2013 Draft Day Thread + Cubs Picks Discussion

[Guest]

Apparently Poncedeleon is no longer signing despite having tweeted this at one point

 

http://blog.chron.com/cougars/files/2013/06/Screen-shot-2013-06-09-at-5.09.40-PM.png

 

I know he had tweeted about being on a plane (possibly to AZ, don't recall off top). Failed physical maybe?

[davell]

That'd be my guess.

[CubsWin]

Apparently Poncedeleon is no longer signing despite having tweeted this at one point

 

http://blog.chron.com/cougars/files/2013/06/Screen-shot-2013-06-09-at-5.09.40-PM.png

 

I know he had tweeted about being on a plane (possibly to AZ, don't recall off top). Failed physical maybe?

Not that I doubt you at all, David, but where did you hear this?

[Guest]

Apparently Poncedeleon is no longer signing despite having tweeted this at one point

 

http://blog.chron.com/cougars/files/2013/06/Screen-sho%20t-2013-06-09-at-5.09.40-PM.png

 

I know he had tweeted about being on a plane (possibly to AZ, don't recall off top). Failed physical maybe?

Not that I doubt you at all, David, but where did you hear this?

 

Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG 11h

Here's an interesting development. After announcing he was signing with the @Cubs, @UHCougarBB RHP Daniel Poncedeleon now headed back to #UH

[CubsInNC]

Apparently Poncedeleon is no longer signing despite having tweeted this at one point

 

http://blog.chron.com/cougars/files/2013/06/Screen-sho%20t-2013-06-09-at-5.09.40-PM.png

 

I know he had tweeted about being on a plane (possibly to AZ, don't recall off top). Failed physical maybe?

Not that I doubt you at all, David, but where did you hear this?

 

Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG 11h

Here's an interesting development. After announcing he was signing with the @Cubs, @UHCougarBB RHP Daniel Poncedeleon now headed back to #UH

 

Is the UH Frankie Ratcliff who was drafted in the 40th, the same Frankie Ratcliff busted with large quantities of marijuana and HGH, at U of Miami? If so, anything to that, and the potential failed physical? Does college test for HGH?

[davell]

Allright, I'm surprised: 800k for Skulina.

[Named After Maddux]

Skulina signs for 800K per Jim Callis on twitter (on phone currently). That's about 325K overslot. Color me surprised.

[Cubswin11]

Surprised at the cost? Or that he signed?

[Named After Maddux]

Surprised at the cost? Or that he signed?

Just the cost. I would have been shocked had he not signed.

[Guest]

Not that surprised. He was rated 73rd by BA (and similarly by others) and got a bonus valued between the 69th and 70th pick.

[Named After Maddux]

Callis did say he was most likely out of picks outside of Z to make it as a starter. Exciting to see some more signings announced officially!

[Guest]

Including the Skulina and Burks signings, with no knowledge of the bonuses for any other draft picks who signed:

 

2013 Bonus Pool (signed picks only): $626,200

2013 Bonus Pool Including 5% Overage: $657,510

2013 Bonus Pool Spending: $970,000

2013 Bonus Pool +/-: $343,800 Over Budget

2013 Bonus Pool +/- Including 5% Overage: $312,490 Over Budget

[Guest]

BA[/url]"]June 16: Cubs Bag Skulina For $800,000

 

Fourth-rounder Tyler Skulina has signed with the Cubs for $800,000. That’s a 67 percent increase over the $477,300 assigned value for the pick (No. 108) with which he was drafted.

 

Skulina tied a Kent State record with 11 victories in 2012, when the Golden Flashes made their first-ever College World Series appearance, and he went 6-4, 3.36 with 102 strikeouts in 94 innings this spring. A 6-foot-6, 225-pounder, he has a 91-96 mph fastball with tailing action and maintains his velocity into the late innings. His 80-84 mph slider is his second-best pitch, and he also uses a curveball and changeup. If he improves his control and command, he could be a No. 2 starter.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

He could be a number 2 starter? Last year BA said Johnson's ceiling was a 3. #-o

[Guest]

He could be a number 2 starter? Last year BA said Johnson's ceiling was a 3. #-o

 

I see no problem with this. IF Skulina makes improvements to his command and control, combined with his slightly better stuff, he could be a pitcher than Johnson. But currently, Johnson has better command and control and the stuff isn't significantly worse; Johnson is more likely to achieve that #3 ceiling.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

But does Skulina really have better stuff? I know Johnson has a plus fastball and breaking ball (can't remember if it's a curve or slider). Haven't heard anything about his changeup his year.

[ctcf]

@JeffPassan 9m

 

With Mark Appel's contract in the $6 million-plus range, wouldn't surprise me to see No. 2 pick Kris Bryant get the biggest bonus this year.

 

Does that mean he expects Bryant to make more overall than Appel or he expects Bryant to sign overslot?

[KingCubsFan]

@JeffPassan 9m

 

With Mark Appel's contract in the $6 million-plus range, wouldn't surprise me to see No. 2 pick Kris Bryant get the biggest bonus this year.

 

Does that mean he expects Bryant to make more overall than Appel or he expects Bryant to sign overslot?

I read that as more overall than Appel. He probably expects Bryant to get slot.

[craig]

Surprised at the cost? Or that he signed?

Just the cost. I would have been shocked had he not signed.

 

I think it's going to be pretty rare for any picks in the top-10 rounds to not sign, for Cubs or for any other team, so long as the current rules work.

 

Players can list their signing expectations. Teams can see that, and can call and talk to the players or their advisors before they pick. I expect it will be very rare for a team to use picks on guys whose stated signing expectations don't match the clubs' willingness to pay.

 

By contrast I don't think it will be rare at all for players to have signing expectations that exceed slot, and for teams to be willing to meet those.

 

I assume that's all that happened here. Skulina expected 2nd round money or better, nobody drafted him in the second round, but in the 4th the Cubs were able to meet that expectation and scouted him favorably enough to make it worth doing so.

 

I assume Masek and frazier will also have listed signing expectations higher than 5th and 6th round, and in each case the Cubs were willing to pay what it took. I'll be shocked if either of them sign for slot. And I wouldn't be surprised if both Masek and Frazier are at least $200K over slot.

 

I just think there is so much discussion of price in advance of actual selections that teams always know what they're in for, and won't take guys on days 1 and 2 unless they are willing to pay. No surprises, no suspense about whether guys will or won't sign. The only suspense really is for how much, and whether some overslot 3rd-day guys might also be affordable.

[craig]

I think it is encouraging that the Cubs though Skulina was worth $800K. I'm sure there were lots of other players available who'd have signed for slot; or who were still rated among the top 120 and would have been willing to sign for 2nd-round cash. But McLeod and the scouts liked Skulina. I think that speaks optimistically about what they hope he might become if he responds well to coaching.

[craig]

Deleted double post. Edited June 17, 2013 by craig

[Guest]

But does Skulina really have better stuff? I know Johnson has a plus fastball and breaking ball (can't remember if it's a curve or slider). Haven't heard anything about his changeup his year.

 

I'm not sure. It sounds like his raw stuff might be a tick better than Johnson's (at best) based on online scouting reports but it sure sounds close.

 

FYI, Johnson's out pitch is a curve.

[Guest]

I think part of it is that the prevailing wisdom on Johnson is selling him a bit short with the "he has the ceiling of a 3 starter" business, as silly as that statement is to begin with.

[Guest]

I think part of it is that the prevailing wisdom on Johnson is selling him a bit short with the "he has the ceiling of a 3 starter" business, as silly as that statement is to begin with.

 

Yeah, that is fair.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I think part of it is that the prevailing wisdom on Johnson is selling him a bit short with the "he has the ceiling of a 3 starter" business, as silly as that statement is to begin with.

 

It'll all come down to a changeup and/or cutter for him. I doubt he's had to use more than his two best pitches to dominate the MWL. Really want to see him in Daytona.