2008 Draft Discussion Thread

[UK1679666180]

I really like what i'm hearing about Harold Martinez (prep SS/3b).

 

He'll prob. go 1st 15 overall.

[imb]

I really like what i'm hearing about Harold Martinez (prep SS/3b).

 

He'll prob. go 1st 15 overall.

 

What do you know about Ginther (SS out of Jenks, OK) UK? I saw him play baseball a few times last year, but he never really stood out to me. He's a pretty good QB, too, but I never got the big-time D1 vibe from him.

[UK1679666180]

Ginther is one of the top prep quarterbacks in the country as a three-year starter for Jenks High, which has won eight 6-A state titles in the last 11 years and was 11-1 this year. He’d thrown for an Oklahoma state-leading 2,467 yards this fall with 15 TD’s. But Ginther has repeatedly said that baseball is his future and he committed to Oklahoma State to play baseball. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ginther plays shortstop but projects to third base. His best tool is his bat and power potential, although his relative lack of seeing upper level competition showed at times last summer against top-level pitching.

 

Mark Ginther is a 2008 SS/P with a 6'2'', 175 lb. frame from Tulsa, OK who attends Jenks HS. He has a lean, athletic build and lots of projection. Ginther looked excellent during infield drills and batting practice. Ginther is a top level QB on the Oklahoma 6A football champions as well as a top baseball prospect. Defensively, Ginther showed fluid infield actions during drills with very good body control and a quick strong arm. His range and arm strength profile best to third base in the future. At the plate, Ginther took a very good BP and showed a simple, quick approach with plus hand strength and crushed line drives to all fields During the games he didn't get into a good hitting groove, but it's all there. We know from seeing him in the past that he's one of the top young hitters around. Ginther also pitched and was 87-88 mph on his fast ball from an extended overhand release point. Last year it was Kozma from Oklahoma who went first round, is Ginther next? He is a good student and has a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State.

 

I have no idea where he'll go in the draft or signability. But he isn't listed among the top 200.

[RammyFanny]

Ping what do you think of Tim Beckham if you know anything about him. Obviously he seems like he should be gone at our pick and i've even seen him as high as #2 overall on the very early mocks, but from a couple people i've talked to they said he never raelly stood out (though i'm sure they aren't religiously following him).

[UK1679666180]

He did well this Summer and compares very well to BJ Upton, except a little more advanced with the glove.

[RammyFanny]

I think he was mentioned earlier in the thread, but Friedrich would be a very nice pick if he fell to 19.

[UK1679666180]

I think he was mentioned earlier in the thread, but Friedrich would be a very nice pick if he fell to 19.

 

I seen him pitch in HS, it's surprising to see how far he has progressed.

[UK1679666180]

Although I'd rather talk about draft prospects moreso than draft orders, here is an updated draft order.

 

http://pgcrosschecker.com/crackthebat/patrick_ebert/07_12_19_comp_picks/

[RammyFanny]

There's no reason in hell the Cubs should draft Alonso.

 

Isaac Galloway wasn't at Perfect Game, right?

 

Correct. He had a school commitment. Nice to see he is from inner-LA with a good head.

I know this post was from awhile ago Meph, but what do you have against Alonso? It seems if one statistic can be translated more likely than another from college to pro's, it's strike zone judgement. We're talking about a decent athlete, good power potential, and the aforementioned strike zone judgement, which was a pretty ridiculous 64:31 BB:SO ratio with an .519 OBP, not to mention good slugging. I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to have a successfull career.

 

And another name to throw out there from South Carolina is James Darnell. You could play him at the hot corner or put him in the OF where his bat could be of good use down the line. Seems like a nice guy to pick in the lower end of the 1st or supplemental since you can project some strikejone judgement and power, and still get some untapped athletic ability to gamble on in addition to a "safe" thing in his good approach.

[RammyFanny]

Although I'd rather talk about draft prospects moreso than draft orders, here is an updated draft order.

 

http://pgcrosschecker.com/crackthebat/patrick_ebert/07_12_19_comp_picks/

So a worst case scenario of pick 42 for Jason Kendall?

 

(it's 38th currently)

 

 

\:D/

 

Edit: Just wanted to randomly say that i'm slightly pissed that the Mets will pick 18th, right before us. Hopefully they aren't the big money team that snags up a dropper first, since I was inclined to believe that we would be that team.

[Guest]

Although I'd rather talk about draft prospects moreso than draft orders, here is an updated draft order.

 

http://pgcrosschecker.com/crackthebat/patrick_ebert/07_12_19_comp_picks/

So a worst case scenario of pick 42 for Jason Kendall?

 

(it's 38th currently)

 

 

\:D/

 

Edit: Just wanted to randomly say that i'm slightly pissed that the Mets will pick 18th, right before us. Hopefully they aren't the big money team that snags up a dropper first, since I was inclined to believe that we would be that team.

 

The Mets rarely go over slot (and try to compensate for that in Latin America) but supposedly got mad that nothing happened to Boston, Detroit and the Yanks last season so they might start going over slot now.

[UK1679666180]

Minus Shark, the Cubs have never really gone much over slot early in the draft. Obviously, with Rundle, Shark, etc. they did in '06, but nothing would indicate the Cubs are as aggressive as the teams Raisin mentioned.

[RammyFanny]

Hopefully we'll have a nice, new, expensive owner who gives us gobs of money for it though :D

[Guest]

You could add the Angels to that list though they tend to go over slot post-first round too (and whiffed on Matt Harvey in 07).

[UK1679666180]

These are the signing bonus amounts from last year's draft:

 

Baltimore Orioles $7,672,500

Washington Nationals $7,619,300

New York Yankees $7,432,500

Detroit Tigers $7,305,000

Tampa Bay Devil Rays $7,172,000

San Francisco Giants $7,027,000

Toronto Blue Jays $6,290,500

Texas Rangers $6,102,500

San Diego Padres $5,763,500

Kansas City Royals $5,618,400

Arizona Diamonbacks $4,946,000

Chicago Cubs $4,932,250

Cincinnati Reds $4,352,250

Pittsburgh Pirates $4,163,400

Atlanta Braves $4,047,950

Seattle Mariners $4,034,800

Oakland Athletics $3,944,900

St. Louis Cardinals $3,781,000

Boston Red Sox $3,505,500

Colorado Rockies $3,393,000

Los Angeles Dodgers $3,337,250

New York Mets $3,328,800

Philadelphia Phillies $3,312,000

Florida Marlins $3,228,750

Milwaukee Brewers $3,177,700

Chicago White Sox $2,444,550

Cleveland Indians $2,271,800

Minnesota Twins $1,837,000

Los Angeles Angels $1,291,600

Houston Astros $536,000

 

Wash. was quantity rather than one or two players like Balt. (Wieters and that TCU pitcher). The Cubs with the 3rd overall pick finished just barely in the top half.

[Guest]

TCU pitcher = Jake Arrieta.

 

Looking back, I really like the Nationals and Rangers' drafts.

[RammyFanny]

Arietta pitched very well in some league recently...might have the the AFL.

[Guest]

Yes, it was the AFL. He threw 16 scoreless innings.

[RammyFanny]

So what's everyones thoughts here about the next offseason for the Cubs?Alot of ways to get some good picks without losing anything too important to us with Howry, Wood and Dempster FA eligible. If the Cubs were smart, they'd just let Dempster close this year and he might fetch a type A ranking with a good year, and it would seem at worst he'd be type B. I'd almost certainly let Howry go if he's had a good year, Dempster too (if he can be decent), and of course try to let Kerry stay here if possible. Meanwhile, when some of the relievers go, have younger cheap guys like Petrick and/or even Shark step in to fill the void (though Shark isn't that cheap). Eyre's also a FA, though it'll take an awful good year for him to be ranked as anything. Piggy could step right in to fill Eyre's spot.

 

I guess as a guy who loves the draft, i'm salivating at the thought of us potentially having a boatload of picks without losing anyone that isn't replaceable. Imagine if Howry and Dempster (likely closing) could fetch type A's and we get 3 total first round picks and 2 supplementals.

[craig]

So what's everyones thoughts here about the next offseason for the Cubs?Alot of ways to get some good picks without losing anything too important to us with Howry, Wood and Dempster FA eligible. If the Cubs were smart, they'd just let Dempster close this year and he might fetch a type A ranking with a good year, and it would seem at worst he'd be type B. I'd almost certainly let Howry go if he's had a good year, Dempster too (if he can be decent), and of course try to let Kerry stay here if possible. Meanwhile, when some of the relievers go, have younger cheap guys like Petrick and/or even Shark step in to fill the void (though Shark isn't that cheap). Eyre's also a FA, though it'll take an awful good year for him to be ranked as anything. Piggy could step right in to fill Eyre's spot.

 

I guess as a guy who loves the draft, i'm salivating at the thought of us potentially having a boatload of picks without losing anyone that isn't replaceable. Imagine if Howry and Dempster (likely closing) could fetch type A's and we get 3 total first round picks and 2 supplementals.

 

I think you are right on point. We've got four relievers entering contract years in Wood, Dempster, Howry, and Eyre. There is no spot in which it's easier to rank A or B than relief pitcher. (Well, catcher is easier, see Kendall and Barrett, but otherwise relief is the way to go.) All of those have a shot to rank, including Eyre. And as we've seen with Linebrink etc., there is always market for capable relievers. A SS can be blocked on most teams; never so with a reliever. And as you say, if there is any role that the organization has a stock of farm talent that's perhaps ready to step in, it's relief pitching. Petrick, Roquet, Hart, Gallagher, Samardz, Veal, who knows a year from now perhaps even Ceda or Maestri or Ruhlman or Grant Johnson might look about ready.

 

Still, not sure how many of those will go. One of the reasons relievers get market is that they aren't budget-busters. When you're talking a $120+ payroll, it's not like $3 or $4 on a Howry or Eyre is exactly a budget killer. So not clear that Hendry is really going to let any pitcher that's reasonably effective walk. Maybe so, but we'll see. An A would be really cool, to get two picks out. In the big fiasco draft, we got two each for Todd VanPoppel and David Weathers, decent relievers but not irreplaceable. Something like that could happen.

 

Unfortunately Dempster's switch to rotation could complicate things. If he busts, it might not help his market or his Elias score. But if he makes it as a 4.5 ERA rotation guy, I'm not sure how Elias grades a guy who has spent the last two years relieving and starting. Certainly his Elias would score better if he was slotted in as a 6th inning reliever from the start.

 

Could be interesting.

[RammyFanny]

steve (anaheim, CA): Great chat as usual. Will Pedro Alvarez be available when the O's pick in the 2007 draft? It's pretty much a lock that the O's will be have the number one pick in 2009 right?

 

Keith Law: (2:53 PM ET ) There's a very good chance Alvarez is there, even more so if he ends up choosing Boras as his advisor.

only 15 more spots until he would get to us :wink:

[RammyFanny]

Well, I finally ponied up the cash and got a BA subscription. One thing I found interesting is that they mentioned Vitters' hitting as a 70 on the scale, and his power as 70 as well. For comparison, Jay Bruce's hitting was 65 and power was 70. Maybe they were talking about potential hitting and power, because as much as I like Vitters, I would be thrilled if he came close to Bruce's production.

[RammyFanny]

Sonny Gray's getting Jarrod Parker comps, wouldn't be surprised if Wilken took him if he's still there at 19.

[UK1679666180]

Those comparisons are always thrown around, any small pitcher with a quick arm gets lumped with Kazmir if he's lefty or Oswalt if he's a righty, since it's the draft, you'll see Gray lumped with Drabek and Parker.

 

Sure Wilken, area, and crosscheckers will have seen him enough this Spring and seen him already several times if they like him and he's on the board that he's a poss.

[Outshined_One]

Those comparisons are always thrown around, any small pitcher with a quick arm gets lumped with Kazmir if he's lefty or Oswalt if he's a righty, since it's the draft, you'll see Gray lumped with Drabek and Parker.

 

Sure Wilken, area, and crosscheckers will have seen him enough this Spring and seen him already several times if they like him and he's on the board that he's a poss.

 

Parker's mechanics were really good, from what I've read about him. I'd like to see if Gray's mechanics can stack up.