2012 Draft Discussion

[UK1679666180]

Fried's curve is still 75-78 from the reports I've seen.

 

I have to imagine he's pitched his way into the top 10.

 

75-78 is ideal for the loopy 12/6 break, we have 76 as the ideal mph for that type of curve and 85-86 for the slider.

 

Once he starts getting into that 80 range, it'll start to look more Pedro Martinez where it breaks more 1/6.

[UK1679666180]

Wanted to post this much earlier but I had a very dramatic meltdown witnessed by many. Seen Wacha a few times and the guy that comes to mind with him is Dan Haren with a change up rather than splitter. Will he have Haren's control? Probably not.

 

UK, any thoughts on Hunter Virant? I'm really high on this guy in this draft. Does he have a chance to pass Fried or is just that not happening?

 

I don't see him passing Fried, his velo has been down this Spring and he's still raw even for a HS pitcher. The interesting part about him is that he's just learning how to pitch now and is projected in the 1st.

 

If he can get his velo to sit 90-93 and touch 96 as reported in the past compared 88-90 touching 91 where he's been, it'll get interesting.

[UK1679666180]

UK, you have Gausman with a better change than Wacha?

 

That doesn't mean that Wacha's is poor, it projects as a plus pitch. Gausman just maintains his arm slot and speed better than anyone in the draft, Wacha's change is very good and helped by the fact that Wacha has the best feel for his FB of anyone in the draft.

[Guest]

@KendallRogersPG Got a report on #SanFrancisco RHP Kyle Zimmer. Was usual 92-96 with his FB tonight. #Cubs big gun Theo Epstein in attendance. #mlbdraft #MLB

 

@KendallRogersPG Though Epstein may be taking a hard look at Zimmer, hard to imagine the #Cubs will have a chance to nab him at the No. 6 spot in #mlbdraft

 

Appel and Wacha had poor outings tonight. Gausman was strong - struck out 12 but gave up 5 in 6.2 against #3 Arkansas.

[Tryptamine]

Am I wrong on being turned off by Appel? It's great that he's got the body type and profile to be a top tier starter, but when do we start wondering if he's ever going to miss bats at a decent rate? Maybe it's unjustified, but if I'm taking a guy in the top couple picks I want someone who doesn't have such a big question mark.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Am I wrong on being turned off by Appel? It's great that he's got the body type and profile to be a top tier starter, but when do we start wondering if he's ever going to miss bats at a decent rate? Maybe it's unjustified, but if I'm taking a guy in the top couple picks I want someone who doesn't have such a big question mark.

 

 

He's got 52 K in 48 IP this year.

[Guest]

Am I wrong on being turned off by Appel? It's great that he's got the body type and profile to be a top tier starter, but when do we start wondering if he's ever going to miss bats at a decent rate? Maybe it's unjustified, but if I'm taking a guy in the top couple picks I want someone who doesn't have such a big question mark.

 

Anyone analyst who says he's still struggling to miss bats hasn't paid attention to Appel this season. And keep in mind, he's probably pitched against the toughest competition of any college pitcher this season.

[UK1679666180]

Am I wrong on being turned off by Appel? It's great that he's got the body type and profile to be a top tier starter, but when do we start wondering if he's ever going to miss bats at a decent rate? Maybe it's unjustified, but if I'm taking a guy in the top couple picks I want someone who doesn't have such a big question mark.

 

Anyone analyst who says he's still struggling to miss bats hasn't paid attention to Appel this season. And keep in mind, he's probably pitched against the toughest competition of any college pitcher this

season.

 

He's #1 there's no doubt about that but this is the 1st, he's shown that which is huge.

 

I don't know if he's tightened his secondary stuff or just locating his FB better but its very encouraging.

 

I watched plenty of Cody Scarpetta (Brewers) when he was throwing 89-92 with a hammer against bad Rockford teams and seen him strikeout very few and wondered the same thing, he's proven that theory wrong so far.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

This Kyle Zimmer guy better allow for Gausman to fall right into their laps. Still not sure if Zimmer is worth this hype he's getting.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Didn't know Zimmer was only 20 this season. That's interesting.

[davell]

McCullers' stat line for the year is 37.1IP, 9H, 10W, and 69K. No runs allowed against good competition.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

McCullers' stat line for the year is 37.1IP, 9H, 10W, and 69K. No runs allowed against good competition.

 

He'll make an excellent closer for someone one day.

[davell]

I'm never ready to write guys off as a starter, until they prove they can't do it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not thinking of McCullers at 6 either, so he's probably not falling to 43. If he did though, I'd spend the extra penalty overslot cash we have to try and sign him.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I'm never ready to write guys off as a starter, until they prove they can't do it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not thinking of McCullers at 6 either, so he's probably not falling to 43. If he did though, I'd spend the extra penalty overslot cash we have to try and sign him.

 

At 43? Yeah, he'd probably be interesting. I just think he screams future reliever, and it's not even just his size. He throws like a reliever. I'll give him that he's athletic and long limbed, which should help him out if he hopes to be a starter, but pretty much everything else screams reliever.

 

Otoh I think he can be a pretty impressive reliever...David Robertson with a better fastball and less control...actually maybe even a Marmol type with the devestatimg breaking pitch from hell.

[pitchcs]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/prep-baseball-superstar-possible-first-round-mlb-pick-170907446.html

 

Wow

[sweetpeteman]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/prep-baseball-superstar-possible-first-round-mlb-pick-170907446.html

 

Wow

 

 

That was the last thing I was expecting when I clicked. Damn.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/prep-baseball-superstar-possible-first-round-mlb-pick-170907446.html

 

Wow

 

 

That was the last thing I was expecting when I clicked. Damn.

 

+1

 

On the outside he had it all. Lined up to go to a top notch baseball program that happens to be a really good school. Makes you wonder what was involved that had him so off balance like that.

[Guest]

Couldn't click the link off my phone but I'm guessing the link is about the Vandy commit who committed suicide yesterday, right?

[davell]

Yeah.

[Guest]

Another big prep injury, this time to LHP Matt Smoral (Solon, OH): http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/04/smoral-to-have-surgery-on-right-foot/

 

Matt Smoral, a lefthanded pitcher at Solon (Ohio) High, will have surgery on the fourth metatarsal of his right foot on Friday, April 6, his father confirmed in an e-mail to Baseball America. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Brian Donley of the Cleveland Clinic. Donley said the expected recovery time is 12 to 14 weeks and while he couldn't guarantee anything, he expects a full recovery with no limitations for Smoral afterward.

 

Joins 2 other injured potential prominent prep 2012 draft picks, CJ Hinojosa and Lucas Giolito.

[davell]

I would LOVE Smoral to fall to 43.

[fan_in_China]

I would LOVE Smoral to fall to 43.

 

 

That would be awesome, but... signing Gio (like you said on the previous page) + Smoral would equal at least 5 mil (probably more). After that the Cubs would have to spend like the Whites Sox. I love both of their upside, but handicapping the Cubs to spending near or below slot and $100,000 kids wouldn't really be worth it for 2 high school pitchers that both already have a history of injury.

 

Here is what BA has to say about Gio and I imagine Smoral would be a similar situation in that neither will bring down their $ demands that much.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/03/how-lucas-giolitos-injury-could-affect-draft/

 

P.S. I know you probably weren't really saying that the Cub's should get both, but I thought that it is best to crush dreams early.

[Guest]

Matt (Texas): Where would Appel, Zimmer, Wacha, and Gausman rank compared to the arms from last years draft?

 

Aaron Fitt: I think Cole and Appel are pretty comparable, but I would probably take Cole. I like Bauer and Hultzen better than any college arms in this class, but I think this group has solid depth, as the Wacha/Gausman/Stroman types stack up well against the Jungmann/Bradley/Barnes/Gray group, I think. Last year's class was much richer in lefthanded pitching, though, with Tyler Anderson and Sean Gilmartin also going in the first round. There really isn't a college lefty this year who looks like a lock to be a first-round pick. Brian Johnson is probably at the top of the heap, and his performance has not been overhwelming, and neither is his stuff.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Hm...that makes me wonder if I overrate Gausman. What're the thoughts by others on this board on this guy? Does he have ace upside?

[iowahawkeyes89]

I liked Gausman out of high school and I like him just as much now.

 

I think he has #2/#3 starter potential.

 

If you want ace potential, I like Walker Weickel.

 

I'm hoping the Cubs go with some high risk high reward hs players with our comp. picks.

 

Cubs system lacks star power, outside of Baez and maybe Rizzo.