Cubs linked to Gerrit Cole?

[RammyFanny]

In BA's new mock (even though they don't actually have us picking him):

19. CUBS. Chicago is the first team that has been linked to Cole, though it's always possible that another club is lying in the weeds. The Cubs have no pressing needs and scouting director Tim Wilken loves athletes, so they could take a long-term project like Hewitt. Wilken's Gulf Coast ties also could lead him to Kelly, who shows equal promise as a pitcher and a shortstop.

 

Projected Pick: CASEY KELLY.

 

Here's what they say about Cole:

26. DIAMONDBACKS. Cole is a high school version of Max Scherzer, so this could be his best fit. Both have stressful deliveries that generate excessive velocity, and both are advised by the Scott Boras Corporation. Arizona also has had success with established college stars, so the first basemen and infielders all could be in play.

 

Projected Pick: GERRIT COLE.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/mock-draft/2008/266117.html

 

BTW, Melville was still on the board when we picked in this mock.

 

Brewerfan.net profile:

 

Blessed with a lightning quick arm, Cole has the perfect pitcher’s proportions making him one of the most exciting pitching prospects to watch through next spring. His fastball has touched the upper 90s in the past, and easily sits in the low-90s. His heater is especially tough to hit in that it shows very good, natural late life, and his potentially nasty yet currently inconsistent slider gives him a powerful arsenal that should also induce a lot of weak contact on the infield. While he is a very good athlete with a smooth windup and overall delivery, there is some effort to his arm action, as he would do his long-range career a favor by shoring up his mechanics. He has committed to play for UCLA, and could easily be taken among the top three to five picks next June.

 

Milb report:

 

Fastball: Cole was throwing 95-98 mph early and settled in at 92-94 throughout his start.

Fastball movement: He usually has plus arm-side sink and bore, though he was fairly straight in this outing.

Slider: It's an average pitch now, which he throws 78-82 mph, but it projects as a plus pitch in the future. It has some depth coming from a 3/4 arm angle.

Changeup: It's a little too firm at 79-80 mph, but he's got a good feel for it.

Control: He's an above-average strike-thrower for a high schooler, letting his stuff work for him in the zone.

Poise: His makeup on the field can be an issue, as he gets animated with umpires and teammates at times.

Physical Description: Cole is a projectable high school right-hander who compares a bit to Kyle Farnsworth.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: His projectability and his stuff, with the ability to throw three average to plus pitches, and to throw them for strikes.

Weaknesses: He has some mechanical issues with his delivery, with an arc in the back and a tendency to throw across his body; he gets too emotional on the mound.

Summary: A projectable high school right-hander with the capability already to throw a fastball up into the upper 90s is bound to garner interest. Throw in a future plus slider and a changeup, all for which he can throw for strikes, and it's no wonder Cole is considered one of the top prep pitchers in the class. He's going to have to work out some kinks in his delivery and he's got Scott Boras as an advisor, but neither of those issues should keep him from being drafted early.

 

His stock has dropped a tad due to Boras, a little bit of a control problem (not terrible by any means), and inconsistent secondary pitches, even though they show potential. Definately would be an interesting pick with a potential high reward.

[RammyFanny]

Current stats:

In 51 IP> 0.69 ERA, 15 BB's, 83 K's

 

Video from AFLAC game:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=cole

[Guest]

Melville's stock is falling because he's had an awful senior year and his velocity is down. I wouldn't touch him in the first round.

 

I'm going to have the unlikely hope that Hosmer and his bonus demands fall to 19, but I'd love Cole. Keep in mind while looking at his stats though that he plays in an inferior league in Southern California.

[RammyFanny]

Keep in mind while looking at his stats though that he plays in an inferior league in Southern California.

 

I was more concerned with everyone talking about control problems and then seeing those stats. Those walks don't seem too bad at all IMO. Good league or bad league, he's still throwing strikes it seems and that, for whatever reason, seemed to be a red flag in people's minds.

[RammyFanny]

Melville has gotten alot better as his season has went on. He did struggle badly at first but he's got a respectable line of

 

3.00 ERA, & 72 K's in 46.2 IP.

 

and is still throwing low to mid 90's. ERA is still inflated from earlier in the year but he has improved, still first round material at this point for sure.

[sporrer17]

So if the Cubs were to take Casey Kelly, would he be playing SS or P initially?

 

Very intriguing prospect, seems like more of a pure athlete...and a bit of a risk considering he really isn't a sure thing at SS (due to his bat) or on the mound (due to a lack of experience?)...plus he could be a tough sign having signed to play 2 sports at Tennessee.

[SweetZombieJesus]

The cubs are a lock to draft that SS from UCLA. Because he's toolsy and has no patience.

[KingCubsFan]

This guy sounds too much like Colt Griffin

[Guest]

The cubs are a lock to draft that SS from UCLA. Because he's toolsy and has no patience.

 

He won't go in the first round. Crawford has tumbled down the boards a bit this year.

[Guest]

Anyone notice who BA has going 21st? RHP Andrew Cashner, who the Cubs took in the 29th round last year and couldn't sign. Woulda been a great DFE candidate if those rules were still in place.

 

And lest we forget Victor Sanchez was one of the best freshmen in the country last year.

[Hosak8]

So if the Cubs were to take Casey Kelly, would he be playing SS or P initially?

 

Very intriguing prospect, seems like more of a pure athlete...and a bit of a risk considering he really isn't a sure thing at SS (due to his bat) or on the mound (due to a lack of experience?)...plus he could be a tough sign having signed to play 2 sports at Tennessee.

 

He will not be a tough sign.

 

As a UT fan, and an avid follower of recruiting, it has been made very apparent that Kelly will be a professional baseball player if drafted in the first round. He would join a jammed depth chart at QB at Tennessee, and the baseball program is still in transition under first year coach Todd Raleigh. So, it is almost a no-brainer that Kelly ends up signing a contract with the team who drafts him, provided it is in the first round. He might use the scholarship as leverage, but I suspect that's all it is.

 

I also feel that he gets his first shot at being an every day player. He would play SS from day one at UT, and would likely be a weekend starter, but I think his value as a left side of the infield type of player is pretty high at this point.

[sporrer17]

So if the Cubs were to take Casey Kelly, would he be playing SS or P initially?

 

Very intriguing prospect, seems like more of a pure athlete...and a bit of a risk considering he really isn't a sure thing at SS (due to his bat) or on the mound (due to a lack of experience?)...plus he could be a tough sign having signed to play 2 sports at Tennessee.

 

He will not be a tough sign.

 

As a UT fan, and an avid follower of recruiting, it has been made very apparent that Kelly will be a professional baseball player if drafted in the first round. He would join a jammed depth chart at QB at Tennessee, and the baseball program is still in transition under first year coach Todd Raleigh. So, it is almost a no-brainer that Kelly ends up signing a contract with the team who drafts him, provided it is in the first round. He might use the scholarship as leverage, but I suspect that's all it is.

 

I also feel that he gets his first shot at being an every day player. He would play SS from day one at UT, and would likely be a weekend starter, but I think his value as a left side of the infield type of player is pretty high at this point.

 

 

I think I like this potential pick a lot. I don't know if it fits the Cubs' style or not, but I like SS's with some upside.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Cubs have no pressing needs and scouting director Tim Wilken loves athletes,

 

Call me crazy, but I think they have a very pressing need for actual baseball prospects.

[CyHawk_Cub]

The Cubs have no pressing needs and scouting director Tim Wilken loves athletes,

 

Call me crazy, but I think they have a very pressing need for actual baseball prospects.

 

Yeah, I'd have to agree... Things down on the farm look pretty thin to me...

[YearofDaCubs]

Should we have faith in Wilken? I mean do we have any prospects that he drafted that are worth a damn? Colvin maybe?

[Guest]

James Russell was a bonus baby who signed last August and he's already in AA. Jovan Rosa is doing well at Peoria. Colvin's results have been mixed.

 

Indeed, a lot of his higher profile picks have struggled big time (Samardzija, Huseby and Rundle come to mind). But 2 years is still far too soon to judge a draft.

 

Hopefully the Cubs can avoid the college seniors so early this year.

[Rob]

I'd be real interested in seeing what Cole could do for the Cubs. There's no denying the kid has electric stuff.

[Guest]

Bad start for Melville Tuesday after a few better starts: 5.2 IP 5H 1R 1 ER 5BB 4K. I believe his velocity was down again after it had bounced back for a few starts. Some red flags still there for Melville.

 

Meyer had a good start yesterday: 7 IP 1 H 0 R 5 BB 17 K

 

Jonathan Mayo said he felt Odorizzi would be the top prep arm selected.

[Guest]

I'd be real interested in seeing what Cole could do for the Cubs. There's no denying the kid has electric stuff.

 

Was this you? I wonder what the problems with him are, especially since he could be a Cub or a UCLA Bruin.

 

Rob (Bloomington, IL): Who do you think will end up taking Gerrit Cole? Any chance the Cubs nab him at #19?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a very hard guy to figure out. Hard to argue with the arm, but as a kid, nobody likes him.

[Rob]

I'd be real interested in seeing what Cole could do for the Cubs. There's no denying the kid has electric stuff.

 

Was this you? I wonder what the problems with him are, especially since he could be a Cub or a UCLA Bruin.

 

Rob (Bloomington, IL): Who do you think will end up taking Gerrit Cole? Any chance the Cubs nab him at #19?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a very hard guy to figure out. Hard to argue with the arm, but as a kid, nobody likes him.

 

Just remembered this thread... whoops.

 

Yeah, that was me. Still interested.

[Guancous]

In BA's new mock (even though they don't actually have us picking him):

 

Here's what they say about Cole:

26. DIAMONDBACKS. Cole is a high school version of Max Scherzer, so this could be his best fit. Both have stressful deliveries that generate excessive velocity, and both are advised by the Scott Boras Corporation. Arizona also has had success with established college stars, so the first basemen and infielders all could be in play.

 

Projected Pick: GERRIT COLE.

 

Does the bolded part concern anyone else?

[Tyrant]

In BA's new mock (even though they don't actually have us picking him):

 

Here's what they say about Cole:

26. DIAMONDBACKS. Cole is a high school version of Max Scherzer, so this could be his best fit. Both have stressful deliveries that generate excessive velocity, and both are advised by the Scott Boras Corporation. Arizona also has had success with established college stars, so the first basemen and infielders all could be in play.

 

Projected Pick: GERRIT COLE.

 

Does the bolded part concern anyone else?

 

If you check out the video linked above, his arm action is very irregular. I think he might have arm problems down the road.