2013 Draft Discussion

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Gray gave up 2 runs in the 1st, but OU also committed 2 errors. Only 1 ER.

 

Infield single, followed by a pickoff attempt that got away (didn't look like a terrible throw)

Sac bunt attempt, Gray tries to get the runner going to third, would have been out but third baseman dropped the ball

 

In the rest of the inning, there was one solid hit and one attempted squeeze bunt where they went for the runner at the plate and didnt' get him.

 

He looks pretty hittable though. Fastball very straight and frequently up and out over the plate. A lot of 94, 95. In the second inning, he gave up a single, a deep fly ball out, and then a double over the right fielder's head before getting out of it.

[shnsajax]

He's going to be throwing over 130 pitches for a CG with a 7-3 lead.

[apete6]

He's going to be throwing over 130 pitches for a CG with a 7-3 lead.

 

Finished at 129. High school and college coaches are the absolute worst.

[Guest]

BA Mock Draft #3: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/mock-draft-3-0-holding-pattern/

 

1. HOUSTON ASTROS: Houston’s list still includes five players, with Georgia high school outfielder Clint Frazier believed to be a distant fifth behind the four college prospects discussed above. Despite all the Moran talk, I still think it comes down to Gray and Appel, a Houston native whom the Astros considered at No. 1 a year ago. The industry perception is that it will be easier to strike a deal with Gray, and that could be the tiebreaker if the club is split between Gray’s upside and Appel’s polish. If the Astros take a bat, it would be Bryant over Moran.

 

PROJECTED PICK: Jonathan Gray (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Mark Appel/Gray).

 

2. CHICAGO CUBS: Chicago will consider the top four college prospects. While the Cubs won’t draft for need, they lack pitching and the decision will come down to Gray and Appel here as well. I don’t believe Chicago has resolved which pitcher it would select if it has its choice of both.

 

PROJECTED PICK: Mark Appel (Mock draft 1.0/2.0: Jonathan Gray/Appel).

 

Also:

 

The hottest rumor making the rounds is that the Astros will select North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran at No. 1 overall and sign him for roughly the same amount ($4.8 million) they paid Carlos Correa as the top pick in 2012. While Moran is on Houston’s short list of candidates, I don’t see this happening. For one, while Moran is a gifted hitter, he doesn’t have the impact potential of Oklahoma righthander Jonathan Gray, Stanford righthander Mark Appel or San Diego third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant. The Astros took a legitimate No. 1 overall talent and got a deep discount with Correa last year, but they’d be skimping on talent if they opt for Moran.

 

I’m also not sure how Houston would use all of the extra money if it saved $3 million off its assigned pick value of $7.8 million. The Astros could spend $2 million each on the Nos. 40, 74 and 107 picks, but this draft may lack the depth to provide players worthy of that kind of investment. Houston’s optimal strategy would be to sign a worthy player for somewhere between $6 million-$6.5 million, then have roughly $1.5 million to spread around.

 

Indiana State lefthander Sean Manaea remains the draft’s biggest wild card. He was a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick before his stuff dipped and he endured ankle, hip and shoulder issues this spring. Teams don’t have a good feel for his health or his signability, and I believe the most likely scenario is one of the clubs at the top of the draft with a large bonus pool will gamble on him after the first round.

[RammyFanny]

Bryant was pretty bad today outside of a walk. 0-3 or 4, if I remember right, and I remember reading that someone blew a sizzling 86 mph heater by him for a K.

[Guest]

Does ESPN1000 put their stuff online after the fact?

 

@jimcallisBA: I'll talk #Cubs, #WhiteSox & #mlbdraft w/@ESPNBruceLevine on @ESPN1000 in Chicago at 9:30 am CT.

[Redfoot]

Jeff Thompson is pitching for Louisville on ESPN2. Another guy to keep an eye on in this game is CF Adam Engle. He's a tremendous athlete but a very raw hitter. If his hit tool develops he can be an absolute steal in the 4-5 round range. I also like 3B Ty Young though he'll probably be moved to 2B in pro ball.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Does ESPN1000 put their stuff online after the fact?

 

@jimcallisBA: I'll talk #Cubs, #WhiteSox & #mlbdraft w/@ESPNBruceLevine on @ESPN1000 in Chicago at 9:30 am CT.

 

I listened, nothing interesting or anything anybody hasn't heard before.

[Guest]

@jimcallisBA: I'll talk #Cubs, #WhiteSox & #mlbdraft w/@BarryRozner & @BenFinfer on @670TheScore in Chicago at 11:20 am CT.

 

@jimcallisBA: I'll talk #Cubs & #mlbdraft w/@JordanBernfield's "Cubs Weekly" show on @WGNRadio (720 AM) in Chicago at noon CT.

[Guest]

@BruceMiles2112: I asked about drafting hitters who "get it." McLeod says lot of high-OBP guys can't do other things and hard to project 17-yr-olds. #Cubs

 

@BruceMiles2112: #Cubs have second overall draft pick, but Jason McLeod says org has spent a lot of time on picks No. 41 and 75 overall

[davell]

McLeod says its not about signability, its about getting the best fit for the Cubs.

[davell]

Pair of other notes from McLeod: They've spent around 2 hours on the 2nd pick over the last 4 days, most of their time is being spent on 41 and 75. Will be valuing impact over need.

[Guest]

Pair of other notes from McLeod: They've spent around 2 hours on the 2nd pick over the last 4 days, most of their time is being spent on 41 and 75. Will be valuing impact over need.

So...They know who they want at #2.

[Guest]

Pair of other notes from McLeod: They've spent around 2 hours on the 2nd pick over the last 4 days, most of their time is being spent on 41 and 75. Will be valuing impact over need.

So...They know who they want at #2.

Sloppy seconds doesn't seem the right term but I would guess Gray/Appel.

 

Question. Lets say the Cubs want Gray. Could they go to him and say we're willing to give you x, with that figure being well above the money slotted for the number 1 overall with the thought that Houston couldn't match that amount. Would/could that push Gray to tell Houston he wants x +, . Thus making it more likely Houston drafts Appel.

[davell]

Yeah, its been discussed. To me, neither Gray or Appel are guys worth doing that for. I just don't see enough of a difference between them to put one head and shoulders over the other. Last year, Byron Buxton got 6 mill as the highest bonus given out. I don't see these guys worth spending any more on than that personally. One of the cool things about picking this high is having extra money to throw out on extra picks as well. We can add a future TOR starter at 2 AND still be able to draft high upside types as well at 41 and 75, if we want to do so.

 

If one of these guys stood head and shoulders over the other- fine, but I don't see that really being the case. I think I'm to the point that while I'd be slightly disappointed, I won't freak out if we take Bryant.

[A New Era]

Pair of other notes from McLeod: They've spent around 2 hours on the 2nd pick over the last 4 days, most of their time is being spent on 41 and 75. Will be valuing impact over need.

So...They know who they want at #2.

 

ABTY did just say this on PSD

 

Kris Bryant believes he'll be a Cub...Gray feels same about Astros...

 

Maybe those 2 thoughts go together?

 

Anyway I'm happy they are spending alot of time on picks 2 and 3. And I'm glad they are going for more impact types. So maybe Duane Underwood high upside highschool types?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Kris Bryant believes he'll be a Cub...Gray feels same about Astros...

 

For the regulars around here... what would be your reaction if the Astros take Gray and the Cubs take Bryant?

[Guest]

I'm to the point where I don't particularly care if it's any of the 3.

 

Appel - Yay a really good arm who should move fast through the system

 

Gray - Yay a really good arm with potential to be a true ace

 

Bryant - Yay a big power bat that historically has a high hit rate

 

Some would probably be a bit miffed that they passed on Appel.

[davell]

As I mentioned earlier, I'd be slightly disappointed if we took Bryant, but I can see why we would. I think the pick wouldn't get great reviews honestly, as everyone has us pegged for pitching. But, that shouldn't and won't keep our FO from making the choice they want to make.

[CubsWin]

Assuming they reach their prospective ceilings and that those ceilings are Bryant = Mike Schmidt and Appel = a never injured Mark Prior...which would you rather have?

 

Feel free to change their ceiling comps as you like...

[Guest]

You can watch UCLA vs San Diego and Bryant here if you get ESPN3: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/932965/

 

Hopefully it's the last game of Bryant's collegiate career.

[Guest]

@kileymcd: For the record, more than a few teams won't start putting a bunch of names on a board in order until tomorrow, including clubs in the top 5.

[davell]

Here's my mock top 10 rounds right now.

Price/slot value guesstimate

2) Appel 6.0/6.7

41)RHP Connor Jones 2.0/1.3

75)3B Ryan McMahon .750/.750

108)LHP Stephen Tarpley .500/.500

138) RHP Jeff Thompson .400/.400

168) RHP Dustin Driver 1.200 /.300

198) Senior Sign .010/.200

228) Senior Sign .010/.175

258) Senior Sign .010/.150

288) Senior Sign .010/.125

 

From what little I can hear, Jones IS signable. Honestly not sure if 2 mill gets him or not. I can't see a team going much over that to get him, at any rate.

[davell]

Assuming they reach their prospective ceilings and that those ceilings are Bryant = Mike Schmidt and Appel = a never injured Mark Prior...which would you rather have?

 

Feel free to change their ceiling comps as you like...

 

I'd take the SP, no slight to the HOF 3rd baseman. But a 6-7 WAR SP for more than a decade is too much for me to pass up.

[CubsWin]

Here's my mock top 10 rounds right now.

Price/slot value guesstimate

2) Appel 6.0/6.7

41)RHP Connor Jones 2.0/1.3

75)3B Ryan McMahon .750/.750

108)LHP Stephen Tarpley .500/.500

138) RHP Jeff Thompson .400/.400

168) RHP Dustin Driver 1.200 /.300

198) Senior Sign .010/.200

228) Senior Sign .010/.175

258) Senior Sign .010/.150

288) Senior Sign .010/.125

 

From what little I can hear, Jones IS signable. Honestly not sure if 2 mill gets him or not. I can't see a team going much over that to get him, at any rate.

Man, that would be a great haul. Love McMahon in the 3rd. Driver in the 5th and signed would be like Christmas in June. Gawd, I hope you're right!!