Tuesday, June 9, 2009

1st Round Pick

Donavan Tate, OF from Cartersville HS in Georgia

There has been a lot of speculation surrounding this pick over the past few weeks, but Tate has always been in the front of our minds. He is a potential 5-tool player who plays in the middle of the diamond and is probably the best athlete in the draft.

We're taking our shot.

28 comments:

Leo Izmir said...

So why Tate as opposed to Crow?

Tom said...

Hell to the yeah!

Written with full awareness that there's bust potential.

Unknown said...

Awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Will Belegon said...

That is what we want as fans. We want to see our team take its shots. I think the kid has huge upside. I'm glad the risk is being taken.

Paul DePodesta said...

Every pick has bust potential! At least this one comes with huge upside potential as well.

Anonymous said...

This seems like a pick very consistent with Kevin Towers career as a scouting director. Highly athletic, Carl Crawford type athlete. Who else was considered? Crow? Minor? Matzek?

Unknown said...

Congrats to the padres front office for drafting the player with the most upside.

This team needed to take a chance and its refreshing to see the best talent taken given the bust potential as well as potential signability issues.

sdsuaztec4 said...

I'm fairly certain you disagreed with this pick, Paul. What does your computer say about Tate?

Anonymous said...

Paul, is this a new emphasis on picking athletic players more fit for Petco rather than the "selective aggressive" players of the past?

Tom said...

Hey, I loves the pick. Loves it.

sdsuaztec4 said...

Paul,

Will the Padres be using using the two-sport exception to help spread out this bonus with Tate. Also, what IS this two-sport exception?

Paul DePodesta said...

sdsuaztec4,

You couldn't be more wrong.

Paul DePodesta said...

DrSm00thie,

Selectively aggressive and athletic are not mutually exclusive. We think we got them both right here.

Unknown said...

Paul,

Quick thought on ESPN's Jason Churchill saying, "The Padres are just bad at this." Seriously, first thing that comes to your mind.

Melvin Nieves said...

How exciting. Crazy to see Crow and Matzek fall as far as they have.

Schlom said...

Paul,

If someone like Scheppers or Gibson falls and is available when you pick next, would you consider taking them? Or have your previous pick injury problems scare you off?

Jason said...

I like this pick paul, and you dont have to answer, but if Sandy had still been around, would you guys have picked tate? just wondering?

Unknown said...

So you guys have talked to Boras and heard from him that Tate can be talked out of college, right?

Paul DePodesta said...

David,

Who is Jason Churchill?

Paul DePodesta said...

Jason,

Absolutely we would have taken him.

Unknown said...

Paul,

Exactly.

zino said...

It says that this guy already commited to play college ball (both sports)... Are you sure you can get him to sign...

zino

AvengingJM said...

Fantastic! Now sign him.

Paul Reams said...

I'm so glad that we're taking that shot! Great first pick, guys!

zickc813 said...

Paul,

Considering the fact that we took a 1B in last year's first round, that we have Blanks in the farm system, and Adrian up right now...would Dustin Ackley have been considered over Tate if he feel to the third pick?

Unknown said...

Congratulations, I love the pick!
If you don't swing for the fence you will not hit a home run.

The Sandy Alderson administration does not get the credit it deserves. I strongly believe that if the processes installed during his tenure made the risk in this pick more tolerable because of the depth in the system. Do you agree?

Paul DePodesta said...

zickc813,

I think most of the clubs out there, the Padres included, see Ackley as an OF.

WebSoulSurfer said...

Paul,

First let me say I love the pick. I really thought the Padres would not take the risk and instead would go for Aaron Crow with the #3 pick. Was Crow high on your list of possible draft selections?

A lot of the pundits and mock draft mavens were saying Tate might drop a long way, possibly out of the first round, if the Padres did not take him at #3 due to the signability issue.

Is that issue something that entered your discussions before the draft and do you think the Padres will have problems getting Tate signed?