2011 Draft Discussion

[imb]

Sonny Gray to Cleveland at 8 is very likely per Keith Law.

 

I've assumed they would take Bradley in front of us. Hopes rising again.

[Rob]

Sonny Gray to Cleveland at 8 is very likely per Keith Law.

 

I've assumed they would take Bradley in front of us. Hopes rising again.

 

The Indians taking Gray may leave a few higher ceiling guys on the board, but Gray is one player that the Cubs FO has confirmed interest in... if enough of those go off the board, we could always see a crazy pick like Simpson last year.

[javy knows my name]

Sonny Gray to Cleveland at 8 is very likely per Keith Law.

 

That's awesome news. He scares me just a little bit

[Guest]

ST. LOUIS -- Could the Cubs have a Gretzky on the roster?

 

Wayne Gretzky's son Trevor will work out in Arizona for Cubs scouts on Saturday in advance of the First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

 

During an interview Friday on a radio station, Wayne said his son would work out for the Cubs as well as the Dodgers prior to next week's Draft. Trevor batted .341 with two home runs and 33 RBIs his junior year at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High School (Calif.). He suffered a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in the third game in September and was limited to DH duties his senior year. Last October, he signed a letter of intent to play college baseball at San Diego State.

 

"To be drafted is one of my dreams since I saw my dad holding up jerseys when he was traded," Trevor said in February when he took part in a scouting combine. "To be in a moment like that would be amazing."

 

 

It would be pretty sweet to have him in the system, but I really hope that they dont waste our top pick in doing so.

 

1B Trevor Gretzky (Oaks Christian HS - Westlake Village, CA) worked out for Cubs scouts on Field #1. The son of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, Trevor didn't show a whole lot at the plate (opposite-field stroke with warning track power), but he is still recovering from labrum surgery. He has a lanky body with long legs, and looks like he could maybe benefit from an off-season body-building regimen at Camp Colvin. If he does not choose to sign with an MLB club this year, he will attend San Diego State.

 

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/06/04/double-plays-errors-and-injuries-strike-cubs-fitch-park

[RammyFanny]

Could be huge news. Apparently Churchill said that the M's are looking to take Lindor at 2. I am not a subscriber, but I think it was here.

http://prospectinsider.com/view/latest-draft-notes/

 

Pretty much means Washington gets an arm and Starling slides to us, if true.

 

I read it here btw:

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608957&page=42

[JeffH]

Could be huge news. Apparently Churchill said that the M's are looking to take Lindor at 2. I am not a subscriber, but I think it was here.

http://prospectinsider.com/view/latest-draft-notes/

 

Pretty much means Washington gets an arm and Starling slides to us, if true.

 

I read it here btw:

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608957&page=42

 

If true, that's horrible. I was hoping the Nationals would save Wilken from himself.

[Guest]

Could be huge news. Apparently Churchill said that the M's are looking to take Lindor at 2. I am not a subscriber, but I think it was here.

http://prospectinsider.com/view/latest-draft-notes/

 

Pretty much means Washington gets an arm and Starling slides to us, if true.

 

I read it here btw:

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608957&page=42

 

The Nationals do like Starling quite a bit though.

[javy knows my name]

Could be huge news. Apparently Churchill said that the M's are looking to take Lindor at 2. I am not a subscriber, but I think it was here.

http://prospectinsider.com/view/latest-draft-notes/

 

Pretty much means Washington gets an arm and Starling slides to us, if true.

 

I read it here btw:

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608957&page=42

 

Lindor at 2 could blow everything up. Would the Dbacks grab Rendon hoping Hultzen falls to 7, or could Rendon go as high as 5?

 

That would be crazy and I would love it.

[imb]

Thinking out loud, if Lindor goes 2, you would think the DBacks wouldn't be able to resist Rendon at 3, right? But it's been implied that they would go cheap on the 7th pick. So basically it kicks a more expensive guy down to us.

[Guest]

Thinking out loud, if Lindor goes 2, you would think the DBacks wouldn't be able to resist Rendon at 3, right? But it's been implied that they would go cheap on the 7th pick. So basically it kicks a more expensive guy down to us.

 

They've been insisting that they won't go cheap at 7 but you can't be sure. But we know they LOVE Hultzen (they picked him 3 years ago), I think that's who they want at 3 even if Rendon is there.

[toonsterwu]

I'm almost certain that hultzen won't fall to 7. He's rumored to be in the Nats top 3, the other two being Cole and Bauer.

 

If Mariners go Lindor, my hunch is that Arizona sticks pitcher (Bauer/Hultzen/bundy), Baltimore is the one that will debate Rendon and I think they pull the trigger. I think Starling has a shot to fall to us, and I'll be happy with that gamble if they go that route.

[Outshined_One]

I'm almost certain that hultzen won't fall to 7. He's rumored to be in the Nats top 3, the other two being Cole and Bauer.

 

If Mariners go Lindor, my hunch is that Arizona sticks pitcher (Bauer/Hultzen/bundy), Baltimore is the one that will debate Rendon and I think they pull the trigger. I think Starling has a shot to fall to us, and I'll be happy with that gamble if they go that route.

 

In that scenario, there would be a really good chance Bundy falls to the Cubs.

[imb]

I could talk myself into being cool with the Starling pick, but I really hope we pounce on Bundy if he's there.

[Little Slide Rooter]

As much as I love the idea of Starlings season, if they do plan on making a splash this offseason with Fielder or Pujols, wouldnt we be better off drafting a college guy rather than a guy who probably wont be ready for another 4-6 years?

 

No. You don't draft with the MLB team or it's needs in mind. None of the college guys we would likely take are going to be Mike Leake and jump to MLB quickly anyway.

 

They wont be ready immediately, but they could be ready in 2-3 years rather than 4 years-never. A lot of our college picks have some along well, Jackson, McNutt, Cashner, Flaherty to name a few, but our high school guys dont seem to pan out. Im not calling Josh Vitters a bust just yet at the age of 21, but our track record with these kids isnt great.

[toonsterwu]

I'm almost certain that hultzen won't fall to 7. He's rumored to be in the Nats top 3, the other two being Cole and Bauer.

 

If Mariners go Lindor, my hunch is that Arizona sticks pitcher (Bauer/Hultzen/bundy), Baltimore is the one that will debate Rendon and I think they pull the trigger. I think Starling has a shot to fall to us, and I'll be happy with that gamble if they go that route.

 

In that scenario, there would be a really good chance Bundy falls to the Cubs.

 

Just playing out my hunches on that scenario for the heck of it ...

 

1. Pirates - Cole.

2. Mariners - Lindor.

3. Arizona - Hultzen.

 

4. Orioles - Rendon. They really want an impact college arm to move fast, as the system's pitching depth has thinned out tremendously due to graduations (I mean, Bobby Bundy isn't a bad talent, but when he's arguably your system's top arm, that's not good). That said, unless the medicals are bad on Rendon, I've got a hard time seeing them pass on a guy who could fill a gaping positional hole in their long term plans.

5. Royals - Bauer. 'm guessing Bauer or Bundy here, with Starling as a backup plan. I'll lean Bauer here, since I think they would like a college arm that can move fast and join their young positional core that is reaching the bigs in the next year or two.

 

6. Washington - This becomes a fascinating pick. The top prep arm, or the top athlete? Their top three arm preferences are off the board in this situation. My guess is they go pitching and take Bundy here, as Rizzo knows they could use more arms in the pipeline. That said, the Nationals are the one team that could really surprise. They could perhaps decide they really want a college arm and pop an Alex Meyer or perhaps a Jed Bradley or a Matt Barnes here. I think, in their dream of dreams, one of Cole/Hultzen/Bauer falls here.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be ok with Mahtook.

[Guest]

As much as I love the idea of Starlings season, if they do plan on making a splash this offseason with Fielder or Pujols, wouldnt we be better off drafting a college guy rather than a guy who probably wont be ready for another 4-6 years?

 

No. You don't draft with the MLB team or it's needs in mind. None of the college guys we would likely take are going to be Mike Leake and jump to MLB quickly anyway.

 

They wont be ready immediately, but they could be ready in 2-3 years rather than 4 years-never. A lot of our college picks have some along well, Jackson, McNutt, Cashner, Flaherty to name a few, but our high school guys dont seem to pan out. Im not calling Josh Vitters a bust just yet at the age of 21, but our track record with these kids isnt great.

 

Yeah, but Wilken has drafted far, far fewer HS kids so you don't have a fair sample size to compare.

 

ETA:

 

2006 - Cliff Andersen, Chris Huseby, Drew Rundle, Kevin Kreier, Nate Samson (5)

2007 - Josh Vitters, Ryan Acosta (2)

2008 - Matt Cerda, Logan Watkins, Tarlandas Mitchell (3)

2009 - Austin Kirk, Wes Darvill, Blair Springfield, Sergio Burruel (4)

2010 - Reggie Golden, Ben Wells, Austin Reed, Colin Richardson, Ryan Hartman, Dustin Geiger, Brian Smith (7)

[toonsterwu]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be ok with Mahtook.

 

I'd be okay with it, but I wouldn't love it. I do think Mahtook's power will develop, but there's guys with better ceilings. Basically, as others have noted, you'd be drafting another Brett Jackson, and we need better upside than that, IMO.

[davell]

Wittenmeyer's article has scared me at this point, to be honest. If we go "signability" with our first pick or even if we go with Starling or Bradley(5 year deals with less strain this year), I'm going to be wondering whether or not we're going to be able to do much else until I see some results on Day 2. I'm HOPING that if this thing IS true and we'll be limited for a few years on the major league level, we'll spend big here, since it's still a relatively small amount in the grand scheme of things altogether. There's no reason we shouldn't spend 10 mill or so in this draft, since it's so deep.

 

 

If Lindor does go 2nd, I still think Arizona goes with Hultzen or Bauer and Baltimore goes with either Hultzen or Bundy at 4. I can see Bauer dropping to 8 in this scenario to Cleveland, if Arizona takes Hultzen. Baltimore takes Bundy and then Rendon and Bubba go 5 and 6. Arizona could then take Gray or Barnes, leaving the Cubs with Bradley, if they choose to take him.

[Guest]

FYI, Stanford is playing CSUF on ESPNU right now. For Stanford, shortstop Kenny Diekroger is a potential top 10 pick next year and right fielder Austin Wilson is a potential top 10 pick in 2013.

[davell]

Perfectgame's final mock has us taking Jose Fernandez, but it seemed like he was just going with his gut on Wilken always bucking the industry and taking "his guy".

[toonsterwu]

Odd odd pick. HAven't heard a ton about Wilken and Fernandez. Have I missed stuff? I think I would be absolutely disappointed.

 

Rawnsley does sort of defend Wilken, noting that he'll be proven right more often than not, but I'd be really disappointed if Fernandez was the pick.

[imb]

Did he just drop all the 20-40 ranked guys into a hat and draw one out to simulate a wilken pick?

[Outshined_One]

Fernandez is a candidate to eat his way out of baseball. No thanks.

[davell]

I'm not aware of a single news item linking him to us, so maybe it IS just a random drawing for Wilken's usual surprise. If we did take him, he at least does have the upside we'd be looking for. But, he also has red flags galore. Potential weight issues, age questions and whether or not he'll be a rotation guy or back end of the pen guy. Even as far as upside guys go, there's plenty of them that just aren't THIS risky. If he somehow lasted to us in the 2nd round, I'd be all for the pick, but at 9? No.