Next Year is Here! errr umm The Future is Bright!

Illinois Times - Chows GM Brad Sherlag controlled 1/3 of the top 9 picks in this year's draft. The Chows were expected to go one of two ways. Sherlag could make an imprint on the Chows for years to come in a draft loaded with young talent. Or, Sherlag could draft some players who excelled during the 2009 MLB season and figured to lead a team into the promised land in the 2010 NASBL campaign. Instead, Sherlag couldn't decide if he was going for this season or the future.

With the #6 pick, Sherlag chose Chris Carpenter who will instantly be one of the elite starters in all of NASBl. "Having a 1-2 of Carpenter and Halladay gives our staff credibility it has never had before. We have two legitimate aces now and believe we are contenders." No one can dispute Carpenter's talent, but his health and age (34) make this a pick for this season. So after leaving the podium with Pick 6 in the bag, and having previously traded their 2nd round pick for Todd Helton, the direction was clear - the Chows were all in for the 2010 season.

Not so fast, with pick #7, the Chows selected 3B Gordon Beckham. The only problem is, Illinois already has the hot corner manned by Chone Figgins. Chone is poised for a break out year in 2010, so why did the Chows select a 3B with the 7th pick? "We feel Beckham was the best available player on the board. We also believe he can play 2B in the future and will form our future DP combo with Ramirez. However, we will ease him into the NASBL by letting him get his feet wet playing 3B against lefties." Beckham is only 23, so he can become what Sherlag thinks he will, but this pick just doesn't mesh with taking Carpenter.

OK, so going into pick #8, the Chows are now going for the future, so will it be young McCutchen, Rasmus, Porcello o Price? With the #8 pick, the Chows take Brett Anderson. Anderson is only 22, but is not as highly regarded as Porcello or Price. "We had Anderson as the 4th best pitcher on the draft board behind Johnson, Carpenter and Hanson. We had him as the #3 pitcher for upside and had him ahead of Price and Porcello with our 2010 projection." When the Illinois Times asked Sherlag if he was straddling the fence with this pick he said "Absolutely not. We believe that Anderson is better than Price or Porcello this season and will be throughout his career."

Will Illinois have the horses to compete for a playoff spot this year? Sherlag thinks so, "We have a real solid line-up against both sides. We figure to get on base more than ever this season. Our defense is the best it has ever been with a 1 in CF, a 1 at 3B, a 2 at SS, LF, RF, 1B and C. Our staff has two aces, Anderson and Wells are a legit 3 and 4 and we have depth in starting pitching with Volquez, Maine and Shields. Nathan again anchors our bullpen."

"If we are in it at the end of Block 1, we will be aggressive on the trading front. Shields is still on the right side of 30 and I believe we could easily turn him into a better starter for this season at the Block I trading deadline. Some teams will realize it is not their year and we have some attractive players to supplement with picks to get the very best players that find themselves on the block." Will the Chows be one of those teams? Only time will tell.