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He was much better two years ago, but that amount of over-slot does surprise me a tad. His slider and changeup weren't as sharp this past year, and it's hard for me to imagine the kid adding anymore good weight on his frame after the weight he's put on. A tad surprising.

He'd be on mine. Actually, he is on (23 right now for me, list doesn't have Castro/Cashner on it). Thing is, I didn't have huge expectations for this year. Sometimes, guys take off when they can finally concentrate on one aspect of the game, but other times, it takes guys some time. Now, am I disappointed at the ridiculous yoyo-ing of good game/bad game (and these days, it feels more like 1 good for every 2 bad). Sure. But there's enough for me to keep him on for now.

If we're sitting in the mid-first range, Danny Hultzen is a guy who might work in there. His stamina improved this year and he was able to keep his velocity late in the year (low 90's, occasionally touching mid-90's). Velo won't get much higher than that, though. Has a very good curve, and has solid change. Good control, fairly clean mechanics (although feels like some tightening up could help). Solid athlete.

I'll admit I have some concerns on Ben Wells as well, as to whether or not he can maintain that velocity. He does have a good frame, and he'll likely, from what I gather, physically mature a bit more from his 6'4" 215 frame right now, so that's an intriguing body. I'm not that troubled by the pick, though. I like the fact that he has a decent feel for a change right now, fairly good delivery. Will be interesting to follow him in Arizona. As a side note, I just can't find that much more on Eric Rice, other than that he can run it into the mid 90's at times.

Sweet. I'm intrigued with LePage. He'll have to work hard, though, considering the MI depth in the system. I don't recall off the top right now, but has he played any CF before? __________________________ So ... now that we've had a few hours to digest the draft, I'm wondering what people's initial reactions are (on the totality of the draft, and not just Hayden Simpson). I think I'm more intrigued than I was with last year's draft, but I'm not excited about it. Really hoping that we can get a lot of the HS arms signed. Without counting it up, it feels like we drafted more HS than in year's past (but I could be wrong). I'm glad we took a gamble on some power, and am hopeful Karsten Stribey and Dustin Geiger sign. If I had to give it a grade, I'd say it's a B-/B type draft if the Cubs sign some of key HS guys.

out of curiosity,, anyone have any idea who Wilken is referencing when he says that he lost some guys in recent years, and as such, he decided to go BPA and Hayden?

I wonder if anyone has any idea on how signable Danny Winkler is? I'd love to get that fastball. I remember Bremer was only working upper 80's for awhile, so I don't know how consistent he can get it into the low 90's. He does have a good curveball and changeup. I think Andy Seiler is off on that one. About the only pick you could claim as a "defensive pick" is that of Hayden, and I honestly don't think that was a defensive pick. I honestly think the Cubs thought he was the best player on the board, and didn't draft him because he wasn't going to be there at 66. I mean, Golden wasn't a defensive pick. Same with Gibbs. Wonder what the chances of getting Chris Anderson signed are. As for some day 2 pick thoughts, I'm intrigued with Danny Muno as a possible Mike Fontenot/Josh Harrison type of undersized MI that has a bit more pop than expected and has decent-solid discipline. Loosen was very good in 2009, IIRC. Wonder if that may lead him back to school. I'd love to get him in. Nice 4 pitch arsenal. Really hoping we can get Geiger in. Let the kid play 3rd if he wants. Cody Cox was only touching low 90's, sitting mostly high 80's. He's projectable, but if the numbers climb up, I think this is one you let go. Fitzgerald is intriguing enough, with a low 90's fb and solid slider and change. Feels like the kid might sign. I'm really hoping we can get Hartman, Richardson, Reed, and Welsl in. Seems like a nice foursome of arms. Overall, I don't love this draft, but I think it's solid enough. The one thing Andy is right about is that we draft based on our mold, and I'm okay with that. I do wish that, at some point, we would have a 2007 draft again (heavier on positional players). I feel like that would give the system a nice balancing out.

I asked that before the Simpson pick. Roughly, I think I would have (off the top) my top 10 as something like 1. Jay Jackson. 2a. Brett Jackson 2b. Josh Vitters I'd be okay ranking that top 3 in any order. 4. Chris Archer 5. Hak-ju Lee 6. Trey McNutt 7. Hayden Simpson (assuming he signs, which sounds likely) 8. Chris Carpenter I think I'd be okay ranking the next 5 in any order as well, although I have my preferences. I really want to see Archer in AA soon to see how his pitches do against better hitters. I'm not real sure what I would do for 9 and 10 right now. Could see myself putting Thomas Diamond in there, despite his age, as he's had a really nice stretch. Ryan Flaherty ... perhaps. DJ LeMahieu? Reggie Golden (if he signs?)

As good as Pinckard's fastball is, I half wonder if we shouldn't try him as a positional player first.

Rhoderick's a nice arm. Has good movement on his pitches, IIRC. Some issues, but his arm is good. Overall, it's sort of an eh draft. Not bad (I was okay with Simpson, liked the gamble on Golden, like the Gibbs pick. Rest is intriguing enough. I am really hoping that Hartman, Cox, Pinckard sign. I am dreaming that we can get Geiger signed, along with Strieby (Ryan's little brother). Both would add some intriguing positional assets to the system.

There seems to be only 2 possibilities (btw, I hope they don't trade for Oswalt, I'd rather gamble on a kid like Hayden than make a deal for Roy Oswalt right now, unless the Cubs go on a ridiculous win streak). a) As Wilken has hinted at, it's possible that they were truly concerned about someone plucking him and really wanted him. I believe there's a rumor floating out there about this, although I don't know if it's simply derived from Wilken's comments or not. b) In Wilken's first draft, they took a signable guy they liked (Colvin) and went overslot later (Samardzija). I'm guessing A was a factor, and I'm hoping B was a factor as well.

I really would like to get Yordy Cabrera and move him to a corner spot, IF or OF. A lot of other intriguing guys. If Eibner makes it that far, I'd let him swing the bat in the OF and see how he goes. Allie or Cole would be great. I am somewhat thinking that Micah Gibbs might end up being our pick, or maybe a Derek Dietrich.

I'm shocked, but I don't think I'm terribly disappointed. To be clear, I don't like the pick, but I don't hate it. It feels like we might've drafted Jay Jackson with this pick. Certainly, Jay being a 9th rounder made that pick that much sweeter, but the arsenal seems somewhat comparable. If we weren't going to select a HS arm, but were set on an arm (and based on Wilken's final comments about the college pitching class, it sure was a late sign that they were probably leaning an arm), I'm at least glad that we took a gamble on a kid that has some solid potential. I wasn't a huge fan of the college pitching options in that range, and I feel like, on paper, his arsenal is comparable to some of the other guys in that range, and that he might have some more potential than some of the options. Before folks bash this draft to death, let's wait and see how the rest of the draft plays out. This was a weak draft, and picking in the mid-first wasn't the best spot, since the talent was fairly balanced through perhaps the early-mid 2nd. If they opted for a signable guy to go overslot later, that would change things. Also, let's give Simpson a chance. Again, don't love the pick, don't like it, but don't hate it. Sounds like the kid has a good arsenal and he certainly, on paper, seems intriguing. Certainly shocking and stunning, though. Sounds like we'll get a good look at the kid this year, as it sure sounds like he should be signed soon and perhaps make it up to Boise after a pitstop in Arizona.

I'm just stunned right now. Reading about his stuff, I guess it compares relatively well to some of the college arms in that area, but I really hope that this is an attempt to go cheap early and open the strings later.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=2255 Callis' final mock. O'Conner makes it to us. Whitson going at 9 opens the door for that in this scenario. Of course, if Choice goes off before that, then who knows. In his chat, Pilere wonders if the Whitson to Padres stuff is because the Padres think Choice will be gone.

hmm ... even pilere is suggesting that grandal to kc may be close to off the table. if that happens, then c. sale or maybe the rumored bryce brentz surprise at 4? bad draft, but a damn fascinating one.

agreed. There are picks I don't want, but I can't think of a pick that I would dislike a ton.

Goldstein's final mock. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11106 Names still on the board: Whitson, Allie, DeShields, Wimmers, Eibner, Colon, amongst others. From Frankie P's chat (geesh, he's trooping along, 3 hours of chatting so far):

looks like there is a chance that o'conner falls some. frankie p said in his chat that the d-backs would go loux over pomeranz, leaving pomeranz for the mets in that situation. the o'conner threat might come with oakland at 10.

with all the rumors coming out, it's going to be a fun draft to follow. harper/machado/tailion/grandal seem likely to be gone in the top 4, with the question coming at 5. sounds like c. sale or pomeranz for cleveland and arizona, perhaps. If O'Connor goes to the Mets, with J. Sale to the Astros, Choice to the Padres, and maybe Colon to the A's, the picture at 16 seems likely to be heavy on the 2nd tier college arms and the HS arms. man, the o'connor news is disappointing. here's hoping omar pulls a surprise, although o'connor could still get plucked before 16 even if that happens. the idea of taking delino deshields jr. is somewhat growing on me. put him in cf and let him run with it and see if he can move up fast. still not my preference (taking a upside HS arm would probably be if the board falls that way). Harvey, I wouldn't mind it if he somehow slipped.

Overall, considering that he just "found" his stuff the last time out, I thought he pitched fairly well. Still would be a big gamble in the first round, but someone's going to take him, and I think closer to mid-first than late, since most of the college arms there (Alex/Asher/Deck) are so very ... average, in terms of upside, or a bit raw, like Brett. I'm really not against picking him, as I'm okay with gambling on greatness in the first. Not my first preference, but definitely not a pick I'd complain a lot about.

don't disagree. I jsut remember the reports saying that he was scary skinny last year, and some of the early reports this year said he looked a lot better

I really want O'Connor, but if Colon is there ... that's going to make it awful tough. I believe in his bat, and he could probably move fast as a 2nd baseman. I'm not exactly in a loving mode with Flaherty/LeMahieu/Watkins these days. That said, it's quite possible that Colon is more Flaherty than impact prospect. Dunno how I feel, but Colon would tempt me.

Considering his approach (which is improved a bit I guess), that's the type of player that I think we should expect - a streaky hitter.

Great info. I'd venture a guess that Soto is probably 160-165? It's quite possible the one or two reports I had heard of him touching 90/91 are the ones that are off. Most reports from before, I think, had him as an upper 80's guy. Struck in the low 80's with his fb? That's very disappointing. Mota only moved to catcher this past offseason, I think, so he's quite raw behind the plate. Thoughts on Charles Thomas at 3rd? He's got a decent stick with some pop, but most have him pegged as a definite 1st/DH type. I'd probably agree, but I still hold out the slimmest of hopes that he can handle 3rd enough to move up the ladder.