Washington Nationals' 2010 Draft Watch: Bryce Harper, Deck McGuire.

• Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nationals' draft plot thickens", identifies Georgia Tech right-hander and '09 ACC Pitcher of the Year, 20-year-old Junior starter Deck McGuire as one of the pitchers the Washington Nationals could turn to if they decide not to go with College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper, who was anointed the best prospect available in the 2010 Draft before he was even eligible for it. Mr. Sheinin says he liked LSU right-hander Anthony Ranaudo as well, til he injured his elbow, and he likes prep school right-hander Jameson Taillon while acknowledging the fact that no team's ever selected a high school pitcher with the first overall pick. In the end, Mr. Sheinin concludes that, "It's gotta be Harper," but he's not alone in noting Georgia Tech's Deck McGuire's appeal. The Nationals Farm Authority's Brian Oliver wrote recently in an article entitled, "Digging into the Draft", that the 6'6'', 218lb Richmond, Virginia-born McGuire, "...has the most Mike Rizzo feel to him," and, in Mr. Oliver's opinion, "...has the best chance to go no.1 overall", if the Nationals opt to go for a pitcher instead of the 17-year-old Harper. Of course the man everyone hates to hear from was the first one who threw McGuire's name out as a possibility, and once again tonight the Yellow Jackets' starter showed everyone why he's drawing attention...

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• Deck McGuire's 4th Start.

• Bryce Harper's 7th HR.

• Anthony Ranaudo Out Again.

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• Deck McGuire's 4th Start.

• Georgia Tech improved to 11-1 in twenty-ten thanks to Junior right-hander Deck McGuire's complete game performance in the Yellow Jackets' 9-1 win Friday night over ACC rivals Wake Forest at home in Atlanta, Georgia's Russ Chandler Stadium where the third-year starter allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks while collecting 8 K's in 9.0 IP in which he threw 106 pitches, 76 for strikes. The win improves McGuire's record to 3-0 in 4 starts and 31.0 IP this year, during which the 20-year-old starter has K'd 33 (9.58 K/9) and walked just 5 (1.45 K/9), while holding opponents to a .196 BAA as he follows up on a sophomore season which saw McGuire go (11-2) with a 3.50 ERA in 16 starts and 100.1 IP over which the 20-year-old Richmond, Virginia native struck out 118 (10.5 K/9) and walked 41 (3.68 BB/9) while holding opposing teams to a .232 BAA.

LINK: Deck McGuire MLB.com Scouting Video.

• Bryce Harper's 7th HR.

0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored in a 4-3 win in the first game of a double header on Friday, College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper went 2 for 4 in game two, sending his 7th HR of the season sailing out of the park in a 3-0 win that completed a sweep of Western Nevada and raised the CSU Coyotes' record to 18-4 in 2010. In 22 games, the 17-year-old is now hitting .403 (31 for 77) with a .495 OBP, .831 SLG, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR's, 21 RBI's and 15 walks with 12 defensive assists and only 1 error in the field (.992 fld%).

• Erin Cofeil, of WAFB in Baton Rouge, Louisiana tweeted Friday night that she had spoken to LSU right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, who missed his third straight start with what he's still describing as "discomfort" in his pitching elbow:

"Just interviewed LSU ace Anthony Ranaudo live. Not throwing for 3rd Friday bc of discomfort in elbow. Said prob gonna be out another 2 weeks." 

Ranaudo, considered by some as a contender for the no.1 overall pick in 2010 when the season began, can't remain in consideration after missing 5 weeks with elbow issues during his Draft year, can he? How far will Ranaudo fall?

• And I know the Nationals' won't be the first team in 45 years to draft a high school pitcher no. 1 overall, but that doesn't mean you can't at least look at RHP Jameson Taillon.

LINK: MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo's article entitled, "High schooler Taillon has mix on the mound."