2014 Draft Discussion

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Is this the best HS arm class in quite awhile?

[Vinestal]

Is this the best HS arm class in quite awhile?

Im not so sure Id go that far. The best in a few years maybe. only a couple of the top 6 are HS the rest are college arms.

[Guest]

Is this the best HS arm class in quite awhile?

Im not so sure Id go that far. The best in a few years maybe. only a couple of the top 6 are HS the rest are college arms.

 

How often do you have 2 being talked about as possible 1.1 though?

[davell]

Where this class separates itself is in the depth. I think there's way more guys than normal that have mid to upper 90s velocity than in most years. We'll have a much better selection of arms to choose from in the 2-3 round area than we have had recently. Not a slight on the arms we took either.

[Guest]

Is this the best HS arm class in quite awhile?

Im not so sure Id go that far. The best in a few years maybe. only a couple of the top 6 are HS the rest are college arms.

 

That's right now, with college players having an extra month on HSers. There are a few prep arms trending up who could easily go top ten besides Aiken and Kolek (Holmes, Ortiz, Touissant and Reid-Foley). Additionally, as davell said, prep pitching is incredibly deep (this draft has been called the deepest prep pitching draft by at least one of the draft experts in the media - I think it was Callis).

[Guest]

Just in time for the Cubs needs. Deep pitching depth is about the best thing I've heard about this draft.

[Guest]

Chris Crawford mock draft 2.0: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-mock-2014-volume-ii/

 

1. Brady Aiken

2. Carlos Rodon

3. Tyler Beede

4. Tyler Kolek

5. Alex Jackson

6. Jeff Hoffman

[Guest]

Chris Crawford mock draft 2.0: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-mock-2014-volume-ii/

 

1. Brady Aiken

2. Carlos Rodon

3. Tyler Beede

4. Tyler Kolek

5. Alex Jackson

6. Jeff Hoffman

 

PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ

[Guest]

 

 

Think of all the K puns

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

 

Think of all the K puns

 

 

I refuse to want a high school pitcher, and I don't think he falls to 4, but that almost makes me change my mind.

[Guest]

 

 

Think of all the K puns

 

 

I refuse to want a high school pitcher, and I don't think he falls to 4, but that almost makes me change my mind.

 

 

I can just see the Kole(backwards)K tshirts

[bukie]

Cubs have only drafted 1 HS pitcher in the first round since 1997 (Mark Pawelek - 2005). Prior to that, the Cubs actually drafted four consecutive HS pitchers with their 1st round picks (1997 - Jon Garland, 1996 - Todd Noel, 1995 - Kerry Wood, 1994 - Jayson Peterson). Which actually provides a good example of the volatility of drafting a HS pitcher.

[imb]

I want a high school pitcher so what

[treebird]

I want a high school pitcher so what

 

tyler kolek is a hunk who cares

[Guest]

@FPilierePG Jeff Hoffman 94-95, touched 96 in the first.

 

@FPilierePG UMBC attacking every first pitch FB they see from Hoffman - 94-95 in the second, changeup is sharp at 85-86, best CB hasn't come out yet

 

@FPilierePG Jeff Hoffman looked like the guy I saw last July in the 3rd. 94-96, flashed a nasty 80 mph hook and changeup is really on. Locating now

 

@FPilierePG Hoffman getting filthier as game moves on. 95-96-97 in the 4th and two best hammers at 80-81. Big run on FB now too. Changeup a constant

 

‏@FPilierePG Best command inning so far from Hoffman. Getting SL his CB to glove side and finishing. Still sitting 94-95

 

@kileymcd ECU righty Jeff Hoffman started tentatively but is settling in with heater 94-96, touched 97.

 

@keithlaw Rodon 90-94 in the first. Also: he has a slider.

 

@FPilierePG Rodon sitting 90-92 in the first. Touched 94. Slider especially tight 88-90

 

@FPilierePG Rodon snapped off some true 70 sliders in the 2nd

 

@FPilierePG Needless to say Rodon much sharper than last week. Hit 95 and slider he has much more command of

 

@kileymcd Carlos Rodon 90-94 hitting 95 once in the first, more 90-92 hitting 93 in 3rd and 4th. Slider is good but not quite as good as this summer.

 

@KendallRogersPG Elite RHP Tyler Kolek 96-98 in the first inning, smashing the inside corner. Also threw a couple of CBs at 81-83. #mlbdraft @PerfectGameUSA

 

@KendallRogersPG RHP Tyler Kolek filthy in the second. Strikes out the side on 97 FB, as a pair of 81 mph sliders. SL wasn't fair with that FB. #mlbdraft

 

‏@KendallRogersPG Pretty impressed w/ Tyler Kolek's ability to hold velocity. Touched 99 in the fourth inning, sitting 96-98 still. As advertised. #mlbdraft

 

@KendallRogersPG Tyler Kolek finishes w/ 98 FB. Showed a nasty 81 mph slider in fifth. Five innings complete game, 13 Ks. #mlbdraft pic.twitter.com/O5nO0jSGws

[Guest]

Top 10 performers at NHSI, led by Touki: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/prospects/index.jsp

[imb]

I want a high school pitcher so what

 

tyler kolek is a hunk who cares

 

im a pitcher too

[craig]

..I refuse to want a high school pitcher, and I don't think he falls to 4, but that almost makes me change my mind.

 

Man, that is some effortless velocity. Simple delivery, looks like it would be easy to repeat and throw strikes. And lots of movement on those fastballs.

 

Man, the head says "avoid HS pitcher", but you see that kind of talent and it's easy to like it.

[Guest]

Looks like Alex Jackson is catching him in that video

[Hairyducked Idiot]

..I refuse to want a high school pitcher, and I don't think he falls to 4, but that almost makes me change my mind.

 

Man, that is some effortless velocity. Simple delivery, looks like it would be easy to repeat and throw strikes. And lots of movement on those fastballs.

 

Man, the head says "avoid HS pitcher", but you see that kind of talent and it's easy to like it.

 

The late movement is what gets me. Late, significant and tailing in on right handers.

[craig]

...Man, that is some effortless velocity. Simple delivery, looks like it would be easy to repeat and throw strikes. And lots of movement on those fastballs. Man, the head says "avoid HS pitcher", but you see that kind of talent and it's easy to like it.

 

The late movement is what gets me. Late, significant and tailing in on right handers.

 

Yeah, no kidding. That's a pretty special fastball. In a draft that doesn't seem to have any even-close-to-perfect college players, somebody high is going to figure that he's worth the risk.

[NDCubs]

So someone talk me down here! I am not a big proponent oi a pitcher in the top 10. There is too much inherited risk with taking a pitcher in the top 10. I've been a Cub fan my whole life and the issue we've had have obviously shaped my opinions. High school pitchers that high scare the hell out of me. I'm a big proponent of taking the BPA but I put much more stock in elite hitters over elite pitchers (top 10 picks). It's hard to gauge how much wear and tear is on a kids arm due to some over jealous coach somewhere in his past. I believe in taking a hitter which is much more of a sure thing and loading up on high upside arms later. My strategy isn't without flaws but thanks to all the arms we've seen injured it makes the most sense to me. As far as hitters at the top I lean much more heavily to proven college hitters over the top high school ones. There is generally smaller handful of top college bats but in the top 10 I would prefer the college guy.

 

Rodon won't fall to us. Beede, although his stock is up, and Hoffman aren't without flaws. Jackson and Gatewood have tremendous offensive upside. They won't stick at premium positions though and it's questionable whether they offer plus defensive potential elsewhere. I wouldn't be too upset with any of those 5 but none of them have the profile I REALLY want from our 4 pick.

 

After reading up on prospects all over the country and scouring the internet for "my guy" (not that it matters) I've come across Bradley Zimmer. Now I know Zimmer is a well known entity and I didn't by any means discover the kid but he's just starting to gain some top 10 helium. Always though of as a low 1st due to his plus defense, plus plus arm, plus base running and good contact, Zimmer has now started to fill out and develop power. He's truly turning into an elite prospect. He has the pedigree (bro Kyle) and by all accounts he's a great kid and tremendous leader (ala Bryant). Now I know drafting an OF isn't ideal in top 5 and I know he will almost certainly move off CF to RF but I still can't help but love Zimmer as a prospect. You don't draft off need or off what you have but I have reservations on Soler and even if Bryant moves to OF there is nothing wrong with having these two I the corners. His baserunning, defense and arm all offer more potential than Bryant. While he doesn't have the same power potential that Bryant does yet he's still developing and looks like a 25/year type guy. He grades out as a better contact hitter as well and I've seen people say he'll be a .300 hitter. So for me Zimmer has a high floor and looks like the highest WAR guy in the draft.

 

I've read this board for years and think we have some very knowledgeable posters on here so someone talk me out of it!

[Guest]

You put a lot of not terrible thoughts into that post so I'm gonna not be a smart ass but I still can't help myself

 

 

*inherent

 

*over-zealous

 

I generally agree with what you're saying, but this draft is too weak on hitting and Kolek is too beastly for me, personally, not to want him.

[NDCubs]

Yeah I know typed on an iphone while stuck in traffic...

[NDCubs]

Kolek would definitely be #2 for me behind Rodon if I had to take a P. However I've watched all our good things get ruined as a Cub fan over the years I can't help but believe his damn arm will fall off lol. Plus at this rate I'm not sure he makes it to 4.