2014 Draft Discussion

[Tryptamine]

If Gordon really is on a comparable level to Lindor then take him and move on and try to forget about this fiasco.

[RammyFanny]

Highest floor high-school bat: Nick Gordon, SS, Olympia HS (Orlando)

 

Gordon certainly has upside as a shortstop who hits from the left side with plus speed, but the reason he ranks as the prep with the highest floor is his glove. The son of former all-star pitcher Tom Gordon and the brother of Dodgers' shortstop Dee Gordon, Nick has excellent hands and a plus-plus arm for a shortstop, and even if the bat doesn't develop to an elite level, the glove will give him a chance to be an everyday player.

 

"[Gordon] can really pick it," an NL Central scout said. "He makes the difficult look routine on a more consistent basis than any shortstop I've seen in this year's class. You add in the fact that he's got a chance to get on base and steal 20 bases, and it's difficult see him not being a first-division shortstop for a very long time."

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post?id=1667

[Guest]

I read nothing about Nick Gordon until people started mentioning him like 2 weeks ago. Even Law only has a brief profile (that I can find) that mostly focuses on "he's flash gordon's son lol but he's not dee gordon."

 

So uh raisin can you hook me up? I love me some athletes.

 

Here's video: http://sbb.scout.com/a.z?s=381&p=11&isFirstMediaIdAudioOrVideo=video&playlist=http%3A//sbb.scout.com/asxplaylist.aspx%3Fs%3D381%26mediaids%3D1203217

 

BA will have scouting reports of their top 100 tomorrow and I'll post his then but the ESPN report that Rammy just posted fits what I've read. I don't know if you mean Gordon popped up two weeks ago for the Cubs pick or overall as a top draft prospect but he's been known all year - he was one of the few HS guys I knew about and mentioned in the OP of this thread last year (complete with a Bum reference).

[Guest]

Craig, if you're around...

 

We've had discussions in the past on the value of a curve/four seam fb vs slider/two seam fb in the past. Fangraphs had an interesting article today about the most and least "homerable" pitches in baseball.

 

It looks like the curve actually is really hard to get lift on -- when it is thrown properly. The other side of that equation is that it's hard to throw a proper sinker as a more over the top curveball guy. That might leave more straight fastballs for hitters to feast upon.

 

I'd like to see the data broken out further on HR rates for different styles of pitching as a whole instead of just the extremes. Interesting to get even the tails of the distribution, though.

[Guest]

@jjcoop36: 2011 HS 1st rd pitchers: Bundy (TJ), Bradley (on DL with flexor strain), J. Fernandez (TJ?), Guerrieri (TJ), Ross, Stephenson.

 

@jjcoop36: Missed time with shoulder tendinitis RT @mwash1983: @jjcoop36 wasn't Ross hurt too as well.

 

@mwash1983: @jjcoop36 You could go to the college arms too as well. Hultzen (shoulder), Barnes (shoulder soreness this spring)

 

@jjcoop36: 2012 HS 1st Rd P: Fried (DL with forearm injury),Giolito (TJ), Travieso, Sims, Hensley (hip surgery)

 

@jjcoop36: '10 HS 1st Rd P: Taillon (TJ), Foltynewicz, Biddle, Bedrosian (TJ).

 

@jjcoop36: '10-'12 1st rd HS P: 15 pitchers. 5 already have had TJ, Fernandez pending. 2 now on DL with elbow/forearm issues, 1 major hip surgery.

[Guest]

How about taking someone that won't sign and going for two picks in 2015?

 

 

 

 

 

 

(not really serious)

[Guest]

Chris Crawford's revised draft board: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/05/the-board-volume-v/

 

1. Aiken

2. Rodon

3. Kolek

4. Gordon

5. Jackson

6. Zimmer

7. Holmes

 

Due to their injuries, Hoffman, Fedde, Dylan Cease and Zech Lemond are off his board.

[Guest]

I still want them to draft Jackson.

[Guest]

I still want them to draft Jackson.

 

Jim Callis agrees: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/jim-callis-cubs-would-be-wise-to-draft-jackson-at-no-4?ymd=20140513&content_id=75298266&vkey=news_mlb

 

The news last week that Hoffman requires Tommy John surgery left Aiken, Rodon and Kolek standing as the clear top three prospects in the 2014 Draft class. Which begs the question: Who should be the No. 4 overall pick?

 

The Cubs, who own the fourth selection in a Draft that stands out for its depth in arms, have a farm system stacked with hitters but not nearly as bountiful with pitchers. However, it's foolish to pass up the best available player, especially at the very top of the Draft, in favor of filling a particular need.

 

For that reason, Chicago shouldn't focus on taking a pitcher and instead should opt for Rancho Bernardo High (San Diego) catcher/outfielder Alex Jackson. That would give the Cubs the Draft's top position player for the second straight year, on the heels of selecting third baseman Kris Bryant over right-hander Jon Gray at No. 2 in 2013.

 

Jonathan Mayo agrees with me that the fourth overall choice should be a bat rather than an arm, though he prefers Olympia High (Orlando, Fla.) shortstop Nick Gordon. He makes the case for Gordon here.

 

I like Jackson more than Gordon because he has a higher offensive ceiling. In fact, he's the best all-around prep hitter available in this year's Draft.

 

Jackson offers exciting bat speed from the right side of the plate. He has natural loft in his swing, plenty of strength in his 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame and the capability to hit monster blasts to any part of the ballpark. Jackson's swing can get a bit long at times, but he generally does a fine job of covering the plate and barreling balls, boding well for his ability to hit for average.

 

Jackson profiles as a middle-of-the-order hitter, though at what position he'll do his damage at remains to be seen. He certainly has the tools necessary to remain behind the plate, with above-average arm strength and good agility. As with most high school catchers, Jackson's receiving requires some work to bring it up to Major League standards.

 

More on Jackson in the link.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is a history of McCleod loving Jackson, right?

[Guest]

There is a history of McCleod loving Jackson, right?

 

Allegedly (can't remember if it was ABTY or Bystro who said so)

[jersey cubs fan]

Alleged love is the best kind of love.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

ALLEGEDLY, McLeod said Jackson was his favorite prospect he's ever scouted. I know I read that [expletive] somewhere.

[Guest]

I just like him over Gordon because I think Gordon may end up as a converted pitcher. There seems to be nothing special about his bat. Instead writers seem to focus on his linage, arm, and glove.

[Deeg]

I just like him over Gordon because I think Gordon may end up as a converted pitcher. There seems to be nothing special about his bat. Instead writers seem to focus on his linage, arm, and glove.

 

Very much agree. "Experts" frequently fall in love with guys who're sons of major leaguers and overrate them as a result. A few of them deserve it, but like Callis I see limited upside with Gordon.

[davell]

ALLEGEDLY, McLeod said Jackson was his favorite prospect he's ever scouted. I know I read that [expletive] somewhere.

 

ABTY said it.

[ScrubMD]

Everything I've seen about Gordon (which hasn't been much) has been about his glove. Is his bat mediocre or just not as impressive as his glove?

[Guest]

Everything I've seen about Gordon (which hasn't been much) has been about his glove. Is his bat mediocre or just not as impressive as his glove?

 

I thought I saw some chatter at the outset of the season about how it's unfair to compare him to Dee because Nick can actually hit, but that may have been a stray tweet as much as a thorough scouting report.

 

EDIT: This is what I was referring to: viewtopic.php?p=3040192#p3040192

[Hairyducked Idiot]

ALLEGEDLY, McLeod said Jackson was his favorite prospect he's ever scouted. I know I read that [expletive] somewhere.

 

ABTY said it.

 

So McLeod probably doesn't even know who Jackson is.

[Guest]

BA's top 100 with scouting reports is out: http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-top-100-draft-prospects-list/

 

1. Brady Aiken, LHP, HS (San Diego, CA)

2. Tyler Kolek, RHP, HS (Shepherd, TX)

3. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State

4. Alex Jackson, C/OF, HS (San Diego, Ca)

5. Kyle Freeland, LHP, Evansville

6. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina

7. Nick Gordon, SS, HS (Orlando, FL)

8. Erick Fedde, RHP, UNLV

9. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU

10. Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU

 

Trea Turner is 12, Bradley Zimmer is 14, Tyler Beede is 15 and Grant Holmes is 16.

[Starling]

I'm telling you, Freeland should be the pick at 1.4

[Guest]

Holy smokes a 111/7 K/BB ratio?

[Guest]

From April 23rd

 

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304049904579518121397407590

 

So far this season, Freeland is 7-1 with a 1.83 ERA, but that only begins to tell the story. He also has 87 strikeouts against just four walks in 64 innings. That 21.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio is twice that of the most heralded college pitching prospect in recent history, Stephen Strasburg. His was 10.3 for San Diego State before being selected first overall by the Washington Nationals in 2009.

 

Other recent prospects don't compare either. Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale had 10.4 strikeouts per walk for Florida Gulf Coast before becoming the 13th overall pick in 2010. Two first-overall picks—Vanderbilt's David Price (2007, Tampa Bay Rays) and UCLA's Gerrit Cole (2011, Pittsburgh Pirates)—had rates of 6.3 and 5.0, respectively, in their final college seasons.

 

Before the 2014 season, Freeland commanded only moderate attention from scouts. His record was 4-8 as a sophomore, with a 3.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 93 1/3 innings. He had a 4.34 ERA, and his fastball barely broke 90 miles an hour.

 

But now the 6-foot-3 Freeland is consistently reaching 95 on the radar gun while maintaining speed late into games. Freeland also can deploy a wicked-breaking slider and even a change-up on the rare occasions he needs a third pitch.

[davell]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/game-report-evansvilles-kyle-freeland/

 

OK, he may be my top overall choice and I'm not totally sure how irrational it is.

[Starling]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/game-report-evansvilles-kyle-freeland/

 

OK, he may be my top overall choice and I'm not totally sure how irrational it is.

 

He doesn't have the injury concerns of Rodon, but he doesn't have as high of a ceiling as Rodon does. I've seen Freeland pitch most of his games this year and I wouldn't take him over Aiken or Kolek, but he's still very very good.