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That was a money thing. Is it wrong to wonder why a bad offensive team would just give up on a 24 year old former 1st round pick? I don't know. Maybe it was options, maybe he had a bonus coming. Maybe he slept with someones wife. It just makes me wonder, which I think is pretty sensible. It doesn't mean I thinks it's dumb, It doesn't mean I think it's a sure failure, just gives me cause to question it- not the pick up but why they would cut him. Nothing wrong to question it as I wonder why as well, but it also not wrong for the other side of the coin as far as why would the Cubs sign him given his numbers as well as what Baseball America seen/heard about in him in prior to the start of '11. It's also not wrong to question whether or not he'd be more productive than Barney based on those factors.

What's he got? 89-93 FB Avg. curve Plus change Commit to TCU-was considered an after-thought as far as the top guy in the area (Borucki and Lilek were higher), he was more in the 2nd tier but I was there for his 1st start and he was electric. http://www.prepbaseballreport.com/profiles/IL/Alex-Young-5764123809 Video on the bottom...Passes my eye test for a HS draftee. TCU's also been picking up interesting arms lately as well, so that's also encouraging. He's a little passive as a kid and there's some signability questions (from the parents).

Probably around 2000, its about getting the most out of something and the stats are a tool for that. I knew stats (I miss having XR on my excel) before I knew anything about scouting.

What's he got? 89-93 FB Avg. curve Plus change Commit to TCU-was considered an after-thought as far as the top guy in the area (Borucki and Lilek were higher), he was more in the 2nd tier but I was there for his 1st start and he was electric.

Btw, my favorite prospect that I seen this year was LHP Alex Young of Carmel HS, Mundelein, IL. Probably go rds. 2-3.

A better Cubs related comp might be someone like Mike Fontenot. I think he's better than Fontenot, but again, I have bias (as a UVA fan) (and looking at Fontenot's career numbers, they were better than I thought ... ). Did pretty well in one of the summer leagues, forget which one right now. Anyhow, totally my bias talking there. Most sites have Chris Taylor as the better UVA infield prospect and a possible top 3 round pick (wouldn't mind if the Cubs picked him in the 3rd/4th as a hopefully cheaper college sign). I was thinking Scooter Gennett with more pop, when I think of Bruno.

It's usually one of the more accurate stats when translating collegiate/HS hitters to pro-ball. If they have high Ks there, more than likely it's going to carry over. Sure ... I mean, even the most optimistic of us out there probably pegged him as a 25-30% K guy. I just don't think anyone thought it would get as bad as it's getting right now (44% in the last 10). I am hoping/expecting that he'll get hot again, K's will drop a bit, and make his season K% roughly passable. I figure, it's probably just a pretty bad stretch for him, and he's probably over-thinking at the plate and pressing a bit, but it's pretty ugly right now. I agree, with guys like him there's an obvious smaller window for error with the higher given the huge increases of BABIP (especially with his bat speed and power) compared to a strikeout. It'll always be the key of whether or not his production can maintain despite low contact and if it can't, he'll likely end up at 4th OF. He's extremely gifted and in a bad slump right now, I doubt all of a sudden the PCL figured him out. Even if the k's lower his expected numbers to avg. type of levels, if he can stick in CF, he'll be fine. I would be curious to look up at the stats at NCAA.org and look at the top strikeout guys who were drafted over the last 5 years and see how well it correlates.

It's usually one of the more accurate stats when translating collegiate/HS hitters to pro-ball. If they have high Ks there, more than likely it's going to carry over.

I prefer Cabrera a whole lot more as future closer. His FB is better while Rhoderick's slider is better and despite the 1st two months I am concerned about Cabrera's ability to throw strikes and miss bats, both need to be at Iowa though. While Rhoderick has had similar control issues, he has missed bats at both the FSL and SL. Cabrera missed bats in the FSL (8.7 K/9 as a starter) and he's finally missing bats in the SL once he went to the pen (11.4 K/9 this year). It's hard... Reading BA and that and seeing Cabrera being #11 and knowing his stuff, then him is having his best season in a few years which goes along with switching to the pen full-time is very encouraging as a future closer. I haven't seen Rhoderick but college reports had him 92-95 with a plus to plus-plus slider, BA gave him the best slider in the org. and his stats across the board have been better (fewer hits, more Ks, less HRs, both have had sub-par BB ratios). Rhoderick, IIRC was probably the 5th best reliever in college when he was drafted having been OSU's closer.

I haven't followed UCLA much at all, I know going into this year he was a likely 1st. Did you watch Jones/LSU vs. USC?

Austin Wilson OF SO R-R 6-4 235 Stanford North Hollywood CA Ryan Eades RHP SO B-R 6-3 195 Louisiana State Slidell LA Austin Kubitza RHP SO L-R 6-5 205 Rice Colleyville TX JaCoby Jones OF/3B SO R-R 6-3 200 Louisiana State Richton MS Clinton Hollon RHP JR R-R 6-1 190 Woodford County Lexington KY Josh Dezse RHP/1B SO R-R 6-5 225 Ohio State Powell OH Bobby Wahl RHP SO R-R 6-4 200 Mississippi Springfield VA Adam Plutko RHP SO R-R 6-3 190 UCLA Upland CA Austin Meadows OF JR L-L 6-3 195 Grayson Loganville GA Oscar Mercado SS JR R-R 6-1 170 Gaither Tampa FL Chris Rivera SS JR R-R 6-0 175 El Dorado Anaheim CA Kris Bryant 3B/1B SO R-R 6-5 205 San Diego Las Vegas NV Michael Lorenzen OF/RHP SO R-R 6-3 195 Cal State Fullerton Sheldon Neuse RHP JR R-R 6-0 170 Fossil Ridge Fort Worth TX Reese McGuire C JR L-R 6-1 180 Kentwood Covington WA In no order, HS in bold. It's a shame with Whitson, he was the consensus #1 overall pick for '13 coming into this season.

I prefer Cabrera a whole lot more as future closer. His FB is better while Rhoderick's slider is better and despite the 1st two months I am concerned about Cabrera's ability to throw strikes and miss bats, both need to be at Iowa though. While Rhoderick has had similar control issues, he has missed bats at both the FSL and SL.

With Parker getting called up, is anyone surprised Rhoderick is still at AA? He's their likely choice as future closer, IMO.

So, assuming this is something new for this organization, that should keep em happy, I guess. http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/cubs-talk/Cubs-McLeod-Epstein-looking-for-game-cha?blockID=681132&feedID=9399 The link is an interesting read, btw. No, the Cubs did not give their scouts company cars. I know certain organizations that don't give company cars also require that your car be a certain model and have under a certain amount of miles, which is always fun to do when you're putting on between 50K and 80K miles per year and making 35K per year.

As I recall he did have a couple of hard hit balls to the wrong places, though. Specifically a lineout into a double play that had no business being stopped in the infield. Your point remains though. Definitely didn't look like the same guy he has been. One positive is that uses all fields, so if they try and go backdoor on the breaking stuff that he'll go towards LF instead of rolling over. He's been pretty selective despite the higher K ratio but unlike Pujols, I don't want him to press and start expanding his zone. His swing gives him limited room for error.

His curve and change both have the potential to be plus pitches. It would be niceto be able to put the back end of our rotation from within and just sign a front end guy to go with Garza and Shark. Rusin and Wood seem like they could be it for next year with McNutt, Beeler, Struck, and Rhee as options futher down the road. They will, while Maholm has worked well so far, they're likely hoping one or two can fill the back end of the rotation. My hope for Rusin is that he becomes a poor man's Ted Lilly.

His curve and change both have the potential to be plus pitches.

86-90-FB Curve Change-up Chanegup is his best pitch, very good command/control.

I am curious to see if other teams will handle Lahair like the Brewers did over the weekend, I don't recall many FBs in the zone and just beat him to death with breaking balls.

That is Zook. Can't win but can recruit and develop athletes.

Finally get a chance to offer what would've been my draft: 1)Reiff-OT-Iowa 2)Curry-DE-Marshall 3)Sanu-WR-Rutgers 4)Boykin-CB-UGA 6)Brown-OT/OG-Troy 7)Burfict-ILB-Ariz. St I thought the entire draft was a head scratcher, there were some picks I liked and some I didn't. Overall, I was disappointed in it. I still think they need help on the O-Line and overdrafted on most. Overall I think Emery has had a good off-season, but I'm sketpical as far as the '12 draft.

Agreed, I'd rather have Upshaw to McClellin but I wouldn't draft him just to do so.

I would trade up for... Fleener (TE) Glenn (OG) Jenkins (CB) Worthy (DT) Massie (OT)

in chicago, the "pros" have generally gotten these picks wrong, this year looks to be no different. i don't see why you all are so married to the idea that "pros" don't make terrible mistakes. Oh geez, I make one comment and I'm married to it? I'm just not married to the idea that this is definitely a horrible, awful pick, and that you or jersey know that right off the bat when these the Bears think it was the right one. Maybe it turns out bad....all draft picks are gambles and the Bears have certainly made their share of bad picks. But I'm just trying to defend the guy from some of the absolute venom that's coming from some of you guys on this pick. i don't know, you guys are the ones talking about how the pros are so smart and have so much information that they can't possibly fail. Not to belabor the useless argument, but I don't think he's ever said anything close to that.

With the 19th pick, he has to be a 3 down DE IMO or a for certain pass rusher. I don't think he has those traits as much as others taken later in the rd. With that said, he was a likely late 1st. I still think he's a better 3rd down DE than a starting RE. This also makes less sense when Idonije is a below avg starting RE.