2011 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

We'll probably take some guy that no one has ever heard of again and he'll be awful *sigh* Wilken... Has he ever taken anyone that someone on this board had on their radar with our first pick?

Vitters

[CP_414]

We'll probably take some guy that no one has ever heard of again and he'll be awful *sigh* Wilken... Has he ever taken anyone that someone on this board had on their radar with our first pick?

Vitters

 

Brett Jackson, too. I'd be shocked if the Cubs went "off the radar" with this pick. There is too much elite talent available at the top of the draft for them to make a surprise pick like Colvin or Simpson.

 

 

Dylan Bundy is a machine. He is up to 147 K's and 5 walks on the season. I know it's just HS hitters, but those are crazy numbers. If we can come out of this draft with Bundy or Starling I would be thrilled. I wouldn't exactly be disappointed with Jed Bradley, Bauer, or Gray but one of those high schoolers would be my preference if Rendon and Cole go 1-2, as expected.

[CubColtPacer]

We'll probably take some guy that no one has ever heard of again and he'll be awful *sigh* Wilken... Has he ever taken anyone that someone on this board had on their radar with our first pick?

Vitters

 

Brett Jackson, too. I'd be shocked if the Cubs went "off the radar" with this pick. There is too much elite talent available at the top of the draft for them to make a surprise pick like Colvin or Simpson.

 

 

Dylan Bundy is a machine. He is up to 147 K's and 5 walks on the season. I know it's just HS hitters, but those are crazy numbers. If we can come out of this draft with Bundy or Starling I would be thrilled. I wouldn't exactly be disappointed with Jed Bradley, Bauer, or Gray but one of those high schoolers would be my preference if Rendon and Cole go 1-2, as expected.

 

Jackson was hated by most of the board (for good reasons at the time) but everyone expected him to go to the Cubs in 2009. In fact, people were rooting for him to go off the board with every pick because they were so sure the Cubs would pick him.

 

Vitters was not a surprise but some wanted Wieters. Cashner wasn't a huge surprise but wasn't well liked until there were signs that the Cubs were serious about trying him as a starter. Colvin and Simpson were huge surprises.

[Guest]

Not only were Vitters, Cashner and Jackson not surprises, they went in the range they were expected to be picked according to the publications.

[Tryptamine]

We'll probably take some guy that no one has ever heard of again and he'll be awful *sigh* Wilken... Has he ever taken anyone that someone on this board had on their radar with our first pick?

Vitters

 

Brett Jackson, too. I'd be shocked if the Cubs went "off the radar" with this pick. There is too much elite talent available at the top of the draft for them to make a surprise pick like Colvin or Simpson.

 

 

Dylan Bundy is a machine. He is up to 147 K's and 5 walks on the season. I know it's just HS hitters, but those are crazy numbers. If we can come out of this draft with Bundy or Starling I would be thrilled. I wouldn't exactly be disappointed with Jed Bradley, Bauer, or Gray but one of those high schoolers would be my preference if Rendon and Cole go 1-2, as expected.

 

Jackson was hated by most of the board (for good reasons at the time) but everyone expected him to go to the Cubs in 2009. In fact, people were rooting for him to go off the board with every pick because they were so sure the Cubs would pick him.

 

Vitters was not a surprise but some wanted Wieters. Cashner wasn't a huge surprise but wasn't well liked until there were signs that the Cubs were serious about trying him as a starter. Colvin and Simpson were huge surprises.

 

Yeah I was amongst those desperately hoping someone would take Jackson. I remember being so pissed off when they took him with Tim Wheeler, Scheppers, Poythress and Heckathorn available. Oops.

[Guest]

Yeah, I was anti-Brett Jackson too. Whoops. I was one of the few who liked the Cashner pick knowing he'd move into the rotation immediately.

[Rob]

Guilty as charged of hating on Jackson and Cashner. Jackson's strikeout rate was (and is) scary, but his walk rate has come around. Cashner I just hated because I was sure he was going to be a reliever... I seem to recall likening it to drafting a place kicker in the first round of the NFL draft.

[Vinestal]

I wasnt happy about the Vitters pick at the time still dont like it. I guess Im still disgruntled about Simpson, who was on no one's radar and it seems like we havent really caught a break with any of our top picks as far as having someone that paned out to be a star prospect in the last 5 years. There are plenty of teams in that boat though. Vitters is still young but it just seems to be coming along very slowly for him.

[Guest]

I wasnt happy about the Vitters pick at the time still dont like it. I guess Im still disgruntled about Simpson, who was on no one's radar and it seems like we havent really caught a break with any of our top picks as far as having someone that paned out to be a star prospect in the last 5 years. There are plenty of teams in that boat though. Vitters is still young but it just seems to be coming along very slowly for him.

 

What do you mean by a star prospect? A top 25 prospect in all of baseball? If so, Cashner qualified as that about this time last year after his hot start. He never showed up on any top 25 midseason lists because he was promoted before midseason lists came out but he was definitely an elite prospect.

[Guest]

Jim Callis' first mock draft comes out tomorrow on BA. He hinted that there would be unpleasant surprises for Brewer and Met fans.

[CP_414]

Keith Law released his mock top 10 tonight...

 

PIT - Cole

SEA - Rendon

ARI - Hultzen

BAL - Bauer

KC - Barnes

WASH - Meyer

ARI - Bundy

CLE - Gray

CHC - Starling

SD - Lindor

 

I would love if it fell that way. Arizona fans would be thrilled with that, too. Not sure about KC and Washington. Here's his comment about the Cubs pick.

 

9. Chicago Cubs: Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS (Gardner, Kan.)

Starling has no business getting this far, but concerns about a big price tag — I’m hearing he wants Bryce Harper money — have some teams passing. If he’s gone, other names here include Bradley, George Springer and Gray.

 

 

 

It will be interesting to read what Callis is hearing about the Cubs tomorrow.

[Guest]

Wow...Alex Meyer at 6?

 

I'd love to get Starling if that's how the draft goes. And he profiles as a Wilken pick.

[davell]

I could see Meyer making a big jump. He's certainly learned how to pitch this year. His control has made HUGE strides and he has excellent velo with the obvious build to increase it more. I'd rather have a bunch of the other college pitchers personally, but I can see where a couple of scouting directors could take him over some of the bigger names anyway.

[Guest]

I could see Meyer making a big jump. He's certainly learned how to pitch this year. His control has made HUGE strides and he has excellent velo with the obvious build to increase it more. I'd rather have a bunch of the other college pitchers personally, but I can see where a couple of scouting directors could take him over some of the bigger names anyway.

 

I agree that he's made the big jump but this year's draft is too deep to risk a top 10 pick on him. There are safer picks with big ceilings.

[davell]

I could see Meyer making a big jump. He's certainly learned how to pitch this year. His control has made HUGE strides and he has excellent velo with the obvious build to increase it more. I'd rather have a bunch of the other college pitchers personally, but I can see where a couple of scouting directors could take him over some of the bigger names anyway.

 

I agree that he's made the big jump but this year's draft is too deep to risk a top 10 pick on him. There are safer picks with big ceilings.

 

Oh I agree completely. I think there are more than enough "ace" type potential guys that have less to go than someone like Meyer does. I could see where a guy gets enamored with his size and improvement this year and projects him to be better down the line than some of these guys. But, as you said, you should take the safer guy in a situation like this, since there are plenty of guys who are MUCH safer bets to reach their potential or close to it, even if his potential may be slightly higher.(which is debatable as well anyway)

[CP_414]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/mock-draft/2011/2611735.html

 

Callis's mock is up. I like this trend.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/mock-draft/2011/2611735.html

 

Callis's mock is up. I like this trend.

 

9. CUBS: Starling has the highest ceiling in the draft, but he also comes with some risk and a high price tag (he has a football scholarship to play quarterback at Nebraska), so he might fall a little further than expected. Chicago isn't afraid of risk or price tag, not if it means getting a five-tool center fielder. The Cubs have been checking out the same pitchers as everyone else, may like Meyer more than most clubs and also would consider Lindor.

 

Projected Pick: Bubba Starling.

[StarlinOnYou]

Starling would be very ideal.

 

I really want one of Bradley/Starling/Gray.

[davell]

Starling would be very ideal.

 

I really want one of Bradley/Starling/Gray.

 

Archie, Jed, or Jackie Jr.? I'm figuring you mean Archie?

 

And I agree in this scenario, Bubba is the best guy on the board.

[Guest]

Assuming Cole, Rendon, J. Bradley, Hultzen and Bauer won't be there at 9, Dylan Bundy is my top choice and Bubba Starling would be #2.

 

By the way, Callis has the Mets taking Brandon Nimmo at 13. Ouch, that's what happens when your team is broke.

[Guest]

BA's new top 10 prospects:

 

Rendon, Cole, Hultzen, Bauer, Bundy, Starling, Je.Bradley, Lindor, Gray, Jungmann

[Tryptamine]

Assuming Cole, Rendon, J. Bradley, Hultzen and Bauer won't be there at 9, Dylan Bundy is my top choice and Bubba Starling would be #2.

 

By the way, Callis has the Mets taking Brandon Nimmo at 13. Ouch, that's what happens when your team is broke.

 

Entirely agree with this. If the Cubs can walk away with one of Bundy, Starling, Gray, Bauer I will be thrilled. Lindor is the one guy I really don't want them to take.

[davell]

Assuming Cole, Rendon, J. Bradley, Hultzen and Bauer won't be there at 9, Dylan Bundy is my top choice and Bubba Starling would be #2.

 

By the way, Callis has the Mets taking Brandon Nimmo at 13. Ouch, that's what happens when your team is broke.

 

Is it though? With this draft class, it's not going to shock me if someone who's not even necessarily considered a true top 50 guy winds up being the best player longterm out of everyone, to be honest. Just because of the depth. In Nimmo's case particularly, not having been able to even play HS baseball, because of where he's from, it's at least conceivable, that someone like him could shine a ton more once he's subjected to better competition on a much more regular basis.

 

I do get the main point though, which is basically saying the Mets look like they're going cheap with the pick though.

[StarlinOnYou]

Starling would be very ideal.

 

I really want one of Bradley/Starling/Gray.

 

Archie, Jed, or Jackie Jr.? I'm figuring you mean Archie?

 

And I agree in this scenario, Bubba is the best guy on the board.

 

Neither. I mean't Dylan Bundy.

 

I want: Starling, Bundy, Gray. In that order.

 

I was reading something about Archie when I typed that. Oops.

[TruffleShuffle]

if starling is talking about harper money then it's not worth it. he's not THAT good a prospect and this draft is deep enough that you don't need to shell out mega-bucks for a starling when there are other really good prospects that will be available at that pick (and then in the later rounds too)