2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Holy crap. A 16-year old hitting a ball over the batter's eye at UCSD is incredibly impressive.

 

wait, alex jackson is 16? i thought he was 18, and it's apparently hard to find the age of high school players online.

 

This kind of comes off as creepy.

 

seriously? i actually made sure to phrase it in a way where i wasn't surprised at the fact, because i understand why they don't usually list the age.

 

i guess it's okay analyze these guys' body types, character, schooling and almost everything else. just as long as you don't try to find out when you can expect them to hit their prime as a player. then it's creepy.

 

I was just kidding.

 

But yeah, parts of scouting reports can definitely come off creepy.

[Guest]

ahh, sorry.

[davell]

So the whole "Jackson is McLeod's favorite prospect ever" is completely off.

[Guest]

Marlin

You have to hope Kolek or Jackson go in the top 3 which is possible, but not a guarantee. Neither of those two are targets at 4 from what I can gather.

 

So it looks like unless one of Aiken or Rodon slip, we're going under slot.

 

If true, that's disappointing Jackson isn't on the radar.

[jersey cubs fan]

So the whole "Jackson is McLeod's favorite prospect ever" is completely off.

or maybe they are done foreshadowing who they will pick.

[Guest]

raisin- how do you feel about nola at 4?

[A New Era]

Does that mean Gordon might be a legit target at slot?

[Guest]

raisin- how do you feel about nola at 4?

 

I'd be fine with him there if Aiken and Jackson are gone. I was down on him earlier in the draft process but I've come around on him - partially because I definitely underrated hindon the past and also because it's clear after the first few guys in this draft, there's no consensus so I'm not going to question McLeod if he picks a guy who is in the range of 1.4. I'd prefer to avoid a pitcher but at least unlike Rodon, Nola doesn't have injury concerns and his coach at LSU is one of the best at limiting work loads.

[Guest]

Quote from Mark Gonzalez piece: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-not-set-on-pitcher-spt-0603-20140603,0,5164389.story?track=rss

 

Arguably the most intriguing candidate for the Cubs is Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost, whom another AL scout compared to Craig Biggio (also a former catcher) because of his all-around talents. Pentecost is batting . 423 with nine home runs, 58 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for the super-regional-bound Owls.

 

Also:

 

Other players linked to the Cubs are California high school catcher/outfielder Alex Jackson, Florida high school shortstop Nick Gordon and Oregon State outfielder Michael Conforto. Several Cubs officials watched Conforto play in two tournaments in Arizona in February.

[RammyFanny]

Arguello, so take it with a grain of salt:

John Arguello @CubsDen · 2h

 

Rumor circulating that the Marlins have agreement in place to take Alex Jackson at #2. #MLBDraft

[imb]

What time does all this [expletive] kick off on Thursday?

[jersey cubs fan]

What time does all this [expletive] kick off on Thursday?

 

7 eastern on the mlb network

[Guest]

What time does all this [expletive] kick off on Thursday?

 

7 eastern on the mlb network

PM?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

don't actually watch the draft on mlb network unless you want your head filled with stupid.

[Guest]

who was it last year that kept acting like every first round pick would be in the majors by the 2013 postseason? was that harold?

[imb]

don't actually watch the draft on mlb network unless you want your head filled with stupid.

 

That's actually the best part imo

[A New Era]

What time does all this [expletive] kick off on Thursday?

 

7 eastern on the mlb network

PM?

 

yes 6 central pre draft show (likely gonna talk about top talents one of which the cubs will take) and then actual draft 7 pm central.

[A New Era]

don't actually watch the draft on mlb network unless you want your head filled with stupid.

 

That's actually the best part imo

 

I don't know I just like the drama. Selig is a big goof but the panel is filled with 2 meatheads but also a couple pinheads like Callis. So you see this back and forth of moron comments followed by some reasonable commentary.

[jersey cubs fan]

who was it last year that kept acting like every first round pick would be in the majors by the 2013 postseason? was that harold?

 

The whole broadcast is centered around the idea that current MLB needs are the most important aspect of the draft.

[HendryWallet]

Other teams believe Cubs definitely take Jackson if there and would be fine if there is no deal to get another pick in next years draft. If it goes Aiken, Jackson, Rodon....could be any of 10 possible guys

[imb]

who was it last year that kept acting like every first round pick would be in the majors by the 2013 postseason? was that harold?

 

The whole broadcast is centered around the idea that current MLB needs are the most important aspect of the draft.

 

EDIT: Lol looking back, it was Peter Gammons mentioning that Reese McGuire would be mentored by Russell Martin.

[ScrubMD]

seriously? i actually made sure to phrase it in a way where i wasn't surprised at the fact, because i understand why they don't usually list the age.

 

i guess it's okay analyze these guys' body types, character, schooling and almost everything else. just as long as you don't try to find out when you can expect them to hit their prime as a player. then it's creepy.

 

The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.

[Tryptamine]

who was it last year that kept acting like every first round pick would be in the majors by the 2013 postseason? was that harold?

 

It was definitely Harold. He said that Appel was going to be in that Astro's rotation as soon as July or August of last year. They're also really good at comping people to only other player's with the same skin color even if the comp doesn't make any sense.

[Guest]

Chris Crawford[/url]"]The Cub conundrum.

 

Those of you who follow prospects are well aware of this, but for everyone else, it's important to know that the Cubs have as much or more offensive firepower in their system as anyone else in baseball, with prospects like Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Albert Almora all having the potential to be impact bats in the next few years.

 

What the Cubs don't have in their system, however, is pitching depth. C.J. Edwards and Pierce Johnson are Chicago's best pitching prospects, and they both project as third or fourth starters than guys who are going to pitch at the top of the rotation. Chicago would love to add a potential ace through the draft this year, but if the draft goes the way many think it will, with Rodon, Aiken and Kolek in the first three picks, the Cubs may not have a realistic option with the fourth pick.

 

"I don't think you can take a pitcher that high if those three are off the table," an AL West scout said. "The next name would be [LSU right-hander] Aaron Nola, and I just don't think he's got enough upside to justify going that high. The same can be said for [Hartford left-hander Sean] Newcomb and [Evansville left-hander Kyle] Freeland. I know they want to get the pitching to the same level they have the offense, but I think you have to take a hitter there."

 

There are rampant rumors that the Cubs are going to take someone at four who will sign for well under-slot so they can go high upside with their other selections. Whatever direction they go in will be one of the most interesting subplots of the 2014 draft.

[Tryptamine]

CJ projects as a #4? This is news to me. There are a lot more who say he can be #2 than a #4.