There's no Mel Kiper from ESPN going over endless lists of potential picks. Nor is there a lottery show for all the losing teams.

The Major League Baseball draft, which begins Thursday, has little pizzazz.

But oh how important it has become. Teams are realizing that a blank check for free agency is not working. Drafting wisely and developing players is the wise way to go. It works for both poor teams (Tampa Bay) and the rich (Boston).

Here is a quick look at some current members of the Red Sox organization that have been drafted by the team in the past eight years:

• 2000: pitcher Manny Delcarmen, second round

• 2001: infielder Kevin Youkilis, eighth round

• 2002: pitcher Jon Lester, second round; outfielder Brandon Moss, eighth round

• 2003: pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, fourth round

• 2004: infielder Dustin Pedroia, second round

• 2005: outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, first round; pitcher Craig Hansen, first round; pitcher Clay Buchholz, sandwich round; infielder Jed Lowrie, sandwich round

• 2006: pitcher Justin Masterson, second round

In 2008, Boston has the last pick (30th) of the first round, a small cost for winning the World Series. Boston does have five of the top 108 picks.

The Red Sox have a sandwich pick, 45th overall. Sandwich picks between the first and second rounds are awarded to teams that lost free agents. Boston lost Eric Gagne to Milwaukee. So, yes, the Red Sox might finally get something out of Gagne.

Boston has a second-round pick (77th overall) and two third-round picks (85th and 108th). The additional third-round pick came because of a new rule compensating teams that do not sign top picks from the previous draft. Boston drafted high school first baseman Hunter Morris in the second round last year, but he turned the Red Sox down, accepting a scholarship to Auburn.

So, who will the Red Sox get this year?

This much is certain. Boston will not get college pitchers Brian Matusz (San Diego) or Aaron Crow (Missouri), Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez or high school shortstop Tim Beckham. They are considered among the top picks. Tampa Bay again has the first pick, followed by Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

For Boston's top pick, I have five guesses.

The first is a long shot, because high school first baseman Eric Hosmer of Plantation, Fla., is predicted to be a top-10 pick. But his agent is Scott Boras, so Hosmer might slide down.

You can never have enough catchers, especially with Jason Varitek's successor still in doubt. Jason Castro of Stanford could be Boston's man.

If pitching is the priority -- and isn't it always? -- Boston could grab Texas Christian right-hander Andrew Cashner. Once a starter at Angelina Junior College in Texas (yes, that's where Clay Buchholz went), Cashner and his 98 mph moved to the bullpen with TCU.

Middle infielder is another popular position, and the University of South Carolina's Reese Havens could be another Pedroia.

Pick any top player from the University of Miami and, chances are, Boston would be interested. Outfielder and power hitter Dennis Raben may be a good fit.

With its second through fifth picks, the Red Sox have several options. There will be plenty of pitching available. Boston prefers college kids and may be interested in starter Aaron Pribanic (Nebraska), and relievers Zack Stewart (Texas Tech) and Carlos Gutierrez (Miami).

Shane Peterson, a first baseman/outfielder, doesn't have a lot of power (seven home runs), but he hit .398 and has the plate discipline Boston craves (.510 on-base percentage).

Boston seems to go after high school players from Georgia (Moss, Mickey Hall, Chad Spann), and outfielder Jay Austin is said to be a potential star (emphasis on the word "potential").

The two-day draft begins at 2 p.m. Thursday. ESPN2 will cover the first four hours.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at: kthomas@pressherald.com