2010 draft discussion

[Guest]

BA's latest mock: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/mock-draft/2010/269972.html

 

16. CUBS: Florida high school righthanders Karsten Whitson and A.J. Cole were projected as potential top 10 choices at the start of the year, but their stock had dipped slightly a month before the draft. Their loss could be Chicago's gain if that holds. The Cubs' decision makers, GM Jim Hendry and scouting director Tim Wilken, are plugged in to their home state of Florida and would jump if either Cole or Whitson comes available. If the Cubs want a position player, Vitek and Indiana prep catcher Justin O'Conner offer offensive production, defensive value and Midwestern roots.

 

PROJECTED PICK: Karsten Whitson.

[UK1679666180]

If the Cubs want a position player, Vitek and Indiana prep catcher Justin O'Conner offer offensive production, defensive value and Midwestern roots.

 

Yes, please.

 

I've never seen a better prep position player than him.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Does anyone else admire Dylan Covey's Curt Schilling-esque mechanics? There's some recoil, but otherwise I like most of what he does.

 

That's my favorite HS arm.

[Guest]

Does anyone else admire Dylan Covey's Curt Schilling-esque mechanics? There's some recoil, but otherwise I like most of what he does.

 

That's my favorite HS arm.

 

Yeah, I really like Covey - especially amongst the guys who should be available when the Cubs pick.

[davell]

Ranaudo and Pomeranz both are struggling some at this point. Pomeranz not nearly as badly as Ranaudo, but both could conceivably start dropping down draft boards, nonetheless. Although I find it hard to see a situation where Pomeranz could fall to 16 without his arm falling off between now and the draft.

[Guest]

Ranaudo and Pomeranz both are struggling some at this point. Pomeranz not nearly as badly as Ranaudo, but both could conceivably start dropping down draft boards, nonetheless. Although I find it hard to see a situation where Pomeranz could fall to 16 without his arm falling off between now and the draft.

 

Pomeranz has been pitching with a mild strain in his pec muscle. It's not a serious injury (unlike Ranaudo's early season injury) so I can't see him falling that much.

[jersey cubs fan]

who are the Cubs getting?

[StarlinOnYou]

I want Nick Castallanos. I have a hard time understanding how you could pass on a guy like this at #16.

 

Ramirez is struggling badly right now and Vitters is off to a good start at AA, but he still has a ways to go. Is Vitters going to stick at 3B? The lack of power / middle of the order hitters in the minors is a bit alarming to me. Who is the best power hitter in the system? Is it really Brett Jackson and his undeveloped power? Vitters is going to be real key in my opinion. If he can get his defense fixed and learn much better plate discipline he will be very good.

 

Castellanos is listed at 6'4" and could eventually move to 1B if his bat is as good as I think it is. Having two guys as talented hitting wise as Vitters + Castellanos would be awesome.

 

I understand Castallanos is a Boras client, but if we are going to shell out a ton of $$ for John Grabow we better be spending in the draft. Stuff like that really bothers me. Ricketts better be serious about winning and building the farm system. No excuse if we take an overrated college arm like Ryan Harvey over Castellanos.

[series65cubsfan]

Welcome to the board. I understand what you are saying but Wilkens mo.... we'll see.

[Outshined_One]

who are the Cubs getting?

 

It's impossible to say at this point. Hell, it'll probably be impossible to say come draft day.

 

This draft currently looks like it has a very strong Top 3 in Harper-Taillon-Machado (all of whom likely will go in the first three picks)...and then it turns into a mess. Frankie Piliere over at MLB Fanhouse said as much in a recent Live Chat:

 

Mike:

There have been several "mocks" that have listed Taillon as being selected by the Pirates. Is there anything you have heard to suggest this or is it just a bunch of noise from people throwing out mocks without any contacts?

 

Frankie Piliere:

I'm not afraid to say it - it is a bunch of people throwing out mocks without any contacts. Not all but there are lots of bad ones. I did a mock top 10 because doing the whole first round is ridiculous right now. I've had scouting directors laugh at me this week trying to nail the top 10 because they don't know what's going on. So, that gives you an idea

 

Andy Seiler echoed that today in response to a question about potential surprises in the draft.

 

2. This is probably going to be the most unpredictable first round we’ve seen in a number of years. Things are shifting very quickly, and it’s hard to even peg which players are logical first round picks, because teams are so uncertain of their value and prices right now.

 

Making things even harder to predict for the Cubs is the fact that Tom Ricketts has been talking quite seriously about increasing the scouting, player development, and draft budgets for this team. The Cubs typically don't go much over slot, especially in early rounds. But this year...who knows for sure?

 

If I had to guess, I'd probably say the Cubs take RHP/OF Brett Eibner out of Arkansas in the first round. He has #2 upside as a pitcher, although he is rather intriguing as a potential RF/CF who could hit for power. I don't like the odds of him making it to the Cubs since he's been steadily rising up the charts in recent weeks, but if he's there at 16, he'd make sense and be a very good pick.

[Outshined_One]

Seiler has Eibner to the Cubs...again.

 

I'm beginning to wonder if he'll make it to 16. If he's signable for slot, he'd make sense for a bunch of teams drafting ahead of the Cubs.

 

Keith Law also posted his mock today, but I don't have Insider access on ESPN.com. Anyone know who he has the Cubs getting?

[Clem Fandango]

Keith Law has the Cubs taking Alex Wimmers, RHP Ohio State...

 

Wimmers just came back from a hamstring strain that kept him out of three starts to hit 94 and show the same power curveball he had on Cape Cod this past summer, and he could be the kind of fast mover to join Andrew Cashner and Jay Jackson on the big league staff within two years.

 

Law seemed to have done some research and contacting for some of his mock draft... here's his top 10...

 

1) Nats - Bryce Harper

2) Pirates - Manny Machado

3) Orioles - Jameson Taillon

4) Royals - Chris Sale

5) Indians - Drew Pomeranz

6) DBacks - Deck McGuire

7) Mets - Zack Cox

8) Astros - Josh Sale

9) Padres - Karsten Whitson

10) A's - Michael Choice

[Outshined_One]

Frankie Piliere's latest.

 

16. Cubs | Kolbrin Vitek (2B) | Ball State

Vitek may be gone by the time the Cubs pick, either to the Padres or possibly the Rangers, but, in this scenario they would be pleased to have him fall into their laps. They are reportedly in the hunt for a position player, if it's the right guy.

[UK1679666180]

Fwiw, I'm not high on Wimmers. He's a safer 1st rd. pick with a more limited ceilings than others who'll be on the board.

[StarlinOnYou]

I have no interest in a college 2B.

 

I'd pretty much take any arm over another 2B.

[Guest]

Yes...I have no interest in Wimmers.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2010/2610043.html

 

Mike (Chicago): Who do you see the Cubs picking?

 

Dave Perkin: The Cubs need to nail that 16th pick, because after that they have to twiddle their thumbs until the second round and pick number 65. I know they like Wilson, but they could go for any number of players. Pitching in this draft is a much safer bet than hitting, so my guess is they will snatch a pitcher.

 

The more I read about Wilson, the more I'm not interested in dropping a big bonus on him (there are questions on his ability to make contact, pitch recognition and patience). If you're going for a tough sign out of high school, I want Zach Lee.

 

FYI, since there are a few Castellanos fans including me here:

 

Joe LeCates (Easton, MD): Dave and Nathan, thank you guys for the chat and the great draft coverage this year - awesome work! How does Castellanos stack up against recent prep third basemen like Vitters, Moustakas, and Borchering?

 

Dave Perkin: He doesn't. Vitters, Moustakas and Borchering are all potential huge impact bats and I don't see Castellanos anywhere near that range. He is a fine player, don't get me wrong, but he's not in a league with those three. As a 3B, keep an eye on Chad Lewis, from Marina High in Orange County. He'll probably go from the 3rd to the 5th, but I like him a great deal.

[Outshined_One]

Frankie Piliere's latest.

 

16. Cubs | Kolbrin Vitek (2B) | Ball State

Vitek may be gone by the time the Cubs pick, either to the Padres or possibly the Rangers, but, in this scenario they would be pleased to have him fall into their laps. They are reportedly in the hunt for a position player, if it's the right guy.

 

Speaking of which, he had a live chat earlier. He answered a good number of questions...

 

[Comment from Patrick:]

Vitek aside, what other position players are the Cubs angling towards with #16?

 

Frankie Piliere:

I could see Zack Cox getting down that far potentially, but not a great fit. Choice will be gone. Gary Brown has gotten some looks. The options aren't tremendous, so I think if they did take one it would be Vitek, or maybe Eibner as an OF

 

[Comment From Chad:]

Kolbrin Vitek seems to have come a bit out of nowhere and is flying up draft boards lately. What's his ultimate potential as a player?

 

Frankie Piliere:

He's a pretty good total package and scouts really like the hit tool with him. Being a midwest guy, I've been told guys like him sometimes appear to be late risers because they just don't get as many looks from scouting directors until the spring.

 

[Comment From Patrick: ]

Have you heard the Cubs linked to any specific names so far?

 

Frankie Piliere:

Vitek, Workman, Wimmers are some that I've heard.

[Outshined_One]

BA's latest mock:

 

16. CUBS. The best value at this point might be whichever high school pitcher Chicago considers second-best to Taillon, and that sounds like Whitson. The Cubs are also tied to several Midwestern players, such as Vitek, Wimmers and Indiana high school catcher Justin O'Conner.

 

PROJECTED PICK: KARSTEN WHITSON.

 

They're beating this drum, but as much as I like this pick, it just leaves me scratching my head considering the Cubs usually don't draft high school players with high picks.

[StarlinOnYou]

I really like that pick.

[Guest]

BA's latest mock:

 

16. CUBS. The best value at this point might be whichever high school pitcher Chicago considers second-best to Taillon, and that sounds like Whitson. The Cubs are also tied to several Midwestern players, such as Vitek, Wimmers and Indiana high school catcher Justin O'Conner.

 

PROJECTED PICK: KARSTEN WHITSON.

 

They're beating this drum, but as much as I like this pick, it just leaves me scratching my head considering the Cubs usually don't draft high school players with high picks.

 

It's not unheard of. In 2007, not only did the Cubs pick Josh Vitters, Jarrod Parker was #2 on Tim Wilken's draft board amongst remaining players.

 

If they go HS pitcher, I think I prefer Dylan Covey or AJ Cole. I can't complain about O'Conner either but I don't want Vitek or Wimmers.

[questionmarkgrace]

Who is the top first baseman in the draft? I have to believe with Lee going after this year we draft one early on that can move quickly. Any guys like this? We seem really empty at the power corners in general throughout the minors. thoughts?

 

Also Wilkens has a strong history of picking guys who seem like they dont belong early on. Any sleepers?

[Guest]

Who is the top first baseman in the draft? I have to believe with Lee going after this year we draft one early on that can move quickly. Any guys like this? We seem really empty at the power corners in general throughout the minors. thoughts?

 

Also Wilkens has a strong history of picking guys who seem like they dont belong early on. Any sleepers?

 

There are no first round first baseman. Hunter Morris of Auburn is probably the top first baseman and he's more than likely a second rounder.

[Clem Fandango]

Law's latest...

 

Chicago Cubs

Justin O'Conner, C, Cowen H.S.

 

Tim Wilken loves athletic kids who play multiple sports or who play as both position players and pitchers. The latter describes O'Conner, who has moved behind the plate this year with strong results.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-preview/2010/2610039.html

 

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