2012 Draft Day Thread + Cubs Picks Discussion

[pitchcs]

Duane Underwood sorta reminds me of Tyson Ross in that video, at least in his body size. Or, dare I say, Jerome Williams?

[Guest]

How about Dylan Baker here? I don't think Buttrey or Virant are options.

[davell]

Man, there are still guys out there that would be tempting as hell to punt the rest of the top 10 rounds for.

Not worth it. Given that probably 1 or 2 of these guys will ever be productive in the majors, it's better to maximize your chances as opposed to putting everything into a guy you think is a better bet.

 

You're not literally punting though. In fact, you're probably taking low end guys with no real upside, but fairly likely to at leasrt make the majors. Like a Taylor Dugas or Jason Coats.

[davell]

I'd be OK with Baker. If those aren't options, I think I'd go with Tyler Pike or Kieran Lovegrove.

[Guest]

Ryan McNeil

 

Another HS guy

Edited June 5, 2012 by David

[Rizzo Smash]

Ryan McNeil RHP

[Guest]

RHP Ryan McNiel, Nipomo HS (CA)

 

BA:

 

The athletic McNeil started slowly this spring after playing basketball into mid-February, but his stock has been on the rebound. Early in the spring, his mechanics, command and fastball velocity were off and his slider was flat. His velocity picked back up down the stretch, sitting at 90-91 mph and touching 93 at times, and he has a chance to pitch with a solid-average fastball as he adds strength to his 6-foot-3 frame. He has done a better job staying on top of the ball lately, lending his fastball more life and improving his command. His slider shows flashes of being a solid-average pitch with good shape, but other times it gets slurvy or flat. He also has improved his feel for a changeup, though it's still a work in progress like the rest of his repertoire. Some clubs soured on McNeil early in the spring, but a team that likes his frame, athleticism and arm strength could take him around the fifth round and try to buy him out of a commitment to Long Beach State.

 

BA has him at 185. Another good athlete pitcher.

[davell]

Gotta be honest. no idea who Ryan McNeil is.

[Guest]

They weren't kidding about trying to get an influx of power arms in the system.

 

Like it a lot.

 

(It being the goal of adding power arms. I'm not pretending I know anything about McNeil.)

[pitchcs]

Gotta be honest. no idea who Ryan McNeil is.

 

I would say 99.7% of baseball fans are with you.

[Guest]

I'm surprised at the lack of college guys and cheaper guys thus far.

 

I'm off to work. I'll be back at 2:15 CT for a lunch break and will post BA blurbs of guys who've been picked after McNeil at that time. Someone post in here if/when Virant is picked, please. Thanks.

[PrimeTime]

Just blew my McLeod after seeing this draft so far. Good Job by Jed and Theo so far.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Gotta be honest. no idea who Ryan McNeil is.

 

I would say 99.7% of baseball fans are with you.

 

The majority of baseball fans likely have no idea who 99.7% of these guys are. The same could be said for any draft class on draft day.

[Guest]

Gotta be honest. no idea who Ryan McNeil is.

 

I would say 99.7% of baseball fans are with you.

 

The majority of baseball fans likely have no idea who 99.7% of these guys are. The same could be said for any draft class on draft day.

 

I didn't realize that! I don't think pitchcs did, either!

[Guest]

I'm surprised at the lack of college guys and cheaper guys thus far.

 

 

Kind of seems like you have to take the HS guys earlier so you can pay them more/more easily, no? Then leave the cheaper college guys for later.

[davell]

Damn, Twomey went to the A's. Wish we had nabbed him, if he was actually signable in the 3rd.

[Guest]

I'm surprised at the lack of college guys and cheaper guys thus far.

 

 

Kind of seems like you have to take the HS guys earlier so you can pay them more/more easily, no? Then leave the cheaper college guys for later.

A strategy I like because you can also get a pick next year if you don't sign a top 3 rd guy this year.

[Rob]

Garcia just went to the Dodgers. Good luck!

[Guest]

Dodgers take Onelki.

[Guest]

If there's one thing this FO hangs their hat on, it is preparation. I'm assuming they have a really good idea what it is going to take to sign the players they are drafting.

[Theo]

Question, is anyone else having trouble with MLB's draft tracker

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2012/drafttracker.jsp?p=0&s=30&sc=pick_number&so=ascending&st=number&ft=RD,TM&fv=,chc

 

Specfially the filters, etc? I was hoping to follow this on the side at work, is there a better site to use?

[A New Era]

They weren't kidding about trying to get an influx of power arms in the system.

 

Like it a lot.

 

(It being the goal of adding power arms. I'm not pretending I know anything about McNeil.)

 

Yeah I know right? We've said the FO has been secretive, but not in the case before the draft. Overwhelming thought was they take Almora #6 and McLeod said himself power arms that show up in the post season.

[davell]

Wow. Alford to the Blue Jays? My guess is they want to take that pick next year. Onelkis Garcia and his 7 mill demands to the Dodgers.....Lovegrove off the board too. Not much left off my list of wants at this point.

[davell]

McNeil's 185 on BA's top 500. That's better than I would have figured.

[Guest]

Some video on McNeil

 

http://www.bbprospectreport.com/2012/05/04/ryan-mcneil-video