isn't likely feasible for them.

Taking all that into account, according to BA the highest rated players left are Alex White (6th overall), Shelby Miller (11), Grant Green (13), Mike Leake (14), and Tim Wheeler (15).  According to Law the best available are Shelby Miller (5), James Paxton (8), Alex White (9), Mike Leake (11), and Grant Green (14).

I'm not a terribly big Alex White fan, but he'd have to be under consideration here.  Perhaps someone can convince me why I shouldn't care about his command, blah slider, and consistency issues.  I will not take Grant Green under any circumstances as I think he's severely overrated.  James Paxton intrigues me, but I think 11 is too high. 

That leaves Miller, Leake, and Wheeler.  Leake makes a lot of sense here, and is who I was leaning towards initially.  I love that he's been so successful in a tough pitching environment, ala Coors Field.  Command, good movement on his fastball, good changeup -- all traits I'm looking for in a Coors Field pitcher.  Could care less about his height. 

However, Miller is really growing on me.  Plus fastball velocity with very good movement, changeup and slider both sound promising, clean delivery.  If both he and Leake are there I think I'd have a tough choice. 

Wheeler is intriguing, but a non-elite bat outfielder doesn't seem like a good fit here, and there are other college outfielders I like nearly as much that should be available at 32/34.

Other players I'm considering are: Bobby Borchering (I really like his bat, will have room at first or third and think his bat is fine at either), Chad James (value command), and Matt Davidson (him and Coors seem like a good match).  

Given the above, who would youe take? 

The Rockies have picks 11, 32, 34, 59, and 90, so we'll be one of the more active teams during the mock draft.  I don't believe the Rockies are particularly close to contending again despite going to the World Series in 2007, so focusing on college talent isn't a necessity (not that I'd think that way anyway).  And I rarely deviate from a BPA approach, but it's worth pointing out that the Rockies have most of their long-term building blocks up the middle (Chris Iannetta, Troy Tulowitzki, Dexter Fowler), which provides good flexibility.

I think the most interesting part about drafting for the Rockies is how to account for Coors Field.  I once had a theory that drafting sinker ballers, changeup artists, and/or big velocity fastballs was the way to go, but the Rockies found success with Jeff Francis and his curve and just selected Christian Friedrich and his top-notch curve in the first round in 2008.  Either way, not walking hitters and keeping the ball on the ground seem especially important in Coors, so that's something I'll keep in the back of my mind while drafting.

Pick #11 this year is pretty wide open.  Last year one could dream and hope someone falls to them.  This year the Top 10 is so undefined that #11 could be just about anyone other Strasburg or Ackley.

I welcome any thoughts, comments, or questions.