2006 Cubs Draft

[tbaseball]

With the Cubs only have two picks in the first 150 picks of the draft, they will be able to overspend on their 1st rd. pick. Unfortunately, this year's class is somewhat weak in star players. There should be some very quality players available at pick #13. I can see the Cubs going after the top college arm at this spot. Here are some that I see still being available at that pick:

RHP-Daniel Bard-UNC

RHP-Joba Chamberlain-Nebraska

RHP-Max Scherzer-Mizzu

These three all have the capabilities of moving through the system quickly and being in the big leagues in 2 years. Another college guy that will probably be around would be OF-Drew Stubbs of UT. As far as top HS guys go, here are a few that could possibly be around for the Cubs:

SS-Billy Rowell out of NJ. Probably top HS position player in country. 6'5 SS with power, range, and speed.

RHP-Jeremy Jeffress out of VA. Smaller (6'0) athletic pitcher that has reached 100mph on occasion this spring.

LHP-Clayton Kershaw out of TX. Big strong lefty with mid-90's stuff. He is currently committed to U of Texas.

 

The Cubs next pick isn't until #149, which is the 5th rd. It's pretty much a crapshoot on who's available. You could possibly see the Cubs reach for a signability issue player here, in hopes of overpaying for slot to get him. Otherwise, there are some pitching prospects that should be available such as:

RHP-Jonah Nickerson-Oregon St

LHP-Brad Furnish-TCU

LHP-Tony Watson-Nebraska

RHP-Kendal Volz out of Texas. Commited to Baylor.

LHP-Tyler Robertson out of CA. Committed to Fullerton.

LHP-Jarred Holloway out of AR. Committed to Mississippi St.

[CubinNY]

dbl post Edited May 17, 2006 by CubinNY

[CubinNY]

With the Cubs only have two picks in the first 150 picks of the draft, they will be able to overspend on their 1st rd. pick. Unfortunately, this year's class is somewhat weak in star players. There should be some very quality players available at pick #13. I can see the Cubs going after the top college arm at this spot. Here are some that I see still being available at that pick:

RHP-Daniel Bard-UNC

RHP-Joba Chamberlain-Nebraska

RHP-Max Scherzer-Mizzu

These three all have the capabilities of moving through the system quickly and being in the big leagues in 2 years. Another college guy that will probably be around would be OF-Drew Stubbs of UT. As far as top HS guys go, here are a few that could possibly be around for the Cubs:

SS-Billy Rowell out of NJ. Probably top HS position player in country. 6'5 SS with power, range, and speed.

RHP-Jeremy Jeffress out of VA. Smaller (6'0) athletic pitcher that has reached 100mph on occasion this spring.

LHP-Clayton Kershaw out of TX. Big strong lefty with mid-90's stuff. He is currently committed to U of Texas.

 

The Cubs next pick isn't until #149, which is the 5th rd. It's pretty much a crapshoot on who's available. You could possibly see the Cubs reach for a signability issue player here, in hopes of overpaying for slot to get him. Otherwise, there are some pitching prospects that should be available such as:

RHP-Jonah Nickerson-Oregon St

LHP-Brad Furnish-TCU

LHP-Tony Watson-Nebraska

RHP-Kendal Volz out of Texas. Commited to Baylor.

LHP-Tyler Robertson out of CA. Committed to Fullerton.

LHP-Jarred Holloway out of AR. Committed to Mississippi St.

Tell me more about Billy Rowell

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Scherzer had an injury plagued season, only threw 52.2 IP this year. He was good when he did pitch though. 5-1, 2.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 10.00 K/9, and 3.05 K/BB for a Big XII team. I wonder if he'll still come out this year. He's a max effort guy who pitched out of the pen earlier in his college career, he may be fast mover through the Minors as a closer.

[WindyCity]

Scherzer had an injury plagued season

 

Then he's a perfect fit for the Cubs! :lol:

[tbaseball]

Billy Rowell is a 6'5 195 lb athlete that plays SS for his HS team. He projects to be a 3B/RF in the pros. He has a very good frame to become a powerhitter, very comparable to Troy Glaus, only more athletic. He has decent speed with a 6.9-7.0 60 yd time and an above average arm. He has good range at SS due to his big strides.

[CubinNY]

Billy Rowell is a 6'5 195 lb athlete that plays SS for his HS team. He projects to be a 3B/RF in the pros. He has a very good frame to become a powerhitter, very comparable to Troy Glaus, only more athletic. He has decent speed with a 6.9-7.0 60 yd time and an above average arm. He has good range at SS due to his big strides.

 

Thanks,

 

Is he a better prospect the Louis Montenez was?

 

BTW> Thanks for the report. It is much appreciated. I love the draft, so much potential and hope. Much more so then the current team provides.

[Outshined_One]

Rowell and Kershaw have been skyrocketing up the charts lately. Neither would be a bad pick, although in Kershaw's case, guys committed to Texas are typically hard to pry away.

 

From my memory, the college Boras advised guys this year are Luke Hochevar, Matt LaPorta, Ian Kennedy, and Jason Donald. Hochevar had that whole ugly incident with the Dodgers. LaPorta has struggled, but is a heck of a power hitter. Kennedy's velocity dropped from 89-91 to 86-88 this year. Donald isn't a name I've heard a lot. I'm unsure who in HS has him.

 

As odd as it sounds, the Cubs picked a pretty good year not to have any picks between the rounds 2-4.

 

Virginia is always a good place to keep an eye on, by the way. The Cubs have a terrific scout in the area (Billy Swoope) who was behind such picks as Sean Marshall, Jason Dubois, Scott Taylor, Justin Jones, and Brendan Harris, among others. That's a pretty nice list, all things considered. This year's crop includes:

 

RHP Jeremy Jeffress (HS)

2B Scott Sizemore (VCU)

RHP Harold Mozingo (VCU)

 

Once BA releases their annual area scouting reports, there should be more to add to that list.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Rowell and Kershaw have been skyrocketing up the charts lately. Neither would be a bad pick, although in Kershaw's case, guys committed to Texas are typically hard to pry away.

 

From my memory, the college Boras advised guys this year are Luke Hochevar, Matt LaPorta, Ian Kennedy, and Jason Donald. Hochevar had that whole ugly incident with the Dodgers. LaPorta has struggled, but is a heck of a power hitter. Kennedy's velocity dropped from 89-91 to 86-88 this year. Donald isn't a name I've heard a lot. I'm unsure who in HS has him.

 

As odd as it sounds, the Cubs picked a pretty good year not to have any picks between the rounds 2-4.

 

Virginia is always a good place to keep an eye on, by the way. The Cubs have a terrific scout in the area (Billy Swoope) who was behind such picks as Sean Marshall, Jason Dubois, Scott Taylor, Justin Jones, and Brendan Harris, among others. That's a pretty nice list, all things considered. This year's crop includes:

 

RHP Jeremy Jeffress (HS)

2B Scott Sizemore (VCU)

RHP Harold Mozingo (VCU)

 

Once BA releases their annual area scouting reports, there should be more to add to that list.

 

I think Max Scherzer is another guy advised by Boras.

 

I'm becoming a fan of Brandon Morrow and Lincecum (despite his size), but I think they'll be long gone by the time the Cubs pick.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think Max Scherzer is another guy advised by Boras.

 

Correct, unless something has changed since the beginning of the season.

[Outshined_One]

I think Max Scherzer is another guy advised by Boras.

 

Correct, unless something has changed since the beginning of the season.

 

Wouldn't surprise me. I remembered Kennedy and Donald because they were somewhat well-known in the 2003 draft. John Manuel mentioned LaPorta as a Boras client in a recent chat. ASU OF Colin Curtis is another Boras client.

 

I haven't been able to find any of his HS clients for this year, though.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I think Max Scherzer is another guy advised by Boras.

 

Correct, unless something has changed since the beginning of the season.

 

Confirmed via a recent John Manuel BA chat.

 

Too bad Brandon Morrow doesn't have Boras as his advisor: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/features/261287.html (Premium BA)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Now Raisin can be happy.

 

I finally was able to upload the videos of Scherzer! These are both from his March 10th start. They were taken with my digital camera at the only spot I wasn't obstructed by the screen or other people, so you basically just get a good look at his mechanics.

 

 

Windup

Stretch

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thanks, TT!

 

Was the baserunner safe at second??

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Thanks, TT!

 

Was the baserunner safe at second??

 

Pretty sure he was, it doesn't look like the infielder that's still in the shot came up with it.

 

The other team is Purdue, BTW.

[Tedward]

Billy Rowell is a 6'5 195 lb athlete that plays SS for his HS team. He projects to be a 3B/RF in the pros. He has a very good frame to become a powerhitter, very comparable to Troy Glaus, only more athletic. He has decent speed with a 6.9-7.0 60 yd time and an above average arm. He has good range at SS due to his big strides.

 

If he can make it past Baltimore with the # 9 pick, BA (in their mock draft) is projecting the Cubs will take him if he is there at # 13.

[Outshined_One]

Throw Cal-Poly RHP Gary Daley on the Boras list.

[imb]

billy rowell video

 

sweet swing

 

http://www.powershowcase.us/action_movies/newjersey/Rowell.mpg

[CubinNY]

billy rowell video

 

sweet swing

 

http://www.powershowcase.us/action_movies/newjersey/Rowell.mpg

 

They're going to need some more balls. Nice compact swing, and from the left side. He looked a little off ballance on a few of those though, probably because of the camera. He's big for a SS.

[Outshined_One]

billy rowell video

 

sweet swing

 

http://www.powershowcase.us/action_movies/newjersey/Rowell.mpg

 

They're going to need some more balls. Nice compact swing, and from the left side. He looked a little off ballance on a few of those though, probably because of the camera. He's big for a SS.

 

He projects as a 3B/OF, from all accounts.

 

Thanks for the vid IMB, he has quite a good swing. I'm curious as to how he looks in the field, though.

[Salazar89]

Although he is being projected to go earlier in the draft...

 

Cubs scouts were in attendance at Clayton Kershaw's last game. I coach football and basketball in the same district and the baseball coaches can't stop talking about this impressive young man. Not only one heck of pitcher, but also a solid kid.

 

This is the same high school that produced Chris Young of the Padres.

 

15 up and 15ks in last outing. Would imagine he made added an extra mil to his signing bonus that evening.

 

His stock has been steadily moving upward.

[Outshined_One]

Although he is being projected to go earlier in the draft...

 

Cubs scouts were in attendance at Clayton Kershaw's last game. I coach football and basketball in the same district and the baseball coaches can't stop talking about this impressive young man. Not only one heck of pitcher, but also a solid kid.

 

This is the same high school that produced Chris Young of the Padres.

 

15 up and 15ks in last outing. Would imagine he made added an extra mil to his signing bonus that evening.

 

His stock has been steadily moving upward.

 

He will likely be the first HS guy off the board at the rate things are going. He sounds like a keeper...too bad he won't fall to the Cubs. :(

[Mephistopheles]

They're going to need some more balls. Nice compact swing, and from the left side. He looked a little off ballance on a few of those though, probably because of the camera. He's big for a SS.

You're onto something there. Yes I know it was batting practice off a machine, but he lets his hips and front shoulder fly open like a dead-pull hitter. He might have been trying to put on a home run show, but he didn't look very polished to me because he didn't try to take any of the pitches to the left field. I want to know if he can cover the plate on the outer half because minor league pitchers can exploit that weakness rather easily, just ask Ryan Harvey.

[cubweiser03]

Everything he hit when yard. On like the 4th or 5th swing he has one he takes yard on a pitch above the letters, its hilarious. If this dude has plate discipline like some of you are saying id be interested in this guy.

[goonys evil twin]

So uh, when is the draft?