2008 Cubs Picks Thread

[CoolHandLuke]

There is a huge difference between not liking the drafting of meh, college (non)shortstops and freaking out.

[Ryno is God 23]

Flaherty is by no means a sexy pick but lets see what he amounts to.

[RammyFanny]

I don't know what's a bigger overreaction. Flaherty or Josh Donaldson last year.

 

Okay, um, where's all this freaking out and a overreacting?

YAWN. A SS who won't stick there and won't hit enough to be a corner guy.

The Cubs drafted a utility player.

I can't wait to read about the stuff he does that doesn't show up in the box score.

I would like us to draft a welder who can hit, as opposed to Tall Theriot.

Yeah but he's terrible. Theriotesque

 

And I guarantee maybe one of these guys has ever watched a Vandy game. Add to the point that he is absolutely nothing like Ryan Theriot whatsoever.

 

A handful of sarcastic comments equates to freaking out?

 

Get over yourself.

 

Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Damn, i'm just trying to talk baseball, no need to get edgy. We're all Cubs fans here.

 

What would you consider freaking out about a draft pick? I'd consider it thinking the pick is terrible when knowing nothing about it. Which is what people are insinuating. Maybe we just have different definitions.

[Guest]

THe Houston Chroncile on Cashner

[Guest]

Second rounder: RHP Aaron Shafer, Wichita State

 

Shafer had established himself as one of the premier pitching prospects for the 2008 draft midway through the 2007 season. Then he strained his elbow, which didn't require surgery but sidelined him for a month. His fastball hasn't been the same since. Shafer used to work from 91-94 mph with his fastball and now ranges from 88-91 mph. The diminished velocity hasn't made him less effective, however. His effortless delivery allows his heater to get on hitters quickly, and it enables him to live in the bottom of the strike zone. He has above-average command of his fastball, 12-to-6 curveball and changeup. Shafer has a solid 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame and his arm has been healthy since tweaking his elbow. He's no longer a candidate for the first round, but he could go in the second or third.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Not against stellar college competition, but that K/BB ratio is stellar.

 

Player                 ERA   W-L   APP  GS  CG SHO/CBO SV    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  2B  3B  HR   AB B/Avg   WP HBP  BK  SFA SHA
41 Shafer, Aaron....  2.67  11-3    15  15   4   0/0    0 107.2  94  44  32  26 106  15   2   3  395  .238    1  10   2    2  13

[Guest]

Keith Law:

 

Summary: Shafer had abdomen surgery before the 2007 season, then hurt his elbow, leading to a disappointing sophomore season after he was named the Missouri Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Year as a freshman. He has easy velocity, working with a solid-average fastball with some sink, and an average changeup with good arm speed. He's extremely athletic, and his curveball projects as plus; it's sharp with good depth but isn't consistent. With plus control, a chance for plus command and a three-pitch mix, he projects as a mid-rotation starter, but could be a little more than that if his velocity returns to its level from his freshman year, when he was more 92-94 mph.

 

Law had him at #46, BA at #84.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Saber Scouting had Shafer at 77.

 

Wilken has really shied away from High School players these last couple drafts.

[jersey cubs fan]

Keith Law:

 

Summary: Shafer had abdomen surgery before the 2007 season, then hurt his elbow, leading to a disappointing sophomore season after he was named the Missouri Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Year as a freshman. He has easy velocity, working with a solid-average fastball with some sink, and an average changeup with good arm speed. He's extremely athletic, and his curveball projects as plus; it's sharp with good depth but isn't consistent. With plus control, a chance for plus command and a three-pitch mix, he projects as a mid-rotation starter, but could be a little more than that if his velocity returns to its level from his freshman year, when he was more 92-94 mph.

 

Law had him at #46, BA at #84.

 

Ow. I would not want that one.

[RammyFanny]

A Cards blogger from a few months back:

 

One local name who also fits the mold is Aaron Schafer from Wichita State…if he is healthy is looks like an A.J. Burnett clone…but like Burnett his talent is almost always overshadowed by his lack of health.

[Guest]

Cubs get Christopher Carpenter RHP from Kent St.

[Guest]

Third rounder: RHP Chris Carpenter, Kent State

 

After a couple of false starts, Carpenter's pro career should finally get going this summer. The Tigers made him a seventh-round pick in 2004, but he became the highest-drafted high school pitcher that year to opt for college. He blew out his elbow throwing a 93-mph fastball as a freshman, requiring Tommy John surgery in May 2005 and a second operation in June 2006 to clean out scar tissue. He was surging toward the first round with a strong finish to the regular season last year. But teams wondered about his health and his signability as a draft-eligible sophomore, and no one took a flier until the Yankees popped him in the 18th round. They planned on following him in the Cape Cod League, but he made just two appearances before departing with a tired arm. Carpenter has been healthy all year, topping out at 98 mph and often pitching at 92-96. His hard curveball is tighter and more consistent than it was in 2007, and his command has improved after some early season struggles. His changeup has gotten better too, though he doesn't throw it for strikes as easily he does his main two pitches. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Carpenter has the body to pile up innings—provided he stays healthy. There are clubs that will back away because of his medical history, but he has enhanced his chances of going in the first three rounds by expressing a willingness to sign for slot money.

 

Another health guy, but potential for a high ceiling again.

[Guest]

See Chris Carpenter on the right day, and it's easy to get carried away. On the right day, there might not be a college pitcher in the nation with better stuff than Carpenter, a junior righthander for Kent State.

 

March 9 was one of those days.

 

"It kind of shows how good Chris Carpenter can be when he's on, because he absolutely dominated Washington State," Golden Flashes coach Scott Stricklin said. "He was 94-96 with command of his breaking ball and changeup. He touched 98, according to the Washington State gun. He was a No. 1 starter in the big leagues that day—but that's the best he's ever been."

 

It's easy to get caught up in Carpenter's talent, and forget that Kent State lost that game to the Cougars, 5-3. Carpenter struck out 10 over seven brilliant innings and allowed just three baserunners, on a walk and two singles, one of them an infield single. But all three runners scored, thanks to a balk, a wild pitch and a few sacrifices.

 

That's a microcosm of Carpenter's development: he's got all the talent in the world, but he's an unfinished product who is still refining his craft.

 

More here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/college/on-campus/2008/265860.html

[UK1679666180]

Carpenter, an unsigned seventh-round pick of the Detroit Tigers out of high school, was expected to be one of the top prospects for the 2007 draft but he underwent Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2005, additional surgery early in 2006 to clean out the elbow and got off to a late start last spring due to a mild sprain in his elbow. He was understandably a little rusty as a draft-eligible sophomore at Kent State, going 4-0, 3.65 with 26 walks in 37 innings, but his stuff was electric at times, with his fastball topping out at 98 mph and staying consistently in the mid-90s for long stretches. His curveball and changeup showed some quality, as well, for someone who hadn’t pitched in two years. While injuries seriously impacted his career, Carpenter still was in line to be drafted late in the first round last June because his ceiling among college righthanders was unsurpassed. But he tumbled all the way to the 19th round as teams became wary of his medical record and considered his high price tag too rich for the risk involved. Those concerns appeared well founded as he made just two starts in the Cape Cod League during the summer and went home with a tender arm. The layoff may have been just what Carpenter needed, however, as he was outstanding last fall with a fastball between 92-96 mph and a vastly-improved breaking ball at 84-86. He is part of a talented starting trio at Kent State this spring, joining potential 2009 first-rounders Kyle Smith and Brad Stillings.—ALLAN SIMPSON

UPDATE (5/15): Though teams continue to be wary of his lengthy medical record, Carpenter took the ball every time out this spring and pitched better than ever. He threw more free and easy, and his stuff was crisper. His fastball was a steady 93-96 mph, approaching and even touching 100, and he also showed more aptitude to pitch with his secondary while being around the plate more consistently. He struggled in his first couple of outings, but was solid from there on out as he went 6-2, 3.81 with 33 walks and 88 strikeouts in 76 innings. Opponents batted just .204 off him. With all that he has encountered since undergoing his first surgery, he’s ready to take the next step to pro ball.—AS

[CUBZ99]

Two surgeries already?

[Guest]

Looks like this could be a boom or bust type player for us...but with our history of developing pitchers it certainly worries me. Hopefully he doesn't turn out like Brownlie.

[Guest]

This is what they said about him last year:

 

1. Chris Carpenter, rhp (National rank: 31)

School: Kent State. Class: So.

B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 210. Birthdate: 12/26/85.

Scouting Report: In a draft short on attractive college righthanders, Carpenter was surging up draft boards. The highest-drafted pitcher (seventh round, Tigers) from the 2004 draft who's still in college baseball, he has made a strong comeback from a pair of elbow operations. He blew out his elbow throwing a 93 mph fastball as a freshman, requiring Tommy John surgery in May 2005, and had scar tissue cleaned out of the joint last June after missing the 2006 season. He sat out the fall and eased back into the Kent State rotation this spring, delivering his two strongest outings in his last two starts of the regular season. Carpenter pitched from 93-97 mph with a lively fastball and hit 96 mph as late as the sixth inning. He also flashed a quality curveball and showed feel for a changeup. His command and secondary pitches are inconsistent, though that's to be expected from someone who has pitched 30 innings over the last two seasons. The effort required to come back from Tommy John surgery has brought out the best in Carpenter, who previously cruised on his natural talent. He works harder and is in much better shape than he was as a freshman, tightening up his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame. Carpenter had pitched his way into the sandwich round and could sneak into the first round, with the Giants (who have multiple early picks) showing the most interest in him. Though he's a draft-eligible sophomore, he shouldn't be difficult to sign.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Carpenter was #46 in the Saber Scouting Top 100.

 

Player                 ERA   W-L   APP  GS  CG SHO/CBO SV    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  2B  3B  HR   AB B/Avg   WP HBP  BK  SFA SHA
37 CARPENTER, Chris.  3.81   6-2    13  13   0   0/1    0  75.2  55  36  32  33  88   9   3   1  269  .204    7   9   1    6   7

 

I saw Carpenter pitch in last year's Regional, and I was underwhelmed. I was actually surprised he was well thought of when I found out afterward. That's a pretty solid 2008 season though, and he is projectable.

[Guest]

Carpenter was #46 in the Saber Scouting Top 100.

 

BA #61.

 

Keith Law: #69.

[RammyFanny]

For some reason I was under the impression that he didn't throw that hard.

 

Not as bad as I originally thought. High risk/High reward, a pick that many should be satidsfied with since it isn't your typical low ceiling starter you normally get here.

[Guest]

Being healthy all year and having his stuff looking so good, I think this is the best pick for the Cubs thus far.

[CoolHandLuke]

I like the pick.

[Guest]

Kevin Goldstein (4:19:14 PM PT): Chris Carpeter to the Cubs in the third. Late first-round arm, but a big medical record, including a TJ and a clean-up procedure.

[UK1679666180]

Being healthy all year and having his stuff looking so good, I think this is the best pick for the Cubs thus far.

 

Prob. 2nd to Cashner, IMO.

[Guest]

We're into the 100s, the Yanks, Red Sox, Angels and Tigers have had a few chances and still no Melville.