2014 Draft Discussion

[Cubswin11]

"He has such a severe collapse on his back foot that it's tough to imagine he's going to be able to hit for power"

 

Is that something that can be corrected by coaching? I'd think that bat-to-ball skills reflect innate ability to track pitches and coordinate a swing to hit them. Which is not exactly a coachable skill. Might some team get the good but coach away the bad?

I just don't think he's a guy that profiles to ever hit for any kind of power, regardless of what mechanical changes he would/could make.

[Guest]

@aaronfitt: According to @KendallRogersPG, Rice ace Jordan Stephens will have Tommy John surgery. A devastating blow for the Owls—he's a bona fide No. 1

[Guest]

@keithlaw: Just saw Olympia HS shortstop Nick Gordon, son of Tom. Looks like a certain top 15 pick.

 

@CrawfordChrisV: LRT: Nick is going to get compared to Dee, and he really shouldn't be.

[pitchcs]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-white-sox-watch-top-prep-pitching-prospect-20140307,0,6562063.story

 

The picture in that article makes Tommy John look likely in about 2 weeks.

[Guest]

North Carolina State (Rodon/Turner) and Ole Miss (Chris Ellis) are both on ESPN3 today.

[Guest]

Never mind. NC State postponed due to bad weather.

[Guest]

Might some team get the good but coach away the bad?

[expletive] Cardinals.

[Guest]

NC State doubleheader starts tomorrow at 1 pm CT. All three games will still be on ESPN3.

[Guest]

Jeff Hoffman (ECU) and Kyle Freeland (Evansville) also postponed. They're scheduled to pitch tomorrow.

[Guest]

Beede - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 97-60 pitches-strikes

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Beede - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 97-60 pitches-strikes

 

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/19c35oidyf35igif.gif

[Guest]

@aaronfitt: Breaking: USC-Upstate RHP Chad Sobotka, the No. 36 college prospect for #mlbdraft, is expected to miss the spring season with a back injury.

 

@aaronfitt: Sobotka, a 6-6 junior righthander, generated some draft buzz last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he ran his fastball up to 96.

[Cubswin11]

Beede - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 97-60 pitches-strikes

I'm starting to think he may not last to #4

[Guest]

Oof - and this against Marshall:

 

@CrawfordChrisV: Final line for Hoffman: 3.1 IP, 2 H 3 ER, 7 BB, 6 K's.

 

Ben Wetlzer had a great start for Oregon State last night - 8 scoreless, 12/2 K/BB. Hartford's Sean Newcombe threw 7 scoreless with 8/3 K/BB. Aaron Nola struck out 12 in 8 scoreless.

 

Gatewood hit a 465+ foot HR last night. Grant Holmes reportedly hit 100 in his start the weekend before.

 

Schwarber continues to hit very well, hit his 2nd HR of the season yesterday. Too bad he can't catch.

[Guest]

Don't forget Rodon is on ESPN3.

[Guest]

Every time I see his name, I remember Dusty calling Lee something like that during spring training 2004. What was that again?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Every time I see his name, I remember Dusty calling Lee something like that during spring training 2004. What was that again?

 

Rodan.

 

http://proxy.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1748038&src=mobile

[Guest]

@FPilierePG: Word I get from Jeff Hoffman's outing is the stuff was good but never got his command under him (obviously w/ 7 BB). 92-96 and CB was sharp

 

@jimshonerdBA: Rodon 90-93 w/ 2 Ks thru 2. Has faced the minimum, allowing a 1-out single in the 2nd but then getting a 5-4-3 dp. #mlbdraft

 

@jimshonerdBA: Credit the Irish for some tough ABs; 3 singles, none hit very hard but all with 2 strikes, lead to their 1st run, driven in by Zak Kutsulis.

 

@jimshonerdBA: Rodon can't get shutdown inning, allows 2-run single to Lezynski, whom he's yet to retire. Did hit 94 earlier in frame. #mlbdraft

 

@jimshonerdBA: This time Rodon does get the shutdown frame, ringing up 2 Ks in a 123 7th. Tied 3-3 at the stretch.

 

@jimshonerdBA: Rodon still touching 92-93 in the 8th, pitches around a 2-out Cavan Biggio single. Remains 3-3, mid 8. #mlbdraft

 

@jimshonerdBA: CG for Rodon, still showed some 93s and 94s in the ninth. Gave up 2 singles but got a 6-4-3 DP to end the game. #mlbdraft

 

@jimshonerdBA: RT @PackPride: Rodon's final line: 9 IP. 10 hits allowed, 3 earned runs, seven strikeouts, 1 walk, 35 faced batters, 121 pitches.

[Guest]

@kileymcd: Huge draft news: San Diego prep LHP Brady Aiken (UCLA commit) was up to 96 mph today vs. Alex Jackson in a scrimmage: "easy mid 90's" -scout

 

@kileymcd: Brady Aiken-Alex Jackson matchup note: Aiken was sitting 93-96 mph, went 94 & 95 on 2nd hitter Jackson, then backwards K on 80 mph hammer.

 

@kileymcd: Another scout checks in to say that Aiken hit 97 mph in his inning today. So, yeah, my late 1st round projection will get adjusted up.

 

Also, Gatewood hit another HR today.

[RammyFanny]

If Grant Holmes is really hitting 100 (and I'm assuming sitting a bit higher than before) then it's going to be pretty hard for me to say he's not a top 5 pick considering his control and really good secondary stuff. Maybe a bit over the top, but his scouting report sounds a hell of a lot like Dylan Bundy's predraft.

[Guest]

If Grant Holmes is really hitting 100 (and I'm assuming sitting a bit higher than before) then it's going to be pretty hard for me to say he's not a top 5 pick considering his control and really good secondary stuff. Maybe a bit over the top, but his scouting report sounds a hell of a lot like Dylan Bundy's predraft.

 

Yeah, his knock is he's not very projectable. Who cares if you're not projectable if you're already hitting 100 with good secondaries?

 

Here's yesterday's rundown of college players: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/

 

Looks like Kentucky two-way player AJ Reed is going to be a position player in the pros given his hitting ability this season.

[Guest]

Dan Kirby mock draft: http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-5-0-top-41-picks/41590

 

Rodon, Hoffman and Beede go top three and the Cubs pick Turner. Kolek goes 1.5.

[sneakypower]

that's basically the nightmare scenario

[pitchcs]

that's basically the nightmare scenario

[Guest]

Chris Crawford's first mock: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-mock-2014-volume-i/

 

Rodon, Kolek and Hoffman go top three and the Cubs take Alex Jackson.

 

Alex Jackson C/3B/RF Rancho Bernardo HS (Calif.) $4.5444M

Jackson is the best prep player in the class, and while the Cubs need pitching, I think Jackson’s plus hit-tool and plus power-tool would be too tempting to pass on.

 

I found his comment on Turner interesting:

 

Remember, it’s a mock, not a board; so while I think Turner is more of a mid-first round talent, the industry disagrees with me. Minnesota could take Turner and hope the speed and average to above-average defese (depending on who you ask) could fast track.