2008 Draft Discussion Thread

[UK1679666180]

That's what they've been saying about Gray and his mechanics, that he has an easy arm action.

[Outshined_One]

That's what they've been saying about Gray and his mechanics, that he has an easy arm action.

 

Arm action is always welcome, but Parker also had some great lower body movement to get the extra oomph on his pitches. If Gray has easy arm action without effective leg action, you might as well pencil him in for a future shoulder/arm surgery.

[UK1679666180]

He has both.

[Outshined_One]

He has both.

 

I like.

[Guest]

Per Jim Callis, as of Jan 8th:

 

Supplemental First-Round Picks

31. Twins (Hunter)

32. Brewers (Franciso Cordero, A, to Cin)

33. Mets (Glavine)

34. Phillies (Aaron Rowand, A to SF)

35. Brewers (Scott Linebrink, A, to CWS)

36. Royals (David Riske, B, to KC)

37. Cardinals (Troy Percival, B, to TB)

38. Braves (Ron Mahay, B, to KC)

39. Cubs (Jason Kendall, B, to Mil)

40. Padres (Doug Brocail, B, to Hou)

41. Yankees (Luis Vizcaino, B, to Col)

42. Red Sox (Eric Gagne, B, to Mil)

[YearofDaCubs]

Per Jim Callis, as of Jan 8th:

 

Supplemental First-Round Picks

31. Twins (Hunter)

32. Brewers (Franciso Cordero, A, to Cin)

33. Mets (Glavine)

34. Phillies (Aaron Rowand, A to SF)

35. Brewers (Scott Linebrink, A, to CWS)

36. Royals (David Riske, B, to KC)

37. Cardinals (Troy Percival, B, to TB)

38. Braves (Ron Mahay, B, to KC)

39. Cubs (Jason Kendall, B, to Mil)

40. Padres (Doug Brocail, B, to Hou)

41. Yankees (Luis Vizcaino, B, to Col)

42. Red Sox (Eric Gagne, B, to Mil)

Not bad at all!

[badnews]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong (again), but it doesn't look like there's a lot of room for the Kendall pick to drop. What's the worst it could end up, 6 Type Bs unsigned, right, haven't checked whether they have a better or worse record than us, so... worst case scenario, around 45? There have been a *lot* of good players available at the #45 pick in the draft.

[craig]

... it doesn't look like there's a lot of room for the Kendall pick to drop. What's the worst it could end up, 6 Type Bs unsigned, right, haven't checked whether they have a better or worse record than us, so....

 

There are 6 Type B's left, but the worst the Cubs can drop is 3 spots. The guys who'd drop us:

1. Pedro Feliz, Giants

2. Trever Miller, Astros

3. If either Shannon Steward or Mike Piazza of the A's get signed. (If both get signed by other teams, Oakland would get only one, not both, ahead of our Kendall pick).

 

If some of these don't get signed by teams other than their original team, we won't slip as far as 42.

 

Regardless, picking 42 or as high as 39 for jason Kendall, that's really unexpectedly nice.

[shnsajax]

I haven't seen Kyle Russell's name anywhere on here, where does he project? Or do the K's scare people off?

[UK1679666180]

I haven't seen Kyle Russell's name anywhere on here, where does he project? Or do the K's scare people off?

 

2nd-3rd round.

[RammyFanny]

I haven't seen Kyle Russell's name anywhere on here, where does he project? Or do the K's scare people off?

 

2nd-3rd round.

It'd be interesting for a team to go for a Jordan Danks and Russell draft, reuniting the two in the minors. I'm pretty high on Danks myself.

 

And for some reason, Chris Duncan is always the comparison my head gives me when I think of Kyle Russell. Obviously though, he's got the potential for much greater...but also the potential for much worse.

[shnsajax]

I haven't seen Kyle Russell's name anywhere on here, where does he project? Or do the K's scare people off?

 

2nd-3rd round.

It'd be interesting for a team to go for a Jordan Danks and Russell draft, reuniting the two in the minors. I'm pretty high on Danks myself.

 

And for some reason, Chris Duncan is always the comparison my head gives me when I think of Kyle Russell. Obviously though, he's got the potential for much greater...but also the potential for much worse.

 

Where does Jordan Danks project on power? His slug% scares me. Russell's 1.263 OPS last season looks nice reading the stats sheet, other than that I don't squat about him.

[Mephistopheles]

UT is a huge huge huge huge park. That makes what Russell did last year even more impressive. Danks is 6'5" 200 and figures to fill out more and develop plus power down the road. He was one of the premium power prep bats in the 05 draft. He's certainly got the talent to explode this year, even if his star has dimmed.

[RammyFanny]

UT is a huge huge huge huge park. That makes what Russell did last year even more impressive. Danks is 6'5" 200 and figures to fill out more and develop plus power down the road. He was one of the premium power prep bats in the 05 draft. He's certainly got the talent to explode this year, even if his star has dimmed.

Ditto. Danks has an excellent approach (as many BB's as SO, IIRC), and the junior year is when you usually see guys like him make that jump from very good college player to great college player. I'm kind of foreshadowing that for Danks, and he's a great athlete as well.

[Mephistopheles]

That isn't really true. He's reminiscent of Michael Taylor, and to a certain extent and offensive comparison for Brad Meyers and his teammate Kenn Kasparek. (former Cubs draft pick).

[UK1679666180]

Russell has had the chances to prove he can hit with wood and hasn't been able to.

[Mephistopheles]

Hes still a prospect best described as "interesting". I don't think anyone would be shocked if he hit 40 HRs in the majors in a season. I don't think anyone would be shocked if he didn't hit 40 HRs in the minors for his career.

 

Those statements sum him up the best.

[badnews]

I don't know anything about Russell but the above description sounds like Henry Sanchez from the Twins or Cody Johnson from the Braves, what was said about them at draft time.

[Mephistopheles]

they were HS picks though

[shnsajax]

Russell has had the chances to prove he can hit with wood and hasn't been able to.

 

That was one of the things I was wanting to know, thanks.

[UK1679666180]

Russell has had the chances to prove he can hit with wood and hasn't been able to.

 

That was one of the things I was wanting to know, thanks.

 

S, all you got to do is ask.

 

Kyle Russell OF Jr. L-L 6-5 190 Texas Tomball, Texas Cardinals ’07 (4) 6-7-86

 

SCOUTING REPORT: A fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, Russell was one of the most controversial players in the 2007 draft. Not only did teams have a difficult time getting a read on his signability as a draft-eligible sophomore, but scouts were equally perplexed on establishing his true power potential. He struggled mightily hitting with wood in the summer of 2006 in the Cape Cod League, setting a league strikeout record, but had a monster spring at Texas , shattering the school home run record with 28 though he continued to strike out at an alarming rate. Though he hit a lot of long home runs for the Longhorns, many scouts saw little difference between the Russell that struggled in the past and the player-of-the-year-model, citing what they see as a long, grooved swing and aluminum-bat speed. Others appreciated Russell’s added strength, his leverage at contact and his ability to hit the ball out of any part of the ball park. The verdict is still out as Russell struggled with wood again this summer, hitting just .247-4-22 with 34 strikeouts in 97 at-bats for the Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League. He did launch one mammoth blast, a reported 480-foot shot, but struggled to both make consistent contact and produce sufficient bat speed with wood to project that he’ll hit with power in pro ball. He worked hard to cut down on his strikeouts this fall. Russell’s other tools are solid big league-level for a right fielder and while his frame doesn’t project to hold significantly more weight, he does project to get stronger. He spent the summer in center field for the Foresters, but profiles as a corner outfielder at the next level. In the end, Russell did not sign with the Cardinals as his $1.5 million asking price proved too steep. He returned to Texas and will again be one of the most intriguing selections in the 2008 draft—especially since, as a college junior, he’ll still have nearly the same leverage as he did this year.

[shnsajax]

Russell has had the chances to prove he can hit with wood and hasn't been able to.

 

That was one of the things I was wanting to know, thanks.

 

S, all you got to do is ask.

 

Kyle Russell OF Jr. L-L 6-5 190 Texas Tomball, Texas Cardinals ’07 (4) 6-7-86

 

SCOUTING REPORT: A fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, Russell was one of the most controversial players in the 2007 draft. Not only did teams have a difficult time getting a read on his signability as a draft-eligible sophomore, but scouts were equally perplexed on establishing his true power potential. He struggled mightily hitting with wood in the summer of 2006 in the Cape Cod League, setting a league strikeout record, but had a monster spring at Texas , shattering the school home run record with 28 though he continued to strike out at an alarming rate. Though he hit a lot of long home runs for the Longhorns, many scouts saw little difference between the Russell that struggled in the past and the player-of-the-year-model, citing what they see as a long, grooved swing and aluminum-bat speed. Others appreciated Russell’s added strength, his leverage at contact and his ability to hit the ball out of any part of the ball park. The verdict is still out as Russell struggled with wood again this summer, hitting just .247-4-22 with 34 strikeouts in 97 at-bats for the Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League. He did launch one mammoth blast, a reported 480-foot shot, but struggled to both make consistent contact and produce sufficient bat speed with wood to project that he’ll hit with power in pro ball. He worked hard to cut down on his strikeouts this fall. Russell’s other tools are solid big league-level for a right fielder and while his frame doesn’t project to hold significantly more weight, he does project to get stronger. He spent the summer in center field for the Foresters, but profiles as a corner outfielder at the next level. In the end, Russell did not sign with the Cardinals as his $1.5 million asking price proved too steep. He returned to Texas and will again be one of the most intriguing selections in the 2008 draft—especially since, as a college junior, he’ll still have nearly the same leverage as he did this year.

 

Its interesting, should be a curious season for him to see if any change has occured.

[UK1679666180]

Friedrich in action:

 

http://www.capeprospects.com/media/friedrich_christian.wmv

[CubinNY]

Russell has had the chances to prove he can hit with wood and hasn't been able to.

 

That was one of the things I was wanting to know, thanks.

 

S, all you got to do is ask.

 

Kyle Russell OF Jr. L-L 6-5 190 Texas Tomball, Texas Cardinals ’07 (4) 6-7-86

 

UK, do you think the reason why some kids have a tough time with wood has more to do with swing length than bat speed, or is it something else?

[UK1679666180]

It could be anything as to why he is struggling with wood, the sweet spot of a wood bat is half of an aluminum bat, so there's a small margin of error.

 

You're only as strong as your weakest link.

 

His load could make him late to the ball, he might have a bad trigger to start his swing, he might stride too far, he might not stay back well and become a front foot hitter. His bat path could be long and uppercut, he might not use his lower body well enough which limits his power.

 

If you're speaking of someone in general, I would say lack of bat speed, but if you're talking about someone with the talent of Russell, I would say bat path.

 

With Russell, how much power are you willing to lose at the expense of greater contact? Some team is going to find out.