Rewind/Fast Forward: How the 2005 MLB Draft "Should" Have Gone

So I had so much fun checking back on the 2006 MLB Draft that I've decided to give the 2005 Draft a run for its money.

Who knows, I might end up looking back and redrafting 2007, 2004, and even 2003 too.

God knows, as an Orioles fan, I would truly love to get a mulligan on 1999, when the O's had five of the first 50 picks.

Granted, they did grab Brian Roberts, but thinking that Carl Crawford could have been wearing an O's jersey this whole time makes me really sick—like really...going to go puke now.

1. Diamondbacks

The D-Backs took Justin Upton first overall in' 05, and while he hasn't done anything to prove the organization wrong, he really hasn't done much of anything to prove them right either.

With Ryan Braun on the board, looking back, he is clearly the first pick, sadly demoting my boy Mark Reynolds to a backup role, or maybe he can learn second base. 

2. Royals

The Justin Upton commentary holds for the No. 2 pick Alex Gordon as well. He hasn't done anything to really live up to his No. 2 status.

So the Royals fill a huge need and take Troy Tulowitzki, who makes it to KC in just a few years and holds down the left side of the infield with Mark Teahen—that is, until Mike Moustakas arrives.

3. Mariners

Seems like catcher has been a tough position to hit on in the past few years, and taking Jeff Clement looks rather questionable now. Instead, the M's take five-tool stud Jay Bruce, who is just starting to come into his own. He'll be an All-Star in a few years and would look pretty good doing it in an M's uni.

4. Nationals

Why mess with a good thing? Ryan Zimmerman has become the face of the Nats franchise.  Given a redo, I'm sure they'd make the same pick.

It would be tough with some pretty talented arms and outfielders on the board, but the Nats need a cornerstone bat, not a bunch of speedy outfielders.

5. Brewers

Losing out on Braun, the Brewers draft Cameron Maybin, a Mike Cameron clone, who will hopefully one day fill out his game and hit for average, power and wreak havoc on the basepaths.

Maybin also gives the Brew Crew a presence at the top of the lineup—and for the time, a true leadoff hitter.

6. Blue Jays

Ricky Romero might be really good. The results so far this year have been pretty encouraging, but I would gladly take Matt Garza over pretty encouraging if I had the chance and I'm sure the Jays would too.

Taking Garza gives them a solid No. 2 to back up Doc Halladay.

7. Rockies

With no Tulo to take here, the Rockies nab Justin Upton for his sheer potential. If he turns out, he could be a dramatic impact bat—and an amazing one to pair with Dexter Fowler and 2006 redraft teammate Travis Snider. Upton's game would also benefit from being played in the rare air of Coors Field.

8. Rays

For a team that has made some pretty good moves in the draft, taking Rice product Wade Townsend with the eighth pick was pretty dumb. At least it made the O's look wise for not signing him.

Given a do-over, the Rays take a franchise catcher in Jeff Clement. Yeah, I called him questionable above, but given a chance to succeed and play full-time, something he hasn't consistently gotten in Seattle, Clement blossoms and shepherds along a very young, very talented staff.

9. Mets

The Mets took pitcher Mike Pelfrey the first time, but with their active nature in free agency and their willingness to part with young pitchers (see Scott Kazmir), an outfielder might make more sense.

So they take the best available in Andrew McCutcheon. In him, they get what they hoped they were getting when they took Lastings Milledge.

10. Tigers

The Tigers trade one outfielder for another here. Since Maybin is gone, they trade up and get Colby Rasmus, also coming into his own this year. Pairing Rasmus with Curtis Granderson would be mighty exciting!

11. Pirates

The Pirates need pitching, always have, and much like in the 2006 redraft, they nab a pitcher, this time Clay Buchholz. With no veterans or free agents to get in his way, Buchholz gets up quickly and throws a no-no for the Pirates. Talk about crazy.

12. Reds

The Reds feel the pain of losing out on their franchise player in Bruce, but get a decent consolation prize in picking up Jacoby Ellsbury with the 12th pick. He has the speed to kill you and has proven to be pretty adept with the bat. His small ball ways play well in the spacious Great American Ballpark.

13. Orioles

Don't get me wrong, I dig Brandon Snyder, and I'm pretty sure he'll turn out to be a decent big leaguer.  But the O's can fix a decade-long issue here—and they do, taking shortstop Yunel Escobar here. Not only does he provide good defense, but no longer is the shortstop position a guaranteed out for the O's.

14. Indians

Granted, I haven't seen either Trevor Crowe or Vin Mazzaro play, but from what I hear about Mazzaro, he's a superstar in the making. The Indians have shuffled pitchers back and forth from Cleveland to AAA too much the past few years, and would benefit from having a legit starter.

15. White Sox

I know it's hard to pass on a guy named Broadway, but the Sox have been looking for a true centerfielder for as long as the O's have been searching for a shortstop. They take Jordan Schafer and he makes his debut this year, filling that need for a decade.

16. Marlins

The Marlins went pitcher happy in 2007 and Chris Volstad was their first pick. He is again, because his physical package of skills is pretty darn impressive and hard to pass up—especially as he turns out to be as good as advertised.

17. Yankees

Not going to lie—I'm not even sure where Carl Henry is playing these days, so this is an easy redo for the Yanks. Mike Pelfrey ends up pitching in New York after all, just in a different uniform, providing some talented youth for the Yankees rotation.

18. Padres

The Padres take pitching here too, trading in Cesar Carrillo for Ricky Romero. Talk about two names with catchy sounds. Romero could be a legit No. 3 starter and the Pads need someone behind Peavy and Young.

19. Rangers

The Rangers ditch John Mayberry Jr. (I mean come on, they have Nelson Cruz) and take pitcher Clayton Richard instead, giving them another starter to improve their dreadful pitching staff.

20. Cubs

Oy! Mark Pawelek eh? How bout I take him back and give you Jeremy Hellickson, the most underrated Rays pitching prospect who may turn out to be the most talented.

21. Athletics

The A's get a steal when Mat Gamel slips this far in the draft. Let's face it, Eric Chavez just can't stay healthy, no matter how much he protests.

22. Marlins

The Marlins keep the pitching theme going and take closer Craig Hansen.  Go figure, they turn him into their future closer, negating the need for any Logan Kensing, Matt Lindstrom, or Taylor Tankersly experiments.

23. Red Sox

The Sox are ticked about losing Ellsbury, so they raid the Yankees' cabinet and steal Austin Jackson, who becomes the centerfielder of the future for the Yanks' biggest rival. Talk about karma.

24. Astros

The Astros missed on Brian Bogusevic as a pitcher, and although they may hit on him now that he's a hitter, they take outfielder Peter Bourjos at No. 24.

Bourjos is a speed demon and is much better with the bat that Michael Bourn, giving the Astros the speed of Bourn with a better all-around player.

25. Twins

The Twins suffer greatly, watching Garza go so early in the redraft. They use their late pick to grad Chase Headley, who can hold down either the hot corner or second base, their choice, for years to come. Now there's no need to go out and get Joe Crede.

26. Red Sox

The Red Sox gladly trade in Hansen here, and in his place take Kevin Slowey, who emerges into a bona fide middle-of-the-rotation innings-eater. The Twins lose both of the stud pitchers of their 2007 draft.

27. Braves

The Braves lose out on Escobar to the Orioles—and to make up for it, swipe Jed Lowrie away from the Bo Sox. Lowrie becomes the shortstop of the future for the Braves, eventually moving over to third when Chipper retires.

28. Cardinals

The Cards trade a five-tool talent for a sure-fire talent with superior power, taking Nolan Reimold, who is on the verge of breaking into the majors right now. Reimold negates the need for a Ryan Ludwick/Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel outfield rotation.

29. Marlins

Fish make it three for three, taking yet another pitcher, this time Michael Bowden, one of the most polished pitchers in the draft. The Fish now have enough pitching to bolster two Major League rotations.

30. Cardinals

The Cards trade shortstop for shortstop, ditching James Greene and picking up Ivan de Jesus, who was on the verge of breaking into the bigs before going down with an injury early in spring training.

The winners in this redo are clearly the Red Sox (Jackson and Slowey), the Marlins and the Blue Jays, who swapped a rotation filler for a true pitching stud. Most important, the O's finally fill the shortstop spot, meaning I don't have to live through Luis Hernandez, Cesar Izturis, Robert Andino, Freddie Bynum, Alex Cintron, Eider Torres, and Juan Castro.

Thank you sweet baby Jesus!