With the luxury of having six picks among the top 62 in the annual June draft on Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers could afford to take a gamble or two on players they might not normally target.But don't expect them to do it."If you gamble because you have an extra pick, if you lose that gamble, it's like you didn't have the extra pick," explained Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "I still think you have to analyze it and review it and make all your evaluations."The Brewers don't pick in the first round until No. 16, but shortly after that, the action will get fast and furious. As compensation for losing free-agent relievers Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink last winter, they get supplemental picks Nos. 32 and 35 after the first round.As additional compensation for losing those free agents, the Brewers have picks Nos. 53 and 54 in the second round (previously belonging to Cincinnati and the Chicago White Sox) as well as their own selection at No. 62.The talent pool is considered fairly deep, so the Brewers should come away with some solid prospects.By the time the Brewers make their first selection, of course, the premium players will be off the board.That group includes Florida State catcher Buster Posey, Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez, Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham, prep shortstop Tim Beckham of Griffin, Ga., San Diego left-hander Brian Matusz and Missouri right-hander Aaron Crow.One of the players in whom the Brewers have shown interest is something of a risk because scouts are divided on his offensive potential. Anthony Hewitt, a shortstop / outfielder at Salisbury School, a Connecticut prep school, has a unique skill set.Hewitt, who has a scholarship to play for Vanderbilt, has tremendous power as well as above-average speed and a strong arm, and some scouts consider him the best athlete in the draft. But the Brooklyn native plays against mostly inferior competition in the Northeast and didn't fare well in national showcases last summer. Still, his upside could be considerable.No organization scouts Canada better than the Brewers, so another player to keep an eye on is outfielder / infielder Brett Lawrie, a prep slugger from Langley, British Columbia. Finding a set position might take some time - he plays shortstop now but probably will be moved to second or third base - but Lawrie's offensive prowess has him moving up the draft charts.The Brewers haven't had much luck drafting high school pitchers in the first round, but they like right-hander Tim Melville of Wentzville, Missouri and right-hander Gerrit Cole of Orange, Calif., both of whom could be off the board before their first pick. Cole could be a tough sign because he has a UCLA scholarship and is represented by agent Scott Boras.This draft is deep with college first basemen, such as Justin Smoak of South Carolina and Yonder Alonso of Miami, as well as college relievers, including Georgia's Joshua Fields and TCU's Andrew Cashner. The relievers might not fit the Brewers' drafting profile, however."Not many college closers have become long-term guys (in the majors)," Melvin said. "(Oakland's) Huston Street and (Washington's) Chad Cordero did it. It's a little bit of a gamble with those guys."Making this draft particularly interesting is a trio of prep stars who double as pitchers and everyday players - Aaron Hicks of Long Beach, Calif., Ethan Martin of Toccoa, Ga., and Casey Kelly of Sarasota, Fla. All three are ranked highly as both pitchers and hitters, and each could be available when the Brewers make their first pick."James Loney was that way," Melvin said, referring to the Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman who was also a highly-rated pitcher in high school."Each club makes a decision on which way they want to go (with pitchers / hitters). Everybody does it differently."First baseman Eric Hosmer (Plantation, Fla.) is considered the top high school hitter in the draft and Kyle Skipworth (Rubidoux, Calif.) is a coveted prep catcher, but neither is expected to make it to No. 16.One player who should be on the board when the Brewers make their first pick - and possibly in the supplemental round - is Miami second baseman Jemile Weeks, younger brother of Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks. The Brewers selected Jemile in the eighth round of the 2005 draft out of high school, but he chose to attend college and greatly boosted his stock.It's doubtful the Brewers will use the 16th pick on the younger Weeks but Rickie said he'd welcome future competition from his brother."I wouldn't mind that at all," Rickie said. "That would be great (if the Brewers drafted him). But I'm not giving him my job."The Brewers' drafting philosophy is to take the best player remaining on their board when their turn comes around. But scouting director Jack Zduriencik and his staff also focus on selecting players who want to sign and get their professional careers going, rather than holding out for the last nickel.First-round pick Ryan Braun signed quickly in 2005 and was in the big leagues two years later. Matt LaPorta, their first pick in 2007, is already tearing it up at Class AA Huntsville."Players aren't any good if you can't sign them," Melvin said. "What we've done well is sign our guys and get them out there."Last year, Tampa Bay had the No. 1 pick (Vanderbilt left-hander David Price) but he held out and just started pitching in their system. Braun signed, went out and played, got up here and now has a multi-year contract."
