...over Cole. Simply for the injury issue. It's closer because Rendon keeps breaking his leg and is at risk for problems later a la Ventura, but the odds of Cole throwing a pitch and never being effective again are just much higher.
That said, Cole is definitely putting his stamp on this college season thus far as a starter. We're not gonna be able to compare what he does against these new bats to what former #1 pitchers did in their draft seasons, but out of the gate he still looks like the cream of the crop.
He's a lifelong Yankees fan, but that just means I respect his decision to turn them down even more.
Article on the story of that (where he didn't even let the Yankees give him an offer or tell him what ballpark figure they were looking at):
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=sh-coleucla062710
Right now, I'd say Cole's our guy if we're handicapping the pick. I like Purke, but his motion is...interesting. I could be very, VERY happy with Purke, but he's looking at Cole's tail-lights right now in this race.
The fun part for me is what happens if the Pirates decide NOT to move Pedro Alvarez off 3B and go instead for the ready-in-3-months Gerrit Cole as their #1 selection. Both Cole and Rendon are repped by Boras, so none of us gets a break either way there. Purke isn't, but he's gotta climb over a couple of potential guys first before we worry about that.
Cole, Rendon, Purke or Starling. We have good choices, and I'm glad for it. Still, maybe Cole keeps putting in the kind of year that makes it not a choice at all.
Go, Gerrit, go...
~G
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