2014 Cubs Pick Discussion

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Looking through the pitchers likely to be available at 45, I'm partial to Justus Sheffield. What a name.

[Epsteenie]

I don't mind Schwarber. But I really think passing on Jackson will be a mistake.

[bukie]

Bowden hates the pick, so I'm in favor. It's better that Rodon went ahead of them to the Sox, or I'd have been disappointed they took Schwarber over Rodon.

 

As is, though, any time you can take the best bat in the draft, it's a good pick.

 

Plus, the Big Ten is the equivalent of AA in baseball, so he's practically ready for the big leagues already...

[Guest]

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber moving quickly (1/3): Bryant has set the bar high & really we need to step back & look at reality

 

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber moving quickly (2/3): I don’t want people think he’s going to be in AA, doing what Kris is doing this time next.

 

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber (3/3): But we do feel, with his profile & the way that he handles himself as a hitter, that he can move pretty quickly.

[Fro]

Here's the video of McLeod talking about Schwarber.

 

McLeod & Theo actually met with Schwarber for 30-45 minutes when the Indiana baseball team was in Arizona in February.

[NOLA]

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber moving quickly (1/3): Bryant has set the bar high & really we need to step back & look at reality

 

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber moving quickly (2/3): I don’t want people think he’s going to be in AA, doing what Kris is doing this time next.

 

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber (3/3): But we do feel, with his profile & the way that he handles himself as a hitter, that he can move pretty quickly.

Please be able to stick at catcher. :beg:

[Felix Leiter]

Count me in if he can stay at catcher. Welly is terrible and unless we have a good one already in the minor league system, this is a major need. Now..bring on the young pitching in the next few rounds.

[Deeg]

Count me in if he can stay at catcher. Welly is terrible and unless we have a good one already in the minor league system, this is a major need. Now..bring on the young pitching in the next few rounds.

 

I don't think the Cubs are even entertaining the possibility that Schwarber can be a full-time catcher. They probably like the idea that he can give them roster flexibility as a 3rd catcher or a guy who can start once a week, but full-time he's strictly a LF.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Him staying at catcher is almost irrelevant to me.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Him staying at catcher is almost irrelevant to me.

 

I'm just assuming it won't happen. 90% of the time when there's some doubt on a guy sticking at some position on draft day, he doesn't stick there.

[The-Kris-Bryant]

1. Albert Almora, CF

2. Javier Baez, 3B

3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

4. Kris Bryant, RF

5. Kyle Schwarber, LF

6. Starlin Castro, SS

7. Who Cares, 2B

8. Who Cares, C

 

So sad for Soler, though I like the strategy. Odds are one of Schwarber, Bryant, Almora, Baez and Soler falls on their face.

[Guest]

1. Albert Almora, CF

2. Javier Baez, 3B

3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

4. Kris Bryant, RF

5. Kyle Schwarber, LF

6. Starlin Castro, SS

7. Who Cares, 2B

8. Who Cares, C

 

So sad for Soler, though I like the strategy. Odds are one of Schwarber, Bryant, Almora, Baez and Soler falls on their face.

Bryant will be at 3rd and Baez at 2B. Soler takes RF.

[Guest]

I didn't know who he was 2 hours ago and it's already pretty clear he's not staying at catcher (and doesn't need to to be good).

[RynoRules]

If he stays at catcher and becomes a .270/.380/.500 player...hell, if he does that in LF I'd be thrilled.

[Outshined_One]

Anyone know how good Schwarber's arm strength is? I've heard one of his issues behind the dish was not his ability to throw, but his transfer.

 

If he has a decent arm, why not try him at 3rd? I know we have a supposed logjam of guys who could end up at the position, but if Schwarber is supposed to be a good athlete and his arm is good enough, why not give him a shot at third before moving him to left?

[Guest]

Anyone know how good Schwarber's arm strength is? I've heard one of his issues behind the dish was not his ability to throw, but his transfer.

 

If he has a decent arm, why not try him at 3rd? I know we have a supposed logjam of guys who could end up at the position, but if Schwarber is supposed to be a good athlete and his arm is good enough, why not give him a shot at third before moving him to left?

Yeah, the pop time was a bigger issue than arm.

[Thrilho]

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber (3/3): But we do feel, with his profile & the way that he handles himself as a hitter, that he can move pretty quickly

 

 

 

I don't think they're expecting him to stay at catcher. Soler in RF, Almora or Alcantara in CF, Schwarber in LF, Bryant at 3B, Baez at 2B. Done.

[Guest]

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber (3/3): But we do feel, with his profile & the way that he handles himself as a hitter, that he can move pretty quickly

 

 

 

I don't think they're expecting him to stay at catcher. Soler in RF, Almora or Alcantara in CF, Schwarber in LF, Bryant at 3B, Baez at 2B. Done.

Wish I would have said that. :)

[Thrilho]

Unless one or more of these players isn't able to field their position, hit enough to be an MLB player, or is too injured to count on.

[Guest]

Anyone know how good Schwarber's arm strength is? I've heard one of his issues behind the dish was not his ability to throw, but his transfer.

 

If he has a decent arm, why not try him at 3rd? I know we have a supposed logjam of guys who could end up at the position, but if Schwarber is supposed to be a good athlete and his arm is good enough, why not give him a shot at third before moving him to left?

Yeah, the pop time was a bigger issue than arm.

 

Read the same thing. Also read he had problems receiving premium velocity with Team USA.

[jersey cubs fan]

Anyone know how good Schwarber's arm strength is? I've heard one of his issues behind the dish was not his ability to throw, but his transfer.

 

If he has a decent arm, why not try him at 3rd? I know we have a supposed logjam of guys who could end up at the position, but if Schwarber is supposed to be a good athlete and his arm is good enough, why not give him a shot at third before moving him to left?

If you aren't middle infield or third already in college it is very unlikely you can pick up third to pro standards.

[Fro]

http://scoop.hoosiershq.com/2014/06/schwarber-ecstatic-after-selection/

 

Schwarber quotes here:

 

Kyle Schwarber met Theo Epstein in Surprise, Ariz., when Indiana was playing in the Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge. The Hoosiers catcher talked shop with the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations and the architect the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox World Series championship teams, and both men came away impressed with each other.

“We had a great meeting because we were both on the same page,” Schwarber said. “We agree about hitting and everything and we just had a good time talking to each other. … He came out and watched me, and then their area scout came out to see us and (the scout) told me, ‘Theo really loves you, so just keep going.’”

 

“I was ecstatic and I’m kind of in shock,” Schwarber said by phone Thursday night after watching the draft with family and friends at the clubhouse at Weatherwax Golf Course in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. “It’s really happened. All the hard work paid off. I just gotta keep going, but I’m very, very, very, very excited right now.”

Schwarber wasn’t drafted out of high school in Middletown and was arguably more highly coveted as a middle linebacker as he was a catcher.

 

It’s the second straight year that the Cubs have drafted a powerful college hitter. Schwarber joins 2013 first-round pick Kris Bryant, last year’s Golden Spikes Award winner who hit an astounding 31 home runs as a junior last year at the University of San Diego. They also have a power-hitting shortstop in the organization in Javier Baez, who hit 37 home runs in the minors last year.

The left-handed Schwarber thinks he can play off both well if they end up in the majors together.

“It’s going to be great,” Schwarber said. “It’s going to be like another (Sam Travis) and I deal.”

The lone knock against Schwarber going into the draft was that scouts were uncertain whether or not he would be able to play catcher in the majors and that he might have to make a move to left field or possibly even first base in the minors. He said he and the Cubs have not yet had any of those discussions.

“We haven’t even talked about it yet,” Schwarber said. “… Whatever the team wants me to do, I’ll do it.”

[The-Kris-Bryant]

Anyone know how good Schwarber's arm strength is? I've heard one of his issues behind the dish was not his ability to throw, but his transfer.

 

If he has a decent arm, why not try him at 3rd? I know we have a supposed logjam of guys who could end up at the position, but if Schwarber is supposed to be a good athlete and his arm is good enough, why not give him a shot at third before moving him to left?

If you aren't middle infield or third already in college it is very unlikely you can pick up third to pro standards.

Josh Donaldson.

[Thrilho]

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber (3/3): But we do feel, with his profile & the way that he handles himself as a hitter, that he can move pretty quickly

 

 

 

I don't think they're expecting him to stay at catcher. Soler in RF, Almora or Alcantara in CF, Schwarber in LF, Bryant at 3B, Baez at 2B. Done.

 

Wish I would have said that. :)

 

 

Yeah, could have just said +1. But the word lately has been more about the Cubs seeing if Bryant can stick at third, so I've been thinking more about lineup possibilities there. I think this pick really sets the "if they all work out" lineup. The linchpin seems to be if Bryant can stick at third.

[Thrilho]

Regarding the idea of moving Schwarber to third, I'd think they'd just want him to learn to hit and get to the bigs fast. He could be in the lineup by sometime in 2016 if they're aggressive, and hopefully by that time they'll have a reason to be.