2012 Draft Day Thread + Cubs Picks Discussion

[Guest]

Correa probably needs to take 5 mill or less for Virant to be an issue, if he wants top 20 money. Even then, McCullers is their priority, since he was taken first. Unless they're really supersmart and intend to punt the McCullers pick until next year.

But then you lose McCullers' slot value from your draft pool.

 

Sounds like Correa will get close to $6, giving the Astros an extra $1.2 to work with.

[davell]

Heyman and Knobler just tweeted Correa should have a deal by Thursday for close to 5 mill. It's definitely possible for them to get all 3.

[imb]

Love the Underwood pick.

 

FYI, Underwood has received a few Taijuan Walker comps. Probably because they're both black but I'll take it.

I'm pretty sure that Klaw had him top 50 in his last top 100 list.

 

if all you did was read underwood's scouting report, i would have been fine with taking him in the comp round. he sounds like a steal, particularly considering where he was picked

[davell]

Bijan Rademacher OF from a CC somewhere in the 13th. Rated 445 on the top 500. Great name.

[fan_in_China]

Not that anyone cares about my silly little shadowteam, but.... in the last 2 rounds the guy I took was taken almost immediately after the Cub's pick (Dalton Friend and Malcolm Diaz). I don't know if I will be able to sign them, but I think I have a chance. Edited June 5, 2012 by fan_in_China

[Guest]

"@aaronfitt: I'm getting a bunch of texts from very excited college coaches. There is a strong sense that new draft rules will be a boon for college bsb."

 

"@conorglassey: College baseball will be loaded next year."

[davell]

14th round Corbin Hoffner RHP St Petersburg College

[davell]

"@aaronfitt: I'm getting a bunch of texts from very excited college coaches. There is a strong sense that new draft rules will be a boon for college bsb."

 

"@conorglassey: College baseball will be loaded next year."

Whether true or not, this new CBA is a massive FAIL. Bud thought this would get players being drafted in line with talent and instead half the players drafted in the 5-10 rounds probably were barely draftable at best.

[Guest]

"@aaronfitt: I'm getting a bunch of texts from very excited college coaches. There is a strong sense that new draft rules will be a boon for college bsb."

 

"@conorglassey: College baseball will be loaded next year."

Whether true or not, this new CBA is a massive FAIL. Bud thought this would get players being drafted in line with talent and instead half the players drafted in the 5-10 rounds probably were barely draftable at best.

 

"@BaseballAmerica: We will likely see some 6th-10th rounders released next year in spring training. Doesn't necessarily mean the team made bad picks."

[davell]

C Carlos Escobar Nevada in the 15th. Ranked 445.

[CUBZ99]

"@aaronfitt: I'm getting a bunch of texts from very excited college coaches. There is a strong sense that new draft rules will be a boon for college bsb."

 

"@conorglassey: College baseball will be loaded next year."

Whether true or not, this new CBA is a massive FAIL. Bud thought this would get players being drafted in line with talent and instead half the players drafted in the 5-10 rounds probably were barely draftable at best.

 

Its not necessarily bad for the teams. If HS kid picks college over MLB, the scouts get a longer period to evaluate the player and presumably the player would be closer to the majors after several years of college.

[Theo]

Kevin Goldstein addressed this point directly on the radio this AM here in Chicago. Most college baseball teams don't have a full scholarship available for every roster spot. They will get let's say, 10 scholarships for their entire team. So what they will do with many of these, is split them up, offering partial ride scholarships. The problem with kids from modest means is that they may not even be able to afford anything but a full ride, so many will just chose sports like football, if they can get that full ride.

 

Jeff Samardzija would be a WR in the NFL, if this CBA existed 6 years ago. Unless these rules can somehow transform college baseball into the powerhouse that is NCAA Football or Basketball(highly doubt it), it is bad for the game of baseball.

[Vinestal]

Kevin Goldstein addressed this point directly on the radio this AM here in Chicago. Most college baseball teams don't have a full scholarship available for every roster spot. They will get let's say, 10 scholarships for their entire team. So what they will do with many of these, is split them up, offering partial ride scholarships. The problem with kids from modest means is that they may not even be able to afford anything but a full ride, so many will just chose sports like football, if they can get that full ride.

 

Jeff Samardzija would be a WR in the NFL, if this CBA existed 6 years ago. Unless these rules can somehow transform college baseball into the powerhouse that is NCAA Football or Basketball(highly doubt it), it is bad for the game of baseball.

I just hope they realize the effect the new rules are having and react and adjust instead of just leaving them this way. It's frustrating to watch.

[craig]

..

Whether true or not, this new CBA is a massive FAIL. Bud thought this would get players being drafted in line with talent and instead half the players drafted in the 5-10 rounds probably were barely draftable at best.

 

Don't see why.

1. It seems it will be very effective at capping spending.

2. It seems it will be very effective at keeping some teams from superslotting like mad.

3. Because some teams can't superslot like crazy, they won't be able to drive up the prices so much.

4. It will make it more a game of scouting smarts and less a game of $$$.

 

The fact that some guys at the back of 1-10 are being drafted for the 40% minimum is just part of it. So what.

 

I'm not so sure it's that bad for the game for guys to go to college. Is college that bad? If the only HS kids who sign are top-200 guys, that's fine. Let the norm be to go to college.

 

I've actually been pretty impressed with how well structured the rules are, and how leak-proof they appear to be. If there's some loophole, I haven't heard it yet. I think the loss of future 1st round pick, singular or plural, is huge. I don't think teams will go there. That will probably be a safe and sure protection, kind of like teams signing NFL free agents at the cost of 1st round picks. It never happens.

[davell]

I'll be shocked, with Boras involved, if this doesn't morph into collegiate type recruiting. Bags of under the table cash, "friends of the program" buying cars and houses for family members, and so on. In the end, we're a major market team and we'll be fine. But Selig listened to Reinsdorf on this and he should have left it alone. A 20 million dollar draft budget should not be disallowed. It could help shape a team for a decade, just as much as signing one major free agent signing would, if not moreso.

[Guest]

Correa probably needs to take 5 mill or less for Virant to be an issue, if he wants top 20 money. Even then, McCullers is their priority, since he was taken first. Unless they're really supersmart and intend to punt the McCullers pick until next year.

But then you lose McCullers' slot value from your draft pool.

 

Sounds like Correa will get close to $6, giving the Astros an extra $1.2 to work with.

 

To add to that, I forgot they drafted Rio Ruiz too (and outside the first 3 rounds, at that). I think Virant is McCullers insurance.

[CubColtPacer]

"@aaronfitt: I'm getting a bunch of texts from very excited college coaches. There is a strong sense that new draft rules will be a boon for college bsb."

 

"@conorglassey: College baseball will be loaded next year."

Whether true or not, this new CBA is a massive FAIL. Bud thought this would get players being drafted in line with talent and instead half the players drafted in the 5-10 rounds probably were barely draftable at best.

 

I think that was their stated intent with the new CBA, but it wasn't the real intent. The owners wanted to cut costs somewhere, and this was one area that the union didn't care about as much. It seems like it's doing a fantastic job of achieving that goal. Now whether that's worth the loss of some talented players who will choose other sports, that's still a question. But this draft has worked out exactly as I think the owners hoped it would-most teams choosing to stay within the spending limits, and not having an arms race. They would love to do this with major league salaries as well, but the union will never allow that.

[Tracer Bullet]

You mean owners want to agree among themselves that they'll pay below market value to save themselves money? We should do this with ticket prices.

[El Duderino]

@Kevin_Goldstein

 

Still excellent, but not as easy as maybe I initially thought. RT @MikeyLo34: @Kevin_Goldstein Chances Almora signs with the Cubs?

[ctcf]

@Kevin_Goldstein

 

Still excellent, but not as easy as maybe I initially thought. RT @MikeyLo34: @Kevin_Goldstein Chances Almora signs with the Cubs?

 

Kevin Goldstein ‏@Kevin_Goldstein

@BleacherNation There's been some whispers about some stuff. Still would bet overwhelmingly that he signs.

[Guancous]

Three years of collegiate playing is far worse developmentally than the minors. The college coaches have pressure to win now that sometimes trumps the long-term health of their players.

[nobull]

It is about money

[Guest]

Press Release:

 

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today completed the second day of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The club thus far has selected 17 players. The third and final day of the draft is tomorrow with rounds 16-40.

 

The Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Duane Underwood out of Pope High School in Marietta, Ga., in the second round (67th overall) and right-handed pitcher Ryan McNeil out of Nipomo (Calif.) High School in the third round (101st overall).

 

Underwood was recommended by area scout Keith Lockhart, and McNeil was recommended by area scout Tom Myers.

 

Underwood, 17, was 6-1 with a 2.36 ERA on the hill, striking out 75 and walking 34 in 50.1 innings pitched this past season for Pope. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder struck out 15 hitters in 6.1 innings of work, March 9 vs. Lassiter. At the plate, Underwood batted .337 (35-for-104) with seven doubles, two triples, six home runs and 19 RBI. Underwood has committed to the University of Georgia.

 

McNeil, 18, logged a 1.10 ERA and held the opposition to a .175 batting average last season for Nipomo High School. He struck out 94 hitters in 57.1 innings pitched, good for an average of 14.76 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, while walking just 21 hitters. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound McNeil hit .392 (20-for-51) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 18 RBI. He has committed to Long Beach State University.

 

The Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Josh Conway out of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., in the fourth round (134th overall). The 21-year-old made nine starts last season, going 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA (13 ER/54.2 IP) and a complete game. He struck out 50, walked just 18 and held the opposition to a .222 batting average. Conway was selected by Atlanta in the 42nd round of the 2009 draft, but did not sign. He was recommended by area scout Keith Lockhart.

 

With the club’s eighth-round pick, the team selected left-handed pitcher Michael Heesch out of the University of South Carolina Beaufort. A Crystal Lake, Ill., native who graduated from Prairie Ridge High School, the 22-year-old attended the University of Illinois–Chicago for two years before transferring to South Carolina Beaufort. In 2012, he went 9-3 with a 2.21 ERA in 18 games, holding the opponent to a .246 batting average.

 

Through the first two days, the Cubs have selected 11 pitchers (nine righthanders and two lefthanders), one infielder, three outfielders and two catchers. Additionally, the Cubs have selected 11 college players and six high school players.

 

Here is a look at Chicago’s first 17 selections from the 2012 First-Year Player Draft:

 

Rd. (pick No.)      Player                                Pos.            School                                                        Birthday            B     T      Ht.       Wt.
1 (6)                    Albert Almora                     OF               Mater Academy Charter School (Fla.)       4/16/1994           R      R      6-2       180
1A (43)                Pierce Johnson                   RHP             Missouri State University                         5/10/1991           R      R      6-3       180
1A (56)                Paul Blackburn                   RHP             Heritage High School (Calif.)                    12/4/1993           R      R      6-2       185 
2 (67)                  Duane Underwood            RHP             Pope High School (Ga.)                             7/20/1994           R      R      6-2       205  
3 (101)                Ryan McNeil                       RHP             Nipomo High School (Calif.)                     2/1/1994             R      R      6-3       210
4 (134)                Josh Conway                      RHP             Coastal Carolina University (S.C.)            4/12/1991           R      R      6-1       175
5 (164)                Anthony Prieto                   LHP             Americas High School (Texas)                  11/16/1993         L      L      5-11     170  
6 (194)                Trey Lang                           RHP             Gateway CC (Ariz.)                                     5/18/1992           R      R      6-3       225
7 (224)                Stephen Bruno                   INF              University of Virginia                                11/17/1990         R      R      5-9       175
8 (254)                Michael Heesch                  LHP             University of South Carolina Beaufort     5/15/1990           R      L      6-5       260
9 (284)                Chadd Krist                        C                  University of California, Berkeley            1/28/1990           R      R      5-11     190
10 (314)              Chad Martin                        RHP             Indiana University                                     5/17/1990           R      R      6-7       230
11 (344)              Rashad Crawford               OF               Mundy’s Hill High School (Ga.)                 10/15/1993         S      R      6-3       185
12 (374)              Justin Amlung                    RHP             University of Louisville (Ky.)                    5/21/1990           R      R      6-1       180
13 (404)              Bijan Rademacher              OF               Orange Coast College (Calif.)                  6/15/1991           L      L      6-0       200
14 (434)              Corbin Hoffner                   RHP             St. Petersburg College (Fla.)                    7/30/1993           R      R      6-5       235
15 (464)              Carlos Escobar                  C                  University of Nevada                                12/31/1990         R      R      6-2       185

[davell]

By the way, I found out that you CAN sign players for any amount, as long as they agree to terms. If not, THEN they have to be offered 40%, so it could help us get a bit more room to help out overslotting when needed.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'll be shocked, with Boras involved, if this doesn't morph into collegiate type recruiting. Bags of under the table cash, "friends of the program" buying cars and houses for family members, and so on. In the end, we're a major market team and we'll be fine. But Selig listened to Reinsdorf on this and he should have left it alone. A 20 million dollar draft budget should not be disallowed. It could help shape a team for a decade, just as much as signing one major free agent signing would, if not moreso.

 

i don't know why people think boras is some slimy mole who will cheat to get as much money as possible for his client. he's a hard-ass but not a complete scumbag.

 

also, what you are suggesting is that basically any league with a salary cap will inevitably engage in rampant cheating.