Miracle Mock Part 1

I'll post the first 8 picks in the upcoming draft based solely on who seems to be a good fit for each team. I don't have any inside info from any owners so as usual I will probably not get many of these right. Big surprise...but then again who does. Of course that statement will prompt a post from someone telling everyone how good they did in last years mock draft or in 2010's or so on and so on. Berg has posted quite a bit throughout the Hot Stove season regarding several players (or groups of players) and also provided a Draft Guide for all to peruse. Thanks for all the info Berg. I'm sure I speak for many of the owners in that regard. That being said there are a few player that will go higher in the draft than they should and some that may fall farther than they should. Was this the plan from Berg all along or was he just being helpful to all his fellow owners. Maybe he is just an evil genius. Anyway, I digress....on to the picks.

1.1 Hackensack--Adrian Gonzalez....Not really noticed day to day or even week to week but at the end of the year the stats are awesome. AGon will wear the Bulls jersey for the next 5 years. Congrats AGon on the mega-deal.

1.2 Olivet--Jose Bautista.....Although Larry may be busy in the Winter Meetings making trades (or not) this big bat will slide nicely into third base for the Killer Eagles. I wasn't much of a believer after one big season but I am now. Only question is does Olivet place a 5 year contract on him.

1.3 Michigan--Troy Tulowitzki.....With Ian Desmond under contract for 2012 this pick must still be made. Tulo is a game changer. As opposed to AGon who flys under the radar most weeks, Tulo's stats jump out at you many weeks. Single handily he can carry a team for entire weeks. If the draft plays out like this, Michigan will entertain offers for this 3rd pick. Let it be known that the price will be staggering. But if this is the player you "must" have we can talk. There are a couple of teams that I think should try and trade up to get a 5 year player and a couple of teams I think would want to trade up to this spot. That being said I have offers written down for each team under mine that I would accept for this pick. Don't be shocked by what I would want in return for this pick. Believe me I will be very happy to see Tulo in a Miracle jersey from 2012-2016. Right smack dab in the prime of his career.

1.4 Atlantic Surge--Robinson Cano.....The offensive cupboard is pretty bare for the Surge so I could see Matt trading off a pitcher or two for picks or players to help out the cause. Cano won't walk much or steal you many bases but in the other categories he is very elite, especially for second sackers. A nice 5 year gets dropped on Cano here.

1.5 Julian Javelina--Jose Reyes.....Jamie has many options available to him here. An elite Reyes gives you a ton of runs, SB's and average. HR's RBI's and walks won't kill you if Reyes has a great year. But if he doesn't have a great year or spends quite a bit of time on the DL this pick could look ugly early. Could be a great 3 yr contract or turn out to be a Dunn/Morales contract from last season.

1.6 Flying Squirrels of Springfield--Andrew McCutchen.....Like Hoyle, Adam could go many ways. Having a 5 year contract open this looks like a very solid option although I could see Justin Upton being taken here as well.

1.7 North Texas Rangers--Mike Napoli.....Everyone knows Adrian fondness for Rangers and having to choose between Napoli, Hamilton, Cruz will be difficult. This is fantasy baseball not real baseball so I take Napoli over the others. He can be slotted in at catcher to give him one of the best two catchers in baseball, fantasy wise, along with Santana. The stats for a catcher will be off the charts with 30+ HR's a distinct possibility.

1.8 Charlotte Orios--Hanley Ramirez.....Trading him away last season, Chris later tried to get him back in trade. He selects him here and gives him a 3 year contract. Nice infield in place with Butler/Utley/HanRam/Wright.

Nothing real earth shattering with these 8 picks although Napoli slotting at 1.7 will raise some eyebrows. The other seven would probably be at or near the top of everyone's mock draft. Tomorrow I post the rest of the first round with some other picks that you may not have seen coming.