pmeares17
05-29-2002, 03:30 AM
PITTSBURGH -- Ed Creech is living every scouting director's dream. Little more than seven months into his tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Creech will have the opportunity to make the first overall selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.
Although he is a relative newcomer to the Pirates organization, Creech is a well-respected baseball man with nearly 30 years of experience as a player, manager, scout, assistant GM and scouting director. But in five previous drafts as a scouting director with the Montreal Expos (1994-1997) and St. Louis Cardinals (1998), Creech had never picked higher than fifth, which is where he selected J.D. Drew for the Redbirds in '98.
Pirates fans are hoping that Creech will be able to do even better with the top overall pick. But, according to Creech, this is a draft that does not offer many, if any, can't-miss picks in the Drew mold. In his opinion, even the top prospects have some blemishes.
"You can find pimples on anybody," said Creech as he addressed the media before the Bucs' 3-0 loss to the Cubs Tuesday. "Obviously, you'd like to come into a year like last year and have that clear-cut No.1 guy like the [No. 2 pick Mark] Priors and the [No. 1 pick Joe] Mauers.
"I don't think there is a guy out there like that this year. We would love to see that but we have got to play with the cards that we're dealt."
Despite the fact that there doesn't appear to be a ready-made superstar in this year's class, several players have caught Creech's eye as being worthy of the No. 1 selection.
"We have it narrowed down to about three or four guys really," Creech said. "I think you guys know the names -- [Ball State pitcher Bryan] Bullington, the [Virginia high school shortstop B.J.] Upton kid and the [Canadian high school pitcher Adam] Loewen kid are three of the guys -- and we've got a couple of guys that we are probably keeping under our hat.
"We think they have a high ceiling and we think that they are going to be good players in the big leagues. The two pitchers are going to be anywhere from three to above starters, and Upton is going to be an everyday shortstop with offensive potential."
With extended contract negotiations often the norm these days, Creech hopes to have the choice decided by the end of this week.
"I think we are going to have it done by Thursday or Friday," Creech said. "Thursday will be the day that we swing for."
While Creech has certainly enjoyed the opportunity to have the pick-of-the litter, so to speak, he understands that it carries with it the burden of being under a national microscope.
"There is a lot more limelight when you are picking No. 1," said Creech. "It is a little more glaring when you make a mistake."
Obviously, most of the media focus has been on the top selection. But according to Creech, he needs to do well in every round. This, he says, is where picking first in the 2002 draft will be most beneficial.
"I think it is a solid draft," said Creech. "It's not top-heavy. It's not as good as it was last year. But I think you are going to see it solid down all the way through.
"I feel like we are going to get a good second rounder because it is a good class. We have been talking about that a lot the last couple of days. We think our second and third guys will be strong, solid candidates."
Although he is a relative newcomer to the Pirates organization, Creech is a well-respected baseball man with nearly 30 years of experience as a player, manager, scout, assistant GM and scouting director. But in five previous drafts as a scouting director with the Montreal Expos (1994-1997) and St. Louis Cardinals (1998), Creech had never picked higher than fifth, which is where he selected J.D. Drew for the Redbirds in '98.
Pirates fans are hoping that Creech will be able to do even better with the top overall pick. But, according to Creech, this is a draft that does not offer many, if any, can't-miss picks in the Drew mold. In his opinion, even the top prospects have some blemishes.
"You can find pimples on anybody," said Creech as he addressed the media before the Bucs' 3-0 loss to the Cubs Tuesday. "Obviously, you'd like to come into a year like last year and have that clear-cut No.1 guy like the [No. 2 pick Mark] Priors and the [No. 1 pick Joe] Mauers.
"I don't think there is a guy out there like that this year. We would love to see that but we have got to play with the cards that we're dealt."
Despite the fact that there doesn't appear to be a ready-made superstar in this year's class, several players have caught Creech's eye as being worthy of the No. 1 selection.
"We have it narrowed down to about three or four guys really," Creech said. "I think you guys know the names -- [Ball State pitcher Bryan] Bullington, the [Virginia high school shortstop B.J.] Upton kid and the [Canadian high school pitcher Adam] Loewen kid are three of the guys -- and we've got a couple of guys that we are probably keeping under our hat.
"We think they have a high ceiling and we think that they are going to be good players in the big leagues. The two pitchers are going to be anywhere from three to above starters, and Upton is going to be an everyday shortstop with offensive potential."
With extended contract negotiations often the norm these days, Creech hopes to have the choice decided by the end of this week.
"I think we are going to have it done by Thursday or Friday," Creech said. "Thursday will be the day that we swing for."
While Creech has certainly enjoyed the opportunity to have the pick-of-the litter, so to speak, he understands that it carries with it the burden of being under a national microscope.
"There is a lot more limelight when you are picking No. 1," said Creech. "It is a little more glaring when you make a mistake."
Obviously, most of the media focus has been on the top selection. But according to Creech, he needs to do well in every round. This, he says, is where picking first in the 2002 draft will be most beneficial.
"I think it is a solid draft," said Creech. "It's not top-heavy. It's not as good as it was last year. But I think you are going to see it solid down all the way through.
"I feel like we are going to get a good second rounder because it is a good class. We have been talking about that a lot the last couple of days. We think our second and third guys will be strong, solid candidates."