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[tweet] [/tweet]Damn it. Well, I heard the White Sox were targeting him too so at least they don't get him.

Well, there goes my favorite HS bat and maybe the player with the highest upside in this draft.

My top 3 HS bats: Zac Veen Tyler Soderstrom Robert Hassell I'm a big fan of Hassell, but I'm not sure about the power or how much power he develops. I think he can stick in CF.

We're not getting him unfortunately. I'd be ecstatic, but it isn't happening...

[tweet] [/tweet] Mayhem indeed.

I have Austin Martin as my #1 prospect over Spencer Torkelson in my rankings, so I find this all really weird... Zac Veen is still my top ranked HS bat and I'm really surprised how this draft has proceeded.

[tweet] [/tweet]Lol

WOW... The Orioles took Heston Kjerstad this high? That could be a mistake, maybe a big mistake in a few years. In their book Future Value, they mention some of the poor decision-making of the Houston Astros and how they almost took Max Fried #1 over Carlos Correa in 2012. The Orioles GM comes from the Astros and has the same mindset -- try to be aggressive at the top and save money when you have similarly ranked prospects at the very top. I don't think Heston Kjerstad is as good as Austin Martin, but we'll see. I think it was a big mistake IMO.

No one knew what Trea Turner's ultimate position was going to be and most scouts had doubts he could stick at SS. Yeah, some similarities for sure. Turner is the better athlete, but Mitchell is also very good athletically. I don't know if the Padres or Nats did anything to his swing or if he just got stronger naturally? I'd have to ask. I'm not comparing them more in depth than just to say they were both as well-regarded, highly athletic college players who fell their draft years for similar reasons. Turner's swing was much longer in college than it was his rookie year in the big leagues. I'll take your word on that; I honestly don't remember Trea Turner's swing from college. I was keyed-in on Michael Conforto and I really liked Carlos Rodon (never trust a pitching prospect at the top of the draft)...

I've seen this mentioned hypothetically with the Angels and Dylan Crews. Angels will offer 40% of slot to keep their pick for next year; Crews already took himself out of the draft so he isn't signing for 40%; and the Angels get to save their money this year without getting lambasted by others for screwing over a player (since he already wasn't going to be signing). Definitely would help the Cubs by pushing a player down a bit. The name making the rounds yesterday was Drew Bowser, an LA-area prep infielder with an incredibly strong Stanford commitment. But the Angels denied the rumor yesterday (everyone knows it’s them), so I wonder if they’ll switch gears and just take someone severely underslot like a college guy expected to go in the 20s. There are other HS kids with pretty strong commitments. The problem with taking a college guy for a severe underslot deal is that he might actually accept it... So, 40% of their slot value ($4,739,900) is still $1,895,960, which is substantial and roughly equivalent to the 39th pick bonus slot. You have to offer 40% to recoup the pick, unless they changed that for this year. That's why you kind of have to take a talented HS prospect with a strong commitment if you want to punt it (in the Angels' case). Maybe they aren't trying to bump it to next year... Maybe JT Ginn? He would reject that amount.

No one knew what Trea Turner's ultimate position was going to be and most scouts had doubts he could stick at SS. Yeah, some similarities for sure. Turner is the better athlete, but Mitchell is also very good athletically. I don't know if the Padres or Nats did anything to his swing or if he just got stronger naturally? I'd have to ask.

I can confirm Ben Hernandez is in play for the Cubs, but other teams like him too. Great changeup and outstanding makeup. Cubs will probably only take 1 HS prospect this year. Ed Howard is a Sox fan and yeah, Hernandez is a huge Cubs fan. EDIT: Just to be clear, I mean he's in play to possibly be drafted tomorrow. We're not considering him for our 1st round pick.

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Dylan Crews is no longer eligible (I believe this is correct) and removed his name from the draft. Someone lower ranked than Dylan Crews. I believe it's the Angels as well, but I couldn't get confirmation. It could be a team behind the Cubs... Maybe the Angels and another team behind the Cubs? Weird year and just really hard to get reliable info on this draft. Did they change the rule to where a player has to actually declare eligibility for the draft? Honestly asking, as before a player could remove their name from the draft, but still get taken anyway. I believe Eric Longenhagen said in one of his weekly chat sessions that they changed it. A prospect can simply inform or request his name be removed and then a team doesn't even have the option to take him. I'm almost 100% positive Dylan Crews is not eligible to be taken. Before I believe the top 50 or 100 prospects in the draft (determined by MLB) have to take an MLB-mandated drug test and provide a urine sample. If they refuse to do that then their name is removed, so that's one way you could do it in the past. Graduate HS early and enroll in the spring semester and that's another way to remove yourself.

I've seen this mentioned hypothetically with the Angels and Dylan Crews. Angels will offer 40% of slot to keep their pick for next year; Crews already took himself out of the draft so he isn't signing for 40%; and the Angels get to save their money this year without getting lambasted by others for screwing over a player (since he already wasn't going to be signing). Definitely would help the Cubs by pushing a player down a bit. Dylan Crews is no longer eligible (I believe this is correct) and removed his name from the draft. Someone lower ranked than Dylan Crews. I believe it's the Angels as well, but I couldn't get confirmation. It could be a team behind the Cubs... Maybe the Angels and another team behind the Cubs? Weird year and just really hard to get reliable info on this draft.

Not totally sure if I should share this because it might not happen, but I was told a strong rumor a few days ago about a team that might take a lower-ranked prospect in the 1st round. And this selection will be a big shocker when it happens/if it happens... Not sure if the team is just trying to punt the pick to get another one next year, or if they truly intend to sign this kid to a massive underslot deal. I think I know the team and possibly the prospect, but it's all speculation. I haven't been able to get more info, but it could help the Cubs if this team decides to do this stupid strategy. Kiley McDaniel or Eric Longenhagen might get a tip and mention it later today.

I found this courtesy of someone named Matt over on Fangraphs, so all credit goes to him: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C7kOFbma0QSMCzfm0U83H5jgQcdLgRxKU7TTn04EWZw/edit?usp=sharing I believe it's accurate? He mentions a few things in his notes as well.

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That's your takeaway from the piece? yikes I said "Good for Votto here" ... You're so dumb... I know reading comprehension is hard, but please try to do it. I'm talking about other white players. Votto is a good dude and known as a good teammate. Good with the media and gives thoughtful answers. I believe Votto and what he writes, and his sincerity.

[tweet] [/tweet]Good for Votto here, but I'm kinda getting sick of white players across various sports just coming out now saying they get it and now support the BLM movement and the protests happening across the country. Why didn't you listen to your African-American teammates years ago? What changed? Did one graphic video really make that profound a difference? Their willful ignorance all these years pisses me off.

Hah, I wish his name was spelled Saadiq Bey for personal reasons. Yeah, I mentioned him a few pages back as one of the few prospects I actually like in this draft. I dislike most prospects in this draft. He can definitely shoot it from outside with a very quick release. I'm a big fan of Saddiq Bey, but I don't know about taking him at 7? He's more of a high-floor player than a high-ceiling talent, and some experts question his rebounding ability and defense. He can stick with smaller faster players right now when a switch happens, but some of the guards in the NBA might prove way more difficult. If he was a better athlete or had better acceleration maybe he goes in the top 10? It's possible if some team (in the top 10) really likes him. Maybe he moves up in the coming months. I think the Bulls will definitely have a chance to take Bey if they really like him.

We have to wait a long time for the lottery and then almost another 2 months for the draft... For those bored and want to do sim drafts or learn more about the prospects: http://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft Whenever I did it and got the Bulls the #1 or #2 pick, they selected LaMelo Ball.

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