2006 Cubs Draft

[CaliforniaRaisin]

So uh, when is the draft?

 

Next Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

The draft pool added three more pitchers: Luke Hochevar (formerly Dodgers' property) is officially back in the draft, as are two of the top draft-and-follows: Pedro Beato (Mets) and Bryan Morris (Devil Rays). The first two are sure-fire first rounders and Morris has been projected to go late in the first round.

[cubweiser03]

So who do people want? I havent followed this draft closely AT ALL.

[Outshined_One]

So who do people want? I havent followed this draft closely AT ALL.

 

I'll probably say Billy Rowell or Travis Snider. Both have promising bats and already developed some command of the strike zone. Snider has a better bat, but has a decided lack of athleticism and will end up at either 1B or LF. Rowell has a better athleticism and should end up at 3B, although I get the feeling his patience and command of the plate are not quite as good.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Actually I've heard Rowell is pretty impressive with plate disicpline...

 

I would like him as our pick, he reminds me of Brandon Wood. Hopefully he knows how to walk more than Wood does though.

[Outshined_One]

For those of you wondering, the draft should be on XM Radio, Channel 189.

[Mephistopheles]

Actually I've heard Rowell is pretty impressive with plate disicpline...

Yeah but that comparison was relative to Travis Snider. When JP Riccardi is linked to a HS hitter in the first round, you know damn sure he has plus patience.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Actually I've heard Rowell is pretty impressive with plate disicpline...

Yeah but that comparison was relative to Travis Snider. When JP Riccardi is linked to a HS hitter in the first round, you know damn sure he has plus patience.

 

Yeah, and it can be a smokescreen. You can't based your decision on what another GM might do. If the Cubs like SNider when he is available, and is the best prospect on the board, then they should take him, if they like Rowell, take him. Don't take Snider, because another GM potentially likes him.

[Mephistopheles]

No one said anything about basing our choice on what another GM likes. It's no secret Riccardi values plate discipline and it's no secret Riccardi doesn't choose HS players.

 

Logically, if he does like a HS player, that player must be very good at what Riccardi likes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

No one said anything about basing our choice on what another GM likes. It's no secret Riccardi values plate discipline and it's no secret Riccardi doesn't choose HS players.

 

Logically, if he does like a HS player, that player must be very good at what Riccardi likes.

 

It's also been reported by independent sources like BA that Rowell has good plate discipline.

[craig]

Rowell sounds interesting and all that. But I'm pretty leary of guys who want to be hitters who stand 6'5". Tall guys with big-time batting-practice power are common. But tall guys who can actually shorten their swing enough to get around on 95-mph inside fastballs and handle the movement and breaking balls of big-league pitchers are really rare. Just pretty tough to keep 6'5" arms from giving you a long swing.

 

Draft a 6'5" guy and odds are a lot higher that he has the contact/K-problems of harvey, Sing, Kieschick, roberson, and mongo-BP-power-but-useless-in-games-power than that you end up with McGwire or Strawberry or Galus. And as much success as those tall dudes have had, they still all whiffed a ton with their long arms, they just hit enough HR's so that 150 K's/year was acceptable.

 

If we draft a hitter, I kinda hope he's 6'3" or less.

 

Obviously the scouting directors know this stuff too. So my point is probably kinda dumb, if the scouting directors think a guy is worth a top-15 pick despite the height that will make contact problematic, they probably think the reward is potentially high enough to justify it.

[Outshined_One]

Anyone else remember two years ago when Jered Weaver and Stephen Drew were both sliding and there were rumors and hopes flying around that one of them was being steered towards the Cubs?

 

Well, it's happening again...only this time with Andrew Miller. There are odd rumors going around that Miller has been making large contract demands in order to slide down to Chicago.

 

I kinda doubt this happens given that a number of teams with good resources are picking ahead of the Cubs. So, take it with a grain of salt.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You mean like he's trying to Eli Manning his way to Chicago, or his demands of anyone are so high that he may fall to us?

[Outshined_One]

You mean like he's trying to Eli Manning his way to Chicago, or his demands of anyone are so high that he may fall to us?

 

Both. From BA's Top 15 mock draft:

 

1. Royals. North Carolina lefthander Andrew Miller remains the consensus No. 1 prospect, but he may want an eight-figure major league contract.

 

...

 

13. Cubs. More than one club has speculated that Miller's advisers are hoping to drop him to Chicago, but that's an impossible dream.

[Outshined_One]

As an addendum, I simply can't see Miller falling out of the Top 10. If he wants a seven figure major league contract, a team like Seattle or the Dodgers would give it to him.

 

Eight figures is just absolutely ludicrous, though.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

8 figures is ridiculous.

 

It's weird to see Hochevar being talked about as KC's pick - good to hear the Cubs would be all over Luke (or Scherzer) if he falls.

[Monco]

Why would Miller want to come here? Does he hate playing in October?

[Mephistopheles]

because the cubs have a lot of cash, and the cubs dont have another draftee to shell out until the fifth round (that's about 3-4M total give or take supplemental picks)

 

so theyd be the only team whod think about giving him the 10+M

[Mephistopheles]

A KC TV station is reporting that it's pretty much a done deal for Lincoln to the Royals.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Trivia of the day: Who was the last college position player the Cubs took in the first round?

 

 

The Answer

[Outshined_One]

A KC TV station is reporting that it's pretty much a done deal for Lincoln to the Royals.

 

Hm. Go figure.

 

Wonder if the Miller contract demands/desire to go to the Cubs story has legs? Colorado apparently will happily take Miller, so we'll have to see...

[texascub]

The KC Star just published an article online stating that Miller is looking for a ML contract with a signing bonues of $6-8+ mil. They're also saying that it is highly likely that the Royals will select 7-8 college pitchers with their first 10 selections.

 

Btw, here is a link to the story if anyone wants to read through it.

[Outshined_One]

The KC Star just published an article online stating that Miller is looking for a ML contract with a signing bonues of $6-8+ mil. They're also saying that it is highly likely that the Royals will select 7-8 college pitchers with their first 10 selections.

 

Btw, here is a link to the story if anyone wants to read through it.

 

It doesn't sound quite as drastic...but does anyone else get a Brownlie-type vibe from this whole situation?

 

I'd hate for the Cubs to draft him and watch his stuff go flying out the window the moment he sets foot in the farm system.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The KC Star just published an article online stating that Miller is looking for a ML contract with a signing bonues of $6-8+ mil. They're also saying that it is highly likely that the Royals will select 7-8 college pitchers with their first 10 selections.

 

Btw, here is a link to the story if anyone wants to read through it.

 

It doesn't sound quite as drastic...but does anyone else get a Brownlie-type vibe from this whole situation?

 

I'd hate for the Cubs to draft him and watch his stuff go flying out the window the moment he sets foot in the farm system.

 

Nah. Brownlie actually missed time with injury and it was obvious he was going to fall and fall a lot. If Miller drops below Colorado, then I'd find it strange.

[NorthsideAvenger]

The KC Star just published an article online stating that Miller is looking for a ML contract with a signing bonues of $6-8+ mil. They're also saying that it is highly likely that the Royals will select 7-8 college pitchers with their first 10 selections.

 

Btw, here is a link to the story if anyone wants to read through it.

 

Does anybody else feel the first rd should have a "rookie scale" similar to the NBA? I'm sure there are alot of vets, who would go along with it, as there is NO WAY any HSer or college player selected in the 1st rd, should be paid more then some solid veterans. Just no way....

 

KC really needs Andrew Miller (to combine with Butler/Gordon/DeJesus/Buck/Huber/Greinke to form a nice nucleus for the future. And for pricks to decide where the go, because of money, they should go to where their talented is need most.

 

(ok, RANT OFF) Sorry. :oops:

[WindyCity]

A couple of mocks today have Miller falling all the way to #11 (D'backs).... I wonder if he can fall 2 more spots to the Cubs. :twisted: