Outshined_One

Yeah, but Anthony Rendon will be so worth it in next year's draft.

Huh, apparently Logan Watkins played CF for Peoria. Wonder if that was a one-time thing or the Cubs testing out his utility potential?

Box Scores Iowa lost 3-1 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/4, K, SB (3) SS D. Barney 0/4, K, E (4, fielding) 2B B. Scales 0/4 LF J. Dubois 0/3, HBP 1B B. LaHair 2/4, SB (3) C C. Robinson 1/3, BB RF J. Adduci 0/4, R, K 3B M. Camp 2/4, RBI PH B. Snyder 0/1 PH C. Tracy 0/1 SP JR Mathes 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4/1 K/BB, 8-5 GO-FO RP J. Jackson 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO Tennessee PPD: Rain Daytona lost 5-3 Box Score DH B. Jackson 1/3, RBI, 2B (6) 2B J. Opitz 0/4 SS R. Flaherty 2/4, R, 2B (5) 1B R. Ridling 2/3, BB, R, RBI, 2B (3), CS (2) RF K. Burke 1/4, K, Assist (3B) 3B DJ LeMahieu 2/4, RBI, 3B (1) C M. Brenly 0/4, K CF J. Valdez 2/4 SP DE Rhee 5 scoreless, 3 H, 3/3 K/BB, 8-1 GO-FO, E (1, pickoff) RP J. Beliveau .1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1-0 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 0-3 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 1-3 GO-FO Peoria won 8-1 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, 3B (3), K 2B L. Watkins 4/4, 2 R, RBI, 2B (3), 3B (3), SB (4) 3B G. Rohan 3/3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (11), HBP, E (2, throw) 1B J. Bour 2/5, 2 RBI, 2B (10), E (5, fielding) DH DJ Fitzgerald 0/4, 2 K, HBP LF N. Perez 2/5, R, 3 K RF R. Jones 0/5, 2 K CF F. Guzman 0/3, 2 K SP J. Antigua 5 scoreless, 2 H, 4/4 K/BB, 7-3 GO-FO RP R. Morla 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1/1 K/BB, WP, 3-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 1-2

I might have missed it, but what's the deal with Brett Jackson? He reportedly has a minor foot injury and is day to day.

With the first round pick, yeah, I think I'm leaning towards guys who could be Top 10 picks, but fall for various reasons. Most of the players who should be available at 16 talent-wise don't seem like the kinds of guys the Cubs would normally take. So, I think going for a falling player might be a workable strategy. That could change between now and the draft, though. As for the budget, Tom Ricketts talked a whole lot about the importance of scouting and player development when his family took over. Someone told me he sent something out to season ticket holders mentioning they increased the budget for those two things, but I haven't seen confirmation of it. His rhetoric suggests the money should be there. That said, I hesitate to go so far as to say the Cubs will hand out record bonuses for their first three picks. In any case, aside from the HS guys who will fall because of college commitments, I don't see players with huge signing bonuses like Harper, Machado, or Taillon making it to the Cubs at 16. I'm inclined to agree with Raisin on this point. Even with Starlin Castro, Hak-Ju Lee, Logan Watkins, Ryan Flaherty, Darwin Barney, and heaven knows how many guys down in EXST right now who could play SS or 2B effectively, I don't think that would be something that would cause the Cubs to shy away since they can always move guys to 2B, 3B, or the OF. Plus, you never know what will happen with injuries and development. As for what you would like to see, I think that would be workable for this team. My general inclination right now is to look at college OFs with high ceilings and college arms who can bring heat. Cole is the only HS player on my list I'd give serious consideration to at 16 who should be available at 16. I think he makes a lot more sense for the Cubs than Whitson, especially since he has a higher ceiling and a decent amount of projection remaining. He's making a very strong case for himself as the second best HS arm in the draft behind Taillon, so it's possible he might not make it to the Cubs...but for now, I think he'll be there.

Box Scores Iowa won 11-1 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/5 SS D. Barney 0/5, R 3B C. Tracy 4/4, 2 R, RBI, CS (1) 2B B. Scales 0/0, BB 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/3, BB, R, 2 K RF B. Snyder 2/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (9), K C W. Castillo 2/4, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B (3), HR (5) LF J. Adduci 1/5, R, 2 K 2B/3B M. Camp 1/4, BB, R, 2 RBI, E (6, fielding) SP M. Atkins 5 scoreless, 3 H, 4/2 K/BB, 3-5 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 3 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 4-3 GO-FO RP B. Parker 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Tennessee won 8-2 Box Score CF T. Campana 2/5, R, K, 2 SB (13) SS M. Gonzalez 1/4, BB, 2 R, K LF T. Wright 3/5, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B (11) RF M. Spencer 1/4, BB, K 3B R. Canzler 0/3, 2 BB, 2 K, E (3, fielding) C S. Clevenger 3/5, 3 RBI, 2B (4), CS (2) 2B T. Thomas 0/4, RBI, 4 K PH M. Smith 0/1, K SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 7-9 GO-FO RP D. Cales 1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO RP J. Papelbon 1 IP, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HBP, 1-1 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/0 K/BB, HBP, 0-2 GO-FO Daytona lost 6-2 Box Score 3B J. Opitz 1/4, K, E (1, throw) DH R. Flaherty 1/4, 2 K 1B R. Ridling 0/4, 2 K RF K. Burke 2/4, 2 R, 2B (10), 2 K, E (3, fielding) SS DJ LeMahieu 2/4, RBI, 2B (4), K CF J. Valdez 0/3, 2 K SP B. Raley 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 4-3 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO, E (1, throw) Peoria lost 4-0 Box Score SS HJ Lee 2/4 CF L. Watkins 0/3 2B M. Cerda 0/4, 2 K DH G. Rohan 1/4 1B J. Bour 0/3, BB LF DJ Fitzgerald 1/4, Assist (3B) RF N. Perez 1/2, BB, 2B (1) 3B C. Thomas 0/3, 2 K C J. Mota 0/3 SP SM Jung 5 H, 4 ER, 4/1 K/BB, HR, WP, 4-5 GO-FO RP Y. Gonzalez 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, WP, 4-1 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 perfect, 3-0 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-2

Long story short, I just signed up for the community mock draft over at Sickels' blog. It's three rounds and happens June 5th. Here is my Mock Organization Diary, which talks about the philosophy I'm following, players I'm considering, etc. I would be grateful for any comments, suggestions, or criticisms any of you might have for me in this process. Basically, any help I get will be welcome. Thanks!

Hey now, no swearing in Game Threads! [-X

Box Scores Iowa won 13-6 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/5, BB, R, RBI, SB (2) SS D. Barney 3/6, 3 R, 4 RBI, 3B (2), HR (1) 3B C. Tracy 3/6, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B (4) DH M. Hoffpauir 0/3, 2 BB, R, K RF B. Snyder 3/5, 3 RBI, 2B (8), 3B (3) 1B B. LaHair 0/5, 3 K C C. Robinson 1/5, R LF J. Adduci 5/5, 4 R, 2B (6), CS (5) 2B M. Camp 4/5, R, RBI SP C. Coleman 6.2 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 13-4 GO-FO RP J. Gray 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 3-1 GO-FO RP J. Samardzija 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, HR, 1-2 GO-FO Tennessee lost 10-9 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/4, R, 2 RBI, K SS/3B N. Samson 1/5, R, CS (1), PO (1B) LF T. Wright 1/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (10), K C R. Chirinos 3/3, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, HR (7), SB (1) RF R. Canzler 0/2, BB, 2 K, PO (1B) RF M. Spencer 0/1, BB, RBI, K 3B J. Vitters 0/4, K PH S. Clevenger 1/1, 2 RBI 2B T. Thomas 1/1, 4 BB, 2 R, SB (2) PH/SS M. Gonzalez 1/3, R SP A. Cabrera 5.2 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 3/3 K/BB, 3 WP, 11-3 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, WP, 2-2 GO-FO RP D. Sasser 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/2 K/BB, HBP, 2-1 GO-FO RP A. Maestri .2 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO Daytona won 4-2 Box Score 1B J. Opitz 2/4, BB, 2B (1), 3 RBI 3B R. Flaherty 0/3, K, HBP DH R. Ridling 1/4, K RF K. Burke 2/4, 2B (9), SB (1), PO (2B) 2B/SS DJ LeMahieu 1/4, R C M. Brenly 0/4, R, K CF J. Valdez 1/3, R, CS (1), HBP SS J. Lake 0/1 SP C. Rusin 4.2 scoreless, 0 H, 2/0 K/BB, HBP, 8-2 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/2 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, WP, 2-0 GO-FO Peoria won 4-3 Box Score SS HJ Lee 2/4, R, 2B (7), SB (10) 2B M. Cerda 0/4, 2 K LF G. Rohan 1/4, R, RBI, 2B (10), K 1B J. Bour 1/3, BB, R DH DJ Fitzgerald 1/4, R, 2 RBI, 3B (1), K 3B C. Thomas 0/2, RBI, K CF F. Guzman 0/3, 2 K, Assist (3B) SP R. Searle 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2/4 K/BB, HR, 10-3 GO-FO RP L. Suarez 2 scoreless, 1 H, 3-2 GO-FO RP J. Leverton 1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO OVERALL: 3-1

Oh FFS the I-Cubs used Jay Jackson out of the bullpen again. Please don't tell me this is part of some brilliant plan to call him up to the majors as a reliever.

You might be right, although I haven't been able to find the definitive answer after some digging. Callis referred to it as a power breaking ball in the Cubs' Top 10 prospect chat and the various Andrew Cashner comparisons implied he worked with a slider rather than a curve.

I'll always what could have been with Corey if he had been with a more competent organization. Maybe he still would have sucked, but this nugget keeps coming back to me. Back in 2007, I was randomly watching the Orioles on ESPN with Dusty Baker calling the game. C-Patt came up to the plate and Dusty starts gushing about him. At one point in his AB, Corey fouled off a high four seam fastball and Dusty just started gushing, "You know, I was the one who taught him to swing at those pitches! It's what a good hitter's gotta do!" He gets all excited about it...and then Corey strikes out swinging on the next pitch, a four seam fastball.

Son, I am disappoint.

20; he'll turn 21 in August. Tim Wilken has compared McNutt to Cashner, which seems pretty accurate from the reports I've read on McNutt. Good FB, good slider, still needs some refinement, but has the raw tools to be effective as a setup man/closer. 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 7 K, 2 BB. His night should be done.

5 scoreless, 4 H, 6 Ks, 2 BBs He needs to cut down on the BBs, but his overall numbers are looking really good right now.

I'd be up for it, but it'd be a bit of a pain doing it after the draft. You never know who will and won't sign. Something brief would be workable.

McNutt with 4 Ks and 2 baserunners (1 BB, 1 H) through 2. Nice.

The Sosa trade was pretty bad, especially considering this organization did everything it could to railroad him out of town. Most people around here expected a better return than what we got for Sosa (remember, Fontenot wasn't well thought of at the time), but the problem was the Cubs pretty much shot themselves in the foot when they made it blindly obvious they were trying to trade him and distance themselves for him. Even worse, that whole fiasco handcuffed the Cubs in an offseason where (potentially) they could have pursued high quality replacements for Sosa (which included Beltran and JD Drew). Instead, they ended up with Jeromy Burnitz. Hendry also traded away potentially useful guys like Bill Mueller, Mark Bellhorn, and Felix Pie. Plus, Cruz and Wuertz weren't the only bullpen guys who got shipped off for scrap; there have been plenty of those trades during Hendry's tenure. If we're going to talk about his good trades, we also need to talk about his bad trades, imo.

Some injury news from Bruce Miles: -Mike Parisi to undergo elbow surgery -Marcos Mateo is waiting for results from an MRI on his right knee; Oneri Fleita did not sound optimistic about it -Brett Jackson has a minor foot injury and is day to day :(

Archer is getting the start for Daytona. Jackson is not in the lineup for either Daytona or Tennessee.

I have to assume that's common for most organizations, as much as I love guys like Parker and Cales. I'm unsure of that. In years past, namely when the farm system was bereft, it seemed like even the relief pitchers sucked. Every organization has filler arms and random guys they can call up to get shelled in blowouts. However, since 2006, it feels like the Cubs have drafted a decent number of guys who could be quality relief pitchers some day. It's an assertion that requires more research, I'll grant you that. However, the relief pitchers in this system seem a lot better than they did even 4 years ago.

Sammy Sosa for Dave Crouthers, Mike Fontenot, and Jerry Hairston Jr.!

That's pretty much what I was doing. Don't get me wrong, I think trades are important in evaluating a general manager's performance. They're not the be-all, end-all, but trades are an important part of building a successful franchise. Jim Hendry should be evaluated on his trades...but in reality, how good has he been at it? The Izturis and Pierre deals were two bad ones, but what about some of Hendry's other stink bombs? For example, Juan Cruz for Andy Pratt and Richard Lewis was pretty awful. Or, one of my personal favorites, Jake Renshaw, Rocky Cherry, and Scott Moore for Steve Trachsel was just dumb.

One thing I've noticed from Wilken's drafts is that the Cubs' system has a lot of relief pitchers who could contribute to major league bullpens. Here's a list of some of the relievers the Cubs have drafted since 2006 who could fit that bill: 2006: Jeff Samardzija (yeah, yeah, I know, I know), Chris Huseby, Blake Parker, Jeremy Papelbon, Jordan Latham 2007: Casey Lambert, James Russell, Dustin Sasser, Craig Muschko, Luke Sommer 2008: Aaron Shafer, James Leverton, Jeff Beliveau, David Cales It's hard to judge 2009's draft since a bunch of those draftees are currently getting starter workloads or are in EXST. Predicting their future is difficult, but all of those guys have performed well in the minors and, at the very least, have ceilings of effective middle relievers.

Wrigley Bound profiled pitchers and hitters the Cubs might target in the draft. I don't agree with everything the author says about the Cubs, but the profiles are well done and they should give you people a good idea of the kinds of players the Cubs will be looking at with the #16 pick. Primer Pitchers Hitters