With the 2008 MLB Draft about a Week Away...

[Outshined_One]

Name the realistic player you want the Cubs to tab at 19 so that, later, you can get angry at the Cubs with passing on that player, especially when the player they end up drafting is injured or goes through a slump and the player you wanted is mashing/blowing away other teams in the minors for another team.

 

I'll start and go with RHP Jake Odorizzi. His arm is fresh, there's plenty of projection left for him, and he's a local product. I also like the fact that, as of May 23rd, he has an 83/4 K/BB in 50 IP. His level of competition is low, but those are still some very nice numbers.

[dlocks]

casey kelly.

[Guest]

BPA.

 

3 guys I'd take in a heartbeat who are unlikely to be there but might slip are Hosmer, Hicks and Odorizzi.

[sporrer17]

Hosmer if he somehow slips to 19.

 

If not, which I doubt he will, I like Casey Kelly.

[imb]

I want someone to fall from the top 5 due to money concerns, only to have us scoop them up with a bonus the likes that have never been seen before

 

then i want to see an interview with hendry where he rips a picture of bud selig in half like sinead oconnor did with the pope's.

[TruffleShuffle]

hendry needs to start spreading a rumor that tim beckham has HIV

[Guest]

hendry needs to start spreading a rumor that tim beckham has HIV

 

Is Karl Malone drafting for the other 18 teams ahead of the Cubs?

[sneakypower]

Jemile Weeks

 

though I suspect the Brewers might take him to convince Rickie to resign

[davearm2]

Jemile Weeks

 

though I suspect the Brewers might take him to convince Rickie to resign

I'm not convinced the Brewers even want Rickie longterm.

 

His defense remains costly and his hitting is so streaky.

 

As that team sorts through who amongst their young core group to keep and who to let go, I think Weeks is at or near the top of the let go list.

[sporrer17]

Jemile Weeks

 

though I suspect the Brewers might take him to convince Rickie to resign

I'm not convinced the Brewers even want Rickie longterm.

 

His defense remains costly and his hitting is so streaky.

 

As that team sorts through who amongst their young core group to keep and who to let go, I think Weeks is at or near the top of the let go list.

 

He's gotta be. Other than his solid '06 (which was his worst year, power wise) he's never hit .240. He does get on base at a good clip and can steal some bases, but he doesn't seem like the type you invest long term money in.

[Vanilla Ice]

I want Hosmer to fall

 

If not, Jake Odirizzi

 

Then Casey Kelly

[dlocks]

Why do the cubs seem "set" on a High School player at 19??? Hunt may slip, and Cashner will almost certainly be avaiable, and if he's not, Fields will be! I don't see why we need another mark pawelek. Clearly this draft philosophy is not working for Mr. Wilken. I hope he decides on a college arm at 19. Anything else would be disapointing.

[UK1679666180]

The only College arms that will be there will be relievers. I would rather them take the greater risk with higher upside than a college reliever with great stuff. (fwiw, the last college arm they took in the 1st was Brownlie or Grant Johnson if you wanted to use 1st pick in the draft for the Cubs).

[Guest]

Why do the cubs seem "set" on a High School player at 19??? Hunt may slip, and Cashner will almost certainly be avaiable, and if he's not, Fields will be! I don't see why we need another mark pawelek. Clearly this draft philosophy is not working for Mr. Wilken. I hope he decides on a college arm at 19. Anything else would be disapointing.

 

Wilken didn't select Mark Pawelek.

 

I don't want a reliever like Cashner with the first round pick (and lest we forget, Wilken selected Cashner last year...and would likely have signed him if the DFA was still available).

[dlocks]

The only College arms that will be there will be relievers. I would rather them take the greater risk with higher upside than a college reliever with great stuff. (fwiw, the last college arm they took in the 1st was Brownlie or Grant Johnson if you wanted to use 1st pick in the draft for the Cubs).

 

And both Brownlie and Johnson had a prior history of arm problems. With the two guys this year (Cashner and Fields) that may be avaiable at 19, they have very impressive mechanics, and neither throw across their bodies. Heck in Cashner's case, he has only pitched 50 innings this year! Both of the arms are very fresh, and Fields's Slurve is almost unhittable. I'm just saying, I think passing on both of these guys would be a mistake.

[Rob]

The only College arms that will be there will be relievers. I would rather them take the greater risk with higher upside than a college reliever with great stuff. (fwiw, the last college arm they took in the 1st was Brownlie or Grant Johnson if you wanted to use 1st pick in the draft for the Cubs).

 

And both Brownlie and Johnson had a prior history of arm problems. With the two guys this year (Cashner and Fields) that may be avaiable at 19, they have very impressive mechanics, and neither throw across their bodies. Heck in Cashner's case, he has only pitched 50 innings this year! Both of the arms are very fresh, and Fields's Slurve is almost unhittable. I'm just saying, I think passing on both of these guys would be a mistake.

 

If we could get a starter, I would complain less about picking a college arm in the 1st... but if we actually used our pick to grab a reliever, that might be one of the worst decisions we could possibly make...

 

For the record, in terms of people who might be available, these are the guys I'd be going after.

 

Hosmer (obviously)

Hicks

Casey Kelly

Gerrit Cole

Jake O

 

I don't hate a Lawrie pick, but it certainly wouldn't be the way I'd go.

[Guest]

If we could get a starter, I would complain less about picking a college arm in the 1st... but if we actually used our pick to grab a reliever, that might be one of the worst decisions we could possibly make...

 

We're in agreement here.

 

I get the feel that Lawrie will be gone before the Cubs pick, he seems to be rising quick. Seems like a classic Wilken pick.

[dlocks]

If we could get a starter, I would complain less about picking a college arm in the 1st... but if we actually used our pick to grab a reliever, that might be one of the worst decisions we could possibly make...

 

We're in agreement here.

 

I get the feel that Lawrie will be gone before the Cubs pick, he seems to be rising quick. Seems like a classic Wilken pick.

 

I really hope hunt slips to us. I don't think its likely however. Even if he is sitting there at 19, wilkin will not have the guts to pick him because he's not an "athlete", which is really pathetic.

Edited June 1, 2008 by dlocks

[TruffleShuffle]

can't gordon beckham be asking for $6M or something?

[RammyFanny]

casey kelly.

Hosmer if he somehow slips to 19.

 

If not, which I doubt he will, I like Casey Kelly.

 

Saber Scouting says we like him.

 

The Tigers, Cubs, and Yankees are all known to be on Kelly, and all appear willing to meet his over-slot pricetag to buy out his commitment to play QB and SS for the Vols, but would get some relief by being able to spread the bonus over five years under the dual sport provision by MLB. Here is Kiley’s in-depth Kelly update with video along with other mentions here, here, and here

http://www.saberscouting.com/drafttop100/

 

Kelly video here:

http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/05/08/news-notes-last-week-part3/

[Coach C]

Whatever the best player available is. To be honest with you, I don't really follow MLB Draft religiously as I would towards NFL Draft. I guess it's probably the fact that it's rarely talked about in today's sports, not to mention that there are alot of rounds to go through, and for my part, that I wouldn't even have a freakin clue where to start, other than that all I know is that a younger player is usually a high priority, for the most part depending on certain situations/scenerios.

[Guest]

can't gordon beckham be asking for $6M or something?

 

Hosmer has Beckett/Porcello-like demands. O:)

[Guest]

If we could get a starter, I would complain less about picking a college arm in the 1st... but if we actually used our pick to grab a reliever, that might be one of the worst decisions we could possibly make...

 

We're in agreement here.

 

I get the feel that Lawrie will be gone before the Cubs pick, he seems to be rising quick. Seems like a classic Wilken pick.

 

I really hope hunt slips to us. I don't think its likely however. Even if he is sitting there at 19, wilkin will not have the guts to pick him because he's not an "athlete", which is really pathetic.

 

Vitters isn't exactly an "athlete."

[badnews]

Who knows who will drop... I didn't think guys like Matt Harvey or Lars Anderson would drop in years past. I just thought they'd be 1st round picks.

 

I'd be very pleased if the Cubs were able to get Aaron Hicks, failing that Brett Lawrie. Ethan Martin wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. I'd rather have those three over Casey Kelly. Getting Robbie Ross, Mike Montgomery, or Brett DeVall at the compensation pick would be neato. If Melville fell out of the 1st round the Cubs would be wise to give him his money in a later round, but not too late (I don't think you can wait until the 12th round to pull the trigger).

 

I don't want to see any of these badass athletes who can't hit drafted high. ENOUGH. This Anthony Hewitt clown sounds like he's tailor-made for the Cubs. Raw, amazing athlete who can't hit for crap. Oh yeah, he's such an amazing athlete he projects as a 3b, not a shortstop. A Baseball America column linked the Cubs with their compensation pick to Destin Hood. If that happens and you don't see me for a while it's because I've broken my computer.

[RedFlash]

I don't want to see any of these badass athletes who can't hit drafted high. ENOUGH. This Anthony Hewitt clown sounds like he's tailor-made for the Cubs. Raw, amazing athlete who can't hit for crap. Oh yeah, he's such an amazing athlete he projects as a 3b, not a shortstop. A Baseball America column linked the Cubs with their compensation pick to Destin Hood. If that happens and you don't see me for a while it's because I've broken my computer.

 

As to Destin Hood, incredible athlethe, but is there is a team that will pony up the money for "an athlete" like Hood. Remember Hood has signed schloarship to play for Nick Saban at Alabama. So, where looking at some good dough to get Hood (remember I am CT fan, so I am conflicted about this) to break away from playing at Alabama.

 

As a Alabama fan, I would love for him to stay at Alabama, and play football (I think he has higher upside as WR, to be honest). But something tells me, so team is going to buy into his athlethicism and hope he doesn't become like so many before a bust, because he can't translate athlethicism to actual baseball skills. I just hope the Cubs stay away from unproven athletes, and go with young men, who will actually help the Cubs within 5 yrs.