2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Theo Epstein took in Tyler Kolek's start yesterday. The Astros director of amateur scouting was there too.

[Guest]

Beede has really struggled lately. He's been more hittable and his control has worsened. Last night: Beede: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K.

 

Hoffman: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

[weis21]

I work at ECU, but sadly have not been able to catch one of Hoffman's starts these past two years (the girlfriend and I essentially act as caregivers for her parents and live 30 minutes outside town). Anyway, I really don't have a high opinion of the coaching staff at ECU. The fact that Hoffman has great numbers at Cape Cod and doesn't quite mirror those at ECU isn't totally shocking to me. This is all completely with a grain of salt, because I'm about as close to a scout/analyst as I am to a millionaire. But, take it for what it's worth I suppose. I just don't feel the instruction given to him here may be the best and he could have benefited from his CC coaching staff.

 

I grew up a big NC State fan and still follow them closely so I'm selfishly hoping one of Hoffman/Rodon end up a Cub (and are amaze-balls good obviously).

[Tryptamine]

In my eyes Kolek/Aiken/Rodon stand well above the other options at this point. I was really hoping a position player would start building some helium for a top 4 pick, but if anything it's been the opposite so far. Regardless, as of now if Beede,Jackson or Hoffman was the best available at 4 I'd be kind of disappointed.

[Tryptamine]

Beede has really struggled lately. He's been more hittable and his control has worsened. Last night: Beede: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K.

 

Hoffman: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

 

Beede for me is starting to go the way of Trea Turner in that I'm very close to not being the least bit interested in them with the 4th pick. Guys like Touki and Nola are quickly catching up.

[Redfoot]

A few other college southpaws are catching up too. Kyle Freeland is pitching his way into the top 10 and Brandon Finnegan and Sean Newcomb aren't far behind.

[davell]

From what I've read, ECU's defense has cost Hoffman quite a few runs. Their defense is supposedly very poor. I definitely have him in my top 4, with Kolek, Aiken, and Rodon. Anyone else, if nothing changes, is a disappointment to me.

[Guest]

I work at ECU, but sadly have not been able to catch one of Hoffman's starts these past two years (the girlfriend and I essentially act as caregivers for her parents and live 30 minutes outside town). Anyway, I really don't have a high opinion of the coaching staff at ECU. The fact that Hoffman has great numbers at Cape Cod and doesn't quite mirror those at ECU isn't totally shocking to me. This is all completely with a grain of salt, because I'm about as close to a scout/analyst as I am to a millionaire. But, take it for what it's worth I suppose. I just don't feel the instruction given to him here may be the best and he could have benefited from his CC coaching staff.

 

From what I've read, ECU's defense has cost Hoffman quite a few runs. Their defense is supposedly very poor. I definitely have him in my top 4, with Kolek, Aiken, and Rodon. Anyone else, if nothing changes, is a disappointment to me.

 

Both of these are accurate, at least based on what I've read.

[weis21]

I work at ECU, but sadly have not been able to catch one of Hoffman's starts these past two years (the girlfriend and I essentially act as caregivers for her parents and live 30 minutes outside town). Anyway, I really don't have a high opinion of the coaching staff at ECU. The fact that Hoffman has great numbers at Cape Cod and doesn't quite mirror those at ECU isn't totally shocking to me. This is all completely with a grain of salt, because I'm about as close to a scout/analyst as I am to a millionaire. But, take it for what it's worth I suppose. I just don't feel the instruction given to him here may be the best and he could have benefited from his CC coaching staff.

 

From what I've read, ECU's defense has cost Hoffman quite a few runs. Their defense is supposedly very poor. I definitely have him in my top 4, with Kolek, Aiken, and Rodon. Anyone else, if nothing changes, is a disappointment to me.

 

Both of these are accurate, at least based on what I've read.

 

Yeah, the defense thing is definitely true. And catching, specifically, has been a problem because they have switched up the catchers receiving him so damn much. That, in and of itself, is asinine.

 

Put bluntly, from a born-and-raised North Carolinian, Billy Godwin (ECU coach) just seems like a "good ole Eastern North Carolina boy" (he's from close to Greenville). There is a difference between the piedmont/Charlotte region where I'm from and the eastern side of the state. To listen to his interview you'd think he was some local idiot coaching a high school team. He looks the part, sounds the part, and most importantly, acts the part. Maybe he is good at some aspects, but he just epitomizes the "old boys club" stereotype too well for me to overlook it. It's a real thing rounds these parts.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Infrequent Poster]

Rules question.

 

Can the Cubs trade some of their International Signing Pool money for some team's Competitive Balance Draft Pick?

[Guest]

Theo Epstein took in Tyler Kolek's start yesterday. The Astros director of amateur scouting was there too.

 

@DanMKirby: Tyler Kolek had 14 K/0 BB over 7 on Friday. Now up to 89 K/3 BB over 40.1 IP. Getting at least a week of rest between starts. #MLBDraft

[davell]

Rules question.

 

Can the Cubs trade some of their International Signing Pool money for some team's Competitive Balance Draft Pick?

Technically, the answer is yes. That said, the comp pick would certainly hold more value and other things would likely need to be included in the deal.

 

Not to mention, if the Yankees are spending 15-20 mill on IFA this year, as it seems, I doubt there's enough IFA left over to entice another team to blow by their initial budget this year. Just my opinion though, as it IS possible the Yankees are spending on guys others don't think of as highly as they do.

[Guest]

Not an ESPN Insider but from the part that's free, it looks like at least Chris Crawford remains an Alex Jackson fan: http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=mlb-draft&id=1511

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Not an ESPN Insider but from the part that's free, it looks like at least Chris Crawford remains an Alex Jackson fan: http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=mlb-draft&id=1511

 

Hopefully everyone got their taxes done early so they could sit down and watch some amateur baseball over the weekend, because there was an awful lot of interesting action.

 

This weekend we saw two stars from Southern California continue their sensational seasons, the battle to be the second collegiate starter off the board take an interesting turn, and up and down weekends for the best bats in the class.

 

San Diego preps continue to thrive

 

San Diego has been a hotbed of talent over the last few years, and in Alex Jackson and Brady Aiken, it may just have the best two prep players in the country this spring.

 

Coming into the year, Jackson (Rancho Bernardo HS) was considered by most to be one of -- if not the -- best prep hitters in the country, and while there are still some questions about his overall upside and where he'll end up defensively, he's done very little to diminish his stock.

 

Jackson was particularly impressive on Thursday, hitting two homers against Torrey Pines High School, giving the right-handed hitting catcher seven on the season and 43 over his three years at Rancho Bernardo. The Oregon commit has impressed scouts with his ability to hit the ball hard to all parts of the field, and he's one of the few hitters in this year's class to get plus grades with both the hit and power tool.

 

"I think Jackson is the best hitter in the class," an NL scout said. "He had some timing issues early in the year, but he's impressed me with the way he's made adjustments. I think you're looking at a guy who can hit .300 and give you 25-30 homers during his best seasons, and I don't see any other hitter with that kind of potential this season at either the college or high school level. I think he's going to end up in right field, and he should be an All-Star there."

 

Jackson is a lock for the top half of the first round, and could go in the top 10 to a team like the Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies or Minnesota Twins.

[Guest]

Coming into the year, Jackson (Rancho Bernardo HS) was considered by most to be one of -- if not the -- best prep hitters in the country, and while there are still some questions about his overall upside and where he'll end up defensively, he's done very little to diminish his stock.

 

Jackson was particularly impressive on Thursday, hitting two homers against Torrey Pines High School, giving the right-handed hitting catcher seven on the season and 43 over his three years at Rancho Bernardo. The Oregon commit has impressed scouts with his ability to hit the ball hard to all parts of the field, and he's one of the few hitters in this year's class to get plus grades with both the hit and power tool.

 

"I think Jackson is the best hitter in the class," an NL scout said. "He had some timing issues early in the year, but he's impressed me with the way he's made adjustments. I think you're looking at a guy who can hit .300 and give you 25-30 homers during his best seasons, and I don't see any other hitter with that kind of potential this season at either the college or high school level. I think he's going to end up in right field, and he should be an All-Star there."

 

Meanwhile, it was another dominating effort from Cathedral Catholic High School's Aiken, who continues to establish himself as the consensus No. 1 player in this draft. Aiken struck out 8 over 5 1/3 innings against Patrick Henry High school on Wednesday, hitting 96 mph with his fastball and showing the same quality secondary stuff he has this spring.

 

"At some point you run out of superlatives [about Aiken]," an NL crosschecker said. "The kid just knows how to pitch, and I love the delivery. It's been a long time since we've seen a prep pitcher go first overall, but I really think this could be the year."

 

There's also some tidbits about the race to be the #2 college pitcher behind Rodon. Talks about Nola(will good LH hit him hard?), Hoffman(limited upside with current breaking stuff?) and Beede(current favorite for #2 NCAA SP).

[Guest]

Thanks!

 

That NL scout's assessment (.300/30 HR in his prime) would make him a viable pick at 1.4.

[Guest]

Rules question.

 

Can the Cubs trade some of their International Signing Pool money for some team's Competitive Balance Draft Pick?

Technically, the answer is yes. That said, the comp pick would certainly hold more value and other things would likely need to be included in the deal.

 

Not to mention, if the Yankees are spending 15-20 mill on IFA this year, as it seems, I doubt there's enough IFA left over to entice another team to blow by their initial budget this year. Just my opinion though, as it IS possible the Yankees are spending on guys others don't think of as highly as they do.

 

There are a few guys who haven't been linked to the Yankees per Kiley but it'll be tough to link a team that might overspend internationally that also has a competitive balance pick. The Yankees are definitely going to overspend on guys the rest of the league aren't as high on.

[Infrequent Poster]

Rules question.

 

Can the Cubs trade some of their International Signing Pool money for some team's Competitive Balance Draft Pick?

Technically, the answer is yes. That said, the comp pick would certainly hold more value and other things would likely need to be included in the deal.

 

Not to mention, if the Yankees are spending 15-20 mill on IFA this year, as it seems, I doubt there's enough IFA left over to entice another team to blow by their initial budget this year. Just my opinion though, as it IS possible the Yankees are spending on guys others don't think of as highly as they do.

Thanks.

[Guest]

Chris Crawfors[/url]"]NC State then decided to push Rodon to 134 pitches, sending him back out to start his final inning after he'd already thrown 118 pitches, an acceptable, if upper-bound, number for a 21-year-old pitcher. This was a clear example of a coaching staff putting their own interests over those of a pitcher, a perfect example of moral hazard at work in amateur baseball, one that calls for regulation by the NCAA.

 

The Wolfpack, despite having two of the best college players in the country this year, are 5-11 in the ACC so far (19-14 overall) and in danger of missing the NCAA tournament, a result that would be devastating given their talent level. The potential cost of missing the tournament is so high that the coaching staff has the incentive to try to win at all costs, including asking players to do things that may not be in their own best interests, such as throwing 134 pitches in one outing. Only one MLB pitcher did that in all of 2013: Tim Lincecum, in his July 13 no-hitter. (In fact, since the start of the 2010 season, only four MLB pitchers have thrown 134 or more pitches. Three were no-hitters, one was Brandon Morrow's 17-strikeout one-hitter in 2010, and all four spread those pitches over nine innings rather than Rodon's 7 2/3 innings.)

 

Rodon has a potential $6-7 million payday in front of him, and putting him at any risk like this, real or perceived, is wrong. The reaction within the industry, among sources with whom I've spoken, was unanimously negative. Rodon shouldn't have been sent back out for the eighth inning, period.

[Guest]

Thanks!

 

That NL scout's assessment (.300/30 HR in his prime) would make him a viable pick at 1.4.

 

I think I'd be pleased with any of Jackson, Aiken, Rodon, or Kolek at that pick at this point.

 

Jackson seems most likely, of course...

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Thanks!

 

That NL scout's assessment (.300/30 HR in his prime) would make him a viable pick at 1.4.

 

I think I'd be pleased with any of Jackson, Aiken, Rodon, or Kolek at that pick at this point.

 

Jackson seems most likely, of course...

 

No matter what, it seems like the good part of the top of the draft will be at least four deep.

[Guest]

Thanks!

 

That NL scout's assessment (.300/30 HR in his prime) would make him a viable pick at 1.4.

 

I think I'd be pleased with any of Jackson, Aiken, Rodon, or Kolek at that pick at this point.

 

Jackson seems most likely, of course...

 

I'm iffy on Rodon given his past medical issues, his struggles/inconsistent stuff last season now being linked to shoulder problems and his struggles/inconsistent stuff this season.

[Cubswin11]

Thanks!

 

That NL scout's assessment (.300/30 HR in his prime) would make him a viable pick at 1.4.

 

I think I'd be pleased with any of Jackson, Aiken, Rodon, or Kolek at that pick at this point.

 

Jackson seems most likely, of course...

 

I'm iffy on Rodon given his past medical issues, his struggles/inconsistent stuff last season now being linked to shoulder problems and his struggles/inconsistent stuff this season.

Yeah I have reservations about him as well. I think my top 4, don't really have a preference, are Beede, Jackson, Aiken, Kolek.

[Guest]

I just do not get the Beede thing.

[davell]

Hoffman is easily still 4 for me. If our FO sees Jackson as a long time C and/or he signs for under slot-it's the only way I want him at 4.