2012 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Tom (Des Moines) Is there a position in the 2012 that you would not want to be in? For example, is there a clear top 5 and then a big drop off to where you wouldn't want to be picking 6.

 

Klaw (1:11 PM) 8. Top 7 of Buxton, Zunino, Appel, Gausman, Zimmer, Correa, Fried, in some order. Eight is where it drops off.

 

Ian (OH) Didn't you just write that Almora would top Buxton on your pref list? What keeps him out of that top tier?

 

Klaw (1:15 PM) Kiley wrote that. I don't agree, although he makes good points. Almora would be the very next guy on my list, and I could argue for him over Zimmer. The presence of a gap isn't the same as saying the rest of the draft sucks.

 

Jay (Gilbert, AZ) Gausman or Zimmer?

 

Klaw (1:45 PM) For me, Gausman. Better third pitch, more velocity start to start, far better track record.

 

Josh (Los Angeles) I caught Fried's last start (pretty crowded, ~20 scouts + Tim Wilken). Fried looked good, though he lost command of the fastball around the 3rd and had to pitch off the curve. Does projection of fastball command become tricky when they have as much movement as Fried's? Love the chats, thank you.

 

Klaw (1:50 PM) His command has been up and down this year - but that's common for most HS arms. And he's really athletic with good makeup, so there's reason to believe he can develop command in time. He could go 6 to the Cubs, tiny chance he goes above that, most likely goes in the 6-10 range.

 

Jon (Phoenix) I know a lot is based on whether or not he pitches before the end of the year but where do you think Giolito is drafted as of today?

 

Klaw (1:55 PM) Depends on his desire to sign vs going to UCLA, really. If he'd sign past pick ten, he'd get taken. Smoral's the same thing. Neither guy will pitch in HS games before the draft, though.

 

Matt (NJ) better chance to stick at short: Carlos Correa or Javier Baez? better bat?

 

Klaw (2:15 PM) Correa has the better bat. Both guys most likely play third in the majors.

[illiniguy]

Isn't law really high on Baez? I'm surprised on that answer.

[davell]

Yeah, Law is high on Baez. He really likes Correa and Almora.

[Guest]

Game report of Alex Wood vs Kevin Gausman last night: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/04/game-report-alex-wood-vs-kevin-gausman/

[davell]

Hmm, I thought Wood's curve was much harder than that and considered a plus pitch. At least it makes sense as to why he's not higher up on boards.

[Guest]

Hmm, I thought Wood's curve was much harder than that and considered a plus pitch. At least it makes sense as to why he's not higher up on boards.

 

No, his curve is very inconsistent but it has the potential to be a plus pitch. Same for his change.

[Outshined_One]

Isn't law really high on Baez? I'm surprised on that answer.

 

I'm curious what he means by Correa having the better bat. Does he mean Correa is a better pure hitter, or does he mean Correa has a higher offensive upside?

 

I can understand the former, but I would seriously dispute the latter.

[illiniguy]

Isn't law really high on Baez? I'm surprised on that answer.

 

I'm curious what he means by Correa having the better bat. Does he mean Correa is a better pure hitter, or does he mean Correa has a higher offensive upside?

 

I can understand the former, but I would seriously dispute the latter.

Yeah that's what threw me, I thought Baez was considered to have a lot more power potential.

[Guest]

Appel was fantastic last night, sadly. I think he only threw 20-ish balls amongst his 90-something pitches.

 

Mooneyham struggled with control (3 BB) in the 1st but has been better in the 2nd and 3rd. He's around 89-91 with the FB, good curve.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Appel was fantastic last night, sadly. I think he only threw 20-ish balls amongst his 90-something pitches.

 

Mooneyham struggled with control (3 BB) in the 1st but has been better in the 2nd and 3rd. He's around 89-91 with the FB, good curve.

 

Sinking feeling in stomach...think both Gausman and Appel are gone by 6 as it stands right now.

[Guest]

Appel was fantastic last night, sadly. I think he only threw 20-ish balls amongst his 90-something pitches.

 

Mooneyham struggled with control (3 BB) in the 1st but has been better in the 2nd and 3rd. He's around 89-91 with the FB, good curve.

 

Sinking feeling in stomach...think both Gausman and Appel are gone by 6 as it stands right now.

 

Gausman for sure.

[davell]

Luhnow stuck around for the entire game last night with Appel. Seeing him like that could put him back on track to being the top pick.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Appel was fantastic last night, sadly. I think he only threw 20-ish balls amongst his 90-something pitches.

 

Mooneyham struggled with control (3 BB) in the 1st but has been better in the 2nd and 3rd. He's around 89-91 with the FB, good curve.

 

Sinking feeling in stomach...think both Gausman and Appel are gone by 6 as it stands right now.

 

Gausman for sure.

 

Yep...highly depressing...Looks like I'll have to get familiar with the HS guys...Gausman might go first.

 

I do like Wacha more than most...ish.

[Guest]

Mark Appel and Lucas Giolito in Westwood this afternoon:

 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Any thoughts on Chris Stratton out of Mississippi State?

 

Friend of mine covers them and said he's been told that the Cubs are interested in Stratton. That's probably just homer talk, but it's plausible enough to make me curious.

[Guest]

BA on Stratton:

 

3/15:

Interestingly, Mississippi State has used a rather upside-down approach, with three of its best arms coming out of the bullpen for extended stints. Last week, the Bulldogs started soft-tossing lefthanded sinkerballer Ross Mitchell on Friday with the intention of using him once or twice through the order, then handing the ball off to electric righthander Chris Stratton. Mitchell wound up going two innings, and Stratton worked the next five for the win. With a low 90s fastball that reaches 94-95 whenever he needs it to, a power slider at 84-86 and an improving changeup, Stratton has overpowering stuff, but Cohen said he seems most comfortable coming out of the bullpen, where he can just attack hitters without worrying about pacing himself.

 

3/28:

Stratton (4-1, 2.61) has been the staff's most consistent arm, attacking the strike zone with an 88-92 mph fastball with good movement, a good curveball, and a cutter and changeup that are effective against lefties.

[Guest]

Stratton profiled as a sandwich pick and the Cubs have 2 of those but he does seem to be rising up draft boards.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Stratton profiled as a sandwich pick and the Cubs have 2 of those but he does seem to be rising up draft boards.

 

Sounds very Cashner-ish, though everything (physical tools) seems a slight both down.

 

Edit: More true if you ignore the 3/28 one. Why so different in a 13 day span?

[Guest]

Joel (KCK): Out of the top draft eligible college pitchers (Gausman, Stroman, Appel, Zimmer and Wacha,) how many project to be true #1's in the show, or do they all project better as #2's? Thanks!

 

Aaron Fitt: I've spoken with a couple of crosscheckers who think all those guys would have fit more in the 8-15 range in last year's draft, suggesting they all profile better as No. 2s (and any club who drafts one of those guys would be very happy if they become legit No. 2 starters in the big leagues). But they all have high ceilings; it's just a matter of reaching their potential. After seeing Gausman this weekend, I must say I was very impressed with how polished he has become. He's not a finished product, of course, but he really does have feel for five different offerings (he throws a sinker in addition to that explosive four-seamer, has a plus changeup, an improving slider and a curveball that he can still mix in effectively at times). As I wrote this weekend, Gausman does some advanced things, like getting swing-and-misses with his changeup against righthanded hitters and commanding the inner half. I think he has the best chance of this group to be a bona fide No. 1 in the majors.

 

Joel (KCK): If power is Mike Zunino's only plus tool, how much can we realistically expect of him in pro ball? Does he even have a major league average hit tool?

 

Aaron Fitt: I do think he can be an average hitter in the big leagues. I think he can be a Jason Varitek type player, minus the switch-hitting: a hard-nosed, physical general behind the plate with solid catch-and-throw skills, good pop and an average bat. Just ask the Red Sox how valuable Jason Varitek has been over the last decade.

[Guest]

Seedlings to Stars released their second mock: http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/05/02/s2s-2012-mock-draft-1st-round-v-2-0/

 

Top 10:

 

1. Appel

2. Zimmer

3. Zunino

4. Buxton

5. Giolito

Cubs: Smoral

7. Gausman

8. Correa

9. Shaffer

10.Marrero

[Guest]

Seedlings to Stars released their second mock: http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/05/02/s2s-2012-mock-draft-1st-round-v-2-0/

 

Top 10:

 

1. Appel

2. Zimmer

3. Zunino

4. Buxton

5. Giolito

Cubs: Smoral

7. Gausman

8. Correa

9. Shaffer

10.Marrero

Smoral over Gausman?

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Seedlings to Stars released their second mock: http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/05/02/s2s-2012-mock-draft-1st-round-v-2-0/

 

Top 10:

 

1. Appel

2. Zimmer

3. Zunino

4. Buxton

5. Giolito

Cubs: Smoral

7. Gausman

8. Correa

9. Shaffer

10.Marrero

Smoral over Gausman?

 

I would riot with the wrath of a thousand gods.

[davell]

I could at least see us taking Fried over one of the college arms as a possibility, but not a guy who was injured and missed half the season, with less talent than Fried to begin with.

[davell]

By the way, Giolito is beginning to throw again and Correa is really looking good. I think he's going to push himself inside the top 5. I'm starting to feel very confident that one of Appel, Gausman, or Zimmer is there for us at 6 and we'll be choosing between them and Giolito.

[CubsWin]

By the way, Giolito is beginning to throw again and Correa is really looking good. I think he's going to push himself inside the top 5. I'm starting to feel very confident that one of Appel, Gausman, or Zimmer is there for us at 6 and we'll be choosing between them and Giolito.

That's is my hope as well.

 

If the Cubs walk away with one of Appel, Gausman or Giolito, I'll be very, very happy. Might have to pop some champagne over that. If they take a position player, I hope it is because their scouts agree he is far and away the better player. If it's close between position player and pitcher, I hope they go pitcher.