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toonsterwu

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Everything posted by toonsterwu

  1. toonsterwu
    whoa, didn't realize that Kline was getting national attention. Makes sense I guess, since he was a former 6th round pick who didn't sign. Almost certain Kline is going to get a shot to be the Friday night starter for Virginia next year. In terms of raw stuff, he has excellent stuff, mid-90's fastball, good breaking ball off the top. His raw stuff is probably ahead of Hultzen's, but obviously, not as polished.
  2. toonsterwu
    I'd love to get Michael Jensen in. Won't get the attention some of the others will get, but mid-90's fastball and a good curveball is sure enticing.
  3. toonsterwu
    Na's playing LF because they want to give Szczur time in CF. While Na might be the better defensive CF, Szczur has the higher overall upside, so he'll likely get priority in development (and Szczur's a good defensive CF in his own right). Speedy, undersized high bonus kid from South Korea. AzPhil has indicated that he's been developing a better line drive stroke.
  4. toonsterwu
    In terms of stuff, Levitt, from what I know, is a low 90's sinkerballer with a decent change, decent slider. Heard his control has to tighten up some more for him to have a legitimate shot. Feels like a ... Matt Loosen type arm. Big fella ...
  5. toonsterwu
    Btw, for everyone hoping for Maples, Bruce Miles gave it a better than 50-50 shot on a blog comment of his. Don't know if Bruce has inside info on that, or more of a hunch, but still ... that's a higher chance than I would've thought. This was the specific exchange: Maples
  6. toonsterwu
    my guess would be that too many guys have been pushed up from A+ already (Struck/Whitenack as starters, some pen arms), and there really aren't that many other options to turn to, so Coello's around to fill a system arm role. Wouldn't surprise me if he was pushed aside at some point, when other bumps start happening. That said, outside of Rosscup, hard for me to see who could get the bump to AA, so maybe Coello sticks around as a starter for a bit.
  7. toonsterwu
    Very curious quote from Wilken, IMO. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110608&content_id=20203006&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc I find it curious because it seems to loosely confirm what many have suspected for awhile, which was that Wilken and Co. had more restrictions on money, particularly with over-slots, than was publicly acknowledged. I don't recall any statement prior to this year that seemed to suggest things in as strong a term, although maybe I missed something. Anyhow, seems to bode well for our chances to land some of these kids.
  8. toonsterwu
    I don't know if it's 100% yet, but the rumors have long been that the next CBA would have a hard slotting system. CBA expires 12/11, so the reality is, if something is implemented, it'll be too late for these kids, as they would have had to make up their minds already. I've also heard that it might be until 2013 when they would put things in place, even if they reach an agreement on the CBA for 2012. A lot is up in the air.
  9. toonsterwu
    I've had a couple folks tell me that Kirk is around 88-89 most of the time, but that's based off two appearances, so if Nate comes around, that would be great.
  10. toonsterwu
    Well ... specifically on Wells, as I'm far more bullish on him, I see a guy with a better frame, better mechanics, similar, if not, better fastball, and better control of his stuff at the moment. Maples, by most accounts, probably has a superior breaking ball, but Wells breaking ball made strides. I can see a case for Maples over Reed, although I think that's close as well (Reed is a bit more projectable body-wise and we have a year's worth of data along with the fact that he's cleaned up his mechanics a tiny bit by most accounts). That said, I'm far more bullish on Wells than most (only guy in the system that I think has ace potential).
  11. toonsterwu
    As a total side note, I feel like Baez is my only lock to crack the top 10 of our system. Perhaps Vogelbach, but I'm far less certain that I'm committed to putting him top 10, even with our system in a middling shape right now. I can't put Maples in there, assuming he signs, as I don't see why I would jump him over Ben Wells and Austin Reed, and I'm not sure either is top 10 (maybe 1).
  12. toonsterwu
    Tough one for UCLA the other day. There was a part of me that was dying to see a UCLA/UVA matchup. The UVA batters (otherwise known as Tim Wilken's dream college squad of good athletes at all positions) have shown a good approach at the plate. I think it would've been Hultzen vs. Bauer, with Roberts lined up against Cole, and maybe Wilson on Plutko, which would've made for fascinating pitching matchups on all three days. The other part of me was very wary. Irvine's got a solid squad, but I feel much more comfortable going against Irvine than going against those three arms.
  13. toonsterwu
    being a uva fan, one guy to watch out for next year in the college crop that will be under the radar a bit is Branden Kline. 6th round pick out of HS by the Red Sox, IIRC. Loaded UVA pitching staff the last two years (Hultzen, Wilson, Roberts were all selected, and my guess is that Winiarski will as well, and last year, Morey to the Marlins) limited his PT his freshman year and had him in the pen this year. Kid has big time stuff, though, and will get a crack at being the Friday starter for the Wahoos next year. As a side note, while my memory of the 90's Blue Jays draft is a bit weak these days, this was the Wilken I had expected/hoped for when he joined the organization, the guy that took some prep chances. Certainly, other guys have done it to lesser success, but my memory seems to suggest to me that he did a fairly good job gambling on prep picks back with the Blue Jays. He's indicated before that he adjusted his drafting to the organization he was in. Hearing some positive things on Elias, speaking of sleeper picks. Hard to really get a feel for the traveling Canadian teams.
  14. toonsterwu
    Both McNutt and Beeler were picked in rounds that have yet to occur in this draft, so there might be a better sleeper at day's end, but the pitcher that stands out right nw as a McNutt-ish type guy is Michael Jensen in that his velocity really picked up this year. Some had him topping out 95/96, and he has a solid breaking ball to work with right now. Gonna be a tough sign from USC, though.
  15. toonsterwu
    Is there a shot that Kirk could get into the top 100? Perhaps, but his ceiling isn't that high, and that might hamper him a lot when it comes down to discussions by the various people that do the major lists. I'm not even sure there's a consensus here that Kirk is currently a top 10 prospect in our system right now. I tend to lean to him on the outside of the top 10, but there's certainly a case for the last few spots. Our system is middle of the pack, at best, though, so it's somewhat hard for me to see Kirk in the top 100, but not impossible.
  16. toonsterwu
    After that red hot April, Hak-Ju has come back more towards the type of offensive performance people expected. He had a May line of .307/.378/.412. Still solid, and if the glve steadies, a very intriguing SS prospect, but pales in comparison to those April numbers.
  17. toonsterwu
    Scott is intriguing enough. I hadn't realized he was up to the low 90's. Only recalled the old reports. He's going to fill out a bit more, in all likelihood. Also, Roderick Shoulders holds some intrigue for me with his raw power, but this feels like a Strieby pick last year, a guy that I'd be surprised if he signed.
  18. toonsterwu
    very solid squad this past year.
  19. toonsterwu
    I only know cursory stuff about Hoilman ... but hey ... here's hoping for a Bour, Ridling or a Cuneo, and not a Hoorelbeke or Keedy.
  20. toonsterwu
    I like it but don't love it. Of course, snagging a few HS guys and bribing them away from college (a la McNutt) could change the looks of that considerably. Guys like Wells and McNutt were taken pretty late, so I don't think it's too late for Wilken to add some good pitching tomorrow. Whitenack, Struck, Beeler were taken late as well Whitenack wasn't late. Off the top, 8th round, I think.
  21. toonsterwu
    I like it but don't love it. Of course, snagging a few HS guys and bribing them away from college (a la McNutt) could change the looks of that considerably. Guys like Wells and McNutt were taken pretty late, so I don't think it's too late for Wilken to add some good pitching tomorrow. Wells wasn't late. Struck and Beeler, along with McNutt, have been our key late round over-slots from the last few years that are doing well in the minors right now.
  22. toonsterwu
    I'm not really. I figure Rosario is going to spend next year at Arizona or Boise. Lopez is probably just an orgaizational guy, but we need some of those guys too. And the kid from Canada, without knowing anything at all about him, I'll say we don't sign him. wouldn't be surprised if we sign the Canadian kid. don't know anything personally, but I've heard before that Wilken and Co. are well-connected up there, so I don't know if they'd draft him without having a feeling that something could be done. Not sure what college he's committed to, though.
  23. toonsterwu
    well, the talent level at the position in the system is somewhat iffy. I think we've all debated the talent levels of Gibbs/Clevenger/Castillo/Flores for awhile. Considering how few catchers actually make it up, it's probably worth it to get a few guys in there. I can't think of any noticeable catching talents in DSL right now (doesn't mean they can't develop/sign some guys). DeJesus and Cabezas both show promise, and probably only one of them will likely be in XST next year. This helps replenish the depth charts (particularly since one of Clevenger/Castillo should, knock on wood, be in the bigs next year).
  24. toonsterwu
    So, what's people's general take on the draft so far? I was commenting on it in another blog, and I thought it'd be curious to see what people thought of it. Overall, I don't know if I think this is a great draft, but I think it is a good draft for the system, if that makes sense. It potentially addresses power needs, and fills in some positional questions, which balances out the arm heavy draft from last year.
  25. toonsterwu
    I'm very excited ... but ... I really wonder if we get him signed. ____ Sort of feels like this draft needs to be viewed side by side with the 2010 prep pitching gambles as a way to balance out the system.
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