Exactly a month until the draft. Who are we gonna take???

[RichHillIsABeast]

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/index.jsp?mc=vitters

 

There's a scouting video for Vitters.

[TruffleShuffle]

i want a healthy blake beavan.

 

a high school pitcher who already has injury issues? sounds like a cub type of pick.

[Mephistopheles]

i want a healthy blake beavan.

 

a high school pitcher who already has injury issues? sounds like a cub type of pick.

 

 

hes never had health issues. if his health was guaranteed id take him ahead of everyone.

[Mephistopheles]

Who was the last prep 3B comparable to Vitters who had great success in the majors?

 

David Wright? I think Wright came up as a comp for Vitters, although he's probably not quite the player Wright is.

 

no defense

[radarluv1]

Who was the last prep 3B comparable to Vitters who had great success in the majors?

 

David Wright? I think Wright came up as a comp for Vitters, although he's probably not quite the player Wright is.

 

no defense

 

so a ceiling of aramis with a little less power? if so i'll take it.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I've heard that Vitters hasn't been concentrating on defense as much as his hitting and that he could become a good defensive 3B.

 

That reminds me of Aramis. Hard work can really turn your play around at the hot corner.

[Jazz]

question, is there a chance Price is to difficult for TB to sign, a la Miller, and we can snatch him up?

[Guest]

question, is there a chance Price is to difficult for TB to sign, a la Miller, and we can snatch him up?

 

Doubt it.

[cbbryan]

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/index.jsp?mc=vitters

 

There's a scouting video for Vitters.

 

Nice swing!

[SouthSideRyan]

I wanted Wieters, then Vitters, then Wieters again. I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

I'll be happy with either of them. Of course this is reading what others/scouts have said. I have not seen any of them play.

 

I think we'd be best served to take Vitters. General consensus is that Wieters will slip because of his Boras connection... it's extremely doubtful he makes it to our supplemental pick, but it's a very remote possibility.

 

I understand you said very remote, but it's not even that. There's simply no chance.

[Guest]

Eric (Greencastle, Ind): If the Cubs take Vitters at No. 3 and keep him at third, what becomes of A-Ram?

 

Jim Callis: (2:00 PM ET ) They'll worry about that problem when Josh Vitters is big league ready. In the first round, especially at the top of the draft, you have to take the best player available and sort out where everyone plays down the road. Vitters would be ready by late 2009 at the earliest, at which point Ramirez will be 31 and likely a below-average defender.

 

christian (kc): I see where keith law has Wieters as the top prospect (over Price). As a Royals fan who do you see us taking at number 2? Does Sherzer (I'm also a MU fan) have what it takes to make him the second pick, kinda like Houchaver from last year.

 

Jim Callis: (2:20 PM ET ) I'd have to disagree with Keith on that one. I'd put Matt Wieters at No. 4 behind David Price, Josh Vitters and Rick Porcello. Max Scherzer very well could go No. 2 if he pitches well in indy ball, and he touched 98 in his first exhibition outing. My best guess right now is that the Royals would take Porcello.

 

For Outshined One:

 

Andy (Niagra Falls): Is Josh Vitters a better hitter than Billy Rowell was last year? And do you think Vitters will stay at 3B long term?

 

Jim Callis: (2:50 PM ET ) Yes, but not as much power. Vitters should stay at 3B, while Rowell winds up at 1B.

 

And some Cubs related stuff:

 

Bill (Chicago): Have you changed your opinion of Ryan Theriot? I thought you pegged him as a utility player...he seems like a pretty good starter at 2b.

 

Jim Callis: (2:05 PM ET ) Theriot may be better than I thought. When I said that, I wasn't sold on his bat, but he has continued to hit so far this year.

 

Kevin (Chicago, IL): Felix Pie: superstar, star, solid everyday player or Reggie Sanders-type (good to have, but not necessary)?

 

Jim Callis: (2:48 PM ET ) Solid everyday player.

 

Wilson (Washington DC): Rank these NL CFs, short term and long term: Felix Pie, Hunter Pence, Chris Young

 

Jim Callis: (2:50 PM ET ) Young, Pence, Pie.

 

Tom (New Lenox, IL): Pie or Colvin long term in CF?

 

Jim Callis: (2:56 PM ET ) Pie in CF, Colvin in RF for the Cubs.

 

Kevin (Manassas): Rank these three....Veal, Gallagher, and Samardzjia.

 

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Veal, Samardzija, Gallagher.

[CubinNY]

Kevin (Manassas): Rank these three....Veal, Gallagher, and Samardzjia.

 

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Veal, Samardzija, Gallagher.

 

Hype will take you a long way

[mg420]

Kevin (Manassas): Rank these three....Veal, Gallagher, and Samardzjia.

 

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Veal, Samardzija, Gallagher.

 

Hype will take you a long way

 

agreed. not only is gallagher ahead of him but so are holliman, guzman, marmol & marshall imo.

[Danny82]

Kevin (Manassas): Rank these three....Veal, Gallagher, and Samardzjia.

 

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Veal, Samardzija, Gallagher.

 

Hype will take you a long way

 

Disagree. That is exactly how I would rank the three.

[Guest]

Kevin (Manassas): Rank these three....Veal, Gallagher, and Samardzjia.

 

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Veal, Samardzija, Gallagher.

 

Hype will take you a long way

 

Disagree. That is exactly how I would rank the three.

 

Thank you.

[Guest]

May 11:

 

With the draft a month away, how would you project the first 10 picks as of today?

 

John Morris

Greenville, S.C.

 

This is still more informed speculation than anything close to being set in stone, as teams still are working on signability and bearing down on their targets at the top of the draft. I'm starting to hear rumblings that more teams in the top 10 may be willing to exceed slot money. The Royals are worried about talent and not money at No. 2. The Pirates would really like a hitter at No. 4, and the best hitters available may all be Scott Boras clients. Orioles owner Peter Angelos never has splurged much on the draft, but Baltimore picks at No. 5 and then not again until No. 130. Not having second- or third-round picks saves the O's $900,000 in slot money they could pour into their top choice.

 

Here's my most educated guess as of today:

 

1. Devil Rays: David Price, lhp, Vanderbilt.

Tampa Bay has narrowed its focus to three players, and other clubs would be shocked if they don't take Price.

2. Royals: Max Scherzer, rhp, Fort Worth Cats.

Guessing that the Luke Hochevar scenario repeats itself, though Scherzer still has thrown in just one game so far.

3. Cubs: Josh Vitters, 3b, HS/California.

Scouts continue to rave about Vitters' bat, and Chicago's interest hasn't waned.

4. Pirates: Matt Wieters, c, Georgia Tech.

Pittsburgh needs bats, not pitchers, and Boras may not scare them away from the top college position player.

5. Orioles: Ross Detwiler, lhp, Missouri State.

Wieters and North Carolina State righthander Andrew Brackman could be fits if money isn't a concern.

6. Nationals: Rick Porcello, rhp, HS/New Jersey.

There's a natural connection with scouting director Dana Brown, who lives in New Jersey.

7. Brewers: Mike Moustakas, 3b/c, HS/California.

Milwaukee has done well recently taking hitters high in the draft (Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Ryan Braun).

8. Rockies: Jason Heyward, of, HS/Georgia.

Also could be tempted by a college lefty such as Detwiler or Clemson's Daniel Moskos.

9. Diamondbacks: Daniel Moskos, lhp, Clemson.

Has moved into Clemson's rotation and shown he can stay in that role as a pro.

10. Giants: Beau Mills, 3b/1b, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).

Putting up crazy numbers for an NAIA powerhouse, with .468-30-105 totals through 52 games.

[JeffH]

The Cubs will select a dominant high school hitter who will prove altogether unable to adjust to higher-level pitching. He will quickly fade into obscurity.

[Soriano12]

The Cubs will select a dominant high school hitter who will prove altogether unable to adjust to higher-level pitching. He will quickly fade into obscurity.

 

Well thats a given, but its fun to dream now and then.

 

 

Seriously, just get Wieters please.

[tfarks]

I definitely see us taking Vitters and while I don't mind that pick at all its gonna kill me when Wieters is the starting catcher for the Pirates developing what is commonly known as "Cub killing."

[Mephistopheles]

meh at vitters. pure hitter = jeff cirillo.

 

i want blake

[RichHillIsABeast]

Wieters isn't anything special if he can't stick at C, and he probably won't given his size. He's the only college hitter even worth a look with the #3 pick.

[Mephistopheles]

and anyone on the vittersbandwgn must love matt murton too much. Vitters potential is Murton's bat. It's not elite production at his position. You HAVE to take a guy with elite production potential with the third pick in the draft.

 

 

btw bandWGN is the most incredibly gay thing in the history of humanity.

[Guest]

meh at vitters. pure hitter = jeff cirillo.

 

i want blake

 

Beavan?

 

What about Moustakas is you don't like Vitters' power?

[Mephistopheles]

Yes Blake. My only concern with him is his health, he's got an unorthodox delivery. He's probably the second best HS pitcher I've ever seen. That list includes Troy Patton, Homer Bailey, Kyle Drabek, James Loney and Joe Savery. The only guy better would have to be Scott Kazmir, although I wasn't able to make it up to Dallas last year to see Kershaw. Drabek might be better. To me, Beaven is a carbon copy of Jake Peavy. Their motion is the same. He's got a running low 90s two seam fastball with projectability and a plus slider, that at least in the Aflac game was the best breaking pitch I saw. He struggled some with it in the game I saw. He also hides the ball well with his delivery which ought to give him a great chance to develop a good changeup like Peavy giving him three solid to plus pitches with good command. The other top HS pitchers throw a tick harder, but, at least what I have seen, have near the movement he does.

 

Moustakas wouldn't be terrible, but I don't understand why either of them should be taken over Wieters. If Wieters doesn't stick behind the plate, he's certainly capable of playing LF, RF, 1B or 3B. Vitters doesn't appear to have the arm to play right well. Wieters appears to have more power and a very disciplined approach at the plate. If he doesn't stick at home, his bat is good enough to play in RF. Wieters would probably play 3B well with his arm, quick feet and pretty good agility for a big guy. I don't understand why people think Vitters is a better move. Wieters has more power and at worst a similar approach and much better defensive tools. Vitters over him would be a mistake.

[Guest]

Would you take Beaven over Porcello if Rick is available?