2008 Draft Discussion Thread

[Tedward]

I could see Kendall getting a Type A pick.

 

Really? How do you figure?

 

I don't doubt that he could be possibly classified as an Type A after the season, but it would be pretty foolish for Hendry to offer Kendall arbitration for fear from a Cubs standpoint that he would surely accept it. I'd rather not see the Cubs pay Kendall $10MM or thereabouts for next season. If Kendall declines arbitration, then he would be more foolish than Hendry for offering it to him in the first place.

[CubColtPacer]

I could see Kendall getting a Type A pick.

 

Really? How do you figure?

 

I don't doubt that he could be possibly classified as an Type A after the season, but it would be pretty foolish for Hendry to offer Kendall arbitration for fear from a Cubs standpoint that he would surely accept it. I'd rather not see the Cubs pay Kendall $10MM or thereabouts for next season. If Kendall declines arbitration, then he would be more foolish than Hendry for offering it to him in the first place.

 

If Kendall has a good end of the year, some club might sign him before the arbitration deadline. If they do that, the Cubs get the pick (because they can then offer him arbitration and he'd be forced to decline).

 

I don't see Kendall as a type A though right now, probably a type B. That would actually be in the Cubs best interest. If Kendall is a type A, I doubt any team signs him before the deadline because they don't want to give a pick to the Cubs. If he is a type B, then the Cubs get compensation but it's from the league and not the other team, so the other team has no barriers from signing him early.

[Tedward]

If Kendall has a good end of the year, some club might sign him before the arbitration deadline. If they do that, the Cubs get the pick (because they can then offer him arbitration and he'd be forced to decline).

 

I don't see Kendall as a type A though right now, probably a type B. That would actually be in the Cubs best interest. If Kendall is a type A, I doubt any team signs him before the deadline because they don't want to give a pick to the Cubs. If he is a type B, then the Cubs get compensation but it's from the league and not the other team, so the other team has no barriers from signing him early.

 

Good point. I suppose the scenario you have outlined is a possibility. I'd love to see it happen.

[Tedward]

Anyone know where we pick in the draft next season?

 

Going by the amount of losses we had, it would appear that we would be at # 19 overall (before FA signings).

[Guest]

Anyone know where we pick in the draft next season?

 

Going by the amount of losses we had, it would appear that we would be at # 19 overall (before FA signings).

 

Yes, the Cubs are #19.

[badnews]

Obviously we won't be getting compensation back for Kendall or Trachsel.

 

Unfortunately I think most of this talk may be fruitless. Two years ago at this time Drew Rundle was one of the top 3 high school outfielders in the nation. It's easy to see the organization bumbling away the first round pick for someone not worth it (Francisco Cordero, Ron Mahay, or Hunter) or losing it to a better signing regardless. Probably not a ton is going to fall past the now-enormous compensation round.

 

Hopefully Selig won't be able to blackmail the Cubs into not paying higher bonuses and we say "**** you" like the New York Yankees did. It'd be nice to get a Porcello-level talent around #19.

 

I doubt the Cubs' 2008 draft can be worse than the Astros' 2007 though.

[UK1679666180]

This is from perfect game, top 9-29 for '08.

 

9. Ryan Perry RHP Jr. R-R 6-4 200 U. of Arizona Rocklin, Calif. Tigers ’05 (43) 3-11-87

 

10. Brett Hunter RHP Jr. R-R 6-2 190 Pepperdine U. Moorpark, Calif. Never drafted 6-27-87

 

11. Harold Martinez SS Sr. R-R 6-3 185 Braddock HS Miami 5-3-90

 

12. Aaron Hicks OF/RHP Sr. B-R 6-1 160 Woodrow Wilson HS Long Beach, Calif. 10-2-89

 

13. Alex Meyer RHP Sr. R-R 6-7 200 Greensburg HS Greensburg, Ind. 1-3-90

 

14. Dennis Raben OF/1B Jr. L-L 6-3 218 U. of Miami Hollywood, Fla. Mariners ’05 (49) 7-31-87

 

15. Tyson Ross RHP Jr. R-R 6-6 230 U. of California Oakland, Calif. Never drafted 4-22-87

 

16. Jacob Thompson RHP Jr. R-R 6-6 200 U. of Virginia Danville, Va. Never drafted 11-19-86

 

17. Gordon Beckham SS Jr. B-R 6-0 180 U. of Georgia Atlanta Never drafted 9-16-86

 

18. Christian Friedrich LHP Jr. R-L 6-3 210 Eastern Kentucky U. Evanston, Ill. Never drafted 7-8-87

 

19. Yonder Alonso 1B Jr. L-R 6-2 215 U. of Miami Miami Twins ’05 (16) 4-8-87

 

20. Ethan Martin 3B Sr. R-R 6-3 200 Stephens County HS Toccoa, Ga. 6-6-89

 

21. Luke Burnett RHP Jr. R-R 6-8 260 Louisiana Tech Carthage, La. Royals ’05 (35) 12-10-86

 

22. Gerrit Cole RHP Sr. R-R 6-3 190 Orange Lutheran HS Santa Ana, Calif. 9-8-90

 

23. Sonny Gray RHP Sr. R-R 6-0 185 Smyrna HS Smyrna, Tenn. 11-7-89

 

24. David Adams 2B Jr. R-R 6-2 205 U. of Virginia Margate, Fla. Tigers ’05 (21) 5-15-87

 

25. Buster Posey C Jr. R-R 6-2 200 Florida State U. Leesburg, Ga. Angels ’05 (50) 3-27-87

 

 

26. Scott Green RHP Jr. R-R 6-8 240 U. of Kentucky Louisville Red Sox ’07 (15) 8-10-85

 

27. Brett Jacobson RHP Jr. R-R 6-5 205 Vanderbilt U. Carefree, Ariz. D’backs ’05 (11) 11-9-86

 

28. Cody Satterwhite RHP Jr. R-R 6-5 200 U. of Mississippi Jackson, Miss. Indians ’05 (37) 1-27-87

 

29. Xavier Avery OF Sr. L-L 6-0 185 Cedar Grove HS Decatur, Ga. 1-1-90

 

They have it very college heavy at this point, obviously it's not going to look like this next June.

[Outshined_One]

Obviously we won't be getting compensation back for Kendall or Trachsel.

 

I'm not so sure about this with respect to Kendall, depending on what type of FA designation he gets. Lots of teams need catchers and love having veterans behind the dish. If he gets Type A, a team that sees this upcoming draft as not being particularly deep would be fine plunking down some change for Kendall instead of sinking that money into a draft pick. If he gets Type B, nobody loses a draft pick and it might make him easier to move.

[CuseCubFan69]

This is from perfect game, top 9-29 for '08.

 

9. Ryan Perry RHP Jr. R-R 6-4 200 U. of Arizona Rocklin, Calif. Tigers ’05 (43) 3-11-87

 

10. Brett Hunter RHP Jr. R-R 6-2 190 Pepperdine U. Moorpark, Calif. Never drafted 6-27-87

 

11. Harold Martinez SS Sr. R-R 6-3 185 Braddock HS Miami 5-3-90

 

12. Aaron Hicks OF/RHP Sr. B-R 6-1 160 Woodrow Wilson HS Long Beach, Calif. 10-2-89

 

13. Alex Meyer RHP Sr. R-R 6-7 200 Greensburg HS Greensburg, Ind. 1-3-90

 

14. Dennis Raben OF/1B Jr. L-L 6-3 218 U. of Miami Hollywood, Fla. Mariners ’05 (49) 7-31-87

 

15. Tyson Ross RHP Jr. R-R 6-6 230 U. of California Oakland, Calif. Never drafted 4-22-87

 

16. Jacob Thompson RHP Jr. R-R 6-6 200 U. of Virginia Danville, Va. Never drafted 11-19-86

 

17. Gordon Beckham SS Jr. B-R 6-0 180 U. of Georgia Atlanta Never drafted 9-16-86

 

18. Christian Friedrich LHP Jr. R-L 6-3 210 Eastern Kentucky U. Evanston, Ill. Never drafted 7-8-87

 

19. Yonder Alonso 1B Jr. L-R 6-2 215 U. of Miami Miami Twins ’05 (16) 4-8-87

 

20. Ethan Martin 3B Sr. R-R 6-3 200 Stephens County HS Toccoa, Ga. 6-6-89

 

21. Luke Burnett RHP Jr. R-R 6-8 260 Louisiana Tech Carthage, La. Royals ’05 (35) 12-10-86

 

22. Gerrit Cole RHP Sr. R-R 6-3 190 Orange Lutheran HS Santa Ana, Calif. 9-8-90

 

23. Sonny Gray RHP Sr. R-R 6-0 185 Smyrna HS Smyrna, Tenn. 11-7-89

 

24. David Adams 2B Jr. R-R 6-2 205 U. of Virginia Margate, Fla. Tigers ’05 (21) 5-15-87

 

25. Buster Posey C Jr. R-R 6-2 200 Florida State U. Leesburg, Ga. Angels ’05 (50) 3-27-87

 

 

26. Scott Green RHP Jr. R-R 6-8 240 U. of Kentucky Louisville Red Sox ’07 (15) 8-10-85

 

27. Brett Jacobson RHP Jr. R-R 6-5 205 Vanderbilt U. Carefree, Ariz. D’backs ’05 (11) 11-9-86

 

28. Cody Satterwhite RHP Jr. R-R 6-5 200 U. of Mississippi Jackson, Miss. Indians ’05 (37) 1-27-87

 

29. Xavier Avery OF Sr. L-L 6-0 185 Cedar Grove HS Decatur, Ga. 1-1-90

 

They have it very college heavy at this point, obviously it's not going to look like this next June.

 

How did our boy from Rome do this year?

[jersey cubs fan]

Obviously we won't be getting compensation back for Kendall or Trachsel.

 

I'm not so sure about this with respect to Kendall, depending on what type of FA designation he gets. Lots of teams need catchers and love having veterans behind the dish. If he gets Type A, a team that sees this upcoming draft as not being particularly deep would be fine plunking down some change for Kendall instead of sinking that money into a draft pick. If he gets Type B, nobody loses a draft pick and it might make him easier to move.

 

Is there any chance he gets Type A? He was one of the worst catchers in baseball this year, and he's been pretty bad for a few years now. I know the rankings aren't all that logical, and that weak guys get ranked higher than expected. But I can't imagine any scenario in which Kendall gets rated a Type A, and some team is stupid enough to sign him before the Cubs have to offer arbitration.

[badnews]

Obviously we won't be getting compensation back for Kendall or Trachsel.

 

I'm not so sure about this with respect to Kendall, depending on what type of FA designation he gets. Lots of teams need catchers and love having veterans behind the dish. If he gets Type A, a team that sees this upcoming draft as not being particularly deep would be fine plunking down some change for Kendall instead of sinking that money into a draft pick. If he gets Type B, nobody loses a draft pick and it might make him easier to move.

 

I'll take any bet that says we're not getting compensation. There's no chance he gets a Type A, no chance at all. Type B... we can't offer him arbitration because of his ridiculous salary. Nobody's going to be in any kind of hurry to sign Kendall.

[UK1679666180]

 

How did our boy from Rome do this year?

 

He struggled this year compared to last year, everything depends on his sinker for getting outs.

 

It'll prob. be diff. for him to be drafted, being an undersized crafty RH'er.

[CuseCubFan69]

 

How did our boy from Rome do this year?

 

He struggled this year compared to last year, everything depends on his sinker for getting outs.

 

It'll prob. be diff. for him to be drafted, being an undersized crafty RH'er.

 

So now you think he's another Greg Maddux? :D

Thanks for the update, I hope he has a solid year next year.

[badnews]

Alex White's too low. I am enamored with him.

 

One of the three guys I thought the Cubs would've been better off spending Huseby's money on (the others being Walden and Latos).

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/rankings/?rank=highschool&year=2008

[UK1679666180]

JUPITER,Fla. —There are often defining moments in national-level high school tournaments or showcase events when a young player elevates his game to a point that he becomes the talk of the event. One of those defining moments may have happened here Friday at the World Wood Bat Association Fall Championship.

 

 

 

Righthander Gerrit Cole worked only one inning for the Atlanta Braves Scout Team in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Florida ’s Winning Inning but his performance was so dominating that he may have shot to the top of the pack in the high school Draft Class of 2008.

 

 

 

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Cole was clocked at 96-97 mph and his fastball had exceptional life with run and sink to both sides of the plate. His curveball, which had slider action, was a filthy 82 mph and he also flashed a plus changeup at 81. Moreover, he had excellent command of all his pitches and delivered them with smooth, easy mechanics from a three-quarters angle.

 

 

 

“Rick Porcello was 97 here last year—and that’s the moment he went to No. 1 in the country,” said Perfect Game national director Jerry Ford. “Cole was better tonight. This is the best high school arm I can remember seeing. I’ve seen guys throw harder but their ball is usually straight. Cole showed the kind of life that you normally see from a little lefthander throwing 84.”

 

 

Cole, a senior at Orange Lutheran High in Santa Ana, Calif., and a UCLA recruit, was the fourth of six pitchers used by the Braves Scout Team. They combined to strike out 14 while allowing three hits, even as the team struggled to get past a pesky Winning Inning squad. Four of the six were clocked at 90 mph or better, but none approached Cole, who recorded the best velocity of the 80-team tournament to date. He retired all three hitters he faced, one via a strikeout.

 

 

 

The Braves, a team assembled specifically for the tournament with players from 14 different states, overcame a 1-0 deficit by scoring twice in the sixth inning on a wild pitch and a run-scoring single by Corey Black, a junior from Mission Bay High in San Diego .

 

 

 

Cole, who worked in only 27 innings as a high school junior and just 12 as a sophomore, had given only brief glimpses of his vast potential prior to Friday—notably at Perfect Game’s Sunshine West Showcase in San Diego in June, when he topped out at 95. That led to an invitation to PG’s National Showcase later in the month in Cincinnati , where he lacked command of his stuff but again flashed a mid-90s fastball.

 

 

 

He was also extended an invitation to USA Baseball’s junior national trials in Cary, N.C., but Cole pitched poorly at that event and was not selected to the team that represented the U.S. in Mexico in August at the Americas ’ qualifier for the 2008 World junior championship. However, all was not lost as Cole was selected to play in the Aflac All-American Game in San Diego in August and he was the dominant pitcher at the event, touching 95 in his one-inning cameo.

 

 

 

It all came together for him again Friday night—a performance that was reminiscent of Porcello’s a year ago and led to the New Jersey righthander ascending to the top of the high school charts entering 2007. Cole’s dominant showing could raise him to the same status entering 2008

[Guest]

Way too early but I always enjoy mock drafts.

 

http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewDraftHistory.do?draftId=6

[SouthSideRyan]

There's nobody from Notre Dame or Dunedin, FL in that mock. We'll probably just forfeit our 1st pick.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/rankings/?rank=college&year=2008

 

Check out my boy Tim Murphy at #18...two Bruins in BA's college top 20 this time around. :)

[Outshined_One]

There's nobody from Notre Dame or Dunedin, FL in that mock. We'll probably just forfeit our 1st pick.

 

Don't worry, there's a Virginia guy on there and at the exact spot the Cubs will likely be drafting (#19).

[CuseCubFan69]

There's nobody from Notre Dame or Dunedin, FL in that mock. We'll probably just forfeit our 1st pick.

 

Don't worry, there's a Virginia guy on there and at the exact spot the Cubs will likely be drafting (#19).

 

Nobody from Creighton either? That makes your Virginia guy as the #1 Cub target.

[craig]

I'll take any bet that says we're not getting compensation. There's no chance he gets a Type A, no chance at all. Type B... we can't offer him arbitration because of his ridiculous salary. Nobody's going to be in any kind of hurry to sign Kendall.

 

Kendall made B, missed A by surprisingly little. That's a good thing, nobody loses any draft picks for signing a B, so there is no disincentive to doing so, no reason to stall. Kendall will get signed this winter, no question about that.

 

The issue is when. Before the recent contract, teams would rarely/never sign a guy like Kendall before the Cubs had a chance to decline arbitration. By waiting, they wouldn't lose anything. That's why to some degree FA kind of stalled until after the December arb day.

 

I think the new contract has changed the landscape and the timeline for free agency. Now you can go to work as soon as you want. If a team likes Kendall as a veteran share-time catcher, they can sign him as soon as they like. Perhaps even before arb day.

 

Obviusly I don't think that's likely. Kendall is really competitive, and likes to play. He's used to being the #1 every-day starter, and he's used to getting tons of millions. Yes, he'll sign. But he's not going to be guaranteed #1 status, he's not going to get paid a lot, and he's not going to be one of the top-5 winter targets for any teams. Focus on the important stuff first, fiddle around with low-impact guys like Kendall after the big stuff is settled. So I think it will take him a while to get the attention required to make a decision, and I think it will take him a while to realize and accept how little interest there will be in his services.

 

But, you never know, maybe we'll get lucky somehow. While somebody is waiting on the big stuff, they have some time for little stuff and work out a Kendall deal. Or, maybe his wife wants things decided well before Christmas season, and tells him to decide early rather than dragging. Or, maybe there's some personal connection that causes him to sign bck with Pittsburgh, or near his wife's home area, or whatever.

 

It would sure be cool if he did sign before the cubs had to non-arb him, and we got a pick there. The sandwich is probably going to be as big or bigger than a full round these days. So to go with no comp pick will be like losing a round.

[the splendid splinter]

Well our present scouting director has taken a everyday player from Clemson and high school player from Southern California #1 the last two years and their both aways from Dunedin, Notre Dame and Virginia. Botttom dollar says he wont take a 1st rounder from those three places. Anyone want to bet?

 

note: by the way, your scouting director is from Dunedin and his picks have come from many places.

[Tedward]

I'll take any bet that says we're not getting compensation. There's no chance he gets a Type A, no chance at all. Type B... we can't offer him arbitration because of his ridiculous salary. Nobody's going to be in any kind of hurry to sign Kendall.

 

Kendall made B, missed A by surprisingly little. That's a good thing, nobody loses any draft picks for signing a B, so there is no disincentive to doing so, no reason to stall. Kendall will get signed this winter, no question about that.

 

The issue is when. Before the recent contract, teams would rarely/never sign a guy like Kendall before the Cubs had a chance to decline arbitration. By waiting, they wouldn't lose anything. That's why to some degree FA kind of stalled until after the December arb day.

 

I think the new contract has changed the landscape and the timeline for free agency. Now you can go to work as soon as you want. If a team likes Kendall as a veteran share-time catcher, they can sign him as soon as they like. Perhaps even before arb day.

 

Obviusly I don't think that's likely. Kendall is really competitive, and likes to play. He's used to being the #1 every-day starter, and he's used to getting tons of millions. Yes, he'll sign. But he's not going to be guaranteed #1 status, he's not going to get paid a lot, and he's not going to be one of the top-5 winter targets for any teams. Focus on the important stuff first, fiddle around with low-impact guys like Kendall after the big stuff is settled. So I think it will take him a while to get the attention required to make a decision, and I think it will take him a while to realize and accept how little interest there will be in his services.

 

But, you never know, maybe we'll get lucky somehow. While somebody is waiting on the big stuff, they have some time for little stuff and work out a Kendall deal. Or, maybe his wife wants things decided well before Christmas season, and tells him to decide early rather than dragging. Or, maybe there's some personal connection that causes him to sign bck with Pittsburgh, or near his wife's home area, or whatever.

 

It would sure be cool if he did sign before the cubs had to non-arb him, and we got a pick there. The sandwich is probably going to be as big or bigger than a full round these days. So to go with no comp pick will be like losing a round.

 

Good Call.

 

Considering he is a High B, and a few of the A's have already re-signed with their current teams, this pick would appear to be in the first half of the sandwich round too.

[craig]

Well, Kendall is in the books for Milwaukee! Awesome that we get a pick out of him, I had hoped for that but thought that was really unlikely. Even after I heard Milwaukee and Rockies were interested, I was scared he'd take too long, and by the time he'd take his physical and stuff that we'd have to decline arb before then. But not only did they agree, it appears he always passed his physical and signed the contract and the deal is real. So Hendry doesn't need to do anything, the pick is ours.

 

That should be fairly late in the sandwich round. Comp picks for A's come before picks for B's. Within each group, it goes by team record. Since we're 19/30 in regular rounds, Kendall should be in the 2nd half of the B group.

 

Last year the sandwich round was a bit longer than a regular round. Not sure how that will play this year. But I kind of figure the sandwich is more or less like a full round. I'd like to have a sandwich pick every year, just to keep up with what most teams get. To go without any sandwich picks is really like skipping a round altogether.

 

Anyway, very nice news. Right now we're pretty excited about what Donaldson might be. If lucky, maybe we can get somebody who proves to be as intriguing next year, thanks to Kendall and Milwaukee's conveniently fast decision-making.