2011 Draft Discussion

[Little Slide Rooter]

I dont know who Baez is, but he sounds like the equivalant of tube socks for christmas, and Lindor sounds like Darwin Barney with the potential for 10-12 home run power.

[Guest]

Goldstein's final mock: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14156

 

1. Cole

2. Rendon

3. Bauer

4. Hultzen

5. Bundy

6. Starling

7. Lindor

8. Archie Bradley - only if the Indians get approval from ownership to spend

9. Matt Barnes:

 

The Cubs are hard to predict due to radio silence and scouting director Tim Wilken's history of surprises, but the names being attached to them late match up with the names that belong here. Last Mock: Taylor Guerreri

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Fluff piece on Mike Mahtook.

 

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20110606/SPORTS/106060304/Mahtook-awaits-Major-League-s-call?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

[Tryptamine]

Please don't mess this up Cubs. I need at least one thing in this organization to be happy about.

[Guest]

Jonathan Mayo's final mock: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110606&content_id=20105346&vkey=draftcentral2011

 

1. Cole

2. Rendon

3. Bauer

4. Hultzen

5. Starling

6. Bundy

7. Barnes

8. Archie Bradley

9. Lindor: Lindor is a premium talent who plays a premium position. The Cubs would love to get a bat here and Lindor would be the best on the board, and they'll worry about what to do with a Lindor/Starlin Castro infield later on. Anyone listed above who slides, especially Starling, would get consideration.

 

At this point, Callis, Goldstein, Law and Mayo all have Cole, Rendon and Bauer going 1-2-3.

[javy knows my name]

Goldstein's final mock: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14156

 

1. Cole

2. Rendon

3. Bauer

4. Hultzen

5. Bundy

6. Starling

7. Lindor

8. Archie Bradley - only if the Indians get approval from ownership to spend

9. Matt Barnes:

 

The Cubs are hard to predict due to radio silence and scouting director Tim Wilken's history of surprises, but the names being attached to them late match up with the names that belong here. Last Mock: Taylor Guerreri

 

That's the most boring one I've seen. For everybody.

[RammyFanny]

Pillierre said he thinks Washington would take Hultzen and Bundy over Starling, but not Bauer.

[toonsterwu]

I dont know who Baez is, but he sounds like the equivalant of tube socks for christmas, and Lindor sounds like Darwin Barney with the potential for 10-12 home run power.

 

On paper, Lindor is probably a slicker fielder than Barney. Much as I have defended Barney in the past, he was a guy with good enough athleticism and the ability to be consistent, whereas Lindor flashes more raw athletic ability.

 

I'm coming around on Baez. Usually takes me forever to catch up on the baseball draft, but I really like his bat to develop enough power to eventually move to a corner spot. It'd be a gamble, though.

 

That said, I think with the way things are shaking out, we are probably looking at Starling staring at us at 9, and if all the rumors are correct, we'll jump on that. If Seattle goes Rendon, feels like prep pitching and college pitching will dominate 3-6. If Seattle goes Lindor, then Rendon will probably slip (still think he gets past Arizona in that situation, but who knows, crazy times), which may end up freeing up an arm to slide a bit, but with Arizona/Cleveland both potentially looking at arms, it's quite possible none of the preferred guys fall to us and that Starling is the one that slips in that scenario.

 

A long way to go, and a lot of talks/rumors to come, but I'm thinking Starling, and I'm fine with that. You gamble on stardom, and Starling, by most accounts, has the work ethic, off-field stuff to succeed, and it's a matter of learning.

[Guest]

I have no idea how good Heyman's contacts are but he has the Cubs getting Archie Bradley so I like his mock: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/06/06/mock.draft/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2

 

1. Cole

2. Rendon

3. Bauer

4. Bundy

5. Hultzen

6. Starling

7. Gray

8. Barnes

9. Archie Bradley: The other talented Oklahoma righthander is said to be a great kid, though maybe not with the killer instinct of Bundy. The $20 million asking price reflects an opportunity to play football at Oklahoma (and perhaps a bit of delusion). The Cubs like two-sport stars and would take Starling if he's still available (he won't be).

 

BTW, Law says Arizona is considering New Mexico prep catcher Blake Swihart at 7. I'm a bit surprised at that news because Swihart is considered a bit of a tough sign due to his Texas commitment and #7 pick is unprotected.

[toonsterwu]

Pillierre said he thinks Washington would take Hultzen and Bundy over Starling, but not Bauer.

 

The rumors have been that Washington wants a college arm to fall from that Cole/Bauer/Hultzen trio, and would pop one of them over the prep kids. They want a guy to join with Strasburg and Zimmerman, perhaps as soon as 2013. Add in that Hultzen's a local boy, and that Washington was the last time (in terms of draft order) that he met with, and I buy that.

_____

 

For awhile I was okay with the Lindor pick, but I'm starting to lean slightly against it. I'd like the system to add a polished college shortstop with some upside, if possible, or at least a Darwin Barney level guy. That guy would slot in next year at Peoria with someone from the Marco Hernandez, Gioskar Amaya, Wes Darvill trio (or maybe Alcantara repeats Peoria). With the two kids in DSL potentially having a chance to come stateside, and with the type of talent that will be available at 9, I wouldn't hate the Lindor pick, but currently feel like it'd be better spent elsewhere.

 

______

 

Sure feels like Sonny Gray may be slipping a bit. Kid's got good stuff and I believe in his change.

[RammyFanny]

I have no idea how good Heyman's contacts are but he has the Cubs getting Archie Bradley so I like his mock: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/06/06/mock.draft/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2

 

1. Cole

2. Rendon

3. Bauer

4. Bundy

5. Hultzen

6. Starling

7. Gray

8. Barnes

9. Archie Bradley: The other talented Oklahoma righthander is said to be a great kid, though maybe not with the killer instinct of Bundy. The $20 million asking price reflects an opportunity to play football at Oklahoma (and perhaps a bit of delusion). The Cubs like two-sport stars and would take Starling if he's still available (he won't be).

 

BTW, Law says Arizona is considering New Mexico prep catcher Blake Swihart at 7. I'm a bit surprised at that news because Swihart is considered a bit of a tough sign due to his Texas commitment and #7 pick is unprotected.

Pillierre' having a long chat and someone asked him if there are any prospects who could go later but turn awesome like Trout, and Swihart was the first name he said.

[Guest]

Keith Law chat going on right now, free for everyone: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/38776

[toonsterwu]

first thing that caught my eye in KLaw's chat - he believes Houston will get someone better than Jungmann ... like Meyer. Wouldn't have even crossed my mind last year that Meyer would eventually be considered similar to Jungmann if not higher, despite Meyer's upside.

[Guest]

Kevin Goldstein's chat schedule:

Again, draft chat madness schedule: BP: 5-6pm ET; ESPN.com 6:30 until end of picks; BP again afterward until I can't see straight.

[Guest]

LHP Onelki Garcia Speck, a 23-year old Cuban defector, has major helium and might sneak into the 1st round: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/06/sleeper-alert-onelki-garcia-speck/

[Guest]

Gulp:

 

Crazy insane rumor out there . . . #Cubs taking 23-year-old Cuban LHP Onelki Garcia Speck at 9. Good velo, good breaking ball.

 

- Kevin Goldstein

 

This is a guy the publications hadn't mentioned till about an hour ago.

 

Yes. Mostly "who?" and some "we don't have him that high" RT @crispsdg: @keithlaw are you hearing anything about Onelki Garcia Speck?

 

- Keith Law

[kylescubs23]

Seems about right

[javy knows my name]

FML

[Little Slide Rooter]

Gulp:

 

Crazy insane rumor out there . . . #Cubs taking 23-year-old Cuban LHP Onelki Garcia Speck at 9. Good velo, good breaking ball.

 

- Kevin Goldstein

 

This is a guy the publications hadn't mentioned till about an hour ago.

 

Yes. Mostly "who?" and some "we don't have him that high" RT @crispsdg: @keithlaw are you hearing anything about Onelki Garcia Speck?

 

- Keith Law

 

Onelki Garcia Speck sounds Cuban for Hayden Simpson.

 

By all means, lets watch everyone else draft the studs and we'll be OK with a farm system full of potentially decent major leaguers.

[Little Slide Rooter]

According to one source, Garcia pitched three seasons with Guantanimo, going 12-12, 4.73 over 205 innings. In 46 games (45 starts), he struck out 195 but walked 128. His last season was 2009-10, when he went 5-6, 3.40.

 

 

Yeah, this sounds like a guy you want to use a top 10 pick on. Cant wait to see him make his big league debut as a loogy when hes 28.

[javy knows my name]

According to one source, Garcia pitched three seasons with Guantanimo, going 12-12, 4.73 over 205 innings. In 46 games (45 starts), he struck out 195 but walked 128. His last season was 2009-10, when he went 5-6, 3.40.

 

 

Yeah, this sounds like a guy you want to use a top 10 pick on.

 

In the best draft in ten years

[mookie]

Please oh please don't piss me off Cubs.

[Hall7810]

Is Wilken trying to prove he's the smartest guy in the room or something?

[Guest]

Frankie Piliere:

Buzz: Cubs are going "way off the board" with their pick. Not exactly a surprised given last year but makes my job impossible trying to figure it out.

 

Frankie Piliere:

Buzz; Cubs on lefty Onelki Garcia Speck at #9

 

Frankie Piliere:

This is a strong one, folks. Very strong one. Cubs are all over this kid.

[Tryptamine]

Gulp:

 

Crazy insane rumor out there . . . #Cubs taking 23-year-old Cuban LHP Onelki Garcia Speck at 9. Good velo, good breaking ball.

 

- Kevin Goldstein

 

This is a guy the publications hadn't mentioned till about an hour ago.

 

Yes. Mostly "who?" and some "we don't have him that high" RT @crispsdg: @keithlaw are you hearing anything about Onelki Garcia Speck?

 

- Keith Law

 

Can my parents sue the organization for causing me to have an aneurysm 10 seconds after they announce this horrendous pick?