2009 Cubs Picks Thread

[Tyrant]

"Thrilled we could acquire a player like Brett Jackson," Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken said. "He plays the game hard, has a chance to be a true center fielder."

 

I'm not going to get my panties all in a bunch over draft choices the day after, because we really have no idea how these guys will pan out, but quotes like these are so annoying to see from the Cubs.

 

Why can't we ever see Wilken say things like, "We loved his approach at the plate" or "This guy has tremendous power to all fields" or even "He's a remarkable defensive player." We always end up hearing about athleticism, makeup, clutchiness and gamer-ism.

 

Because that's how "baseball people" talk.

 

My mock draft for the Cubs today:

 

4. Baseball player

5. Baseball player

6. Baseball player

7. Baseball player

8. Baseball player

9. Baseball player

10. Baseball player

11. Electrical engineer

12. Baseball player

13. Baseball player

14. Baseball player

15. Baseball player

16. Baseball player

17. Habadasher

18. Baseball player

19. Baseball player

20. Baseball player

21. Baseball player

22. Baseball player

23. Construction foreman

24. Religious zealot

25. Baseball player

[sneakypower]

I got a Devon White comp on him from a scout friend a few months ago, and while that's definitely a best case scenario, this is a nice value for the Cubs.

 

Jackson said one of the players he emulates is former Cub Jim Edmonds, and he shares Edmonds' self-confidence.

 

"Thrilled we could acquire a player like Brett Jackson," Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken said. "He plays the game hard, has a chance to be a true center fielder."

He does realize Edmonds had tremendous power right?

Edmonds certainly didn't have power until he hit the big leagues; how he "grew" into it is worthy of debate

[jersey cubs fan]

The Cubs do not need any more habadasherers.

[Outshined_One]

The Cubs do not need any more habadasherers.

 

We could use a cooper or ewerer, though.

[Tyrant]

The Cubs do not need any more habadasherers.

 

"Thrilled we could acquire a habadasher like Bobby Nicholson," Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken said. "He sells his hats hard, he does it the right way and he has a chance to be a true habadasher. Habadasher."

[dew1679666265]

Is it just me or does Austin Kirk have a windup similar to Tom Glavine's?

 

Doesn't mean anything, obviously, just something interesting I noticed.

[UK1679666180]

LeMahieu looks like he might have a tough time early on with that swing, he has some bat speed, but being 6'4" with long arms, he's going to have to learn to hit with the sweet spot against advanced competition.

 

Regardless of velo, if Kirk can throw 3 pitches for strikes against the kids in the AZL as well as collegiate kids at SS, he'll dominate them early given his ability to pitching off the breaking ball and change. It'll hit once he gets to probably High-A that he'll have to throw off the FB.

 

I like what I saw from Jackson's swing; short and compact with bat speed, I think there is a chance with some change to his bat angle to he could hit for more power as he did stay on top of the ball, but if he's swinging and missing too much now, it might not be worth it to find out at the expense of possible further lack of contact.

[Guest]

#194 CHRIS RUSIN, LHP, KENTUCKY

Rusin can't reach the mid-90s like Kentucky teammates James Paxton and Alex Meyer (projected first-rounders in 2009 and 2011, respectively) but he pitched both of them this spring. He finished his career ranked second in career wins (23) and strikeouts (274 in 302 innings) in school history, and he should be one of the first college seniors drafted this year. Rusin had a chance to go in the first five rounds in 2008 before coming down with a sore elbow shortly before the draft. He had arthroscopic surgery in the fall to repair a slight tear in a tendon and has been as good as ever this spring. Six-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Rusin primarily works with a lively 87-89 mph fastball and a curveball. He'll need to improve his changeup to succeed as a starter in pro ball. He doesn't have a pretty delivery, but it adds deception to his pitches without impairing his ability to throw strikes. He repeats his mechanics well, though some scouts wonder if they could lead to more arm problems down the line.

 

BA rated him the 4th best prospect out of the state of Kentucky.

[Guest]

MLB scouting video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4753063

[Tyrant]

MLB scouting video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4753063

 

That's some weird wrist action on the takeaway.

[UK1679666180]

Another safe pick by the Cubs as he doesn't have top of the rotation stuff, but will likely cruise thru the lower levels of the farm. I seen him once last year in Lexington and he was 87-90 with an avg. curve and despite the report, he did flash some ML avg. change-ups.

[sporrer17]

Did we just take a SS from British Columbia?

[Guest]

Yes.

 

Like many Canadian position players, shortstop Wes Darvill bats lefthanded and throws righthanded. Because he's already 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, he may have to move off shortstop, and he has the arm to play third base. He has the bat speed to catch up to velocity, but at this point he doesn't have the strength in his wrists and forearms to do anything with it yet. He plays the game hard and could benefit from spending a year or two in college.

 

Rated the 9th best prospect in Canada by BA.

[Guest]

MLB Scouting Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4674221

[UK1679666180]

Perhaps the most polished pitcher in the Southeastern Conference in 2008, Rusin went 6-3, 3.33 with 19 walks and 65 strikeouts in 84 innings. In all probability, he would have gone as early as the third round of last year's draft on the basis of his body of work as Kentucky's No. 1 starter, but he was hit around in his final start of the season and left the game early with a sore elbow. Teams appeared justified in letting him slide to the 23rd round as the soreness in his elbow lingered into the fall. Not only did Oakland not sign Rusin, but it was determined he had a minor tear in the tendon in his left elbow and had it repaired by a surgical procedure in late October. He was expected to be 100 percent by the start of the 2009 season. Though Rusin lacks physical stature and dominating stuff, he generally has command of three pitches. His fastball is a steady 88-90 mph, topping at 91, and his hard curve and cutter/slider are solid secondary pitches. He rarely uses his changeup. Rusin has taken measures to get bigger and stronger over the last two years, and his improved velocity has been a factor in how scouts have viewed him. He has a loose, quick arm and gets good deception from a three-quarters slot. While his fastball is now his bread-and-butter pitch, Rusin's 80-82 mph slider is often a nasty offering with good depth. He can be especially intimidating against lefthanded hitters.-ALLAN SIMPSON

UPDATE (5/15): Rusin was the soft-tossing complement in the KU rotation this spring to two mid-90s fireballers: lefthander James Paxton, a probable first-rounder this year, and righthander Alex Meyer, a probable first-rounder in 2011. Even with his fringy-average fastball, Rusin out-pitched Paxton and Meyer, posting a 7-4, 4.20 record with 108 strikeouts in 94 innings, while walking just 27. Paxton and Meyer went a combined 6-7, 5.62, though showed their superior stuff by striking out 183 in 133 innings. Rusin's advanced sense of pitchability and two quality breaking balls enabled him to out-pitch the two high-round talents. Perhaps most important for his draft stock, Rusin proved his durability after undergoing off-season elbow surgery. If anything, he'll have to improve his changeup in order to hold his own at the professional level. He rarely had to use that pitch in college ball.-DAVID RAWNSLEY

[sporrer17]

http://www.perfectgame.org/(S(xfkcz3n4sygm1u45xo5ksqyc))/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=97610&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[jersey cubs fan]

Is it too cynical of me to have the impression that the Cubs drafted these lefties in response to their frustrations finding lefties in the bullpen?

 

Rusin seems like a decent enough pitcher though. Could he be a little bit of Ted Lilly?

[Guest]

Is it too cynical of me to have the impression that the Cubs drafted these lefties in response to their frustrations finding lefties in the bullpen?

 

Rusin seems like a decent enough pitcher though. Could he be a little bit of Ted Lilly?

 

The Cubs had ID'd LHP and OF as the biggest weaknesses in the system and were going to plug that in. I don't know if that's just based on the big league level but they certainly don't have many good LHPs lower down.

[sporrer17]

Brooks Raley? (sp?) From Texas A &M, another LHP

[Guest]

#82 BROOKS RALEY, LHP/OF, TEXAS A&M

 

Raley can make a case for being the best two-way player in college baseball. The consensus is that he's better on the mound, where he has command of a diverse array of pitches. He works mainly with an 87-90 mph sinker, a slider and a changeup, and he also has a four-seam fastball that peaks at 93 mph and a curveball. Scouts respect his ability to compete and to command all of his offering, but he doesn't have a true out pitch, which will leave him with little margin for error in pro ball. Though Raley has a clean delivery, they also wonder how well he'll hold up at a wiry 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. He also has potential as an outfielder, though a second-half slump has led to some questions about his bat. He does offer plus-plus speed, a good eye and gap power as a hitter, as well as above-average range and arm strength. Raley plays the outfield corners for Texas A&M, in part to reduce the physical burden of playing both ways, but definitely is capable of playing center field as a pro. A sophomore-eligible, he's spooking clubs by not giving them any inkling as to his asking price or agent, so he could last much longer in the draft than his talent would dictate.

 

Rated the 11th best prospect in Texas and the 82nd best in the draft by BA.

[Guest]

Focus Area Comments

Fastball: Raley's fastball grades out as fringy average. He'll occasionally touch 89 or 90 mph but sits at 86-88 mph.

Fastball movement: His crossfire delivery creates life on the arm side away from right-handed hitters.

Slider: It's a breaking ball that was 77-79 mph with rotation and slurvy break. It works because there's some deception in his delivery.

Curve: He throws this breaking ball 74-75 mph with more of a high three-quarters break. He'll try to back-door it at times. He left it up in the zone a little, but gives him a different look.

Changeup: He throws it 78-80 mph with some arm-side fade. Most of the ones he threw were down in the zone.

Control: He's got average command right now, not plus. It will get better in the future because of his athleticism and should improve once he's focusing on pitching only.

Poise: He's got great intangibles and is very competitive on the mound.

Physical Description: Raley is a very athletic southpaw who gets compared to lefties like Dana Eveland, Aaron Laffey and Dallas Braden in terms of stuff.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: Four-pitch mix that's usable, at the very least. Strong competitor. Terrific athlete who's got plus speed as an outfielder.

Weaknesses: There's a little restriction and effort in his arm, but he's a good enough athlete and can maintain his delivery. He doesn't have the highest ceiling in the world.

Summary: Raley is one of those "safe bet" college lefties. They won't wow you with their stuff or their ceiling, but you can be pretty sure they'll pitch in the big leagues. Raley is also a speedy outfielder and should get better once he's only a pitcher as a pro, but he probably tops out as a No. 3 starter. His athleticism works to his advantage on the mound and should allow him to improve at the next level. He's not an ace, but name a team that wouldn't be interested in a solid middle or back-of-the-rotation starter in the next couple of years.

[Guest]

MLB Scouting Video: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4758569

[UK1679666180]

SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Texas A&M was almost universally regarded as one of the nation's top three college teams entering the 2008 season, and no player was more responsible for the lofty ranking than Raley. Not only was he the team's projected ace, but he was also scheduled to hold down a regular job in the outfield when not pitching, all the while being a catalyst at the top of the Aggies batting order. As a prospect for the 2009 draft, Raley has more than his share of supporters as both a pitcher and everyday player, and it's apparent that he could be an early-round selection in either role. It may all come down to a preference for the team that drafts him. As a pitcher, Raley has a quick, live arm with a sneaky-fast 87-91 mph fastball with run and sink, and a sharp, big-breaking 80-84 mph slider as his primary pitches. He also throws a curve and change. But his pitchability is his greatest strength. He has a savvy, confident approach and is around the plate with all his pitches. Raley has played mostly on an outfield corner at Texas A&M to preserve his pitching arm, but he profiles as a speedy, slap-hitting center fielder in the mold of former Texas A&M standout Jason Tyner, a first-round pick of the New York Mets in 1998. Raley is eligible for the 2009 draft as a sophomore because he will be 21 on June 29. He was a year older than most students in his high-school class. Though he went undrafted out of a Texas high school in 2007, he was a dominant two-way player in the Texas prep ranks, and also excelled in football. His college career evolved more quickly on the mound as he moved in as Texas A&M's Friday starter by the beginning of Big 12 Conference play a year ago. He finished the season with a 7-2, 4.76 record, along with 27 walks and 68 strikeouts in a team-high 92 innings. He got just 58 at-bats as an outfielder, hitting .259-0-9 with four stolen bases, but his offensive potential was apparent. Raley comes from a baseball family as his father Terry, a shortstop in college at St. Mary's (Texas), was a 24th-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981 and had a pro career that peaked in Class A. Russell Raley, Brooks' older brother, was a middle infielder at Oklahoma from 2003-06 and a 21st-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2006. His two-year career also peaked in Class A, and he is now a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma.-ALLAN SIMPSON

UPDATE (5/15): It may well go down to the evening of June 9 to determine whether Raley starts his professional career as a lefthanded pitcher or outfielder, depending on which team picks the multi-talented, draft-eligible sophomore. Raley's fastball/slider combination and outstanding command have enabled him to dominate on the mound this spring (7-2, 3.09, 90 IP/92 SO), but scouts have also seen an "80" runner (on the 20-80 scouting scale) with plus arm strength and projectable power as an outfielder (.311-1-20, 17 2B, 24 SB). He followed a season-long pattern of starting on the mound Fridays and playing in the field on Saturdays and Sundays, with an occasional turn in the DH spot. The dual duty has taken a toll on Raley, leaving him without his best stuff. He was roughed up in two early May starts, including a showdown against rival Texas. His offensive production slowly ebbed through the second half of the season, as well. By focusing on one part of the game, along with adding strength to his broad-shouldered but slender build, it will bring a positive impact at either position at the next level.-DAVID RAWNSLEY

[jersey cubs fan]

I like what they say about this Raley guy. I assume as a "safe" pitcher with seemingly little upside, he'd be signable, is that the case? No harm in going safe after a guy who could slot into a rotation cheaply for a couple years.

[Guest]

I like what they say about this Raley guy. I assume as a "safe" pitcher with seemingly little upside, he'd be signable, is that the case? No harm in going safe after a guy who could slot into a rotation cheaply for a couple years.

 

Not sure about his signability since he's a draft-eligible sophomore but when it comes to top 10 round picks, I'm sure the Cubs did their homework:

 

A sophomore-eligible, he's spooking clubs by not giving them any inkling as to his asking price or agent, so he could last much longer in the draft than his talent would dictate.

 

He's considered a top 100 prospect so that's good value here.