2007 Cubs Pick Discussion

[Flames24Rulz]

Looks like one team has already stopped picking.

 

Looks like that team is the Blue Jays.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

995: C Preston Clark, Texas

 

Looks like a second team has stopped drafting.

 

Decent IsoD and good IsoP, .285/.350/.498

 

How many catchers is that now? Gotta be approaching 5. Donaldson, Day, Clark, one more who I can't remember his name at least.

[CoolHandLuke]

This catcher will be a tough sign.

 

103. Preston Clark, c

School: Texas. Class: So.

B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 212. Birthdate: 8/16/85.

Scouting Report: Clark is one of three prime draft-eligible sophomores with reported seven-figure price tags at Texas, but there are a couple of differences between him, third baseman Brad Suttle and outfielder Kyle Russell. Suttle and Russell are 21-year-olds in their second year of college, while Clark is in his third year after redshirting in 2005 while getting his classwork in order. And while Suttle and Russell have played well enough to go in the sandwich round, Clark hasn't shown that kind of bat. He hit just .295 during the regular season, in part because he struggles against breaking balls. Clark does have power potential, and he's more ready for the next level defensively than offensively. He has strong catch-and-throw skills, including nimble footwork, a quick transfer and arm strength. Clark had arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees while in high school, and he'll have to watch the weight on his 5-foot-11, 212-pound frame. His offensive performance merits a third-round selection, which may not be high enough to sign him. Catchers often get overdrafted, however. If Clark returns to the Longhorns and improves offensively in 2008, he could be a first-round pick.

 

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB

.298 188 33 56 16 2 6 41 2

[Guest]

995: C Preston Clark, Texas

 

Looks like a second team has stopped drafting.

 

Decent IsoD and good IsoP, .285/.350/.498

 

How many catchers is that now? Gotta be approaching 5. Donaldson, Day, Clark, one more who I can't remember his name at least.

 

Bautista who went the round before and Victor Sanchez could play catcher too.

[CoolHandLuke]

If we can sign these few guys, with a little more upside, like Day, Sanchez and now Clark, I will be much happier with this draft.

[Guest]

Q: Bill from New York asks:

Why does slotting prevent some picks and not others? The Cubs went over slot last year for Jeff S., but won't for Wieters? The Orioles clearly will go over slot for Wieters and the Yanks likely for Brackman. Do you really believe teams place much value on slotting or is that just an excuse for actually not wanting to pay the market value for a player?

 

A:

Jim Callis: MLB has put a full-court press on teams to stick with slotting this year, and many fell into line this year, at least in the early rounds, the Cubs among them. It's a big issue. We'll see what happens this summer if a couple of teams start signing a lot of their unsignable guys.

[Guest]

1024: RHP Enrique Garcia, U of Miami

[jersey cubs fan]

Q: Bill from New York asks:

Why does slotting prevent some picks and not others? The Cubs went over slot last year for Jeff S., but won't for Wieters? The Orioles clearly will go over slot for Wieters and the Yanks likely for Brackman. Do you really believe teams place much value on slotting or is that just an excuse for actually not wanting to pay the market value for a player?

 

A:

Jim Callis: MLB has put a full-court press on teams to stick with slotting this year, and many fell into line this year, at least in the early rounds, the Cubs among them. It's a big issue. We'll see what happens this summer if a couple of teams start signing a lot of their unsignable guys.

 

This is actually a topic that MLB can probably get around the union to enforce something. I know the agents won't like it, but the veterans on 40 man rosters don't care as much about the fate of the next 18 yo phenom.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Collegiate splits for Thomas, Barney, and Guyer.

 

Of note:

 

Thomas was actually better away from home(.410/.505/.821) than in his home park(.442.547/.705), he has no discernable L/R split.

 

Barney is not very good against RHP(.279/.354/.390), but like Thomas he was better on the road(.339/.417/.505) than home(.278/.354/.417).

 

Guyer has no discernible R/L split, and seems to be a beneficiary of his home park(.368/.483/.632 at home, .349/.378/.535 on the road).

[Mephistopheles]

If we can sign these few guys, with a little more upside, like Day, Sanchez and now Clark, I will be much happier with this draft.

 

dont count on it. if we had the cash to sign them we would have gotten better players in rounds 3-10.

[nilodnayr]

If we can sign these few guys, with a little more upside, like Day, Sanchez and now Clark, I will be much happier with this draft.

 

dont count on it. if we had the cash to sign them we would have gotten better players in rounds 3-10.

 

Although consistant with the cubs, it might be a quantity over quality move. We might be able to sign 5 pretty good guys who we picked in the lower rounds for the same money as 2 really good guys who we picked in the higher rounds. Giving a couple mil to Sanchez and Clark it might fall under the radar moreso than giving Wieters 10M.

[CoolHandLuke]

If we can sign these few guys, with a little more upside, like Day, Sanchez and now Clark, I will be much happier with this draft.

 

dont count on it. if we had the cash to sign them we would have gotten better players in rounds 3-10.

 

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. It just doesn't make much sense to even pick them without thinking that you have a chance at signing them.

[RammyFanny]

The second high school player in the county taken was El Modena infielder and pitcher Freddie Freeman, by the Atlanta Braves with the 78th overall pick. Freeman said the Braves, Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners, all within a span of a few minutes, told him they would select him if he were still available in the second round.

[jaydee]

I think a lot of the people who think Vitters will bust are just saying that because of the Cubs poor development of position players and the fact the Cubs passed on Wieters.

 

And? That's the point. The Cubs don't develop hitters.

 

just look at pie

[jaydee]

Using outstanding hitting tools at the plate, Vitters was named the Most Valuable Player of the Cape Cod All-Star Game last summer...Widely considered the best high school hitter available...Has a compact swing that will develop power down the road with strong ability to get the bat on the ball with consistency...Right-handed hitter who can handle any type of pitch like Vladimir Guerrero. Has amazing instincts and is very polished...Has the arm strength to play third in the big leagues, but will need to develop in the field. Could eventually land in the outfield if defensive skill at third doesn't progress..Brother Christian was drafted by Oakland in 2006.

 

This could be good or very bad.

 

That's a huge red flag for me. The guy isn't going to learn plate discipline with the Cubs, and he isn't going to handle those pitches against pros. If we have another 4:1 K:BB guy on our hands, he won't help at all.

 

its a real red flag when a prospect is compared to vlad guerrero....

 

It's a red flag to me when people talk about a guy's ability to hit a pitch thrown anywhere. The reason is that Vlad and very few others have been able to carry over that skill into major league success. If they think he can hit all sorts of pitches, that means he swings at all sorts of pitches. And aggressive free swingers don't exactly flourish in the Cubs system. Having the ability to hit anything is nice and all, but if you're confident in your ability to do so, major league pitchers are likely to exploit that.

 

It makes me think of guys like Pedro Felix and Ty Wiggington, guys who may be halfway decent in the counting stats, but are brutal in the rate stats thanks in large part to free swinging low walk taking approaches.

 

it clearly says he can handle any type of pitch, not swing at any type of pitch. it says nothing about being a free swinger.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

I think a lot of the people who think Vitters will bust are just saying that because of the Cubs poor development of position players and the fact the Cubs passed on Wieters.

 

And? That's the point. The Cubs don't develop hitters.

 

just look at pie

 

and Harvey, Montanez, Choi, Patterson, etc.

[RammyFanny]

Vitters is known for his ability to make contact as well, so even if he is a free swinger (IF) I doubt it's going to mean huge K rates. He strikes me as a guy who's not going to walk a crapload, but not going to K a crapload. And if he can hit, the walks will come naturally from teams trying to pitch him too perfectly. Plus alot of reports say his approach is advanced and that he has a good eye. However in Kevin Goldsteins chat, he thinks Vitters is going to have a Howie Kendrick approach (which is fine if you can hit).

[Guest]

You can watch these Cubs' draftees at the CWS (all times ET):

 

4th rounder SS Darwin Barney (Oregon State) vs. Michigan - today at 3 pm, Sun at 4 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

7th rounder OF Ty Wright (Oklahoma State) vs. Louisville - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 4 pm.

8th rounder 3B Marquez Smith (Clemson) vs. Mississippi St - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

9th rounder OF Clark Hardman (CSUF) vs. UCLA - today at 7 pm, Sun at 10 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

17th rounder LHP Arik Hempey (South Carolina) is starting vs. UNC. 7 pm.

18th rounder 2B Jeffrey Rae (Mississippi St) vs. Clemson - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

 

All game 3s are if necessary.

[Flames24Rulz]

You can watch these Cubs' draftees at the CWS (all times ET):

 

4th rounder SS Darwin Barney (Oregon State) vs. Michigan - today at 3 pm, Sun at 4 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

7th rounder OF Ty Wright (Oklahoma State) vs. Louisville - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 4 pm.

8th rounder 3B Marquez Smith (Clemson) vs. Mississippi St - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

9th rounder OF Clark Hardman (CSUF) vs. UCLA - today at 7 pm, Sun at 10 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

17th rounder LHP Arik Hempey (South Carolina) is starting vs. UNC. 7 pm.

18th rounder 2B Jeffrey Rae (Mississippi St) vs. Clemson - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

 

All game 3s are if necessary.

 

Wright and Smith have looked pretty decent.

[Mephistopheles]

I think a lot of the people who think Vitters will bust are just saying that because of the Cubs poor development of position players and the fact the Cubs passed on Wieters.

 

And? That's the point. The Cubs don't develop hitters.

 

just look at pie

 

and Harvey, Montanez, Choi, Patterson, etc.

at least choi could walk

[cuubs4life]

You can watch these Cubs' draftees at the CWS (all times ET):

 

4th rounder SS Darwin Barney (Oregon State) vs. Michigan - today at 3 pm, Sun at 4 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

7th rounder OF Ty Wright (Oklahoma State) vs. Louisville - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 4 pm.

8th rounder 3B Marquez Smith (Clemson) vs. Mississippi St - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

9th rounder OF Clark Hardman (CSUF) vs. UCLA - today at 7 pm, Sun at 10 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

17th rounder LHP Arik Hempey (South Carolina) is starting vs. UNC. 7 pm.

18th rounder 2B Jeffrey Rae (Mississippi St) vs. Clemson - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

 

All game 3s are if necessary.

 

Wright had a crazy catch yesterday.

[nilodnayr]

You can watch these Cubs' draftees at the CWS (all times ET):

 

4th rounder SS Darwin Barney (Oregon State) vs. Michigan - today at 3 pm, Sun at 4 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

7th rounder OF Ty Wright (Oklahoma State) vs. Louisville - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 4 pm.

8th rounder 3B Marquez Smith (Clemson) vs. Mississippi St - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

9th rounder OF Clark Hardman (CSUF) vs. UCLA - today at 7 pm, Sun at 10 pm, Mon at 7 pm.

17th rounder LHP Arik Hempey (South Carolina) is starting vs. UNC. 7 pm.

18th rounder 2B Jeffrey Rae (Mississippi St) vs. Clemson - today at noon (i.e. now), Sun at 1 pm.

 

All game 3s are if necessary.

 

Wright had a crazy catch yesterday.

 

Hempey has a crazy arm motion.

[nilodnayr]

Hempey doesn't look that good. His fastball is in the 84-88 MPH range and his curve looks very hanging and hittable. All especially disappoitning for his size. He'll definitely need some fixing. He doesn't pitch well at all out of the stretch and seems to be getting very frustrated. And as I say that, he just got out of a jam with a really nice unhittable 10-5 curve to a lefty well outside of the zone.

[waffle]

so, anyone ready to give a grade on this yet?

 

Lots of complaints about this pick and/or that pick, but what's the big picture?

[CubsWin]

The second high school player in the county taken was El Modena infielder and pitcher Freddie Freeman, by the Atlanta Braves with the 78th overall pick. Freeman said the Braves, Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners, all within a span of a few minutes, told him they would select him if he were still available in the second round.

That's odd, the Cubs didn't have a pick in the 2nd round.