2010 draft discussion

[Tony Thomas]

Please no.

 

16. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs are very hard to predict, as some rumors have them focusing on tooly upside high school talent like Allie and O'Conner, but there's also pressure from above to get something that can help quickly. After McGuire, Wimmers is arguably the most polished college arm, and his plus fastball, average curve, and plus-plus change is a combination that could rocket through the minors.

 

Pick: Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State

 

:doh:

They better not be thinking we need someone who has a low ceiling but will go quickly. We don't need someone to go quickly because are AAA and AA have some good pitchers almost ready (Casey Coleman, Jay Jackson, Thomas Diamond and Hung Wen Chen). Not to mention we are not very good and everybody will just be a year older when he would come up, so I would rather take a high upside guy.

[Tony Thomas]

Brett Eibner hit 3 homeruns yesterday to bring his season total to 21. Does anybody know if that power can translate to wood?

[Guest]

From Arizona Phil:

 

The Cub Reporter[/url]"]Cubs Player Personnel Director Oneri Fleita, Minor League Hitting Coordinator Dave Keller, and about a dozen Cub scouts were at Fitch Park today (and have been there for most of the week), working out high school and college players in preparation for next week’s Rule 4 Draft (AKA “First-Year Player Draft”). One of the players who was at Fitch Park showing his wares was invited to play in today’s game, and he made the most of his opportunity.

 

High Point U. OF Nate Roberts hit lead-off and played CF for six innings, slashing an RBI single to left to put the Cubs on the board in the 3rd, then stealing two bases, before making a two-out over-the-shoulder running catch in deep right-center with his back to the infield to save a run in the 5th.

 

After graduating from Richmond Burton HS, the Spring Grove, IL native spent his freshman year at Northwestern University, before transferring to Parkland JC. He was selected by the Tampa Rays Rays in last June’s draft but did not sign, instead opting to transfer to High Point University in High Point, NC, where he was named 2010 Big South Conference Player of the Year after hitting 416/573/746 with 19 HR and 69 RBI and 36 SB (3 CS) in just 59 games. With all that on his resume, Baseball America ranked Roberts as just the 28th best draft prospect in the State of North Carolina.

[Guest]

I want nothing to do with Wimmers. Ugh.

[Tony Thomas]

From Arizona Phil:

 

The Cub Reporter[/url]"]Cubs Player Personnel Director Oneri Fleita, Minor League Hitting Coordinator Dave Keller, and about a dozen Cub scouts were at Fitch Park today (and have been there for most of the week), working out high school and college players in preparation for next week’s Rule 4 Draft (AKA “First-Year Player Draft”). One of the players who was at Fitch Park showing his wares was invited to play in today’s game, and he made the most of his opportunity.

 

High Point U. OF Nate Roberts hit lead-off and played CF for six innings, slashing an RBI single to left to put the Cubs on the board in the 3rd, then stealing two bases, before making a two-out over-the-shoulder running catch in deep right-center with his back to the infield to save a run in the 5th.

 

After graduating from Richmond Burton HS, the Spring Grove, IL native spent his freshman year at Northwestern University, before transferring to Parkland JC. He was selected by the Tampa Rays Rays in last June’s draft but did not sign, instead opting to transfer to High Point University in High Point, NC, where he was named 2010 Big South Conference Player of the Year after hitting 416/573/746 with 19 HR and 69 RBI and 36 SB (3 CS) in just 59 games. With all that on his resume, Baseball America ranked Roberts as just the 28th best draft prospect in the State of North Carolina.

 

This guy seems like a good 4th to 6th round pick. It looks like he has both speed and power and can also play some defense.

[Outshined_One]

Frankie Piliere updated his Top 15

 

1. Nationals -- Bryce Harper, C, College of Southern Nevada

2. Pirates -- Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands (Texas) HS

3. Orioles -- Manny Machado, SS, Brito HS (Miami)

4. Royals -- Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami

5. Indians -- Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss

6. Diamondbacks -- Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast Univ.

7. Mets -- Matt Harvey, RHP, North Carolina

8. Astros -- Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS (Seattle)

9. Padres -- Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington

10. Athletics -- Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas

11. Blue Jays -- Austin Wilson, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Studio City, Calif.)

12. Reds -- Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech

13. White Sox -- Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State

14. Brewers -- Jesse Biddle, LHP, Germantown Friends (Pa.) HS

15. Rangers -- Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley (Fla.) HS

 

Wimmers, Vitek, Colon, and O'Connor would all fall into the Cubs' laps here. Interesting scenario.

[Tony Thomas]

Frankie Piliere updated his Top 15

 

1. Nationals -- Bryce Harper, C, College of Southern Nevada

2. Pirates -- Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands (Texas) HS

3. Orioles -- Manny Machado, SS, Brito HS (Miami)

4. Royals -- Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami

5. Indians -- Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss

6. Diamondbacks -- Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast Univ.

7. Mets -- Matt Harvey, RHP, North Carolina

8. Astros -- Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS (Seattle)

9. Padres -- Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington

10. Athletics -- Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas

11. Blue Jays -- Austin Wilson, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Studio City, Calif.)

12. Reds -- Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech

13. White Sox -- Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State

14. Brewers -- Jesse Biddle, LHP, Germantown Friends (Pa.) HS

15. Rangers -- Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley (Fla.) HS

 

Wimmers, Vitek, Colon, and O'Connor would all fall into the Cubs' laps here. Interesting scenario.

I think that O'Connor is the pick if he is there, which I'm completely fine with. I don't want a weak hitting middle infielder.

[davell]

Frankie Piliere updated his Top 15

 

1. Nationals -- Bryce Harper, C, College of Southern Nevada

2. Pirates -- Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands (Texas) HS

3. Orioles -- Manny Machado, SS, Brito HS (Miami)

4. Royals -- Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami

5. Indians -- Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss

6. Diamondbacks -- Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast Univ.

7. Mets -- Matt Harvey, RHP, North Carolina

8. Astros -- Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS (Seattle)

9. Padres -- Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington

10. Athletics -- Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas

11. Blue Jays -- Austin Wilson, OF, Harvard-Westlake HS (Studio City, Calif.)

12. Reds -- Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech

13. White Sox -- Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State

14. Brewers -- Jesse Biddle, LHP, Germantown Friends (Pa.) HS

15. Rangers -- Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley (Fla.) HS

 

Wimmers, Vitek, Colon, and O'Connor would all fall into the Cubs' laps here. Interesting scenario.

 

If that's the way the board looks, I'm taking Stetson Allie. Although I do like O'Conner. It's not even that I don't LIKE Wimmers. I just want someone who has the upside to be something special. It's the same thing with Deck McGuire. I think he's going to be a very solid major leaguer, but he doesn't have the upside to become an ace.

[Guest]

Watching Asher Wojciechowski (Citadel) pitch against South Carolina online. He hit 99 once in the first inning. Jonathan Mayo has the Cubs picking Wojciechowski in the first round.

 

Anthony Ranaudo will take on UCLA in a few minutes.

 

ETA: Wojciechowski just served up a 2-run HR to South Carolina in the 2nd.

[davell]

What's the schedule for the draft in terms of when the rounds are taking place? All MLB.com says is June 7-9.

 

1st round and supplemental 1st round are going to be on June 7th. June 8th and June 9th will cover the remaining rounds, although I can't find anything on how the rounds will be split on those days.

 

I could be wrong, but I THOUGHT I heard somewhere it was 2-30 and 31-50 on the 8th and 9th. Can't find it now though.

[Guest]

That's right, look at page 3 of this thread.

[Guest]

Wojo looked really good the first 6 innings but really tired in the 7th (over 110 pitches when he went into the 7th) and fell apart. He gave up 5 of his 7 runs and 5 of his 9 hits in that 7th inning. Finished with 11 strikeouts though.

 

Apparently Wojo threw 200+ pitches last week in multiple games during the Citadel's conference tourney.

[toonsterwu]

I really want O'Connor, but if Colon is there ... that's going to make it awful tough. I believe in his bat, and he could probably move fast as a 2nd baseman. I'm not exactly in a loving mode with Flaherty/LeMahieu/Watkins these days. That said, it's quite possible that Colon is more Flaherty than impact prospect. Dunno how I feel, but Colon would tempt me.

[Guest]

Ranaudo went 6 and gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks. Struck out 10. Gave up 2 monster home runs.

 

His velocity was good but his slider was very inconsistent (though there were some really sharp ones) and his change was just brutal. He could not repeat his delivery if his life depended on it. But the stuff is not bad.

[Guest]

Anyone know where Matthew Lewis (a junior pitcher) from UC Davis might go?

[toonsterwu]

Ranaudo went 6 and gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks. Struck out 10. Gave up 2 monster home runs.

 

His velocity was good but his slider was very inconsistent (though there were some really sharp ones) and his change was just brutal. He could not repeat his delivery if his life depended on it. But the stuff is not bad.

 

Overall, considering that he just "found" his stuff the last time out, I thought he pitched fairly well. Still would be a big gamble in the first round, but someone's going to take him, and I think closer to mid-first than late, since most of the college arms there (Alex/Asher/Deck) are so very ... average, in terms of upside, or a bit raw, like Brett. I'm really not against picking him, as I'm okay with gambling on greatness in the first. Not my first preference, but definitely not a pick I'd complain a lot about.

[Outshined_One]

Word is the Mets are honing in on Justin O'Connor. BA updated their Top 10 picks to reflect this. Piliere also updates his Top 15.

[Tony Thomas]

Word is the Mets are honing in on Justin O'Connor. BA updated their Top 10 picks to reflect this. Piliere also updates his Top 15.

If they take him we will probably wind up with Wimmers :(

[Outshined_One]

Word is the Mets are honing in on Justin O'Connor. BA updated their Top 10 picks to reflect this. Piliere also updates his Top 15.

If they take him we will probably wind up with Wimmers :(

 

I'm slowly coming around on Wimmers. I wouldn't be thrilled if the Cubs took him, but he wouldn't be a bad pick.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11070

 

16. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs are very hard to predict, as some rumors have them focusing on tooly upside high school talent like Allie and O'Conner, but there's also pressure from above to get something that can help quickly. After McGuire, Wimmers is arguably the most polished college arm, and his plus fastball, average curve, and plus-plus change is a combination that could rocket through the minors.

 

Pick: Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State

 

FYI, Goldstein has Grandal AND O'Conner falling past the Cubs.

 

He has Machado going 2 and Tailon going 3:

 

Just so you know, I'm certainly not accusing the Pirates of shenanigans here, I certainly think the argument can be made that spending $8 million on Machado and some other over slot guys might be the better way to go over spending $8 million on Taillon alone. I think Taillon is the better PLAYER for sure, but if he costs 2x, he's not necessarily the better pick.

[Guest]

http://cubs.scout.com/2/975115.html

 

Mark Anderson (Scout.com):

 

16. Chicago Cubs

Karsten Whitson

Chipley (Fla.) H.S.

Position: RHP

Whitson is another serious option for the Rangers at #15, and the Cubs may be inclined to take whichever of Whitson and Allie that the Rangers don’t take. They could also make a play for a college pitcher like Arkansas’ Brett Eibner or Texas A&M’s Barrett Loux.

 

O'Connor falls to 30 in this one. Ranaudo at 20, Eibner at 21, Allie at 23, Castellanos at 24.

[Guest]

ESPN Draft Preview: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/1113/draft-preview-cubs-not-afraid-to-take-risks

[Tony Thomas]

FYI, Goldstein has Grandal AND O'Conner falling past the Cubs.

I don't think we will pass up Grandal if he slips that far and I also think we will pick O'Conner if he is there. Does anybody really think that Grandal will fall that far?

[Garwilly]

ESPN Draft Preview: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/1113/draft-preview-cubs-not-afraid-to-take-risks

 

If Colvin becomes a starter, he along with Starlin Castro will be the first two rookie position player starters from their system since 1989 when Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith were 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting.

 

Just looking at the current team, Theriot, Soto.

[Guest]

ESPN Draft Preview: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/1113/draft-preview-cubs-not-afraid-to-take-risks

 

If Colvin becomes a starter, he along with Starlin Castro will be the first two rookie position player starters from their system since 1989 when Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith were 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting.

 

Just looking at the current team, Theriot, Soto.

 

Theriot didn't start his "rookie" year. Choi did, but I guess he doesn't count with his injury.