2008 Draft Discussion Thread

[Guest]

This mock draft was passed along to me by an old friend of ours.

 

Not the first time I've seen Cole to the Cubs. He'd be a good high risk/high reward pick. Crawford...eh.

 

I doubt he goes sandwich but the last 2 weeks have been amazing for him - he's been taking pitches, making much better contact and (unsurprisingly) has gone on a tear.

 

Another BB today, hit a triple and went oppo field for a HR too. He's got a double, a triple, 2 HRs, 2 BBs and is hitting somewhere around .500 in the regionals, playing his usual good defense. I really would like him after the 2nd round.

[RammyFanny]

Kelly wil only sign as a SS according to mlb-draft.com:

 

19 . Casey Kelly, H.S. SS/RHSP, 6' 3 -195, (FL) -- A great HS QB, he has a dual-sport commitment to Tennessee. Will sign only as a SS, although he is a great pitcher as well. Clubs are split, but he could be special. Had 4 hits recently in a Florida HS All-Star game.

93 AB's> .473, 5 HR's, 31 RBI, 11 SB's

[Rob]

This mock draft was passed along to me by an old friend of ours.

 

Not the first time I've seen Cole to the Cubs. He'd be a good high risk/high reward pick. Crawford...eh.

 

I doubt he goes sandwich but the last 2 weeks have been amazing for him - he's been taking pitches, making much better contact and (unsurprisingly) has gone on a tear.

 

Another BB today, hit a triple and went oppo field for a HR too. He's got a double, a triple, 2 HRs, 2 BBs and is hitting somewhere around .500 in the regionals, playing his usual good defense. I really would like him after the 2nd round.

 

Good for him. Last I'd heard, he had dropped into the 3rd or 4th.

[Guest]

Fantastic - SaberScouting.com has their top 100 out plus 16 more to watch:

 

http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/06/02/saberscoutingtop100/

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Sickels has a 5 round mock up at minorleagueball.com, I'm not sure how many people were involved, but it was a community thing. Here are the Cub picks.

 

19) Chicago Cubs: Gerrit Cole, RHP, California HS

41) Cubs: David Cooper, 1B, California

65) Cubs: Tim Murphy, LHP, UCLA

97) Cubs: Aaron Weatherford, RHP, Mississippi State

131) Cubs: Kyle Hudson, OF, Illinois

161) Cubs: Mike McKenna, OF, Florida Atlantic

[dlocks]

Sickels has a 5 round mock up at minorleagueball.com, I'm not sure how many people were involved, but it was a community thing. Here are the Cub picks.

 

19) Chicago Cubs: Gerrit Cole, RHP, California HS

41) Cubs: David Cooper, 1B, California

65) Cubs: Tim Murphy, LHP, UCLA

97) Cubs: Aaron Weatherford, RHP, Mississippi State

131) Cubs: Kyle Hudson, OF, Illinois

161) Cubs: Mike McKenna, OF, Florida Atlantic

 

I just looked up the stats for that weatherford kid, and he has 61 K's in 33 innings pitched!!!!! only 10 walks as well. Keep in mind that he played in a very difficult conference to pitch in. He also posted a 0.85 ERA. Anyone have a report on him?

[UK1679666180]

Sickels has a 5 round mock up at minorleagueball.com, I'm not sure how many people were involved, but it was a community thing. Here are the Cub picks.

 

19) Chicago Cubs: Gerrit Cole, RHP, California HS

41) Cubs: David Cooper, 1B, California

65) Cubs: Tim Murphy, LHP, UCLA

97) Cubs: Aaron Weatherford, RHP, Mississippi State

131) Cubs: Kyle Hudson, OF, Illinois

161) Cubs: Mike McKenna, OF, Florida Atlantic

 

I just looked up the stats for that weatherford kid, and he has 61 K's in 33 innings pitched!!!!! only 10 walks as well. Keep in mind that he played in a very difficult conference to pitch in. He also posted a 0.85 ERA. Anyone have a report on him?

 

Weatherford started the 2007 season in the Mississippi State rotation but couldn’t sustain his velocity in that role and was soon moved to the bullpen to shorten games for the Bulldogs. He played a key role for the Bulldogs as they made an unexpected trip to the College World Series, going 3-2, 3.53 with five saves and 72 strikeouts in 66 innings. Weatherford has electric, closer-type stuff with a fastball that sits at 93-95 mph in short bursts and can top out at 97. The pitch also has excellent arm-side run and explodes in the strike zone. A hard slider gives him the second pitch he needs to dominate as a closer, but he also throws a splitter—an effective pitch as the bottom falls out as it reaches the plate. His control is inconsistent, a result of his tendency to rush his delivery, opening his front side early. He reminds scouts of fellow Alabama high school product Jake Peavy. He’s not overly big and there’s some effort in his upright delivery, but he’s very athletic. Like Peavy, he’s also an exceptional competitor and thrives in pressure situations.

 

Weatherford continued to thrive in his role at the back end of a bullpen, though his fastball didn’t climb to 97 as it did a year earlier. He still showed plenty of velocity, however, as his heater sat at 94-95 mph. Not only did it get on hitters quickly, but it had plenty of movement. He also worked in an effective power curve and splitter. Weatherford saved only seven games on the season, but his opportunities were limited and he missed five weeks of the season with tendonitis in his pitching arm. Ole Miss closer Scott Bittle got plenty of attention for leading the nation both in strikeouts per nine innings and hits per nine innings, but Weatherford actually topped him in both categories. He allowed just 10 hits in 32 innings, while striking out 62—but he didn’t work enough innings to qualify among the national leaders. Weatherford also went 3-1, 0.85

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Anyone got more on McKenna or Hudson? McKenna especially seems intriguing as low as 161.

[Guest]

Another senior, Mike McKenna, was Sun Belt Conference player of the year after batting .394 with 16 home runs for the Owls. A good runner with an average arm, McKenna is athletic in the outfield and a solid defender.

 

And something from a local paper:

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/03/a1c_fau_0403.html?cxntlid=inform_sr

 

187 KYLE HUDSON, OF, Illinois

Hudson was better known for his exploits as a wide receiver in his first two years at Illinois, leading the football team in receptions as a freshman and again as a sophomore. Relegated to a supporting role on the gridiron last fall, he has taken out his frustrations on opposing pitchers this spring. He ended the regular season among the NCAA Division I leaders in batting (.411), on-base percentage (.511), runs (60) and steals (39). He also set Big 10 Conference records for runs (40) and steals (25) in league games, and tied a school mark when he swiped his 40th base in the opening round of the league tournament. Hudson is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound burner whose games revolves around his top-of-the-line speed. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and uses his quickness well on the bases and in center field. He's an outstanding athlete who once won the Illinois state high school high jump title with a mark of 6-foot-10 and earned 15 letters in four sports. Hudson offers little power, but he understands his limitations and concentrates on getting on base. He uses a slap approach at the plate and is a good bunter. His arm is well-below-average, though he compensates by getting to balls quickly. A team that loves speed and values athletes at a premium position could take Hudson as early as the third round.

[CubinNY]

Another senior, Mike McKenna, was Sun Belt Conference player of the year after batting .394 with 16 home runs for the Owls. A good runner with an average arm, McKenna is athletic in the outfield and a solid defender.

 

And something from a local paper:

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/03/a1c_fau_0403.html?cxntlid=inform_sr

 

187 KYLE HUDSON, OF, Illinois

Hudson was better known for his exploits as a wide receiver in his first two years at Illinois, leading the football team in receptions as a freshman and again as a sophomore. Relegated to a supporting role on the gridiron last fall, he has taken out his frustrations on opposing pitchers this spring. He ended the regular season among the NCAA Division I leaders in batting (.411), on-base percentage (.511), runs (60) and steals (39). He also set Big 10 Conference records for runs (40) and steals (25) in league games, and tied a school mark when he swiped his 40th base in the opening round of the league tournament. Hudson is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound burner whose games revolves around his top-of-the-line speed. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and uses his quickness well on the bases and in center field. He's an outstanding athlete who once won the Illinois state high school high jump title with a mark of 6-foot-10 and earned 15 letters in four sports. Hudson offers little power, but he understands his limitations and concentrates on getting on base. He uses a slap approach at the plate and is a good bunter. His arm is well-below-average, though he compensates by getting to balls quickly. A team that loves speed and values athletes at a premium position could take Hudson as early as the third round.

It sounds like he'd be a great dead ball era player.

[Outshined_One]

Sickels has a 5 round mock up at minorleagueball.com, I'm not sure how many people were involved, but it was a community thing. Here are the Cub picks.

 

19) Chicago Cubs: Gerrit Cole, RHP, California HS

41) Cubs: David Cooper, 1B, California

65) Cubs: Tim Murphy, LHP, UCLA

97) Cubs: Aaron Weatherford, RHP, Mississippi State

131) Cubs: Kyle Hudson, OF, Illinois

161) Cubs: Mike McKenna, OF, Florida Atlantic

 

Over where the mock draft was conducted, the mock GM for the Cubs made the first three picks, but had to bow out mid-draft. Sickels picked the remaining three guys.

 

I think it's a decent draft. I'm not a big fan of Weatherford and Hudson. I really liked the Cooper pick. McKenna and Murphy were both good picks. As I mentioned earlier, I think Cole is a huge risk/reward player who comes with concerns about his mechanics and character. If Cole's character problems are that he gets over-competitive and emotional on the mound, that's one thing. If he's a stubborn jerk, that's another matter altogether.

[Guest]

He's "immature" and "rubs his teammates the wrong way."

[Outshined_One]

He's "immature" and "rubs his teammates the wrong way."

 

That could mean millions of different things. It might mean he's a stuck up jerk who doesn't respond well to criticism and coaching. It might also mean his coaches/teammates have no problem spreading dirt on him due to jealousy or whatever.

 

It wouldn't be the first time something like that's happened.

[UK1679666180]

It looks like Sickels did a horrible job of taking over, unless he believes they'll go big early and use the last part of the 1st day to get signable college kids who are safer but have lower ceilings.

 

McKenna-

 

McKenna has quietly been one of the most productive hitters in college baseball the past two years, hitting .413-16-60 as a junior and .401-16-70 this season through mid-May. He’s a good athlete who is a solid-average runner and has a playable pro-level arm in the outfield. As a 6-foot, righthanded-hitting corner outfielder, McKenna will have to prove he can hit at every level in pro ball, but he’s done that so far and should be a solid senior draft.

 

Not too many 6ft nothing OF'ers survive on the corners with avg. speed, it seems like a severe reach that early.

[Guest]

I really don't like Sickels draft stuff. To be honest, it seems like he's kinda half-assing it.

[wvcbxl]

If Cole's character problems are that he gets over-competitive and emotional on the mound, that's one thing.

 

See: Zambrano C.

[badnews]

Sickels is ignorant. His site embarrasses me at times. I'm no baseball guru or anything but then again I don't put up a site pretending that I am.

[mul21]

Hudson sounds like Ryan Theriot the outfielder.

 

Question for those who are more aware of the college game: How does power typically translate from college to the pros?

[Guest]

Jonathan Mayo's mock on 6/3 (today):

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080603&content_id=2829432&vkey=draft2008&fext=.jsp

 

19. Chicago Cubs: Casey Kelly, SS, Sarasota HS, Fla.

It's been looking likely that the Cubs will go with a high school bat if the right one is here. Collier and Lawrie have been mentioned, but with them off the board, it could leave the Cubs looking hard at Sarasota High School shortstop Casey Kelly. He's also a talented pitcher and a University of Tennessee quarterback recruit, but the Cubs have the resources to get it done if they so choose.

Last week's projection: Brett Lawrie

[badnews]

I was just looking back through this topic, whatever happened to the Jordan Danks love? Also, whatever happened to the love the draft sites had for Cole St. Clair way back when? Some of these guys you heard about and then stopped hearing about and I never heard why.

[Guest]

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7615

 

Kevin Goldstein mock draft.

 

19. Chicago Cubs

 

Scouting director Tim Wilken loves athletes, but many of the Cubs' top targets are looking like they’ll be unavailable when the draft reaches them. So they may instead go with someone who has been a slow and steady riser, as the Cubs have been in on hard and heavy to see the last few starts by Illinois high school star Jake Odorizzi. He has the kind of velocity, command, and clean mechanics rarely seen from the cold-weather states. Odorizzi has been even better than ever down the stretch, consistently touching 95 mph with his fastball while showing a much-improved breaking ball. He’s not a hometown pick per se; Highland is actually only 35 miles from St. Louis. The Cubs passed on the best Midwest high school arm last year when they opted to take Josh Vitters over Jarrod Parker; they won’t let him go by this time.

Selection: Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Highland HS (IL)

 

He has Lowrie going at 7, Hosmer at 9, Hicks at 12, Kelly at 15, Melville at 18, Collier at 24 and Hewitt at 25.

[Guest]

I was just looking back through this topic, whatever happened to the Jordan Danks love? Also, whatever happened to the love the draft sites had for Cole St. Clair way back when? Some of these guys you heard about and then stopped hearing about and I never heard why.

 

Cole never regained his lost velocity and Jordan Danks' power has yet to develop. Danks is still ranked in BA's top 100 but he was a no-doubt first rounder coming out of high school.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Saber Scouting released the first 15 picks of their Mock, the bottom half of the round is coming later today.

[Guest]

Saber Scouting released the first 15 picks of their Mock, the bottom half of the round is coming later today.

 

Thanks.

 

http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/06/04/draftweekmock1/#more-227

 

Kiley: Lawrie at 7, Hosmer at 9, Hicks at 14, Melville at 15.

Franky: Hosmer at 3, Cole at 11, Collier at 14.

[RammyFanny]

It's creepin'.