2011 Draft Discussion

[shnsajax]

Springer? At #9? In this draft?

 

That would be horrible and yet another reason to fire Hendry immediately.

I don't think that would be a terrible pick, but I have questions about how good Starling will really end up being.

 

And if you are worried if $5million is enough to buy him away from playing football then its understandable.

[Guest]

Dan (Lansing): Do you think there is any chance Tim Wilken takes Bubba Starlin @ 9 if he's still on the board for the Cubs?

 

Jim Callis: Huge chance. The Cubs would jump on Starling at 9.

[toonsterwu]

Sure feels like Starling may be our Plan A if he's there. I haven't heard this much pre-draft support for a first rounder under Wilken since the Vitters year (I don't recall Cashner and B. Jackson as overwhelming, this is the guy we are going after, feelings, and same goes, obviously, for Hayden). Much as I am worried about Starling's bust factor, I think it's worth the risk to roll on upside if he's there.

 

I have my doubts he'll make it that far though. I think there's a good chance the Nationals pluck him if their top pitching options are off the board, assuming he gets there.

[davell]

There have been a decent amount of rumors the Mariners could take Bubba at 2.

[Rob]

There have been a decent amount of rumors the Mariners could take Bubba at 2.

 

A lot of those are operating under the premise that Rendon isn't there at #2.

[StarlinOnYou]

Draft is only 4 days away.

 

When does the info about picks usually start to leak out?

 

My preference list:

 

1 - Anthony Rendon

2 - Dylan Bundy

3 - Gerrit Cole

4 - Danny Hultzen

5 - Bubba Starling

6 - Sonny Gray

7 - Trevor Bauer

8 - Archie Bradley

9 - Taylor Jungmann

10 - Francisco Lindor

[Outshined_One]

Draft is only 4 days away.

 

When does the info about picks usually start to leak out?

 

It's mostly rumors and speculation until about the day before the draft. That's usually the time when teams publicly back off of signability guys and also when reports of offers and agreements start surfacing. Also, on the day before, the #1 overall team normally reaches some sort of an agreement with their expected selection. Things usually snowball from there.

[JeffH]

Draft is only 4 days away.

 

When does the info about picks usually start to leak out?

 

My preference list:

 

1 - Anthony Rendon

2 - Dylan Bundy

3 - Gerrit Cole

4 - Danny Hultzen

5 - Bubba Starling

6 - Sonny Gray

7 - Trevor Bauer

8 - Archie Bradley

9 - Taylor Jungmann

10 - Francisco Lindor

 

Did Jed Bradley die?

[Little Slide Rooter]

All I know is theres way too much talent this year for Wilken to draft another Colvin or Simpson to save money for the later rounds.

[toonsterwu]

Draft is only 4 days away.

 

When does the info about picks usually start to leak out?

 

My preference list:

 

1 - Anthony Rendon

2 - Dylan Bundy

3 - Gerrit Cole

4 - Danny Hultzen

5 - Bubba Starling

6 - Sonny Gray

7 - Trevor Bauer

8 - Archie Bradley

9 - Taylor Jungmann

10 - Francisco Lindor

 

Did Jed Bradley die?

 

I'd probably pop Jed Bradley in my top 10, but this draft is talented enough that it's not unreasonable to have him outside the top 10. I mean, if you buy Lindor eventually having some pop, then he deserves to be up there, and Bauer might be the best arm in college. Gray's 1-2 punch is as good as anyone not named Bundy or Cole, and Bradley has a ton of projection. I'm not a huge Jungmann fan, though.

[jersey cubs fan]

Also, on the day before, the #1 overall team normally reaches some sort of an agreement with their expected selection.

 

That normally happens? I always thought it was somewhat rare.

[davell]

Chats galore today. Law and Piliere right now and Mayo at 2ET.

[StarlinOnYou]

Draft is only 4 days away.

 

When does the info about picks usually start to leak out?

 

My preference list:

 

1 - Anthony Rendon

2 - Dylan Bundy

3 - Gerrit Cole

4 - Danny Hultzen

5 - Bubba Starling

6 - Sonny Gray

7 - Trevor Bauer

8 - Archie Bradley

9 - Taylor Jungmann

10 - Francisco Lindor

 

Did Jed Bradley die?

 

I like Archie Bradley & Jungmann better.

 

Bradley is #11.

[Guest]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110602&content_id=19935050&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc&partnerId=aw-9009222551104340679-1023

 

First-round buzz

It depends on who you read. The Cubs have been linked to outfielder Bubba Starling of Gardner-Edgerton High School (Gardner, Kan.), right-hander Matt Barnes of UConn, right-hander Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow, Okla., and outfielder George Springer of UConn.

 

"There are eight people in front of us," Wilken said of the teams who select ahead of the Cubs. "We have to see what they do."

 

Shopping list

The Cubs do seem well-stocked with middle infielders and outfielders, so it would make sense for them to look for help at the corners and add more pitching. They could use help with a middle-of-the-order type of bat and a top rotation starter. Wilken also likes to pick what he calls "late bloomers," which would be players who might be converted to another position. "Early on, you look for an organizational changing type of player," Wilken said. "Once that's filtered out, if everything's equal, you look for that balance." He also noted there was some decent catching prospects projected for after the fourth round.

 

Trend watch

Eight of the Cubs' first 12 picks last year were pitchers. In 2008, seven of the first 10 were. In '09, only four. What Wilken likes to do is look for depth and balance in the Draft. You never know who will surface. For example, highly touted pitching prospect Trey McNutt was a 32nd-round pick in '09. "The Draft is not over until the 50th pick for Tim Wilken," Fleita said. "I think that's been a great dynamic and great strength that he's given the staff."

[jersey cubs fan]

"The Draft is not over until the 50th pick for Tim Wilken," Fleita said. "I think that's been a great dynamic and great strength that he's given the staff."

 

Is the draft over much earlier for other team's scouting director?

[CubColtPacer]

"The Draft is not over until the 50th pick for Tim Wilken," Fleita said. "I think that's been a great dynamic and great strength that he's given the staff."

 

Is the draft over much earlier for other team's scouting director?

 

For some yes. Teams drop out early. Or at least I thought they did?

[Guest]

"The Draft is not over until the 50th pick for Tim Wilken," Fleita said. "I think that's been a great dynamic and great strength that he's given the staff."

 

Is the draft over much earlier for other team's scouting director?

 

For some yes. Teams drop out early. Or at least I thought they did?

 

Teams have the choice of dropping out whenever they want and a few teams do. Also, teams sometimes take joke picks towards the end. I think Fleita is just implying Wilken has found some gems lower - McNutt at 32, Struck at 39 and Beeler at 41 come to mind. Obviously other teams have had success late too; this sounds like pointless Fleita gush.

[imb]

"The Draft is not over until the 50th pick for Tim Wilken," Fleita said. "I think that's been a great dynamic and great strength that he's given the staff."

 

Is the draft over much earlier for other team's scouting director?

 

He's clearly just saying that Wilken has drawn some gems out of the low rounds.

[Vinestal]

What are people's opinions of Wilken's overall body of work with the Cubs? It seems pretty lackluster to me honestly.

[JeffH]

What are people's opinions of Wilken's overall body of work with the Cubs? It seems pretty lackluster to me honestly.

 

Dreadful.

[Guest]

What are people's opinions of Wilken's overall body of work with the Cubs? It seems pretty lackluster to me honestly.

 

Dreadful.

 

You spelled "above average" awful funny.

[Guest]

Letters, Oh We Get Letters!

 

While stories of crazy pre-draft bonus demands (we're looking at you Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley) are nothing new, there seem to be a significant increase in the number of them as we enter the final draft under the current rule set. Once a gambit used primarily by top picks, one scouting director indicated that he's received significantly more such letters this year than any other, with one of the most recent being Tennessee high school southpaw Daniel Norris, see by most as a mid first-round pick, indicating that he's looking for $4 million to sign. Most feel that we'll see no more leverage than in previous drafts, while expecting only standard year-to-year inflation. “They can ask for the moon,” said one scouting director, “And we might stare them down to see if the really want to see what all of this looks like in three years.”

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14124

[Outshined_One]

What are people's opinions of Wilken's overall body of work with the Cubs? It seems pretty lackluster to me honestly.

 

Good, but not great. His drafts have yet to produce elite talent. The top names from his drafts are, off the top of my head, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson, and Trey McNutt. All seem to have gotten consideration as Top 30 players at various points in their minor league careers, but that pretty much seems to be the ceiling. None of those guys have reached their respective ceilings yet, so perhaps they might break through. However, as things stand now, I don't think any of them will be superstars.

 

Where I will give Wilken credit is that his drafts have produced depth. There are a ton of high floor guys in the Cubs' system who have a very good chance of contributing in the majors, but who might not have top shelf upside.

 

In all honesty, if the Cubs clean house in the offseason, I wouldn't mind seeing Wilken go. He's been decent, but the Cubs could do better.

[CubsWin]

What are people's opinions of Wilken's overall body of work with the Cubs? It seems pretty lackluster to me honestly.

 

Good, but not great. His drafts have yet to produce elite talent. The top names from his drafts are, off the top of my head, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson, and Trey McNutt. All seem to have gotten consideration as Top 30 players at various points in their minor league careers, but that pretty much seems to be the ceiling. None of those guys have reached their respective ceilings yet, so perhaps they might break through. However, as things stand now, I don't think any of them will be superstars.

 

Where I will give Wilken credit is that his drafts have produced depth. There are a ton of high floor guys in the Cubs' system who have a very good chance of contributing in the majors, but who might not have top shelf upside.

 

In all honesty, if the Cubs clean house in the offseason, I wouldn't mind seeing Wilken go. He's been decent, but the Cubs could do better.

I agree. He's been good, but I'd like to see the Cubs get a great scouting director, and a great GM while they're at it.

[Tryptamine]

What are people's opinions of Wilken's overall body of work with the Cubs? It seems pretty lackluster to me honestly.

 

Good, but not great. His drafts have yet to produce elite talent. The top names from his drafts are, off the top of my head, Josh Vitters, Andrew Cashner, Brett Jackson, and Trey McNutt. All seem to have gotten consideration as Top 30 players at various points in their minor league careers, but that pretty much seems to be the ceiling. None of those guys have reached their respective ceilings yet, so perhaps they might break through. However, as things stand now, I don't think any of them will be superstars.

 

Where I will give Wilken credit is that his drafts have produced depth. There are a ton of high floor guys in the Cubs' system who have a very good chance of contributing in the majors, but who might not have top shelf upside.

 

In all honesty, if the Cubs clean house in the offseason, I wouldn't mind seeing Wilken go. He's been decent, but the Cubs could do better.

 

I pretty much agree with all of this. I love the depth on the farm and I remember a quote on this board a while ago that another gm said the Cubs have the most future major leaguers. With that said, Wilken really needs to produce an elite prospect or two that could have major organizational impact. I think this is the draft that is going to make or break him. The Cubs absolutely cannot afford to flop on a draft as loaded as this one.