NDCubs

Silly me, I saw a bunch of new posts today and thought "oh boy some news on Rusney! {fingers crossed}" Now I know as much as I did yesterday about Rusney. Lol thanks guys for getting me excited about nothing.

I'm headed to KC game tonight. Obviously Schwarber and Blackburn are notable but what else should I look for?

Thank you kind sir. Fairly surprised Bryant sits at 8...

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10996551/minnesota-twins-outfielder-byron-buxton-no-1-top-25-prospect-ranking-mlb Care to share the full list?

Only 107? It's like a side session for Rodon.

If we had Hendry/Wilken still on board, I'd be convinced he would be our guy some time before the 11th round. Now...not so much so. The ND connection means very little in terms of this FO taking Connaughton. There is considerably risk sure but there is tremendous untapped young arm upside for PC. He has never trained year round as a pitcher. Heck he didn't even throw 7 months out of the year in HS and did very little at ND. He's a basketball player first and foremost on a Bball scholarship. Much like Shark was with football. Pat is also much more coachable and more of a leader than Shark was. Jeff worked hard but has that carefree attitude to him. PC is outwardly one of the hardest workers you'll see. Someone with good instruction in the minors will get an absolutely steal after next March.

Connaughton is much like Samardzija. After one more season of basketball he's going to take some time but he's got the upside of top 5-10 type arms without the seasoning or wear and tear of them. Shark is 29 now but his arm is that of a 25 year old and although he's been with the Cubs for awhile now he's really still just learning how to be a pitcher and not a thrower. Connaughton will also peak late and while there is some risk associated with him the upside is well worth it. I would be ecstatic if we landed him at any pick besides #4.

Do you think that if this climb continues and his power develops he is not worthy. One of the biggest question marks going in was his lack of power production. That seems to really be developing now. If he grades out as prospect they think can hit .300 with 25 while playing plus defenses, plus baserunning and a plus plus arm I think he's worthy. Obviously every scout will see things a little different but he seems to be gaining traction. You guys are probably right and I know we need too flight P's but I see a high floor, high WAR player that should move quickly and hit the majors when the rest of our guys do. I know how crazy I sound right now I just can't talk myself into a pitcher. I won't be upset with Beede/Aiken/Hoffman and surely not with Rodon/Kolek but I think we have a legit option outside of Pitchers.

Kolek would definitely be #2 for me behind Rodon if I had to take a P. However I've watched all our good things get ruined as a Cub fan over the years I can't help but believe his damn arm will fall off lol. Plus at this rate I'm not sure he makes it to 4.

Yeah I know typed on an iphone while stuck in traffic...

So someone talk me down here! I am not a big proponent oi a pitcher in the top 10. There is too much inherited risk with taking a pitcher in the top 10. I've been a Cub fan my whole life and the issue we've had have obviously shaped my opinions. High school pitchers that high scare the hell out of me. I'm a big proponent of taking the BPA but I put much more stock in elite hitters over elite pitchers (top 10 picks). It's hard to gauge how much wear and tear is on a kids arm due to some over jealous coach somewhere in his past. I believe in taking a hitter which is much more of a sure thing and loading up on high upside arms later. My strategy isn't without flaws but thanks to all the arms we've seen injured it makes the most sense to me. As far as hitters at the top I lean much more heavily to proven college hitters over the top high school ones. There is generally smaller handful of top college bats but in the top 10 I would prefer the college guy. Rodon won't fall to us. Beede, although his stock is up, and Hoffman aren't without flaws. Jackson and Gatewood have tremendous offensive upside. They won't stick at premium positions though and it's questionable whether they offer plus defensive potential elsewhere. I wouldn't be too upset with any of those 5 but none of them have the profile I REALLY want from our 4 pick. After reading up on prospects all over the country and scouring the internet for "my guy" (not that it matters) I've come across Bradley Zimmer. Now I know Zimmer is a well known entity and I didn't by any means discover the kid but he's just starting to gain some top 10 helium. Always though of as a low 1st due to his plus defense, plus plus arm, plus base running and good contact, Zimmer has now started to fill out and develop power. He's truly turning into an elite prospect. He has the pedigree (bro Kyle) and by all accounts he's a great kid and tremendous leader (ala Bryant). Now I know drafting an OF isn't ideal in top 5 and I know he will almost certainly move off CF to RF but I still can't help but love Zimmer as a prospect. You don't draft off need or off what you have but I have reservations on Soler and even if Bryant moves to OF there is nothing wrong with having these two I the corners. His baserunning, defense and arm all offer more potential than Bryant. While he doesn't have the same power potential that Bryant does yet he's still developing and looks like a 25/year type guy. He grades out as a better contact hitter as well and I've seen people say he'll be a .300 hitter. So for me Zimmer has a high floor and looks like the highest WAR guy in the draft. I've read this board for years and think we have some very knowledgeable posters on here so someone talk me out of it!