2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Rodon pitched much better in the 2nd half, including that complete game against ... Georgia Tech? Even when he struggled the first half, he was still doing better than most pitchers. The command and consistency haven't been there, but the raw stuff has been. As long as he's not injured, he's still the horse I'd bet on from the 2014 college pitching class.

 

One guy to watch for, in terms of draft placement, from the college ranks, IMO, is Brandon Downes from UVA. He has the makings of a high round pick - good CF (also backup catcher), good power. He has one big question, though - the K's are high, and there definitely is some swing and miss concern. But, I think he's better than Jarrett Parker a few years ago, who ended up as a 2nd round pick (flop).

 

Kiley McDaniel updated his college rankings, taking out South Carolina's Grayson Greiner and instead adding Downes.

[toonsterwu]

To be fair, it's not hard to envision Downes struggling up the ladder like, say, Jarrett Parker (although Parker's having a decent year this year, at last check). He's got a year to turn it around, but it's also possible the K's get worse as teams have a better book on him. Of course, the deep UVA lineup holds.

 

Actually, if I was being fair, I don't love Derek Fisher as a top half of the first round guy. I can understand it - the bat speed, power, and discipline at the plate is solid across the board. Still, he's probably better in LF, and I don't know if he's an ... elite bat. He could be decent in RF, but UVA put Joe McCarthy and Mike "Ridiculous Slash line and wasn't even a starter full year" Papi at the corners ahead of him (partly because Fisher got dinged up a bit during the year, IIRC right now).

[RammyFanny]

Well, we're back to 3rd overall pick status at the moment.

[Guest]

Rodon just filthy and dominating North Carolina in an ACC Tournament semifinal game.

 

Lost a no-hitter in the 7th and set a new NC State single season strikeout record. He's topping out at 96 in the 8th and his slider is just nasty.

 

9 IP, 1 H, 1 UER, 2 BB, 13 K. He should be done if this one goes to the 10th.

[davell]

He pitched a clean 10th, K'ing one. Was still hitting 93. Done now.

[Guest]

He pitched a clean 10th, K'ing one. Was still hitting 93. Done now.

 

Yeesh - 130 pitches. Thats the problem with college pitchers.

 

If the Cubs have a top 3 pick, I want Touki, Alex Jackson or Trea Turner.

[CubsWin]

He pitched a clean 10th, K'ing one. Was still hitting 93. Done now.

 

Yeesh - 130 pitches. Thats the problem with college pitchers.

 

If the Cubs have a top 3 pick, I want Touki, Alex Jackson or Trea Turner.

Right now they have the 4th pick. Would you take Rodon there? Love what I'm reading on Touki...

[Guest]

He pitched a clean 10th, K'ing one. Was still hitting 93. Done now.

 

Yeesh - 130 pitches. Thats the problem with college pitchers.

 

If the Cubs have a top 3 pick, I want Touki, Alex Jackson or Trea Turner.

Right now they have the 4th pick. Would you take Rodon there? Love what I'm reading on Touki...

 

Obviously way too soon to say anything (especially considering pitcher attrition) but as things stand now, Rodon and Beede are probably the best players available at that point if Toussaint, Jackson and Turner are unavailable.

[Guest]

Carlos Rodon was just filthy today in a 1-0 complete game shutout win for NC State. Last pitch of the game from him was 96. His final line: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K.

 

Luke Weaver of Florida State just dominated - 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 14 K.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

So I guess Rodon is officially back. Wonder what happened in the middle there.

[toonsterwu]

IIRC, I think there was some talk that he wasn't in the best shape. I could be wrong, as I really don't follow College baseball all that hardcore, but he started rounding into form midseason.

 

If the medicals check out, he's still my pick as the top guy in the draft. Beede's stuff is very good, and it's likely the command improves (not definite, but likely). That said, if Rodon is on, he's just on another level.

 

I don't love Trea Turner. I know everything says I should ... but I don't.

[RammyFanny]

SI tabbed Gatewood as their favorite to go #1 at the bottom of this draft recap:

Early front runner for to go 1-1 in 2014: Jacob Gatewood

 

Gatewood is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior shortstop from Clovis (Calif.) High School near Fresno. Had he been in this draft, Gatewood would be the best shortstop, high school or college, available. He runs well, has a great throwing arm and the ball flies off his bat. He has true superstar potential and reminds people of Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki, who he patterns his game after, even wearing No. 2 in Tulo's honor.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130607/mlb-draft-wrapup-mark-appel-astros-top-pick-winners-losers/#ixzz2VbkZF2N3

[Guest]

@conorglassey: Early top 2014 #mlbdraft prospects: Rodon, Beede, Jackson (HS), Turner, Toussaint (HS), Gatewood (HS), Burdi, Gordon (HS), Conforto & Aiken

[Guest]

Tyler Beede pitching on ESPN right now.

 

His control has been bad all year and he just pegged a Louisville player flush in the helmet. Scary moment but Coco Johnson is staying in the game.

[Guest]

ABTY:

 

Yags, sorry for cluddering up your ever impressive thread but a 2014 draft note worth passing along: three scouts with three different organizations told me that Alex Jackson is '...JMC's favorite prospect, ever...' and if he were eligible this year, he would have selected him over anyone, including Appel...

[Bobson Dugnutt]

ABTY:

 

Yags, sorry for cluddering up your ever impressive thread but a 2014 draft note worth passing along: three scouts with three different organizations told me that Alex Jackson is '...JMC's favorite prospect, ever...' and if he were eligible this year, he would have selected him over anyone, including Appel...

 

It would be so great to add a top prospect at catcher to this system next June.

[Guest]

ABTY:

 

Yags, sorry for cluddering up your ever impressive thread but a 2014 draft note worth passing along: three scouts with three different organizations told me that Alex Jackson is '...JMC's favorite prospect, ever...' and if he were eligible this year, he would have selected him over anyone, including Appel...

 

It would be so great to add a top prospect at catcher to this system next June.

 

From what I can tell, it sounds like there's a good chance he ends up in the outfield to protect his legs.

[davell]

http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present/34008

 

Posting this to show a few names that haven't been mentioned and it gives a bit of what these guys bring to the table. With the strength of our system being in A+ or lower, I'll go ahead and say I think we'll have the top system in the minors by midseason of next year.

[Guest]

Beede's got to make a lot of strides in control next year to go 1.1.

[Tyrant]

Well, we're back to 3rd overall pick status at the moment.

 

And back to 3 again after the Mets won yesterday. They'll never catch the Marlins or Astros of course, but staying at the 3rd pick seems very possible.

[pitchcs]

Well, we're back to 3rd overall pick status at the moment.

 

And back to 3 again after the Mets won yesterday. They'll never catch the Marlins or Astros of course, but staying at the 3rd pick seems very possible.

 

I'd still be very surprised if this team ends as the 3rd worst in the league. I'm thinking 7th pick or so right now.

[Redfoot]

Flaherty ran 6.45 and 6.37 60's. He'll be long gone by pick 11.

[Guest]

Pretty depressing to find out that Dazmon Cameron, the early odds-on favorite to be picked first overall in 2015, is Mike Cameron's son.

[Guest]

Flaherty ran 6.45 and 6.37 60's. He'll be long gone by pick 11.

 

If we're picking at that mock, I'd start with Alex Jackson going sixth overall and not being the first pick.

 

Plus no Brady Aiken in the first round.

[Guest]

ABTY:

 

Yags, sorry for cluddering up your ever impressive thread but a 2014 draft note worth passing along: three scouts with three different organizations told me that Alex Jackson is '...JMC's favorite prospect, ever...' and if he were eligible this year, he would have selected him over anyone, including Appel...

 

It would be so great to add a top prospect at catcher to this system next June.

 

From what I can tell, it sounds like there's a good chance he ends up in the outfield to protect his legs.

 

Well, his pop time and arm were fantastic at Perfect Game yesterday. Sounds like he can definitely hang at catcher; moving him might come down to protecting his body.

 

Also:

 

@TGold_PG: If day 1 of #PGNational is any indication, the 2014 #MLBDraft is even more loaded than we thought. Can't wait for today's fireworks