Front page of BA...

[kylescubs23]

If anyone can read it, they have a projection of the first round of the draft. Wondering what they say about the Cubs.

[CoolHandLuke]

They don't say anything about the teams picking. They have Brackman going third.

[kylescubs23]

Thank you.

[SoonerCubFan]

They don't say anything about the teams picking. They have Brackman going third.

 

And that particular piece was written back in late January. Actually, they have an updated Top 30 prospects list that has it as Price, Wieters and Vitters as the top 3 with Brackman falling to 6th due to "inconsistency".

 

I'd like to see an updated first round projection soon - it looks like Callis made such an initial list on May 19 with a couple of updated projections right up to draft day. Of course, even if Price does go #1 it will still be interesting to see what falls to the Cubs and what route they will take. Even in the 2001 draft with Mauer pre-slected we didn't know if it would be Prior or Teixeira until the pick was in.

[Mephistopheles]

and that post was written back in january...

[Vinestal]

Who is Vitters?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Who is Vitters?

 

http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=659&draftId=5

 

High school third base prospect from Orange County, CA.

[Vinestal]

Who is Vitters?

 

http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=659&draftId=5

 

High school third base prospect from Orange County, CA.

 

*cringe* oh no! not a highschooler again. Thanks for the link Raisin. I trust Wilken's talent evaluation I guess. I wish Price would fall to us somehow but I have my doubts.

[Mephistopheles]

josh is the consensus best prep all around bat in the draft. heyward and burgess have more power. i like vitters a lot not that ive seen him play much. right now he's been linked to pittsburgh the most.

 

speaking of where guys are going...it's mock season. maybe ill do one up to the cubs 2nd pick...

[RammyFanny]

If i'm not mistaken, Vitters is a pretty advanced bat with a very ood approach. He's not one of those toolsy all or nothing high school hitters.

[NCCubFan]

right now he's been linked to pittsburgh the most.

Perfect. Pittsburgh can develop him just in time to trade him to us to replace Ramirez when he retires. :D

[TruffleShuffle]

If i'm not mistaken, Vitters is a pretty advanced bat with a very ood approach. He's not one of those toolsy all or nothing high school hitters.

 

i'd actually prefer vitters to brackman... i think brackman has as much risk as a high school first rounder, if not more risk

[CoolHandLuke]

They don't say anything about the teams picking. They have Brackman going third.

 

And that particular piece was written back in late January. Actually, they have an updated Top 30 prospects list that has it as Price, Wieters and Vitters as the top 3 with Brackman falling to 6th due to "inconsistency".

 

I'd like to see an updated first round projection soon - it looks like Callis made such an initial list on May 19 with a couple of updated projections right up to draft day. Of course, even if Price does go #1 it will still be interesting to see what falls to the Cubs and what route they will take. Even in the 2001 draft with Mauer pre-slected we didn't know if it would be Prior or Teixeira until the pick was in.

 

I am confused.

[texascub]

They don't say anything about the teams picking. They have Brackman going third.

 

And that particular piece was written back in late January. Actually, they have an updated Top 30 prospects list that has it as Price, Wieters and Vitters as the top 3 with Brackman falling to 6th due to "inconsistency".

 

I'd like to see an updated first round projection soon - it looks like Callis made such an initial list on May 19 with a couple of updated projections right up to draft day. Of course, even if Price does go #1 it will still be interesting to see what falls to the Cubs and what route they will take. Even in the 2001 draft with Mauer pre-slected we didn't know if it would be Prior or Teixeira until the pick was in.

 

I am confused.

 

He's a sooner...so is he.

[kroth1342]

Update today:

 

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6161

 

3. Chicago Cubs

 

At least things get easier here. The worst-kept secret in the game is that the Cubs (and especially scouting director Tim Wilken) are enamored with Vitters, the consensus top high school hitter, and possibly the top hitter at any level. Like Porcello, Vitters has lived up to expectations, if not exceeded them. Pushing 6-foot-4, the right-handed hitter has everything scouts look for offensively, with bat speed, power, and hand-eye coordination all grading out as well above-average. His size has already moved him to third base, and some think the outfield might be his final destination, but the bat will play anywhere. "He's the best high school hitter without question for me," said one west coast scout, "but he's not especially smooth now defensively, and he's just going to get bigger."

 

Admit I don't know too much about Vitters before this. Anyone with a closer connection?

[RammyFanny]

Update today:

 

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6161

 

3. Chicago Cubs

 

At least things get easier here. The worst-kept secret in the game is that the Cubs (and especially scouting director Tim Wilken) are enamored with Vitters, the consensus top high school hitter, and possibly the top hitter at any level. Like Porcello, Vitters has lived up to expectations, if not exceeded them. Pushing 6-foot-4, the right-handed hitter has everything scouts look for offensively, with bat speed, power, and hand-eye coordination all grading out as well above-average. His size has already moved him to third base, and some think the outfield might be his final destination, but the bat will play anywhere. "He's the best high school hitter without question for me," said one west coast scout, "but he's not especially smooth now defensively, and he's just going to get bigger."

Admit I don't know too much about Vitters before this. Anyone with a closer connection?

 

 

 

It says something that they are even considering him to be a better hitter than Wieters.

[TruffleShuffle]

Pushing 6-foot-4, the right-handed hitter has everything scouts look for offensively, with bat speed, power, and hand-eye coordination all grading out as well above-average.

 

Should scouts look for other things, like the ability to not swing at pitches outside the strike zone? Some probably do, but I think there's an attitude that they look for the tools and figure they can teach the discipline. But one would think, looking at the career of Corey Patterson, that it would be clear that lack of patience can torpedo a career of a toolsy player. Here's one evaluation I found:

 

If Vitters has a weakness, it is his lack of plate discipline. He is very aggressive, but so far it hasn’t hurt him because he centers the ball so well. He’s probably the best pure hitter in the draft, but taking more pitches will likely be one of the first things he is told to work on in the pros. Defensively, he has a strong, accurate arm and soft hands. He tends to make errors on routine plays, but scouts don’t seem worried about it turning into a long-term problem for him.

 

 

He sounds like a great talent and may turn into a great major league player, but I still think Wieters is the safer pick and is a good bet to turn into an above-average player in the bigs.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

please don't take Ryan Harvey II

[TruffleShuffle]

please don't take Ryan Harvey II

 

I agree, but I hope this isn't in reference to Vitters, because that's very premature

[don_kessinger_was_good]

This is good strategy on the Cubs' part at this early stage of the game. Talk up a different kid to deflect their true interest in Wieters, hoping KC or Tampa flinch and take some combo other than Price/Wieters as 1/2.

 

What the heck, can't hurt.

 

I too am pretty uncomfortable though with another HS player if that really is the Cubs' true intentions. We have had ZERO success with HS bats in this organization for twenty years. Let's not waste another high pick. Go with the semi-proven college talent, please.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

But Wilken hasn't taken part in the previous HS selections. He has a good reputation with reason.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

But Wilken hasn't taken part in the previous HS selections. He has a good reputation with reason.

 

On the other hand, the entire system of coaches didn't come with Wilken from Toronto either.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

But Wilken hasn't taken part in the previous HS selections. He has a good reputation with reason.

 

I don't know how to research this information, but it would be very interesting to know about the HS kids Wilken drafted in (say) the 1st and 2nd rounds in earlier drafts, for context if nothing else.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

But Wilken hasn't taken part in the previous HS selections. He has a good reputation with reason.

 

On the other hand, the entire system of coaches didn't come with Wilken from Toronto either.

 

Certianly true, but I wouldn't want Wilken to pick someone he views as inferior just because they are more advanced.

[Mephistopheles]

Vitters and Harvey are poor comparisons. Harvey to Burgess or Heyward is a much better comparison.