(Promoted to front page; use as open thread for draft. --eric)

Big chance for the Mets to restock at Thursday's MLB Draft.  The new economics of baseball has made the draft more important to the franchises, and created greater fan interest.  This year it will have its most expansive television coverage ever.  It can be seen on ESPN 2 from 2-6PM.

I've never personally ever seen any of these players we hear the Mets associated with, but like many of you I've read scouting reports and analysis.  I've heard a lot about Ike Davis lately, but to me it seems we have a guy like that in Mike Carp.  Not to mention Martinez, and Murphy as fairly advanced lefty hitters, and Evans who plays a corner.  I'd rather take Gerrit Cole, the high school pitcher who might fall.  All the best groomed starters are HS guys, and not college guys where people don't pitch to contact (which was actually discussed on a game thread here lately).  I think if we have a chance to get a Billingsly, Kershaw, etc sort of player we should take it.  I like the idea of going with Castro, the catcher from Stanford with the other top 2 pick.  He'll be a great fit by 2010.  From what I read, I don't like Weeks the 2B from Miami the Mets may be looking at.  The next pick seems it like it hinges on what they grab with the first 2, so it's hard for me to venture a guess.  I just hope we have a chance to get Cutter Dykstra at some point, though not as a reach.  He seems like a solid center fielder type like his Dad, and that is a useful MLB player.

Enjoy the draft.  Big Day for Omar.  Let's go METS!

whynot

UPDATE [10:10am by Eric]: Alex Nelson will be live-blogging the draft over at MetsGeek. You can also check out his draft preview.