2012 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Haha, I thought you asked that question when I read it, subbing in a new name and location.

 

Jerry (Seattle): Zimmer or Wacha and what separates them the most?

 

Aaron Fitt: Zimmer has the much better breaking ball, but Wacha's changeup is just fine as an out-pitch against righties as well as lefties. I think Zimmer has the more athletic delivery, looser arm and higher upside, but there is an awful lot to like about Wacha too. Not a huge gap between those guys.

 

Kate (Houston): Matthew Reckling has been lights out all year for Rice, and his performance Friday night had to have been his best all year. How high do you see him climbing in June's draft?

 

Aaron Fitt: I've written about Reckling in today's Golden Spikes Spotlight in my Three Strikes column, which should be posted shortly. He's really turned the corner with his command this year, cutting his career walk rate nearly in half as a senior, which has made all the difference. The stuff is very good, and he has learned how to use it. That's not my draft area, but I'll bet somebody could take him in the top five rounds as a cost-saving senior with some upside

[iowahawkeyes89]

Any chance Matt Smoral or Ty Hensley will still be on the board at 43? Would love to see the Cubs take a high ceiling HS arm with our comp picks.

[davell]

Even with the injury, Smoral is expected to go inside the top 20. Hensley may be available in the supplemental, but if not, there definitely will be plenty of high school arms to choose from.

[Guest]

Even with the injury, Smoral is expected to go inside the top 20. Hensley may be available in the supplemental, but if not, there definitely will be plenty of high school arms to choose from.

 

And if Smoral falls, it's likely due to 1st round bonus demands that teams won't meet with the new CBA.

[toonsterwu]

Raisin, that sounded so much like me, hell I went back and double-checked my own history when I saw that. But, not me.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Some of the stuff I've read about Almora:

 

Player: Albert Almora

Position: OF

School: Mater Academy (FL)

Date of Birth: 4/16/1994

Height/Weight: 6’2/185

Bats/Throws: R/R

 

Scouting Report:

 

The 2012 MLB Draft is deep in talented high school outfielders and Albert Almora is near the top of the list. He has above average tools across the board to go along with good baseball skills. His cousin, Manny Machado, was a first round selection in 2010.

 

Almora has an easy line drive swing and squares up consistently. His bat speed is above average. Almora should hit for a high average at the next level. He has good power potential, but does no project to be a true slugger. He is an aggressive baserunner and looks natural in the outfield. He gets very good jumps in center and has a strong arm.

 

Almora’s play was impressive throughout the summer and for Team USA in the fall. In June, he will likely be off the board by the end of the first rounnd

 

MLB’s prospect expert Jonathan Mayo likes Almora’s toughness and says that he’s played in big situations and shown natural leadership abilities over the years.

 

He’s also got many tools to get excited about. He should be an above-avearge hitter at the next level, with an ability to drive the ball to all fields. He’ll have above-average power as well and shows it in games now, especially to the pull side. He’s a solid average runner and knows what to do on the basepaths. Defensively, he’s a plus center fielder with excellent arm strength and range.

 

http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-draft-of-albert-amoras-stock-continues-to-rise.html

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19997817

 

~30 second video of Appel from the CF cam view. Nasty stuff. I think he'll need a full year in the minors, but definitely a better top college pitcher than Cole last year.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Chances Travis Jankowski is gone by 43?

 

Does Brian Johnson get to start as a pro? His two pitch combo kind of reminds me of Gorzellany.

 

Anyone else get a Ben Sheets vibe from Stroman? Nasty two pitch combo with the power fastball/curveball thing. I have zero issues with Stroman at 6 if it were to actually happen.

[toonsterwu]

Not that this is news, but I'm not sure if it's been mentioned. If it has, apologies. Anyhow, in the AskBa, a Padres fan asks about their pick, and the relevant portion, for us,

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2012/2613291.html

 

At this point—though much can change in the next six weeks—I'd expect Georgia high school outfielder Byron Buxton, Florida catcher Mike Zunino and four college righthanders (Stanford's Mark Appel, Louisiana State's Kevin Gausman, Texas A&M's Michael Wacha and San Francisco's Kyle Zimmer) to go in some order before the Padres pick. When you're choosing that high, you have to worry about grabbing the best talent and not worrying about positional needs.

 

Notes Correa and Cecchini as potential 7th overall picks based on talent. But this is simply Callis' take.

[davell]

Callis likes Wacha more than most.

[Guest]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19997817

 

~30 second video of Appel from the CF cam view. Nasty stuff. I think he'll need a full year in the minors, but definitely a better top college pitcher than Cole last year.

 

No way is Appel better than Cole last year. But I do like him and don't think it would be hard for professional coaches to fix some of his problems.

 

Chances Travis Jankowski is gone by 43?

 

Does Brian Johnson get to start as a pro? His two pitch combo kind of reminds me of Gorzellany.

 

Anyone else get a Ben Sheets vibe from Stroman? Nasty two pitch combo with the power fastball/curveball thing. I have zero issues with Stroman at 6 if it were to actually happen.

 

I would love Stroman at 6. I prefer him to Wacha for sure.

 

Great FB, plus slider, potential plus change. Yeah, I think Jankowski might still be there at 43.

[davell]

At 43, if he's out there, I'd love Alex Wood. Lefty power pitchers are rare enough, he'd be a hell of a get.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

No way is Appel better than Cole last year. But I do like him and don't think it would be hard for professional coaches to fix some of his problems.

 

What makes you like Cole better? I'll be easy to convince since I really liked Cole, but I think Appel has the better breaking ball. Cole's change up is probably better, and was an underrated pitch. Not to mention that as good as Appel's fastball is...OK yeah...Cole was a bigger no doubter as the #1 pick as well.

 

Would definitely take Stroman over Wacha as I'm starting to get familiar with the draft. Stroman would be fun to watch with that curveball of doom.

[davell]

Some pitchers I would love to see us target with our supplemental rounders and hopefully 2nd and 3rd rounders as well.

 

Brady Rodgers ASU

Dylan Baker JUCO

Branden Kline UVA

Kevin Brady Clemson

Martin Agosta St. Mary's

Duane Underwood HS

Mitchell Traver HS

Cody Poteet HS

Ty Hensley HS

Taylore Cherry HS

Ryan Burr HS

Zac Eflin HS

Carson Kelly HS

Nick Travieso HS

LHP Alex Wood Georgia

LHP Brett Mooneyham Stanford

 

 

Lots of these guys will be out there, maybe even a McCullers Jr. or a Sims, if their demands are too high. But the bottom line is it sets up very well for us to add some exciting pitching to our system, in the early rounds.

[Guest]

Sounds like McCullers is going to price his way to college.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Some pitchers I would love to see us target with our supplemental rounders and hopefully 2nd and 3rd rounders as well.

 

Brady Rodgers ASU

Dylan Baker JUCO

Branden Kline UVA

Kevin Brady Clemson

Martin Agosta St. Mary's

Duane Underwood HS

Mitchell Traver HS

Cody Poteet HS

Ty Hensley HS

Taylore Cherry HS

Ryan Burr HS

Zac Eflin HS

Carson Kelly HS

Nick Travieso HS

LHP Alex Wood Georgia

LHP Brett Mooneyham Stanford

 

 

Lots of these guys will be out there, maybe even a McCullers Jr. or a Sims, if their demands are too high. But the bottom line is it sets up very well for us to add some exciting pitching to our system, in the early rounds.

 

Thanks for that, some guys I haven't heard of like Wood and Traver.

 

Cherry would be interesting just because he's so big and throws so hard. Definitely one of the more interesting arms there, but need more info obviously.

 

Favorite there would be Mooneyham.

[davell]

If the one report I've read on Alex Wood is correct, I find it highly unlikely he's available to us in the comp round, but he seems like a "must have" if he is. Lefty with exploding 93-96 FB, hard curve, possible plus change. Deceptive delivery, needs a little better command and has some effort in his delivery. Still, has put up excellent numbers this year in the SEC.

[iowahawkeyes89]

I loved Richie Shaffer out of hs...probably a reach at 6...and probably no way he falls to 43... :x

[davell]

Love his bat. I've watched him attempt to plan 3B though and it's not pretty. He seems to be rising up the boards, my guess is he winds up in the 15 to 25 range.

[Guest]

Hunter Virant threw a no-hitter this evening.

[Guest]

Jake (Chicago): Do you see the Cubs taking a pitcher in the draft?

 

Jim Callis: I think they'll take the best player available and not focus on a pitcher. That said, unless Byron Buxton or Michael Zunino falls to No. 6, the best player available figures to be a pitcher.

 

Jennie (From the block): When will you guys do your 1st mock draft? I know you guys did one earlier but it was too long away from the draft.

 

Jim Callis: We haven't done one yet. The first one is part of stage one of our Draft Preview. I haven't started on that one yet either. I anticipate it going online around May 11.

 

Cy (western Mass.): Thanks, Jim, as always. In a recent tweet you mentioned that Byron Buxton is a better bet to hit than Bubba Starling. No complaint, but a question: What can you tell us about Bubba's hit tool, bat speed, etc? (Seems like neither player has faced much tough competition yet.)

 

Jim Callis: That comment was based on scouts telling me Buxton has a better swing and better pitch recognition. Not saying Starling won't hit, just that Buxton is a better bet if you have to pick between the two.

 

Chel (Houston): Gausman, Appel, or Zimmer as of now?

 

Jim Callis: Gut feel as of this second . . . Gausman.

[davell]

Wilken was seen scouting Fried this week.

[davell]

Two very interesting tidbits.....Callis was asked where Appel would have went last year and his answer was 8-12. Keith Law listed some teams and their preferences and listed the Cubs' with Fried and Almora. Not sure if the college arms were an implied interest or not.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Hmm....I want to buy into Fried because of the curveball of doom, but between those two I might lean Almora given the little I know.

[davell]

Almora appears to be on a fast rise, same with Correa, ala Baez last year. I like Fried quite a bit and would lean towards him personally, although I admit need plays a factor here for me. Talent is close enough to take the pitcher, for Mr anyway. My hope though, is Giolito puts himself back into the discussion.