We head towards the draft: what do fans think is the best tactic?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Arizona Diamondbacks fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.
First though, this is my unsurprised face. According to the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, five percent of Diamondbacks fans are confident the team is headed in the right direction. That level of confidence has held steady for the last two weeks. Let’s face it, it isn’t as if it can possibly sink much lower now, can it?
Diamondbacks fans hope the team can make a splash off the field later this month in the MLB Draft. Though I imagine most of us may already be looking forward that sweet, #1 overall pick which looks increasingly likely in the 2022 version. But according to the survey, 53 percent of MLB fans around the country say they pay close attention to the draft.
In the draft, nearly three-fourths of fans want their team to draft a player based on his upside. Only 16 percent want the pick based on how quickly that player can reach the majors while 13 percent want their team to make the safest pick. I think most D-backs’ fans would probably tend to agree. It doesn’t feel like this team is on the edge of contention, and with most of our top prospects in the lower reaches of the Arizona farm system, I’m not thinking there should be much rush.
The biggest decision facing most teams is what kind of player to draft in the first round. Typically, it comes down to picking between a pitcher or a position player. Nearly two-thirds of fans would rather have their team draft a pitcher. That’s interesting: I would have thought it would have been closer to 50/50. My personal preference is to go simply with the best available player, almost regardless of role or position (though if you have a genuine catcher or shortstop available, that might factor into the decision). The development process is long enough that it should flatten out most of the bumps.
But if you have a strong preference for a pitcher (or, indeed, a hitter), please feel free to speak up in the comments and explain the reasoning.
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