2011 Draft Discussion

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100609&content_id=10987816&vkey=draftcentral2010&fext=.jsp

 

High School

 

Archie Bradley, RHP, Muskogee HS, OK

Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS, OK

Travis Harrison, OF, Tustin HS, CA

Daniel Norris, LHP, Science Hill HS, TN

Henry Owens, LHP, Edison HS, CA

 

College

 

Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA

Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt

Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas

Matt Purke, LHP, TCU

Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/early-draft-preview/2010/269675.html

 

1. Anthony Rendon 3B Rice

2. Gerrit Cole RHP UCLA

3. *Matt Purke LHP Texas Christian

4. Daniel Norris LHP Science Hill HS, Johnson City, Tenn.

5. Taylor Jungmann RHP Texas

6. Sonny Gray RHP Vanderbilt

7. Alex Meyer RHP Kentucky

8. Jack Armstrong RHP Vanderbilt

9. Dylan Bundy RHP Owasso (Okla.) HS

10. Dwight Smith OF McIntosh HS, Peachtree City, Ga.

11. Archie Bradley RHP Muskogee (Okla.) HS

12. Jackie Bradley OF South Carolina

13. Preston Tucker 1B Florida

14. Ryan Carpenter LHP Gonzaga

15. Andrew Suarez LHP Columbus HS, Miami

[toonsterwu]

If we're sitting in the mid-first range, Danny Hultzen is a guy who might work in there. His stamina improved this year and he was able to keep his velocity late in the year (low 90's, occasionally touching mid-90's). Velo won't get much higher than that, though. Has a very good curve, and has solid change. Good control, fairly clean mechanics (although feels like some tightening up could help). Solid athlete.

[jersey cubs fan]

picking 10th right now

[StarlinOnYou]

Sonny Gray.

 

No exceptions.

[Guest]

Sonny Gray.

 

No exceptions.

 

If you want a pitcher, I'd rather have Cole or Purke because they're better. And Anthony Rendon is the top prospect in the draft.

[Guest]

With their first selection the Cubs will take someone not on that list b/c they saw him play twice and he could be a diamond in the rough that someone will take if they let him slip to the next round.

[Guest]

Matt Purke threw today for TCU and dominated Texas. Gerrit Cole is struggling against CSUF tonight (as an aside, [expletive] CSUF).

 

I'm pretty sure Sonny Gray and Taylor Jungman will be starting tomorrow as their teams are down 0-1 and they didn't start today. And Trevor Bauer will be starting for UCLA (he's looking like a top 20 pick next year too - he's definitely more Lincecum than Hayden Simpson).

[Guest]

I was going to start a thread but maybe this is a better place to ask this question:

 

Does anyone think that Hendry's history as a former scout greatly affects the Cubs draft philosophy?

 

I do and I think it affects their drafts significantly and detrimentally in the early rounds. At the same time I think it may help with the players the Cubs sign as minor league free-agents.

 

As a former scout I think Hendry is very susceptible to guys who have the "tools" but maybe not the production because of this reason or that reason. Vitters was this great hitter who had pedestrian numbers b/c of mono or something in HS (although I know there was a strong consensus he was good hitter). Shark didn't play baseball full time and so on.

[Guest]

Vitters was the consensus at that spot since Wieters had extreme bonus demands. And even if the Cubs had taken Wieters then Vitters would have gone #4 to Pittsburgh(at least I think they wouldn't have been too cheap to sign him).

 

Shark was a consensus 2nd round talent the Cubs got in the 5th, and a quick scan of the ensuing rounds doesn't show any big misses the Cubs could've gotten instead.

[Guest]

Vitters was the consensus at that spot since Wieters had extreme bonus demands. And even if the Cubs had taken Wieters then Vitters would have gone #4 to Pittsburgh(at least I think they wouldn't have been too cheap to sign him).

 

Shark was a consensus 2nd round talent the Cubs got in the 5th, and a quick scan of the ensuing rounds doesn't show any big misses the Cubs could've gotten instead.

That's not the question I was asking. It was about philosophy and history. Those are both good examples of mistakes though based on philosophy.

[UK1679666180]

Does anyone think that Hendry's history as a former scout greatly affects the Cubs draft philosophy?

 

Sure his scouting background impacts their draft philosophy, it doesn't impact it in a bad way though.

 

The higher up the ladder you go, the more production becomes relevant, the lower do you go, tools become more relevant.

 

Also, what's more important to look at when looking at a college hitter... How he does on Friday nights or his overall body of work? I'd much see his production against their #1 than how he does on a Wed. afternoon vs. a Fresh.

 

Hendry doesn't run the drafts though, Wilken does.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Cole, Gray, or Purke are the only acceptable ones as of 6/12/10.

 

Purke is going to be really good.

[Guest]

Cole, Gray, or Purke are the only acceptable ones as of 6/12/10.

 

Purke is going to be really good.

 

Oh yeah he is. At this point, he better be the #2 pick behind Rendon. He was flat out sick yesterday against Texas.

[Guest]

Vitters was the consensus at that spot since Wieters had extreme bonus demands. And even if the Cubs had taken Wieters then Vitters would have gone #4 to Pittsburgh(at least I think they wouldn't have been too cheap to sign him).

 

Shark was a consensus 2nd round talent the Cubs got in the 5th, and a quick scan of the ensuing rounds doesn't show any big misses the Cubs could've gotten instead.

That's not the question I was asking. It was about philosophy and history. Those are both good examples of mistakes though based on philosophy.

 

Both of those guys would have been considered good values at their respective slots regardless of how far along the scouting scale an organization is.

[wekim81]

I remember us taking a pure flyer late in the 08 draft on Gray, not expecting him to sign.

 

Does anyone remember, though, if we gave him a legitimate offer or even seriously attempted to get him to sign? Because he's been tremendous at Vandy...

[Outshined_One]

I remember us taking a pure flyer late in the 08 draft on Gray, not expecting him to sign.

 

Does anyone remember, though, if we gave him a legitimate offer or even seriously attempted to get him to sign? Because he's been tremendous at Vandy...

 

The Cubs definitely made a run at him, but between his demands and his really strong commitment to Vanderbilt, they weren't going to get him signed without some ludicrous deal.

[Guest]

Really? I don't remember them really trying that much. There's no way he'd hold it against the Cubs; he had written a letter to all the MLB teams requesting they not even draft him.

 

By the way, of the little I've seen of Jackie Bradley, Jr. of South Carolina, he seems like ideal Tim Wilken first round bat.

[UK1679666180]

I'm sure Gray was a fallback option if they didn't sign Vitters.

[Guest]

I'm sure Gray was a fallback option if they didn't sign Vitters.

 

That was the Cashner year. Victor Sanchez was Vitters fallback.

[italianocubsfan7]

Two guys the Cubs probably will/should be looking at over the next 12 months:

 

Virginia lefty pitcher Danny Hultzen is a middle of the first round talent. but could be selected higher depended on other teams' needs or where the Cubs are picking. Hultzen led UV to Omaha as a freshman last season, and has continued his dominance on the mound this past spring. Fastball tops out at 94 mph and he has a plus changeup. If he keeps up his success on the bump as a junior next season (11-1 as a sophomore), his stock will be rising fast. Top 10 pick come June wouldn't be inconceivable.

 

In the second round, the Cubs should take a hard look at Kansas State outfielder Nick Martini. The Co-Big 12 Player of the Year hit .416 this past season as a sophomore with 59 RBI and 19 steals. Martini is a pure hitter with good speed and is strong defensively. Patrolled center field for K-State last spring, but could play all three. While Martini is 5-11, 190 and may get overlooked by some teams, it's players like him that usually make it to the big leagues. He is a late-first round to mid-second round talent, so the Cubs picking him in the second round would be a nice pick.

Edited June 15, 2010 by italianocubsfan7

[Guest]

tjythgfhthtj

 

I disagree.

 

Ask BA[/url]"]Who are the top college bats available for the 2011 draft? I know it's extremely early, but I'm curious.

 

Nick Siefken

Peoria, Ill.

 

Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon is the best college bat for 2011, and he's the current frontrunner to go No. 1 overall in a draft that's considerably deeper than the 2010 crop. I'd take him over Bryce Harper. While Rendon doesn't have Harper's off-the-charts raw power, he has plenty of pop, is a better hitter, will play a more valuable defensive position, has proven himself against better competition and has better makeup.

 

After Rendon, it could be argued that the next five best college position players all can be found in the Southeastern Conference: South Carolina outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., Georgia outfielder Zach Cone, Louisiana State outfielder Mikie Mahtook, Vanderbilt shortstop Jason Esposito and Florida first baseman Preston Tucker. Non-SEC standouts include Southern Mississippi shortstop B.A. Vollmuth, Connecticut outfielder George Springer and Southern California third baseman Ricky Oropesa.

[italianocubsfan7]

tjythgfhthtj

 

I disagree.

 

Ask BA[/url]"]Who are the top college bats available for the 2011 draft? I know it's extremely early, but I'm curious.

 

Nick Siefken

Peoria, Ill.

 

Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon is the best college bat for 2011, and he's the current frontrunner to go No. 1 overall in a draft that's considerably deeper than the 2010 crop. I'd take him over Bryce Harper. While Rendon doesn't have Harper's off-the-charts raw power, he has plenty of pop, is a better hitter, will play a more valuable defensive position, has proven himself against better competition and has better makeup.

 

After Rendon, it could be argued that the next five best college position players all can be found in the Southeastern Conference: South Carolina outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., Georgia outfielder Zach Cone, Louisiana State outfielder Mikie Mahtook, Vanderbilt shortstop Jason Esposito and Florida first baseman Preston Tucker. Non-SEC standouts include Southern Mississippi shortstop B.A. Vollmuth, Connecticut outfielder George Springer and Southern California third baseman Ricky Oropesa.

 

 

My post wasn't working yesterday, so I wanted to make sure the board was up and working today before I did a longer post. Haha it's updated now.

[Guest]

I still disagree.

 

:-)

[UK1679666180]

In the second round, the Cubs should take a hard look at Kansas State outfielder Nick Martini. The Co-Big 12 Player of the Year hit .416 this past season as a sophomore with 59 RBI and 19 steals. Martini is a pure hitter with good speed and is strong defensively. Patrolled center field for K-State last spring, but could play all three. While Martini is 5-11, 190 and may get overlooked by some teams, it's players like him that usually make it to the big leagues. He is a late-first round to mid-second round talent, so the Cubs picking him in the second round would be a nice pick.

 

That's a reach. He's not athletic enough to play CF'er at the ML level and he doesn't hit with enough pop to play the corner OF spots. Plus, he's not 5'11" 190. He's a tweener.

[Rob]

I'd be real happy with Gray if he's still on the board when we pick.