KingKongvs.Godzilla

2007 NL Cy Young. What a kickass pitcher with sick stuff and control.

Cantu has power, but he needs to learn to take a walk. Sub .300 OBPs aren't good, and would not help the Cubs. I don't see why its a big deal. Upton is a far better all around player than Cantu, and has more upside in the future too.

Ervin Santana + blue chip prospect + mid level prospect? That would kick ass. So would Billingsley + Betemit + Elbert. Not that I'm actually suggesting trading Z, but it wouldn't be the first time. I think I suggested it twice last season and once during the offseason on this board.

Honestly, I've always thought and held onto the belief that Z for a package of young players from one of the LA teams would be the best thing long term for the Cubs.

Yes, but the walks people...the walks. Last year he almost walked 5 guys per 9. Five. As an ace. My post just has Opening Day timing, but the point goes beyond this game. He can't keep doing this.

is outta control. Bad-da BING. No, but it's really annoying to have to put up with 4+ walks per start from our ace. Theres no need for him to go all out on every pitch to every batter. That whole "the injury is coming" thing is going to linger on this guy for his whole career, whether that be 2 years or 10 years. Now...I'm ready to be told I'm going off way too early.

My first post of the 2007 season: Z REALLY needs to realize that you don't NEED to blow every guy away. His control is terrible because of it, and its going to leave the "injury is coming" thing every single start of his career (until it happens, hopefully never).

Brackman, much like Samardzija, has more projection than your average college starter. His first two years he spent quite of a bit of development time on the hardwood. You have to take that into account. He's also pretty athletic for a big guy, which isn't as common as you'd think with the other pitchers that are tall. On average the taller pitchers do turn out better. I don't know where the hell your get the exception to the rule crap. He's not tall and just throws hard. He has pretty good offspeed stuff and has shown a much better ability to dominate hitters than Samardzija. His potential is through the roof. He's nearly seven foot tall, throws in the upper 90s with quality secondary pitches. How can you NOT like that? To be honest, I'm not so sure he's not the best college prospect. It's between him and Price, and I am not one to buy the whole take Price because he's left-handed argument. What about the idea that Price seperates himself on the field? His performance is much stronger than Brackman's. Guys who JUST started playing baseball full time shouldn't be top 10 picks IMO. Especially a guy whose profile is just soo....rare in effectiveness in this game. Projectability is cool, but you want the upside + ability to reach it when you're picking this high in the first round. Brackman IMO doesn't have that whole package thing going on.

Honestly, I don't get the Brackman hype. Actually thats a lie...he's tall and throws hard. Still, he's not producing at all and tall pitchers who succeed are definitely more the exception than the rule. Price or Weiters is the way to go man.

I lol'd. IMO there is no bigger baller in the baseball world than Scott Boras. The guy owns everyone. People hate him, but deep down we'd all kill to be him.

I love the idea of putting a young, talented future starter in the bullpen to start in the future. Hey it worked with Santana...

.... No. New edit: I can't believe I edited to be nice.

Well then lets hope we get as lucky as the Tigers did. We're already halfway there, cause he only has to fall two spots instead of 5.

1. Performance does matter. He's basically a ball of potential right now, like a ton of other guys in the minors. He just happens to have a high ametuer profile. 2. Good for him. Where has that taken the hundreds of other great athletes who have came and went? 3. The slider low and away appears to be one of many weaknesses. Theres also the complete lack of power, the high Ks, the ridiculously high and unsustainable BABIP are all pretty decent obstacles. I realize Maybin's potential, but right now thats all he really is. He's good at some parts of the game (defense specifically), but VERY raw in some huge parts of the game. Complete lack of power? It will come. Yes, it just may. But what about the other guys his age showing power like Rasmus and Bruce or Upton? All he really has over these guys is inflated raw numbers, and he's more athletic than all but Upton. Why does he get the "it will come" tag but Upton absolutely MUST prove himself RIGHT NOW to be considered a great prospect?

1. Performance does matter. He's basically a ball of potential right now, like a ton of other guys in the minors. He just happens to have a high ametuer profile. 2. Good for him. Where has that taken the hundreds of other great athletes who have came and went? 3. The slider low and away appears to be one of many weaknesses. Theres also the complete lack of power, the high Ks, the ridiculously high and unsustainable BABIP are all pretty decent obstacles. I realize Maybin's potential, but right now thats all he really is. He's good at some parts of the game (defense specifically), but VERY raw in some huge parts of the game.

I trust what I saw in him, I haven't seen anyone come thru the Midwest League with his tools and abilities. If he's overrated, I'd hate to see underrated. Sorry, but thats not a very strong defense. Maybin's performance last season looks sick when you look at the raw numbers, but once you dig a little bit deeper its not all that impressive. And considering the amount of people just as athletic as him, some even moreso, who have busted...my excitement is a little bit tempered. Of course I sound a little bit hypocritical when I say I love Upton as a prospect. But then again...Upton showed more power, better strike-zone discipline, came in with an ARod-esque amteur profile, and basically is alot less raw than Maybin as far as physical skills. Where Upton is weak is his mental part of the game right now, and that comes with maturity.

This guy is the most overrated prospect in the minors. High K rate, high GB rate, high BABIP... He's really young and of course he has time to solve most of those problems. Of course, most will probably solve themselves with experience (hopefully) and maturity (esp. physically). But right now, he's just a REALLY good athlete who basically got by last year with alot of slapping the ball for basehits.

I hope Brackman isn't the Cubs #1 choice. Theres way too much of a fetish for freakishly tall pitchers in this franchise that are more project than polish (not that Brackman is RAW, but he's raw). Price is easily the best player in this draft IMO. Big, power lefty with a plus breaking pitch with plus plus potential. He's starting to throw strikes with his stuff, and he's dominating far more than Andrew Miller ever was. The way I see it, if Price was in last years draft...Miller would be the #2 prospect.

Vazquez has the strongest periphs on that staff, as well as the best arm and stuff. I could see them getting a nice return on this deal. I thought it was a smart contract. Too many people are putting too much stock into his ERA.

The Brewers are going to be a damn good team....if Ben Sheets is healthy. The funny thing is, even wit him...they have one of the best bets for a good rotation in all of baseball. They're similar to the White Sox two years ago as far as the pitching staff (without Sheets). A bunch of solid guys with good control. With Sheets, that staff can be deadly. Put it this way....their staff fully healthy: Sheets - Arguably the NL's best pitcher when he's healthy (along with Oswalt obviously). Capuano - Good stuff, young, left handed, good control, and he strikes guys out. Bush - Like the first two guys, his main problem might be HRs. Still, he's this years favorite breakout pitcher. Great control, strong K rate, gets groundballs, good mechanics, durable, and young. Suppan - Perfect as a #4 guy. I don't know who the #5 guy is, but Gallardo should make some noise this year.

I agree with the comments on GT hitters. That school has produced some great hitters in the past few years. Anyone seen Savery throw yet? I wouldn't touch him at 3, but he's one of the most interesting prospects in the college ranks (he's one of the few power starters this year).

Statheads are the Devils Spawn. And how did I miss this one too? I miss the days of Stats v. Scouts threads going 90 pages.

Great post, some very interesting thoughts (that match with mine) coming fromt his guy. Bowden kicks ass BTW. I think he's a little bit underrated by people like BA, which is funny because they think very very highly of him. They see him as a future workhorse #2, I think he has legit #1 potential.

Anyone else notice how much...smaller Mark Prior looked? Or is it just me? Anyone have a better picture than the one I don't even have?

Seriously, ARod coming here would be a dream come true, but theres no chance. He's not going to opt out of his contract. It's just a bullpoopy storyline the NYC media has been running forever. ARod has never shown any real interest in opting out, and I'm pretty sure deep down we all know it. Edited by mod for inappropriate language.