Mariners in running for first draft pick

SEATTLE – It’s the showdown for the ages.

The dark ages.

Forget about the exciting pennant races in every division except the A.L. West. The real drama in September is going to be the battle for the No. 1 overall draft pick next year.

That dishonor goes to the team with the worst record in baseball. Through Friday, the Seattle Mariners, San Diego and Washington were separated by a mere 3 1/2 games.

By a fluke of scheduling, all three teams played each other this year. The Mariners beat the Padres five out of six, but the Nationals swept three games in Seattle in June.

The Padres took two of three from the Nats in May, with a showdown in D.C. still to come, Sept. 19-21.

At least the “winner” of the worst-team sweepstakes has the consolation of being first in line for San Diego State phenom Stephen Strasburg. The only collegian on the U.S. Olympic team, the right-hander struck out 23 in a game against Utah this year and is the consensus No. 1 pick.

“It’s a good year to pick No. 1,” said John Manuel, editor of Baseball America. “I love Strasburg, but that’s hardly original.”

ESPN’s Keith Law, senior baseball analyst for Scouts, Inc., and a former executive with the Toronto Blue Jays, is just as bullish on Strasburg.

“I’d say he’s less than two years away (from the majors),” Law said. “He’s the one guy out there that’s a No. 1 starter.”

Therein lies the rub. The falloff after Strasburg might be precipitous, though as Law cautions, it’s a bit early to say that definitively. It’s possible that one or more players will break out during the college season before next June’s draft. It always happens.

As it stands now, here are the names being bandied about at the top of the draft, behind Strasburg (with comments from Manuel):

•Alex White, pitcher from University of North Carolina. “He has an electric arm plus athletic ability.”

•Kyle Gibson, pitcher from University of Missouri. “Average fastball, projectable body, wipeout slider.”

•Grant Green, shortstop from USC. “Has torn up the Cape Cod League.”

•Dustin Ackley, first baseman-outfielder from North Carolina. “If I had to compare him to a player, the only one I can come up with is Tony Gwynn, because he has hit .400 two years in a row at UNC with speed, etc.”