Poll Results Review: 27-Jun-10

Here are the latest poll results for a draft related question that was worded as follows:

Which of the first 10 Jays draft picks is your favorite value pick for the draft position?

• Asher Wojciechowski (26%, 20 Votes)
• Aaron Sanchez (24%, 18 Votes)
• Noah Syndergaard (16%, 12 Votes)
• Marcus Knecht (12%, 9 Votes)
• Griffin Murphy (7%, 5 Votes)
• Deck McGuire (5%, 4 Votes)
• Kellen Sweeney (5%, 4 Votes)
• Christopher Hawkins (4%, 3 Votes)
• SamDyson (1%, 1 Votes)
• Justin Nicolino (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 76

Interestingly, these results changed as the environment changed. At the beginning, many were picking Marcus or Kellen because they were looking for value lower down and probably hoped that 1 hitter would have an impact from this group listed above. Then, when I posted the Noah Syndergaard interview his votes got a big boost and he took the lead for a short period. However, throughout all of this Aaron Sanchez continued to get a good portion of the votes and seems to be very well liked by all Jays fans and Jays Journal readers.

However, having said all of that, people like to see it to believe it. So, when Asher Wojciechowski threw the first game of his pro career after a quick signing, all of the votes started to shift his way and he rocketed up the rankings – and rightfully so since his start was excellent to say the least (4 IP, 3 hits, 2 walks, 0 ER, 2 Ks). It also makes more sense to view Asher as the best value pick since he was the last of the sandwich pick and therefore more of a value bet than the other 2. Having said that, I personally believe that all 3 have very high ceilings and that the Jays took the sure bet early in Deck McGuire in order to load up on these high ceiling prospects. All 4 top picks could be in LoA Lansing or higher by 2011 and will provide some excellent depth for the Jays in 2012 and beyond.

Marcus Knecht was the leading hitter of the bunch and rightfully so. He has begun his pro career in Auburn and has hit safely in all but 1 of his games so far, hitting .300 over his first 30 ABs. The St Michaels product project to be a professional hitter who could do it all at the plate and he will get all of the opportunity to prove it within the Jays system as the best hitting prospect in this class.

The only surprise for me is not really a big one, as Deck McGuire didn’t get much support despite being touted as a top 9 pick by draft experts before the draft began. The Jays picked him up at 11 and Jays fans will like him once they see him pitch. It just may be a while before we get to see him do so and the fact that everyone sees him as “safe” lowers expectations. There’s no reason Deck couldn’t become an above average #3 pitcher, so I think we need to be careful about not expecting great things from this prospect. He could very well be the first to arrive in Toronto and could do so as early as September 2011.

The next poll is going up today and deals with coaching.