Jump to content
North Side Baseball

2008 Rule 5 Draft

JeffH

By JeffH,
in Cubs Minor League Talk

 Share
Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted

Boomer, Wrigleyville: Donald Veal - thoughts on why the Cubs left him unprotected for the Rule V draft even though they have a few open spots on the 40 man?

 

Jim Callis: (2:32 PM ET ) Because he's just not that good. His delivery is a problem as it really hampers his control and command. He runs up high pitch counts, so even when he has good stuff (which isn't consistently), it often lasts for no more than 2-3 innings. His stock is way down. He might get Rule 5ed by someone who thinks they can fix him, but he has made no progress with Cubs Double-A pitching coach Dennis Lewellyn, who has helped a lot of guys. I can't see Veal sticking on a big league roster next year.

  • Replies 58
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

BigbadB First Round Pick

BigbadB

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted

I'm going to disagree with Callis on this one, although I really hope he's right. Veal is probably already destined to become a bullpen arm at this point anyway, and the demand for lefty bullpen help is pretty high.

 

There are just too many teams that could use a guy like Veal in their bullpen. Too many pitching coaches will think they know what can make him an effective short inning reliever.

 

Heck, the Cubs are lacking in that very same department. I'm not saying the Cubs should pencil him in for a 25 man roster spot. But, I certainly don't like seeing him exposed to Rule 5 when there are other players less valuable who are being protected.

 

With an already depleted farm system (and even further depleted if Peavy gets traded to the Cubs) and absolutely zero compensation for losing a guy like Wood makes this Donald Veal exclusion from the 40 man roster a real head scratcher.

 

I'm not happy.

CUBZ99 ACL Cubs

CUBZ99

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Veal has had a real tough go lately. Didn't he just recently lose both parents? The kid may have more going on than the Cubs are willing to invest in. Callis has a valid point, if the Cub's instructors are not getting through to him or having any effect, it may not be worth it to protect him. Although, he has been wrong before, Hendry's evaluation of talent has been pretty spot on.
Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081209&content_id=3709646&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

"I wasn't really surprised, but I was hopeful they would put me on there," Veal said. "In their opinion, they didn't need to and that's completely fine. They had to do what they felt they needed to in order to win. I was happy for the guys who did make it, and they definitely deserved it."

 

It's Veal who definitely deserves the shot the Rule 5 Draft can provide. He's not Johan Santana, the usual benchmark for Rule 5 success on the mound. He may not even be Joakim Soria. But he is a lefty with three pitches that all have a chance to be above average to plus offerings. He's new to the whole Rule 5 process, but he's learning on the fly.

 

"I don't know a whole lot about it," Veal said. "I haven't heard a whole bunch [about me being taken]. I'm just keeping my mind open and seeing what happens."

 

If early buzz is any indication, it will happen. Veal's name is the one mentioned the most frequently when talking to front-office types here in Vegas. Lefties with that size and stuff don't grow on trees, and while the Rule 5 is a gamble, taking one with Veal seems to make a whole lot of sense for a pitching-strapped organization.

UMFan83 GOAT

UMFan83

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
The Cubs have room on the 40 man, I wonder if they will take a flier on a player today.

 

Probably not. Do they even have a lot of potential roster spots open on the 25 man this season?

UMFan83 GOAT

UMFan83

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
what are the chances Veal sticks with the Pirates all year?

 

I would say it would depend on whether he can give them either 2-3 consistent innings as a long reliever or have the ability to get one LHB out at a time as a LOOGY.

Jake Draft Eligible

Jake

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
what are the chances Veal sticks with the Pirates all year?

 

Many things depend upon this.

 

Our top bullpen lefty, Grabow, is on the block. Sean Burnett is the next lefty in the pen. After that, now is Veal.

 

Duke, Dumatrait & Gorzo are not guaranteed spots in the rotation, and could therefore be up for spots in the pen. Plus we have a ton of righty relievers.

 

If Grabow is traded, maybe. If not, probably not. Unless Kerrigan can work some magic on him next month.

CubColtPacer South Bend Cubs

CubColtPacer

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted
what are the chances Veal sticks with the Pirates all year?

 

I feel like the only way he'll stick is if they decide to be patient with him because of his talent level. He's not likely going to be a good LOOGY in the major leagues because he cannot throw enough strikes. The Pirates tried to keep Meek back there last year but eventually had to dump him because their pitching staff was too bad to try to hide a pitcher in the back of the bullpen. I could see a similar situation happening this year.

Jake Draft Eligible

Jake

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/default.aspx

 

1:08 p.m.: Neal Huntington just spoke after the draft, and here are highlights: He acknowledged talks with Vazquez and "other free agents" but echoed that they are not complete. ... Veal was one of three names the Pirates had on their list, and they were "surprised" he fell to fourth. ... Veal will be a reliever in spring training, and it is no lock that he will be kept on the roster. He has to show better control, and the team's pitching coach and minor league pitching coordinator will work closely with him. "It speaks to our faith in Joe Kerrigan and Troy Buckley in what we can be able to do in spring training," Huntington said. "If it works, we'll have a very interesting left-hander. If not, nothing ventured, nothing gained." ... Asked if the lack of control was a concern, Huntington said: "Absolutely. That's why he's on a triple-A roster. He had a hard time throwing the ball over the plate. A year ago, this was one of the better left-handed prospects in the game. He went through some adversity this year, and we feel that influenced his performance. We do feel there's arm strength and a breaking ball." ... The Pirates clocked Veal's fastball at 95 mph in the past, but just 88-93 this past season. ... Asked about leaving Bloom exposed after such a strong fall, he replied: "I think it was a combination of an experienced Class AA pitcher in essentially a Class A league. Historically, left-handed pitchers with changeups do very well in A-ball leagues. And I think Kyle, to his credit, made some adjustments, his velocity came up a little bit. Even if you talk with him, he knows he exploited some A-ball hitters out there. But look, Detroit made a good selection." ... Of non-tendering someone tomorrow, Huntington again noted that the discussions revolve around just one player. That would be Denny Bautista.
CubinNY MVP

CubinNY

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1100

 

In the Rule 5 draft, the Cubs lost once highly touted lefty Donnie Veal to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They're also completing a trade with the Reds, who will send the Cubs pitcher David Patton, whom they took in the Rule 5.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/David-Patton.shtml

 

The Reds feel they owe us for Josh Hamilton......

Does he have to stick all year ?

NCCubFan MVP

NCCubFan

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1100

 

In the Rule 5 draft, the Cubs lost once highly touted lefty Donnie Veal to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They're also completing a trade with the Reds, who will send the Cubs pitcher David Patton, whom they took in the Rule 5.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/David-Patton.shtml

 

The Reds feel they owe us for Josh Hamilton......

Does he have to stick all year ?

Yes he does or we need to offer him back.
Little Slide Rooter MVP

Little Slide Rooter

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1100

 

In the Rule 5 draft, the Cubs lost once highly touted lefty Donnie Veal to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They're also completing a trade with the Reds, who will send the Cubs pitcher David Patton, whom they took in the Rule 5.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/David-Patton.shtml

 

The Reds feel they owe us for Josh Hamilton......

Does he have to stick all year ?

Yes he does or we need to offer him back.

 

Judging by his minor league stats, I dont see him sticking around for any length of time.

Rob Knoxville Smokies

Rob

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1100

 

In the Rule 5 draft, the Cubs lost once highly touted lefty Donnie Veal to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They're also completing a trade with the Reds, who will send the Cubs pitcher David Patton, whom they took in the Rule 5.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/David-Patton.shtml

 

The Reds feel they owe us for Josh Hamilton......

Does he have to stick all year ?

Yes he does or we need to offer him back.

 

Judging by his minor league stats, I dont see him sticking around for any length of time.

 

Apparently, there's been a significant improvement to his stuff since he switched to the pen. He might be worth taking the flyer on... though I would have preferred just rostering Veal.

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
I'm pissed we passed on my guy. Would have been a great compliment to Fontenot as a replacement for DeRosa.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
The North Side Baseball Caretaker Fund
The North Side Baseball Caretaker Fund

You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Cubs community on the internet. Included with caretaking is ad-free browsing of North Side Baseball.

Become a Caretaker

  • Member Statistics

    6,793
    Total Members
    13,056
    Most Online
    Kevin OBrien
    Newest Member
    Kevin OBrien
    Joined
×
×
  • Create New...