2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

Draft him later.

 

ETA: With Giolito and Manaea as precedence, I can't imagine he'll make it to 45.

 

Weren't fresh off TJS on draft day, though, right?

 

Yeah, and that makes me feel like they were bigger question marks than Hoffman is now.

 

Bigger question marks? Perhaps...but isn't a big part of the question, "Are they going to need TJS soon?"

 

Well, it certainly wasn't with Manaea (ankle, hip and shoulder problems; needed hip surgery). Depends on how you feel about the uncertainty of no diagnosis vs. already being diagnosed but needing surgery.

[Guest]

BA's first mock of the year is out. But remember, this is their first year with the best draft prognosticator in the business, Jim Callis, gone.

 

1. Rodon

2. Kolek

3. Aiken

4. Brandon Finnegan

 

4. CUBS: The Cubs pick fourth in a draft with three defined elite talents. Hoffman was a contender for this slot, throwing one of his best outings with president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer in attendance, before his late injury. The Cubs will consider San Diego prep catcher/outfielder Alex Jackson and Florida prep shortstop Nick Gordon, but their need for a pitcher likely will lead them to a college arm such as Texas Christian’s Brandon Finnegan or UNLV’s Erick Fedde. They’ll also look at reuniting Vanderbilt’s Tyler Beede and their minor league pitching coordinator, Derek Johnson, who helped recruit Beede to Vandy and coached him there for one season.

Projected Pick: Brandon Finnegan

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-mock-draft-track-record-lands-rodon-atop-first-mock/

[davell]

I hope Beede's control comes back and he pitches lights out between now and the draft. So the White Sox take him and one of the other 3 fall to us.

[bukie]

BA's first mock of the year is out. But remember, this is their first year with the best draft prognosticator in the business, Jim Callis, gone.

 

1. Rodon

2. Kolek

3. Aiken

4. Brandon Finnegan

 

4. CUBS: The Cubs pick fourth in a draft with three defined elite talents. Hoffman was a contender for this slot, throwing one of his best outings with president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer in attendance, before his late injury. The Cubs will consider San Diego prep catcher/outfielder Alex Jackson and Florida prep shortstop Nick Gordon, but their need for a pitcher likely will lead them to a college arm such as Texas Christian’s Brandon Finnegan or UNLV’s Erick Fedde. They’ll also look at reuniting Vanderbilt’s Tyler Beede and their minor league pitching coordinator, Derek Johnson, who helped recruit Beede to Vandy and coached him there for one season.

Projected Pick: Brandon Finnegan

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-mock-draft-track-record-lands-rodon-atop-first-mock/

Really, BA? Drafting for current major league need in the first round? Say it ain't so.

[jersey cubs fan]

BA's first mock of the year is out. But remember, this is their first year with the best draft prognosticator in the business, Jim Callis, gone.

 

1. Rodon

2. Kolek

3. Aiken

4. Brandon Finnegan

 

4. CUBS: The Cubs pick fourth in a draft with three defined elite talents. Hoffman was a contender for this slot, throwing one of his best outings with president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer in attendance, before his late injury. The Cubs will consider San Diego prep catcher/outfielder Alex Jackson and Florida prep shortstop Nick Gordon, but their need for a pitcher likely will lead them to a college arm such as Texas Christian’s Brandon Finnegan or UNLV’s Erick Fedde. They’ll also look at reuniting Vanderbilt’s Tyler Beede and their minor league pitching coordinator, Derek Johnson, who helped recruit Beede to Vandy and coached him there for one season.

Projected Pick: Brandon Finnegan

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-mock-draft-track-record-lands-rodon-atop-first-mock/

Really, BA? Drafting for current major league need in the first round? Say it ain't so.

 

I don't think that is necessarily drafting for current major league need. MLB network talks about current MLB need when airing the draft, but the idea that the Cubs need to draft a pitcher is more based on the widely acknowledged description of the organization being bat heavy and pitching light. They shouldn't focus on need at all, but there's a bit of a difference when considering the overall organizational need, and not just major league roster.

[Guest]

Think they're going by organizational need, not major league. Still dumb, regardless.

[Guest]

Yeah, it's organizational need, not big league need. BA isn't the only one that does that in mocks; it seems like a crutch most of them use, especially in early mocks when there's less info out there.

[Guest]

UNLV’s Erick Fedde.

 

I think I could be ok if the Cubs drafted him at the fourth spot.

[bukie]

It just struck me odd in reading, as the snippet to me reads "The Cubs need a pitcher, so look for them to get a college arm here." Not so much "the organization needs pitching", or "The Cubs are pitching-thin, so expect them to load up".

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I know it's not really relevant, but I hate to think we're using the No. 4 overall pick just to get the fifth-best pitcher.

[Guest]

UNLV’s Erick Fedde.

 

I think I could be ok if the Cubs drafted him at the fourth spot.

 

I'd rather have Fedde or Freeland than Finnegan but I've been a big Fedde fan since his Cape Cod breakout. Finnegan just missed the past few weeks with arm injuries too.

[wekim81]

I think i'd just as soon take Aaron Nola at 4 if those 3 are gone.

[Guest]

I'll take Jackson.

[mul21]

I think i'd just as soon take Aaron Nola at 4 if those 3 are gone.

 

Depending on what we're looking to get for Shark, I don't hate this idea. He's the one who could potentially be up nearly immediately right?

[Guest]

Scott (Lincolnshire)

Any chance the big 3 arms don't get selected 3rd overall and slide to 4th for the cubs? I know that you just released a prospect ranking, which isn't necessarily a mock draft on what you think teams will do.

Klaw

Correct, that's just my "board" but not a projection. I think there's a decent chance Rodon reaches the Cubs, but not the two prep arms. Depends a lot on what the White Sox do if Aiken-Kolek go 1-2.

 

Cory (down state NY)

Hoffman has to drop because of TJ but how far?

Klaw

Million dollar question - or maybe $2 million. I think teams with a second pick right after the first round would be in position to get creative and pay him over slot down there. Astros would be one such team, as would the Royals with three picks between 17 and 40 and a history of doing just that (Manaea last year). Sources have also pointed out Washington and Boston as teams that might be interested in overpaying him if he fell to them.

 

John (Minneapolis)

Better draft class than last year?

Klaw

Yes, more pitching depth for me well into the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

 

Tim (Chicago)

With Hoffman out who will the cubs get at 4? Thanks love your work

Klaw

I think their board blew up a bit with the Hoffman injury. I've heard them a bit with Fedde, although he didn't pitch last weekend and was pushed back to Saturday this week. Theo saw Nick Gordon's last game earlier this week. I don't think Beede is in their mix and I think their link to Alex Jackson is a bit overblown.

 

John (Reno)

Apparently, you really like Erick Fedde. Chances he get picked by DBacks?

Klaw

The industry likes him - I only saw him once, and tried to see him again last weekend at Clemson but had to cancel my plans when they chose not to pitch him. Have heard him a lot with teams in the top 10 so I don't think he gets that far.

 

Dave (Chicago)

Did health concerns bump Finnegan down your list?

Klaw

Sore shoulder. Might have gone in the late top ten before that, not top 5 but maybe 8-9-10 area; with the shoulder issue and TCU's horrible track record any team that takes him in the top 15 or so is foolish.

 

sean (pa)

if the cubs take jackson at #4 do you think he has the skill set defensively? or because he bat will play he gets moved eventually to one of the corners in the of?

Klaw

Variety of factors here but all signs point to him not catching long-term. I do think he has the arm and glove for it, at least.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Nola

Jackson

Fedde

Finnegan

[Cubswin11]

Hehe

 

Randy (Germantown, MD)

any thoughts on when Trea Turner may get drafted? As Mets fan from the 70s and a NC State alum '89, I'm hoping it is to the NY Mets! thanks.

 

Klaw (1:41 PM)

If you're a Mets fan, you should want them to take someone better.

[Tryptamine]

At this point I'd almost welcome a safe pick like Nola who could be be drastically underslotted. Take that money and use it on a signability guy with significant upside. Hoffman if he falls far enough.

[Guest]

Beede's pitching on ESPNU.

[davell]

Walked 6 in 6 innings.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Walked 6 in 6 innings.

Stay far, far away from this mother[expletive].

[Tryptamine]

Beede is Jonathan Sanchez. Great stuff, but because of the lack of control he'll always put a lot of guys on base and only go 5 or 6 innings. I want nothing to do with him.

[Cubswin11]

Beede is Jonathan Sanchez. Great stuff, but because of the lack of control he'll always put a lot of guys on base and only go 5 or 6 innings. I want nothing to do with him.

Yup, I really liked him going into the year. But I'm in the Nola/Fedde/Jackson/Gordon camp right now, preferably whichever one signs for most under slot

[Guest]

Nola

Jackson

Fedde

Finnegan

 

I'd honestly take Hoffman over Finnegan. And I am just not a big Nola fan.

 

Gordon - seems to be a growing consensus that he's the best player after the top 3, not including Hoffman

Jackson

Fedde

Freeland

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

When did Gordon surpass Jackson?