2011 Draft Discussion

[jersey cubs fan]

Are we really that excited to move up a spot or two? I like Wilken, but it seems like he's likely to "follow his instincts" again and pick someone who would have gone 23rd otherwise.

 

It's better than moving back a few spots.

[Guest]

Are we really that excited to move up a spot or two? I like Wilken, but it seems like he's likely to "follow his instincts" again and pick someone who would have gone 23rd otherwise.

 

Vitters, Cashner and Jackson went exactly where they were rated on the draft boards. Colvin had risen and was about a 10 pick reach. Simpson is the only reach.

[Guest]

Under Armour rosters are out: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-preseason-all-america-tournament/2010/2610524.html

[CubInOK]

So can anyone tell me about Archie Bradley as a baseball player? I didn't know he was projected to be a really high pick. My parents live in the same block as his high school and I went to high school there. I might have to check out a few of his games next spring.

[Outshined_One]

So can anyone tell me about Archie Bradley as a baseball player? I didn't know he was projected to be a really high pick. My parents live in the same block as his high school and I went to high school there. I might have to check out a few of his games next spring.

 

He's got the potential to be the top HS pitching prospect in the 2011 class, which is saying a lot since this might end up being a fairly talented bunch. He has a classic pitcher's build. His fastball works in the low to mid 90s with good movement. I've seen mixed reports on his offspeed stuff, with some people saying he has a potential plus breaking pitch in his knuckle curve and other reports saying that his offspeed stuff is inconsistent and in need of polish.

 

Expect to hear a lot about him and Owasso HS (OK) RHP Dylan Bundy in the coming months out in your neck of the woods.

[Guest]

Owasso HS...Austin Kirk's old high school.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

http://media.nola.com/lsu_impact/photo/cws-tcu-first-baseballjpg-c9e4797dc81afa04_large.jpg

 

or Die.

 

I'd be cool with Sonny Gray, but we kind of just drafted him with this Simpson character. I'd rather take the Spawn of Price/Lee.

[Guest]

http://media.nola.com/lsu_impact/photo/cws-tcu-first-baseballjpg-c9e4797dc81afa04_large.jpg

 

or Die.

 

I'd be cool with Sonny Gray, but we kind of just drafted him with this Simpson character. I'd rather take the Spawn of Price/Lee.

 

Obviously Sonny Gray is much better than Hayden Simpson; even Tim Wilken would admit to that.

 

I'd also take Anthony Rendon over Matt Purke.

 

This is all academic if the Cubs keep winning though.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

http://media.nola.com/lsu_impact/photo/cws-tcu-first-baseballjpg-c9e4797dc81afa04_large.jpg

 

or Die.

 

I'd be cool with Sonny Gray, but we kind of just drafted him with this Simpson character. I'd rather take the Spawn of Price/Lee.

 

Obviously Sonny Gray is much better than Hayden Simpson; even Tim Wilken would admit to that.

 

I'd also take Anthony Rendon over Matt Purke.

 

This is all academic if the Cubs keep winning though.

 

That's not obvious. Simpson sounds plenty talented from what I've heard about his stuff. Gray is a very talented guy that I know we drafted before, but how many short righties in the first round can you take?

 

I'd take Purke over Rendon.

[Guest]

That's not obvious. Simpson sounds plenty talented from what I've heard about his stuff. Gray is a very talented guy that I know we drafted before, but how many short righties in the first round can you take?

 

I'd take Purke over Rendon.

 

Yes, it's rather obvious. Gray is a top 5 talent and was a top 15 talent coming out of HS 3 years ago. Simpson is a top 200 talent who only a few teams thought of taking in the top 50. Repertoire-wise, Gray's stuff is better. Gray's power curve is better than Simpson's slider or curve. Simpson faded off late in the season with his fastball; Gray is consistently in the mid-90s.

 

More about Rendon: http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/07/15/anthony-rendon-scouting-report-part-i

[toonsterwu]

The only person I really, superbly want would be Anthony Rendon. A potential, impact bat that can move fast at a possible position of need in the near future would be nice. I like Purke, I like Cole, but I have enough concerns on both that I won't be tremendously disappointed if we don't have a chance at them, and at the rate we are going, we probably won't. The chance of Sonny Gray does rise tremendously for us out of the top 5. Btw, I wasn't against the Hayden Simpson pick, but Gray, with all the information out there right now, is on a higher level. Now, maybe Hayden was simply ridiculously abused (pitch counts) so maybe he holds up better with more shrewd usage, but overall Gray's stuff is on a higher level based on what is known. Edited September 6, 2010 by toonsterwu

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

That's not obvious. Simpson sounds plenty talented from what I've heard about his stuff. Gray is a very talented guy that I know we drafted before, but how many short righties in the first round can you take?

 

I'd take Purke over Rendon.

 

Yes, it's rather obvious. Gray is a top 5 talent and was a top 15 talent coming out of HS 3 years ago. Simpson is a top 200 talent who only a few teams thought of taking in the top 50. Repertoire-wise, Gray's stuff is better. Gray's power curve is better than Simpson's slider or curve. Simpson faded off late in the season with his fastball; Gray is consistently in the mid-90s.

 

More about Rendon: http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/07/15/anthony-rendon-scouting-report-part-i

 

Again...hype. Simpson sounds plenty talented with a low-mid 90's fastball that can hit 97 and a breaking that gets described as at least above average. That sounds exactly like Gray. Simpson's also praised for his athleticism, like Gray. I'd rather get the lefty anyway. Purke has TOR pitcher written all over him.

 

Also, I'm not anti-Gray or against picking Gray. I'm aware we drafted him before, I'm aware that he goes to the top pitching program in college right now (IMO), and I'm aware that he's really talented. I just think that one short RHP in the first is enough over two years, especially when there's a power lefty available.

 

Rendon would be the position player I want for sure.

[toonsterwu]

I've defended the Simpson pick before, so it feels odd to be critiquing him, but while most reports all acknowledged that, at one point in time this year, he was throwing mid-90's (and then it tailed off), they also mostly acknowledge that his fastball didn't have great movement. On the other hand, Gray's FB has been described as plus, as well as his curveball/breaking ball.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I've defended the Simpson pick before, so it feels odd to be critiquing him, but while most reports all acknowledged that, at one point in time this year, he was throwing mid-90's (and then it tailed off), they also mostly acknowledge that his fastball didn't have great movement. On the other hand, Gray's FB has been described as plus, as well as his curveball/breaking ball.

 

Thing is it didn't exactly fall off a cliff...I suspect both guys will probably pitch in the 89-93 range as pros once they get settled in.

 

Sonny Gray would be nice. Getting the tall power lefty would be better is alls I'm sayin.

[Guest]

Sonny Gray held his velocity late into games all regular season with Vanderbilt (a longer season than Simpson had) and then held his velocity well for Team USA over the summer (and was named the BA Summer College Player of the Year).

 

Don't get your hopes up on Purke unless he gets hurt or sucks next season.

[Guest]

http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/08/2011-mock-draft.html

 

Mock draft. Purke goes 1, Cole 2 and Rendon 3. They have Travis Harrison (prep outfielder from Southern California) going 9th to the Cubs.

 

They have two former Cubs picks in the first round: Sonny Gray 7th (2008 27th rounder) and Tony Zych 27th (2008 46th rounder). Zych did really well in the Cape Cod League this past summer.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I'd rather have Bradley, Matt Barnes, or...poooooosssibly even Henry Owens if his profile raises during the next season.

[Guest]

BA had a 2011 MLB draft chat on Friday.

 

Carlos (San Diego, CA): Would you dare predict a top 5 or top 10 projection for the 2011 draft? Would you dare? Just because it's Friday in September.

 

Conor Glassey: A nice way to end the chat. I'll put this out there with the caveat that this is my personal list and it's early. Here goes...

 

Anthony Rendon, 3b, Rice

Gerrit Cole, rhp, UCLA

Matt Purke, lhp, Texas Christian

Taylor Jungmann, rhp, Texas

George Springer, of, Connecticut

Daniel Norris, lhp, Science Hill HS, Johnson City, Tenn.

Blake Swihart, c, Rio Rancho HS, Albuquerque, N.M.

Bubba Starling, of/rhp, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Gardner, Kan.

Matt Barnes, rhp, Connecticut

Sonny Gray, rhp, Vanderbilt

 

JimY (Ohio): With Rendon's injury history, how much of a consensus 1st pick is he?ii is he still a no brainer?

 

Conor Glassey: He's still the top guy, but I wouldn't say he's head and shoulders above everyone like Strasburg & Harper were.

 

Maggie (Pasadena, CA): How good is Daniel Norris?

 

Conor Glassey: Very, very good. Physical LHP sits 90-93, touches 94, filthy CB, flashes a CH. Pretty comparable to Purke at the same stage, actually.

 

Greg (Detroit): Is the 2011 draft thought of as loaded talent wise? I hear nothing but good things about the upside of it

 

John Manuel: I would not say loaded. I would say it's a solid draft class. Loaded drafts are those that have lots of college bats that clubs like, and that really can't be said of this draft class, which has some good college bats at the top but not a ton of depth. The '05 draft was so good, considered so at the time and turned out to be so good, because of all the college hitters that were available. Not coincidentally, that draft was soon after the slotting system started, and more good players were winding up in college.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2010/2610683.html

 

Glassey repeatedly said that Gerrit Cole is ahead of Matt Purke. George Springer needs to make more contact if he's a top 10 guy.

[Guest]

http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/08/2011-mock-draft.html

 

Mock draft. Purke goes 1, Cole 2 and Rendon 3. They have Travis Harrison (prep outfielder from Southern California) going 9th to the Cubs.

 

They have two former Cubs picks in the first round: Sonny Gray 7th (2008 27th rounder) and Tony Zych 27th (2008 46th rounder). Zych did really well in the Cape Cod League this past summer.

 

Sully has another mock: http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/09/2011-mlb-mock-draft.html

 

1. Pittsburgh Pirates- Matthew Purke- LHP, TCU

2. Seattle Mariners- Anthony Rendon- 3B, Rice University

3. Baltimore Orioles- Gerrit Cole- RHP, UCLA

4. Arizona Diamondbacks- Daniel Norris- LHP, Science Hill HS

5. Cleveland Indians- Taylor Jungmann- RHP, Texas

6. Chicago Cubs- Dylan Bundy- RHP, Owasso HS

7. Arizona Diamondbacks- Archie Bradley- RHP, Broken Arrow HS

8. Kansas City Royals- Sonny Gray- RHP, Vanderbilt

9. Washington Nationals- Blake Swihart- C, Cleveland HS

10. San Diego Padres- George Springer- OF, UCONN

[illiniguy]

man I really need to walk the 150 feet over to the high school to watch Bubba play.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

The HS arm I like right now is Henry Owens.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5714047/ncaa-and-arizona-state-both-impose-penalties-on-asu-baseball-ncaas-are-harsher

 

As one of the major players in college baseball and one of the few good reasons for top high school players to not sign, I wonder if this ASU crackdown will affect any potential 2011 draftees.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

man I really need to walk the 150 feet over to the high school to watch Bubba play.

 

He reminds me of a young JD Drew, but right handed.

[davell]

Brian Goodwin now looks like he's an option for this year's draft. I could easily see him as one of the top 3-4 hitters available. Lefty bat and very toolsy, 5 tool potential.

[StarlinOnYou]

man I really need to walk the 150 feet over to the high school to watch Bubba play.

 

I'd love it if the Cubs nabbed him.