2014 Draft Discussion

[Guest]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2014/05/jason-mcleod-discussed-cubs-upcoming-draft-mlb-network-radio.php

 

McLeod was on MLB radio and talked about the draft.

[Deeg]

It's just a classic Law asspull, saying something ridiculous on the off chance that if it turns out to be true, he looks like a genius. Never happen.

[davell]

It's just a classic Law asspull, saying something ridiculous on the off chance that if it turns out to be true, he looks like a genius. Never happen.

 

Law does mocks the same way Callis does, only placing players with teams that are interested. He's not a guy that just pulls [expletive] out of thin air.

[davell]

Law mentioned Jack Flaberty as a guy we'd like to overslot in the 2nd. He's a SS/3B but also throws an easy 93 with plenty of projection left. We're looking at him as a pitcher.

[TruffleShuffle]

i wish his last name really was Flaberty, that would be pretty funny.

[Guest]

i wish his last name really was Flaberty, that would be pretty funny.

Funnier if it was Voglebach's real name.

[Guest]

It's just a classic Law asspull, saying something ridiculous on the off chance that if it turns out to be true, he looks like a genius. Never happen.

 

Law does mocks the same way Callis does, only placing players with teams that are interested. He's not a guy that just pulls [expletive] out of thin air.

 

Yep. Law and Callis are well connected and normally have the best success with their mocks (obviously no one is going to beat Callis' 17 in a row correct in 2005).

[Guest]

Law mentioned Jack Flaberty as a guy we'd like to overslot in the 2nd. He's a SS/3B but also throws an easy 93 with plenty of projection left. We're looking at him as a pitcher.

 

FYI, everyone is looking at him as a P now. He really came on this season on the mound.

 

BA (#38 overall, #15 RHP):

 

15. Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif.

 

Last summer, scouts regarded Flaherty as a better prospect at third base thanks to his gap-to-gap stroke and quality infield actions. But he struck out 12 in his 2014 season debut on the mound and quickly convinced scouts that he is a potential late first-round talent as a pitcher. Flaherty’s 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame offers current strength as well as projection, and his arm action is clean and fast, so he figures to add velocity as he matures. He already sits at 88-92 mph and touches 93, and his command and control are advanced for his age. Flaherty has good feel for four pitches, led by a changeup that projects as plus to plus-plus. His 77-80 mph slider can be a swing-and-miss pitch, and he can use his curveball as a get-me-over pitch or occasionally as a chase pitch, because it does have some tightness. Scouts believe the slider has plus potential, giving him a chance for three above-average or better offerings.

 

Reminds me a bit of Blackburn. Law also said the Phillies were interested in him.

[Guest]

I wouldn't be shocked if this particular Cubs regime is also interested in Georgia prep LHP Mac Marshall in the second round.

[Deeg]

Law pulls [expletive] out of thin air (if you prefer that analogy) all the time. Callis is certainly connected, but Law places the priority on trying to look like a genius.

[RammyFanny]

Law pulls [expletive] out of thin air (if you prefer that analogy) all the time. Callis is certainly connected, but Law places the priority on trying to look like a genius.

Law's day of the draft mock for 2013:

 

Analysis: Appel or Gray here, with money probably a major variable as the Cubs seem to view the two guys as very close. They may not have a choice if the Astros take one of the two, in which case Chicago will take the other.

 

I also remember him inferring the Twins would probably take Kohl Stewart and referenced their super heavy scouting on him. I brought up the Cubs scouting the hell out of Bryant to him on Twitter and he essentially said "due diligence" and stuck by what he said in one of his chats that the Cubs weren't "on" him like they were with the pitchers. Although this was probably two weeks or so before the draft.

 

Translation: He probably has good intel on some teams, but I doubt the Cubs are one.

[Cubswin11]

Yeah I remember that stuff from on on Gray/Appel, but I think he started changing his tune once the draft got closer that it was going to be Appel if Gray went #1 and Bryant if Appel went #1.

[Guest]

Law pulls [expletive] out of thin air (if you prefer that analogy) all the time. Callis is certainly connected, but Law places the priority on trying to look like a genius.

 

Seems odd to say... He was the first to talk about Pentecost at 1.4 and then soon after that, everyone linked/mocked the Cubs to Pentecost. He definitely has some good connections throughout baseball; that said, I could totally see what RammyFanny said about Law not having good connections with this regime.

[PrimeTime]

If all the arms go top three, I'm on board with grabbing Nola at 4 (Was throwing 93-94 in the 8th last week and said to look really good)...Maybe Jackson at 4, but none of these bats this year are really doing it for me or seem to have a huge impact in the long run. Now if it was a Bryant or Baez type potential, then sure. I'm just not seeing any worth taking at 4 except maybe Jackson.

[RammyFanny]

Bowden, and I think it's just who he'd take.

 

1. Houston Astros | Pick: Carlos Rodon | LHP | NC State

 

Without a top-notch bat to debate in this spot, the Astros should take one of the top three pitchers in Rodon, Brady Aiken or Tyler Kolek. Rodon had an up-and-down season, but he has succeeded at a high level in college and should get to the big leagues quickly.

 

I would take the college arm over the high school arm; Rodon is closer to the big leagues than Aiken or Kolek, and should arrive in Houston in the next couple of years, just as the Astros are ready to start winning again.

 

2. Miami Marlins | Pick: Brady Aiken | LHP | Cathedral Catholic HS (San Diego)

 

Aiken has the best overall pitching package in the draft, and a future rotation featuring him, Jose Fernandez and Andrew Heaney could be special.

 

I gave serious consideration to Alex Jackson with this pick since the Marlins need power bats to build around Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, but in the end I couldn't pass up this type of arm and upside. Aiken is a winner, intelligent with strong makeup. He could be the next Cliff Lee.

 

3. Chicago White Sox | Pick: Tyler Kolek | RHP | Shepherd (Texas) HS

 

The decision came down to either Jackson or Kolek, but the arm has too much upside, and envisioning Kolek following Chris Sale in the White Sox rotation someday was too good to pass up.

 

The White Sox would get one of the top three pitchers in the draft and the one with the most velocity. Kolek is built like a workhorse and can touch 100 mph with his fastball.

 

4. Chicago Cubs | Pick: Alex Jackson | C/OF | Rancho Bernardo HS (San Diego)

 

The Cubs' biggest need is starting pitching and that would be the logical choice for them here, perhaps going with any one of Kyle Freeland, Touki Toussaint or Aaron Nola. However, like Kris Bryant last year, Jackson is too talented to pass up.

 

The Cubs have stockpiled talented middle-of-the-order-type bats, which should give them one of the best and inexpensive offenses in the game for years. They can use free agency and trades to build the starting rotation going forward. After Jackson, the Cubs should then draft all pitching in rounds two through 10.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=9471

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Good on you, Bowden.

[Guest]

Chris Crawford mock: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/05/the-mock-2014-volume-vi/

 

1. Aiken

2. Rodon

3. Kolek

No. 04: Chicago Cubs

Aaron Nola RHP LSU $4.6212M

I’ve heard all sorts of names attached to the Cubs: Max Pentecost, Kyle Freeland, Michael Conforto, Bradley Zimmer, Nick Gordon, etc. At the end of the day, I think they go with the pitcher, but to say that I’m not sure is quite the understatement.

[pitchcs]

What's wrong with Nola exactly? Stats are amazing from the SEC...just the fact that he profiles as a ceiling #3? Mike Leake-ish?

 

I at least like the idea that he should be to the big league team by 2016.

[A New Era]

Nola would be ok with me. There are a few guys a bit more exciting than him but as always I'll trust the FO on this one. That know they gotta nail their 1st round pick and so far they have.

[pitchcs]

Yeah, with the hitters they have coming I really just want 1-2 pitchers from this draft who are almost guaranteed to make the Majors and be decent within 2 years.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yeah, with the hitters they have coming I really just want 1-2 pitchers from this draft who are almost guaranteed to make the Majors and be decent within 2 years.

 

In what world could you ever draft two such pitchers in one draft?

[imb]

Yeah, with the hitters they have coming I really just want 1-2 pitchers from this draft who are almost guaranteed to make the Majors and be decent within 2 years.

 

In what world could you ever draft two such pitchers in one draft?

 

you'd have to trade up

[davell]

I'm starting to hope Beede falls to us in the 2nd.

[pitchcs]

Yeah, with the hitters they have coming I really just want 1-2 pitchers from this draft who are almost guaranteed to make the Majors and be decent within 2 years.

 

In what world could you ever draft two such pitchers in one draft?

 

Being "decent" in 2 years is a bad phrase. But a couple guys with high floors from college ranks.

[Tryptamine]

I'm starting to hope Beede falls to us in the 2nd.

 

Tell that to Gato who still wants him at #4