BP take on Cubs Draft

[JGalt73]

Chicago Cubs

 

 

Tyler Colvin, of, Clemson – 13th overall

Jeff Samardzija, rhp, Notre Dame – 149th overall

Josh Lansford, 3b, Cal Poly – 179th overall

Steven Clevenger, ss, Chipola JC – 209th overall

Billy Muldowney, rhp, Pittsburgh – 239th overall

 

 

The more I think about the way the Cubs dealt with their situation of not selecting their second player until the fifth round, the more I hate what they did. On the surface, they got a third-round talent and a lower-first round talent with the two picks. That sounds like a profit, right? But with no second-, third-, or fourth- round bonuses to pay out, why not take the 13th best player in the draft instead of Colvin and still take Samardzija, who nobody else was going to touch, and still might opt for an NFL career. It's a half-assed maneuver, but the Cubs will still sell out every game, so what's the difference? Colvin is a decent hitter, but he's going to have to take a major step forward to project as an every day left fielder, which is his logical defensive home. Samardzija is big and throws hard and has a high ceiling, but he's also one of the top wide receiver prospects in next year's NFL draft, one who Football Outsiders' Aaron Schatz compares to Pittsburgh star Hines Ward. In the next three picks, we are talking about sixth, seventh and eighth round selections, so don't get too worked up. Lansford is Carney Lansford's son, and he needs to hit for average like his dad to move up, as he has even less power. Clevinger is similar to Lansford offensively, and probably can't stay at short, but Muldowney is a nice find as a safe college guy with command and a solid-but-unspectacular arsenal.

 

 

Best pick after these five: Toolsy high school outfielder Drew Rundle dropped to the 14th round, but he's a real catch if the Cubs can sign him away from playing college ball at Arizona.

 

FWIW... Drew Rundle was on the cover of the Portland Sports section on draft day. He's asking for $500,000 to forgo Arizona State.

[1908]

While I really enjoy Baseball Prospectus' MLB articles and coverage, both their minor league and draft analysis leave a lot to be desired. I still chuckle at their Brendan Harris - Albert Pujols comparison from a few years back.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

FWIW... Drew Rundle was on the cover of the Portland Sports section on draft day. He's asking for $500,000 to forgo Arizona State.

 

I believe it's actually Arizona, not ASU. And the Cubs have offered him $500,000.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

FWIW... Drew Rundle was on the cover of the Portland Sports section on draft day. He's asking for $500,000 to forgo Arizona State.

 

I believe it's actually Arizona, not ASU. And the Cubs have offered him $500,000.

 

But he's a Padres fan. Eww...

[T2E]

While I really enjoy Baseball Prospectus' MLB articles and coverage, both their minor league and draft analysis leave a lot to be desired. I still chuckle at their Brendan Harris - Albert Pujols comparison from a few years back.

 

Keep in mind though, that the minor league coverage is now done by Kevin Goldstein, formerly of Baseball America.

[Jon]

Fill the seats? Not only are they not selling out, but how many fans out there would actually buy a ticket because of a good draft? 0?

[1908]

While I really enjoy Baseball Prospectus' MLB articles and coverage, both their minor league and draft analysis leave a lot to be desired. I still chuckle at their Brendan Harris - Albert Pujols comparison from a few years back.

 

Keep in mind though, that the minor league coverage is now done by Kevin Goldstein, formerly of Baseball America.

The newsletter guy? Didn't know that.

[NorthsideAvenger]

While I really enjoy Baseball Prospectus' MLB articles and coverage, both their minor league and draft analysis leave a lot to be desired. I still chuckle at their Brendan Harris - Albert Pujols comparison from a few years back.

 

Keep in mind though, that the minor league coverage is now done by Kevin Goldstein, formerly of Baseball America.

 

But with the Harris/Pujols comparasion, that site has alot of credibility issues, to me. So Goldstein...not even the best BA writer, mind you has alot of work ahead of him to make BP credible source.

[NorthsideAvenger]

FWIW... Drew Rundle was on the cover of the Portland Sports section on draft day. He's asking for $500,000 to forgo Arizona State.

 

I believe it's actually Arizona, not ASU. And the Cubs have offered him $500,000.

 

But he's a Padres fan. Eww...

 

Nah, he will be a fan of the Cubs, if they pony up the dough.

[karenmac]

Chicago Cubs

 

Josh Lansford, 3b, Cal Poly – 179th overall

 

Lansford is Carney Lansford's son, and he needs to hit for average like his dad to move up, as he has even less power.

 

 

We actually saw Jared Lansford pitch for the Kane County Cougars (Oakland affiliate) when they were in Peoria playing the Chiefs a couple of weeks ago. I was impressed - hopefully Josh will do well with the Cubs.