2008 Cubs Picks Thread

[CuseCubFan69]

Yeah, the Theriot comparison especially is an awful one. He's like Ryan Theriot, except he's bigger, left handed, and can hit doubles and home runs more than once per month.

 

Well...other than that they were spot on.

 

This looks like an interesting draft. Were there any late picks that look like the kids are going to college instead?

 

The big one is RHP Sonny Gray (26th rounder) who was a first or second round talent but actually wrote a letter to MLB saying he was going to Vanderbilt and asking teams not to draft him. RHP Anthony Zych (46th rounder) has a solid commitment to Louisville unless he gets top 5 round money. RHP Hunter Scantling (49th rounder) had said he would go to FSU unless he gets first round money.

 

On the flip side, SS Logan Watkins (21st rounder) was very likely to go to Wichita State but $600,000 convinced him to become a Cub.

 

Thanks raisin. Maybe Gray wrote that letter because he knew he'd be tempted to sign with a MLB team? Wishful thinking I suppose.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we ended up with Gray, I'd need new pants.

 

That being said, I'm not counting on needing those pants anytime soon.

[Guest]

Cape Cod League:

 

Wednesday's Falmouth Commodores box score: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP

 

10th rounder P Alex Wilson (Falmouth): 14.1 IP, 14 H, 8 ER, 5 BB, 20 K, 5.02 ERA

 

Northwoods League:

 

31st rounder 3B Kyle Wilson (Wisconsin): 19/103, 13 BB, 33 K, .183/.311/.301, 6 E

37th rounder P Erik Hamren (Mankato): 17.2 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 16 BB, 18 K, 2.04 ERA, .169 BAA

 

New England Collegiate Baseball League:

 

38th rounder OF Sean McNaughton (North Shore Navigators ): 35/92, 13 BB, 20 K, .380/.449/.696, 0 E

 

Coastal Plain League:

 

41st rounder SS Jordan Petratis (Forest City Owls): 33/114, 17 BB, 24 K, .289/.401/.491, 16 E

[CuseCubFan69]

Jordan with 16 E's already? Throwing or fielding raisin? His hitting looks to be pretty nice though.

[Guest]

Jordan with 16 E's already? Throwing or fielding raisin? His hitting looks to be pretty nice though.

 

No idea, Cuse.

[Guest]

Here's a news story from an NBC affiliate in Kansas covering Logan Watkins signing: http://www.ksn.com/sports/22057519.html?video=YHI&t=a

 

They ask Watkins a few questions and you do get to see a couple of swings from him.

[Guest]

Story on "summer follows": http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/draft-dish/2008/266547.html

 

The Cubs signed 11th rounder RHP Ryan Acosta and 14th rounder LHP James Russell last year after following them in the summer and again this year with 37th rounder RHP Erik Hamren.

 

Of course the big summer follow for the Cubs is 10th rounder RHP Alex Wilson who's in the Cape Cod League:

 

The Cubs had the same approach when they drafted Texas A&M righthander Alex Wilson in the 10th round this year. Wilson transferred to A&M after starring at Winthrop for two seasons and was projected as an early pick in 2008. However, the 6-foot-1, 215 pounder blew out his elbow last summer in the Cape Cod League.

 

"He was with us last year for a short time, but when he came up, I knew he was already hurt," Falmouth head coach Jeff Trundy said. "After his freshman year, I heard he was mid-90s with a hard slider, and when he came here last year, the velocity just wasn't there."

 

Wilson didn't pitch in 2008 as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery. He is back to full strength and was pitching for Falmouth again—with Chicago keeping a close watch.

 

"Every time out, his commands gets a little better and his velocity has been up to 94-95," Trundy said. "The biggest adjustment he is having to make is going against actual live hitters."

 

Wilson was 0-1, 5.02 with 20 strikouts and five walks in 14 innings for Falmouth.

 

He was one of many prospects being evaluated on the Cape by major league teams this summer, as they decide whether the talent justifies the investment.

[illiniguy]

2. Aaron Shafer, RHP, Wichita State: Big-bodied righty who excels at throwing strikes and getting groundballs.

 

Translation, Grant Johnson Part 2? Both guys were "risk" picks who formerly had better stuff. The problem is both of these picks were made with, at least I felt, guys with better stuff on the board. Why do you take such a risk so high? Even the "upside" doesn't sound so awesome.

 

4. Matt Cerda, SS, Oceanside HS (CA): A monster makeup kid who draws David Eckstein comps.

Sounds like an Oakland A's draft guy a few years ago named Matt Sulentic. His career was down but is now up in the California League.

 

As for Carlos Guillen, I hope that guy meant Carlos Guillen in the field, because a Carlos Guillen comparison with the bat seems like a joke.

Um, Matt Sulentic won the triple crown in the Dallas area and their area scout compared him to a young Mickey Mantle. I don't think that sounds all that familiar with David Eckstein. Obviously Sulentic hasn't turned into Mickey, but then again who does?

[Guest]

Matt Cerda doesn't sound at all like David Eckstein thus far.

[CuseCubFan69]

Matt Cerda doesn't sound at all like David Eckstein thus far.

 

Is that the guy with the JLo butt?

[Guest]

BA updated their draft signings database to include Logan Watkins and this tidbit on Watkins:

 

Middle infielder Logan Watkins received some predraft buzz, but not nearly enough to indicate that a team would spend $500,000 to buy him away from a Wichita State scholarship. Yet that's exactly what the Cubs did. Watkins is an athlete with good speed and a contact-oriented approach from the left side of the plate.

[Guest]

Rivals College Baseball[/url]"]TEXAS A&M'S WILSON STILL UNDECIDED

 

At night, Wilson's attention turns to baseball. And when he pitches, there are always Chicago Cubs scouts present.

 

As with some players at the Cape Cod League, Wilson will soon have an important decision to make. He can either return to Texas A&M this fall, or he can sign with the Cubs after getting drafted in the 10th round.

 

Wilson is undecided, but has already registered for classes at A&M.

 

"The way I'm working it, I'm planning everything as normal that I'm going back to school this fall," he said. "If an offer from the Cubs comes up and I choose to accept it, then that's that. I'm prepared for both scenarios."

 

Wilson insists he's not leaning either direction.

 

"It's still a tossup right now, because I haven't heard enough from the Cubs to rule anything out," he said. "I know they've been at every game I've pitched in, but I still haven't heard an official offer. The Cubs are happy with what they've seen, but I'm not sure when an offer is coming."

 

Though the Cubs may decide to offer Wilson a contract well over slot money, the right-hander realizes that he could be a first-round selection in the 2009 MLB Draft by returning to Texas A&M.

 

That may or may not factor into his decision.

 

"I believe if I were to go back, I'd be a first rounder," he said. "However, if Chicago's offer is right, I have no problem signing a contract."

 

Rivals[/url]"]Texas A&M pitcher Alex Wilson is soon expected to get his offer from the Chicago Cubs. Though there's a 50% chance he signs with the Cubs, we get the idea that he's returning to College Station this fall.

 

Wilson's stats with Falmout: 25.1 IP, 24 H, 15 ER, 13 BB, 29 K, 5.33 ERA.

 

From the 2nd link, here are the other unsigned Cubs picks from Division I baseball:

 

38th round: OF Sean McNaughton, BYU: NECBL - 150 AB: .353/.417/.607, 20 BB, 35 K; all-star

41st round: SS Jordan Petraitis, Miami (OH): CPL - 171 AB: .310/.411/.485, 22 BB, 37 K, 21 E

44th round: C David Doss, S. Alabama

47th round: OF Chad Cegar, W. Kentucky

48th round: RHP Dylan Mosley, Louisiana Tech

 

The deadline is August 15th.

[Guest]

This was actually written last Thursday while the stuff in my last post was from yesterday. The Cubs will have to pony up for Alex Wilson, that's for sure:

 

Rivals[/url]"]RHP ALEX WILSON

Our prediction: Returns to school

The skinny: After logging impressive freshman and sophomore campaigns at Winthrop, the right-handed pitcher had arm surgery, and decided to transfer to Texas A&M. Though Wilson was forced to sit out in 2008, everyone knows what the veteran is capable of in 2009. Because of that, everyone is tracking his summer. Wilson, who could be a first rounder in 2009, was a tenth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Draft. In his last season of action at Winthrop, Wilson went 6-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 111 innings of work. Teams also hit him at a .207 clip.

[Guest]

Deadline to sign is this Friday night, 11 pm CT. We should see a lot of movement in signings for all big league teams. Hopefully if the Cubs deem Wilson is healthy and looking good, they can ink him.

[CuseCubFan69]

Raisin, have you recruited that Gray kid to sign the dotted line yet?

[Guest]

Raisin, have you recruited that Gray kid to sign the dotted line yet?

 

He's taking summer school classes at Vandy.

[Guest]

Anyone have Wilson's email address? We could have Vance organize a movement to send him 10,000 emails begging him to sign at a reasonable price. :D

[CuseCubFan69]

Raisin, have you recruited that Gray kid to sign the dotted line yet?

 

He's taking summer school classes at Vandy.

 

Stupid kid. What the heck is a degree from Vandy going to get you!

 

Thanks.

[SouthSideRyan]

Anyone have Wilson's email address? We could have Vance organize a movement to send him 10,000 emails begging him to sign at a reasonable price. :D

 

He's on facebook...just saying.

[Vinestal]

Anyone have a clue if they will attempt to sign Wilson? His stats this summer havent been spectacular, at least in total.

[Guest]

Anyone have a clue if they will attempt to sign Wilson? His stats this summer havent been spectacular, at least in total.

 

They are going to try but it will be difficult, he's probably asking for $1 - $1.5 million* because he has a chance at being a first rounder next year.

 

Remember when looking at his stats, this is his first time pitching competitively since Tommy John surgery.

 

*This is a guess on my part, I know he's asking for "first round" money.

[Guest]

There are some other interesting late round guys for the Cubs too - bunch of college kids in the 30s and 40s who played in summer leagues (McNaughton, Petraitis, Mosely). There are also a couple of higher ceiling HS kids (Zych, Scantling) out there but I doubt the Cubs will meet their high bonus demands and they might have already started school at Louisville and FSU respectively.

 

Last year, besides signing Josh Vitters on the last week (day, in fact), the Cubs also signed two college kids who played in summer leagues - 14th rounder James Russell (over slot) and 44th rounder Bryan Jost.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Anyone have Wilson's email address? We could have Vance organize a movement to send him 10,000 emails begging him to sign at a reasonable price. :D

 

Whatever is necessary, sir.

[CuseCubFan69]

Anyone have Wilson's email address? We could have Vance organize a movement to send him 10,000 emails begging him to sign at a reasonable price. :D

 

Whatever is necessary, sir.

 

You're not going to do that "I'm a hot 18 year old co-ed" thing again like you did Vitters, are you?

[Guest]

Meh:

 

Kendall Rogers | Rivals College Baseball Writer[/url]"]Texas A&M's Alex Wilson likely returning to school

 

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that I spoke with Wilson this morning, and he had a few interesting things to say.

 

Anyway, unless something drastically changes between now and Friday, he will be at A&M this fall.

 

Wilson had this to say about his offer from the Cubs.

 

"Negotiations are at a standstill right now and I don't think I'm going to get what I'm looking for in terms of money," he said. "Since I hadn't heard from them in awhile, I had a feeling it was going to workout like that."

 

...

 

"It's definitely motivation to go back to school to increase my stock. If that won't motivate you, I don't what will," he said. "Self motivation is the key to success, it's time for me to prove the Cubs wrong."

 

We still have 4 days and 4.5 hours till the deadline...