2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Chris Crawford's top 14 college arms (the position/level he rates the best in the draft): http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/

 

This year’s college pitching class is an intriguing one; one that has quality at the top and some quantity as well. With that being said, outside of the top two arms — who we will discuss Ad nauseam this year, and with good reason —  there are some major caveats or red flags attached with the majority of the pitchers that could go in the first two to three rounds. If you’re a fan of velocity this is a good year for you; there’s a plethora of guys that have touched 95 or higher at some point, and there’s more upside in this group than we saw in either 2012 or 2013. There’s a ton of volatility, but overall I would consider this the strength of the 2014 draft to start the year.

 

1. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State

2. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina

3. Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford

4. Eric Fedde, RHP, UNLV

5. Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU

 

Tyler Beede was #7, Luke Weaver was #10.

[davell]

Touki just committed to Vandy. He could be a tough sign, unless he goes top 10 or so.

[Redfoot]

It looks like KLaw made a top 30 draft prospect list. Can someone with a subscription post the list or at least the top 10? Thanks

[Guest]

It looks like KLaw made a top 30 draft prospect list. Can someone with a subscription post the list or at least the top 10? Thanks

 

You have a link? I have Insider but I don't see it.

[Redfoot]

It was on Twitter and now that I look it was from Oct 18. Never mind. :oops:

[RammyFanny]

http://ht.ly/rrSbf

[davell]

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/12/the-board-2014-volume-way-too-early/

 

Crawford's top 50.

[Guest]

http://ht.ly/rrSbf

 

For those wondering, that's MLB.com's top 50 draft board (more interesting now that Jim Callis is on board).

 

Here is Chris Crawford's draft board: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/12/the-board-2014-volume-way-too-early/

[Guest]

Callis and Mayo project the top 10: http://ht.ly/rrTjc

 

Callis has the Cubs picking Beede, Mayo has Turner.

[Guest]

I think I want Jackson.

 

Just please, no Turner.

[Cubswin11]

Hoffman, Beede, Jackson. In that order for me and yeah I don't really want Turner I'd probably be pretty uninspired if he was taken by us. The only silver lining to taking him would be if he came at a relatively good discount and then we could take harder to sign guys later, but still then I wouldn't really like that. The #4 pick has a lot higher chances of hitting than 2-4 guys we got in later rounds because we had extra cash to spend that were "top 3 round talent" or whatever. Edited December 4, 2013 by Cubswin11

[davell]

I want Hoffman, assuming Rodon is long gone. Kolek or Holmes versus Jackson is tough for me to say, luckily we've got an entire season to figure it out.

[Guest]

Hoffman, Beede, Jackson. In that order for me and yeah I don't really want Turner I'd probably be pretty uninspired if he was taken by us. The only silver lining to taking him would be if he came at a relatively good discount and then we could take harder to sign guys later, but still then I wouldn't really like that. The #4 pick has a lot higher chances of hitting than 2-4 guys we got in later rounds because we had extra cash to spend that were "top 3 round talent" or whatever.

 

Everyone besides Keith Law and Chris Crawford have Turner in the top 10 (most in the top 5). That's enough of a consensus that he's not going to take a discount if the Cubs pick him.

 

Assuming Rodon is gone, I think my three favorites are Hoffman, Jackson, Davidson in that order. Thankfully there will be time to see how the prep arms do and hope that some of the bats distinguish themselves in a positive manner.

[Guest]

Callis previews the draft class: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131204&content_id=64354604&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

"Last year was one of the weakest Drafts I can remember," a scouting director with a National League team said. "Last year was really weak in high school pitching, and this year there's some really good-looking high school pitchers. Last year was the weakest year I've ever seen in shortstops, and this year there are shortstops. It's better in almost everything."

 

...

 

"If you look at the high school pitchers," an American League scouting director said, "you've got 10 or 15 who could be in the top 35-40 picks."

 

While pitchers claim 18 of the first 30 slots on MLB.com's Top 50 Draft Prospects list, scouts also are pleased with the quality of everyday players available. The first position player to go off the board could be Rodon's teammate Trea Turner, a speedster with offensive potential plus the quickness and arm to remain at shortstop.

 

...

 

"This Draft is pretty good," the AL scouting director said. "I'm excited. I think the pitching is a little ahead of the hitting, but it's actually a really athletic Draft with the high school kids and there's a pretty strong crop of power bats from college. I can't remember a time when there was this much power available."

[A New Era]

Callis and Mayo project the top 10: http://ht.ly/rrTjc

 

Callis has the Cubs picking Beede, Mayo has Turner.

 

Ew. Like Kolek, Jackson, or Turner better than Beede. Picking 4 and with Rondon assures atleast one will be there. As it stands now I think I like Kolek the most, Jackson next, and Turner 3rd.

[A New Era]

As it stands now I see it shaking out like this.

 

Lastros - Rodon

Marlins - whoever signs cheapest, but I'm gonna guess Hoffman or Kolek

White Sox - Jackson, Turner, or Gatewood

Cubs - possibility of Kolek, Jackson, Gatewood, Turner, and Beede being there.

[Guest]

As it stands now I see it shaking out like this.

 

Lastros - Rodon

Marlins - whoever signs cheapest, but I'm gonna guess Hoffman or Kolek

White Sox - Jackson, Turner, or Gatewood

Cubs - possibility of Kolek, Jackson, Gatewood, Turner, and Beede being there.

 

Marlins didn't go cheap last year, why would they now?

[A New Era]

As it stands now I see it shaking out like this.

 

Lastros - Rodon

Marlins - whoever signs cheapest, but I'm gonna guess Hoffman or Kolek

White Sox - Jackson, Turner, or Gatewood

Cubs - possibility of Kolek, Jackson, Gatewood, Turner, and Beede being there.

 

Marlins didn't go cheap last year, why would they now?

 

Ok then that changes it to

 

Lastros - Rodon

Marlins - Hoffman

White Sox - Jackson (MAYBE Turner)

Cubs - I think Kolek will be there, and either Turner or Jackson. I like that scenerio because I really like Kolek, like Turner, and Jackson is A-OK too.

[Tryptamine]

Assuming both Rodon and Hoffman are gone, I'd want it to be Gatewood/Kolek/Jackson in that order. Beede could drastically change that if he improves his command.

[imb]

I dont want Beede that high. And I'm high on him.

[CubsWin]

I wanted an arm last year real bad, but with how Bryant has turned out, I think the Cubs made the best choice. This year, I want an arm even more than I did last season. When am I going to learn? All I know is the Cubs need pitchers and possible aces at that. So I guess I irrationally want them to take the best available arm even when I know better...or should. The good news is there appears to be really good depth this year so there could be a really good pitching prospect (prep or college, but mostly likely prep from the sound of things) waiting for them in the 2nd round.

[Guest]

Is it racist of me that I expected a SS with name Trea Turner to be black?

[A New Era]

My wishlist.

 

1st round: Tyler Kolek

2nd round: Michael Kopech

 

That would really round out our pitching prospects and make them look purdy too. I just really like both these guys.

[CubsWin]

Is it racist of me that I expected a SS with name Trea Turner to be black?

Racist? No. Prejudiced? Yes.

[Guest]

BA: College Top 100 Prospects by the Numbers