2008 Draft Discussion Thread

[TysonCBulls423]

I'd rather have Josh Fields than Hewitt. At least Fields will most likely make the majors, whereas Hewitt it's going to be nothing but that butt-ugly Ryan Harvey career path.

 

And your basing that off of what?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The rest of Saber Scouting's mock is up, both guys have us taking Kelly. I didn't realize he was from Dunedin, he might as well get his Cub hat now.

 

Kiley tried to project the sandwich round and had us taking Chris Carpenter. Not a fan of that pick either.

[bukie]

The rest of Saber Scouting's mock is up, both guys have us taking Kelly. I didn't realize he was from Dunedin, he might as well get his Cub hat now.

 

Kiley tried to project the sandwich round and had us taking Chris Carpenter. Not a fan of that pick either.

 

Yeah, especially after the TJS and all... :)

[Tedward]

Keith Law's final mock is up on ESPN. He says the reports on Kelly are a bit overstated and has us taking Andrew Cashner - TCU

[Guest]

The rest of Saber Scouting's mock is up, both guys have us taking Kelly. I didn't realize he was from Dunedin, he might as well get his Cub hat now.

 

Kiley tried to project the sandwich round and had us taking Chris Carpenter. Not a fan of that pick either.

 

http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/06/05/predraftmock2/#more-229

 

I'd hope the Cubs go another way with guys like Hicks, Cole, Jake O and Melville available between the both of them.

 

Ping, any opinion on Scheppers? I wonder if the risk is worth it at the sandwich pick. Apparently Seattle's docs have cleared him.

[UK1679666180]

Sandwich pick? No, there's still plenty of high ceiling players there w/out a red flag (of course, I've never seen him throw).

 

The Cubs have been burned by high ceiling college arms with arm problems going into the draft, the farm isn't in a position to take that risk and would be better off going with safer pick as far as health, even if it meant a slightly lower ceiling. They need quality and quantity.

[bukie]

Sandwich pick? No, there's still plenty of high ceiling players there w/out a red flag (of course, I've never seen him throw).

 

The Cubs have been burned by high ceiling college arms with arm problems going into the draft, the farm isn't in a position to take that risk and would be better off going with safer pick as far as health, even if it meant a slightly lower ceiling. They need quality and quantity.

 

Does "safer" player generally mean "college" player? I know the Cubs have been burned recently on some early HS picks that didn't pan out (Harvey is the one that immediately comes to mind).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Sandwich pick? No, there's still plenty of high ceiling players there w/out a red flag (of course, I've never seen him throw).

 

The Cubs have been burned by high ceiling college arms with arm problems going into the draft, the farm isn't in a position to take that risk and would be better off going with safer pick as far as health, even if it meant a slightly lower ceiling. They need quality and quantity.

 

Does "safer" player generally mean "college" player? I know the Cubs have been burned recently on some early HS picks that didn't pan out (Harvey is the one that immediately comes to mind).

 

He was talking in terms of health. With the state of our farm system, we can't afford to gamble on somebody reaching their potential and staying healthy, as opposed to just reaching their potential.

[UK1679666180]

I used safer in context as far as health, rather HS or college. While they've done poorly with HS hitters, their record w/collegiate position players isn't strong either (are Theriot and Brendan Harris the last ones to become ML regulars?)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

While they've done poorly with HS hitters, their record w/collegiate position players isn't strong either (are Theriot and Brendan Harris the last ones to become ML regulars?)

 

Yep, and after them you have to go back to 1999 with Patterson and Hinske.

[Tedward]

Jim Callis in BA's final Mock has us taking Tim Melville

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That would be outstanding. I'm hoping someone like Melville falls to us, if only to force them to reconsider Kelly(since that's who they seem set on).

[RammyFanny]

I think there's a fairly good chance Melville will be around at 19, and i'd probab;y strongly consider taking the gamble. He had a rough start to the high school season, but came back strong down the stretch run.

 

BA also says Odorizzi might just be a smokescreen and that Kelly and Davis (Ike i'm assuming) are two names that are more on the backburner than really at the top, so he thinks we might take someone who falls.

[CubinNY]

That would be outstanding. I'm hoping someone like Melville falls to us, if only to force them to reconsider Kelly(since that's who they seem set on).

You know how much they love their multi-sport athletes. Second only to that is a player who could be either a fielder or a pitcher. Kelly has both of the qualities.

Edited June 5, 2008 by CubinNY

[UK1679666180]

PGCrosschecker has the Cubs taking Kelly.

[UMFan83]

The only thing I want to know is if this year's first round pick will get to A ball before last year's pick?

 

I got high hopes about Vitters and since he's struggled, I've been pretty apathetic towards this years draft.

[Guest]

The only thing I want to know is if this year's first round pick will get to A ball before last year's pick?

 

I got high hopes about Vitters and since he's struggled, I've been pretty apathetic towards this years draft.

 

Seeing as last year's pick already got to A-ball, I don't think there's any way this year's pick can. :)

 

Here is Callis' draft day mock that people have talked about: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/mock-draft/2008/266271.html

 

19. CHICAGO (NL). The Cubs are making some noise about homestate prep righthander Jake Odorizzi, but that's more of a smokescreen. Davis and Kelly appear to be back-burner guys rather than leading candidates here, so Chicago could be lying in the weeds on someone who's sliding—perhaps Missouri prep righthander Tim Melville, who wants a bonus commensurate with the top 10-15 picks.

 

Projected Pick: TIM MELVILLE, rhp, Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo.

[bukie]

Who are the first-round caliber high injury risk picks, so I can know to respond with anger and vitriol if/when the Cubs draft one of them?

[UK1679666180]

Who are the first-round caliber high injury risk picks, so I can know to respond with anger and vitriol if/when the Cubs draft one of them?

 

Hunt, Crow, and Cole each have questions about their arm actions, Crow and Cole have the upside and lack of injury to overlook that, Hunt would be a reach either way.

[Guest]

19. Chicago Cubs -- Andrew Cashner, RHP, TCU

 

I had heard the Cubs were linked to Casey Kelly, but that seems to have been overstated. The Cubs are also the high spot for Jake Odorizzi, and have had some interest in Tim Melville. Brett Lawrie and Niko Vasquez both played well in a recent workout in Mesa, too.

 

Here's hoping Keith Law knows nothing. Clearly Wilken likes Cashner since he drafted him last year, he's more likely amongst the two relievers than Fields because of that, imo.

[craig]

"They [the Mets] could go for pitching help with Friedrich, Cashner or Perry, with the idea of converting the latter two from relievers to starters."

 

Callis, BA. The notion of drafting a college reliever, than switching him to rotation, seems surprising. I wonder if other teams are looking at these guys this way?

[RammyFanny]

Friedrich would be another nice pick if he lasts til 19. Rich Hill clone..as has been mentioned already i'm sure.

[UK1679666180]

Friedrich would be another nice pick if he lasts til 19. Rich Hill clone..as has been mentioned already i'm sure.

 

(Christian has the Better FB, shows a feel for a change, slighly better command/control)

Edited June 5, 2008 by UK

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Friedrich would be another nice pick if he lasts til 19. Rich Hill clone..as has been mentioned already i'm sure.

 

Really? I heard he had a real good curve, but that he was 3 starter at best. I'd hope for more upside than that out of #19.

[RammyFanny]

Friedrich would be another nice pick if he lasts til 19. Rich Hill clone..as has been mentioned already i'm sure.

 

Really? I heard he had a real good curve, but that he was 3 starter at best. I'd hope for more upside than that out of #19.

Nah, he's got way more potential than that. Lefties with a consistent 92 mph heater (good point Ping--Hill usually sits at around 89 and kicks it up to 92 if he has to) and a plus plus curve are hard to come by. As Ping also stated, he should develop an average change as well. Doesn't hurt that he's dominated college so far.