CubsWin

Jensen, Martin, McNutt. I completely understand the Zych votes. He's the surest bet to contribute meaningfully at the major league level of those that are left. And I probably should go back and change my vote, but [expletive] it. It's already been mentioned, but Jensen's numbers from last season as an age appropriate starter in A ball speak for themselves. Add in a decent scouting report and I'm voting for him for 27th. I like Martin's upside. The early reports are that he can play a major league CF right now. That's a premium defensive position and true CFers are rare. Trey hit well as a 19 year old in short season Boise. He'll be a year young for Kane County this year when we should find out more. His athleticism seems unquestioned. He's my 28th best. McNutt could be Alberto Cabrera. He could contribute to the pen this year (more likely next) and then be stretched out after achieving some success as a reliever. In 2015, he'll still be just 25 years old. It's a long shot, but we're talking about the 29th best prospect. Then again, I probably value upside and starter potential more than most.

Actually I'd be happy with either. I trust this Cubs FO so much more than any of the previous ones especially when it comes to draft strategy and scouting. If the Cubs deem it the best course of action to take a HS position player (if one distinguishes himself) and go with their stated policy of taking pitchers in large numbers after that, then awesome. The numbers show that position players taken at the top of the draft have had more success than pitchers drafted in similar spots. That said, if the Cubs take a college pitcher, then it's because they see that player as the clear cut better player and an arm that has a chance to be a #1. I'm hoping this happens because the Cubs need that type of player, as do most organizations. But I doubt they would take a pitcher simply out of need. So whichever one happens, I'm confident that they will have done the smart thing. As Theo & Jed said at the convention, some very highly rated pitching prospects and successful major league pitchers have emerged from later rounds. Here's a partial list of TOR arms (or potentially that) who are in the majors now. (This doesn't even include international free agent signings or highly rated prospects that are still in the minors.) Jeremy Hellickson - 4th round (6th best prospect 2011) Matt Moore - 8th round (2nd best prospect 2012) Josh Johnson - 4th round (80th best prospect 2006) Jon Lester - 2nd round (22nd best prospect 2006) Clay Buchholz - Sandwich pick 41st overall (2nd best prospect 2008) Brett Anderson - 2nd round (7th best prospect 2009) Derek Norris - 4th round (38th best prospect 2010) Derek Holland - 25th round (31st best prospect 2009) Mat Latos - 11th round Yovani Gallardo - 2nd round (16th best prospect 2007) Trevor Cahill - 2nd round (11th best prospect 2009) and last but not least Jeff Samardzija - 5th round Some other potential TOR arms: Casey Crosby - 5th round (47th best prospect 2010) Drew Hutchison - 15th round Drew Smyly - 2nd round Tony Cingrani - 3rd round Seeing this list makes me feel more at ease. I'm one of those who has been locked into taking a pitcher with the 2nd pick up until now. Of course there are the Verlanders, Prices and Kershaws of the world, too. So this certainly is not a definitive argument. But I would take any one of these guys on the Cubs staff, so it just goes to show it's not the end of the world if the Cubs don't take my personal favorite of the moment Sean Manaea. Basically, that was a lot of words to say that whoever the Cubs take, I'll be happy. It is the 2nd overall pick, after all...

Here's an article discussing the strengths of the upcoming draft from Perfect Game. Patrick Ebert thinks Manaea has the makings of a true number one and compares him to David Price. Not equates, but compares...

Don't know the bonafides of this site, but here's is the latest mock to be posted on the net. For all of those worried the Cubs will take Meadows (or any non-pitcher for that matter), this one has the Cubs taking my personal favorite at this point, Sean Manaea. http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/2013-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-january-5-2013/

I took that as referring to the Crawford signing. Though they did give up a lot to get Gonzalez...

Your welcome. I think this a big year for him. I'm not that down on him from based on the article. The plan was always to improve his mechanics. The forearm soreness is a concern, but there was no mention of any specific MRI results that were damning. He followed his own conditioning plan the previous off season and got shut down, however he was pitching pain free at the end of the year. He followed the Cubs plan religiously this time. That makes this the big show me year. The stuff is still there. The Cubs hired this new pitching conditioning guru from Vanderbilt. So, I still excited about him, but then I'm optimistic by nature.

Apparently, Dillon Maples did his own preparation during the previous off-season, but this year, he followed the Cubs Way to the letter. Not much else in this article, but here the link for your perusal.

As has been mentioned by more than one "expert" last year, the Cubs are deep. Their system has the most potential major leaguers of any organization right now. They had very little in the way of impact talent going into last year, but Theo & the gang did a very good job of changing that. The fact that we are in the mid-20s and still mentioning people that have a decent shot at contributing in the near future is pretty cool. Guys like McNutt, Zych and Loux as well as Rondon could all contribute this season.

I went with Paul Blackburn basically because the Cubs FO saw fit draft him as high as they did and they know a lot more than I do. I like his youth and control. His stuff is average but to have his control at his age is special. I also voted for Trey Martin. The reports I've read on him said they were pleasantly surprised with his defense in CF. If he is legit in that premium position, his bat showed well in the NWL for a 19 year old and his athleticism is strong, he's got a shot to move up this list quickly if he continues his development. And in no particular order, I also voted for Michael Jensen. At 21, age appropriate for the MWL, he allowed just 117 hits in 140 IP, IIRC. He had a decent K/BB ratio but less than a K/9. His stuff is average, but his results last year speak for themselves.

The Cubs have a complex in Peoria, AZ?

I voted for Loux because of his proximity to the majors. He doesn't have the upside of Wells, but he's a lot closer. That said, I also voted for Wells as I have been for the last couple of polls. Last I went with Michael Jensen. As I look around the rest of the organizations (I've become addicted this off season to perusing other teams farm systems on Baseball Reference), Jensen's numbers compare favorably with other team's second tier prospects. I often look at the other team's systems with an eye toward what prospects would be nice to get back in a trade. Jensen doesn't have the pedigree, but as a 21 year old starter in the MWL, his hits per inning is almost elite with a K/BB ratio that is acceptable. Obviously, a lot of prospects with similar numbers flame out when they get to the higher levels, but we are talking about the 25th best prospect here. Until he does flame out, I'll hold a torch for him. Pun intended.

I was surprised by his high ranking as well, so I did some digging. The thing that excites me the most about Candelario is his age relative to his league. What he did as an 18-year-old in short season A ball was pretty rare last season. Jeimer compiled an OPS of .741 over 310 plate appearances. Only one other player managed as good an OPS in a similar sample size at the same age in short season, and that was Danry Vasquez. BA ranks him as the 6th best prospect in the Tigers organization. Only two other 18-year-olds had over 200 PA, Tigers OF Danry Vasquez (311 PA, OPS .742) & Mariners IF Ketel Marte (269 PA, OPS .560). Only one other had over 100 PA, Rangers IF Smerling Lantigua (157 PA, OPS .524). Thirteen other 18-year-olds got cups of coffee in short season, and 5 of those were 1st round picks. Mets SS Gavin Cecchini (6 PA, OPS .167, 1st round pick) BA's 2nd best prospect for the Mets. A's SS Addison Russell (57 PA, OPS .895, 1st round pick, went on to A ball) BA's #1 prospect for the A's. A's 1B Matt Olson (16 PA, OPS .983, 1st round pick) BA's 10th best prospect... Rangers 3B Joey Gallo (67 PA, OPS .808, 1st round pick) BA's 10th best prospect... Blue Jays CF DJ Davis (23 PA, OPS .514, 1st round pick, 6 months younger) Toronto's 6th best prospect per BA. Indians SS Dorssys Paulino (62 PA, OPS .713, but was great at Rookie level and is a year younger) Cleveland's #2 prospect per BA. In the Appy & Pioneer leagues, there were ten 18-year-olds, half of which were 1st or 2nd round picks, but those leagues are considered rookie leagues and a step below the Northwest and New York-Penn. Twins OF Byron Buxton (87 PA, OPS .796, 1st round pick, Appalachian League - Rookie Level) BA's #2 for the Twins. Reds OF Jesse Winker (275 PA, OPS .943, 1st round pick, Pioneer League - Rookie Level) Dodgers SS Corey Seager (202 PA, OPS .903, 1st round pick, Pioneer League - Rookie Level) Dodgers 3B Alex Santana (102 PA, OPS .706, 2nd round pick, Pioneer League - Rookie Level) Brewers CF Tyrone Taylor (45 PA, OPS 1.108, 2nd round pick, Pioneer League - Rookie Level) It looks like Candelario is in the company of a lot top ten prospects and high round draft picks. This seems to suggest that he has earned that 8th ranking. Not bad for a guy who was signed to a $500,000 bonus.

Heh heh. So I took a look at our running poll, *Torreyes is the one guy in our top-20 that callis won't have on his top 30. (Swap in Fuji for Torreyes...) *Of the 15 non-Fujis who he specified from his top 21, all fifteen are in our top 20, even if shuffled a bit. *Of our top 20, (other than Torreyes), it's Maples, Vitters, Lake, and Underwood that Callis hasn't said where they'll fall on his list. But, he's got only 5 spots in his top-21 that he hasn't already given away. So I'm guessing our four names will all fit somewhere into his 14-18 spots. *I wonder who the other guy is outside our top 20, but who Callis has in front of Watkins-Marco-Amaya? Who is your guess, cal? You mentioned Szczur earlier. Wouldn't he round out those 5?

Yeah, the only other option is Campana or a trade, unless the Cubs don't really care about having more than two left-handed pitchers...

For me, it's about upside at this point. That said, I go: 1. Cabrera 2. Wells 3. Whitenack

Cool. That's the guy I've been wanting for about 6 months now.

I went Torreyes, Candelario and Underwood. This thing sort of reminds me of a fantasy draft. We are in the 13th, 14th and 15th rounds now. It is at this point, as a dynasty and upside guy, that I start taking chances on youth and upside, and these three have that.

http://bullpenbanter.com/chicago-cubs-2013-top-15-prospects/ Here's a Top 15 list from Bullpen Banter. Videos and in depth discussion at the link.

It appears very important, and with good reason, to the front office to acquire players that adhere to the philosophy and approach to the game that they are trying to establish. Bringing in a veteran example for the younger players that doesn't play the "Cubs way" is counter-productive to establishing this approach and would send the wrong signal to the rest of the team and make Sveum's already hard job that much harder. Delmon Young doesn't play good defense, isn't patient at the plate and isn't known to be very coachable. Those reasons might even outweigh the "sociopath thing".

Johnson Vitters Lake

I went Villanueva 8th because of his across the board tools, highly regarded make-up, consistent performance at every level, he'll be 21 and in AA and he plays a premium position and plays it well. After that, it got much harder. There are cases to be made for Lake, Vitters, Szczur, Maples, Johnson, Underwood and Alcantara. Lake and Vitters had really good numbers last season at higher levels. Maples, Johnson and Underwood have hardly played at all, but have high ceilings and high rankings from some experts. What Alcantara did in the FSL as a 20 year old while playing SS and having the tools to stick there is impressive. And Szczur has a nice tool set and continues to noticeably improve his skill set every year. I went Pierce Johnson at #9 and Maples at #10 largely based on their theorized ceilings, strong scouting reports and high rankings in some experts lists. I eagerly await seeing if they can fulfill some of their much-ballyhooed potential in 2013.

I also agree with removing Fujikawa from the discussion largely because its counter-intuitive and just feels wrong. But if I had to create a logical argument it would revolve around his years of previous performance in a major professional league along with the fact that he was signed as a free agent with every intention of him going straight to the major league ball club.

I went Vogelbach at 5 because his ceiling is higher than anyone left and has achieved that ceiling in leagues in which he was age appropriate or younger with a decent sample size. I voted for Jackson at 6 because he has performed well at higher levels, showed well in the majors in many areas and is still young enough to improve the holes in his swing. At 7, I went with Villanueva because we know more about him than Paniagua or Maples. And what we know shows him to be a competent hitter with above average to plus defense at 3B who is still young enough to improve and has performed well at age appropriate levels and younger in the minors. Paniagua, Johnson and Maples are likely in the next tier for me.

I don't know why the Padres would be trying to win now given the sheer tonage of money being spent by the Dodgers and the fact that the current WS champs reside in their division, but if some combo of Barney, Marmol, Brett Jackson and Garza (among others) can bring back Jedd Gyorko and Casey Kelly, I'd be thrilled. What do you think it would take? The signing of Michael Bourn would make a lot more sense if Jackson were traded...

Here's to the Cubs new, state-of-the-art front office for the talent they added in just one year. 9 of the top 20 joined the organization since Theo and Co. took over. 2. Almora 3. Soler 5. Vizcaino 8. Villanueva 10. Johnson 12. Underwood 16. Paniagua 17. Blackburn 20. Loux