Author Topic: 2015 MLB Draft  (Read 16683 times)

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #30 on: April 22, 2015, 08:09:58 pm »
UVA pitcher Nathan Kirby likely out for remainder of season with lat strain.  Probably was not a #9 pick candidate for Cubs but wonder if he might now be there in second round given his mixed season up to now.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #31 on: April 22, 2015, 09:26:15 pm »
I doubt it, nothing is structurally wrong with his arm it is a strained lat.  He is a lefty with plus stuff when healthy and questionable command.  If you fix his I'm going to take a poop Virgina mechanics his command and velocity might improve.  Somebody will take him with a first round pick or a supplemental pick.

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #32 on: April 22, 2015, 09:51:14 pm »
I doubt it, nothing is structurally wrong with his arm it is a strained lat.  He is a lefty with plus stuff when healthy and questionable command.  If you fix his I'm going to take a poop Virgina mechanics his command and velocity might improve.  Somebody will take him with a first round pick or a supplemental pick.

Yeah, probably, but his draft projection has been dropping before the injury (Law and McDaniel have him at #16 and 19 pre-injury) ----and his bonus demands possibly could drop him a lot more. Seems like the kind of pitcher about whom there will be a wide range of opinion among organizations. Yeah, probably goes in sandwich round but could drop as final impressions from this season were disappointing.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #33 on: April 22, 2015, 10:16:50 pm »
He was dropping because his velocity dropped and people thought he was hurt.  He was and since it isn't serious I doubt he drops far unless he wants top 10 money.  If his command wasn't so bad he be an interesting guy for the Cubs.  He still might be depending on how much of his command problems you think is do to his Virgina mechanics.  How places like TCU (abuses pitchers) and Virgina (stupid mechanics) get guys with MLB potential to go there is beyond me.

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #34 on: April 22, 2015, 11:00:49 pm »
Saw Kirby on the tube last year in the super regional matched up against Stinnett when UVA played Maryland in the tournament.  Thought Stinnett has better mound demeanor but Kirby certainly looks the part as a big league type pitcher.  Yeah, needs to improve command.  Watching him last year, never thought there was any chance at all Kirby could drop out of first round the next year.  Maybe he won't drop but perhaps he could be rare junior who is better off returning for senior season and, therefore, wonder if he may demand at least mid first round money wherever he is drafted.  So, could go to club later in draft who underslots a top pick. Unlikely scenario but possible.

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #35 on: April 28, 2015, 02:33:08 am »
mlb.com (Callis and Mayo) has an updated draft rankings listing. 

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=draft

Chris27

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #36 on: April 28, 2015, 03:12:58 am »
Lot of pitchers amongst the top-15.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #37 on: April 28, 2015, 09:51:58 am »
Theo was at a game for Trenton Clark the #13 prospect.

For non-pitchers I like the sounds of Tucker, Happ, Clark.   

For pitchers Nikorak, Russell, Allard, Aiken, Matuella are all interesting.  Tyler Jay is a short lefty that has the potential 3 plus pitches, but has mostly been a reliever at Illinois.  Some think he could start and he'd be interesting as well.

StrikeZone

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #38 on: April 28, 2015, 11:35:23 am »
I would be very surprised if they took a pitcher in the first round.

I think they'll stick with the "hitter first, then load up on pitchers after that" strategy they've used up in recent years.

It seems to be working.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #39 on: April 28, 2015, 11:37:15 am »
Pretty sure they'll take who they think is the best player, even if it is a pitcher that will break your heart with injuries.

StrikeZone

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #40 on: April 28, 2015, 11:39:09 am »
Pretty sure they'll take who they think is the best player, even if it is a pitcher that will break your heart with injuries.

And I think they believe hitters are better players, or at least better investments in the first round.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #41 on: April 28, 2015, 11:46:00 am »
If the Astros took Bryant at #1 do you think the Cubs would have taken Appel or Gray or dropped down to another hitter?

If Aiken and Schwarber could have been picked last year who do you think the pick would have been?

I personally think the Cubs were very lucky the draft fell the way it did for them and they ended up with hitters. 

StrikeZone

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #42 on: April 28, 2015, 11:55:49 am »
I think they would have taken hitters in each of the scenarios.

There was talk about the Cubs drafting Michael Conforto last year before they picked Schwarber.

The Theocracy have openly talked about picking hitters early in the draft and then focusing on pitchers later as a strategy because hitters simply have fewer injury concerns and move more quickly thru the minors.

When they picked Bryant, I wanted them to pick Jonathan Grey because of the lack of high ceiling starters in the system.  It looks like I was wrong.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #43 on: April 28, 2015, 12:16:31 pm »
In Bryant's draft year Clint Frazier was the next hitter off the board.  Last year he had a .760 OPS in low A with a K% of 30%.  In 79 PA so far he has .644 OPS in high A.  Colin Moran, UNC,  was the next hitter picked.  He is repeating AA, with a .718 OPS so far.  Last year with a full year in AA he had a .741 OPS.

Aiken was number 1 on their board last year and the rumors where that Appel was #1 on their board over Bryant. 

I just want them to take, however they like the best and not take a lesser talent just because it is a hitter.  Hitter's fail and pitchers make it.  I'm sure the Dodgers are happy they took Kershaw and not Drew Stubbs, Billy Rowell, Tyler Colvin, Travis Snider, Chris Marrero, Matt Antonelli, Chris Parmelee, Maxwell Sapp, Cody Johnson, Hank Conger, Jason Place, Preston Mattingly, Emmanuel Burris, Kyler Burke or Chris Coghlan.  That is all of the hitters taken after Kershaw in the first round.  Linececum, Scherzer and Ian Kennedy where all picked after Kershaw as well.

That said at the top of that draft the Royals and Rockies took Hochevar and Greg Reynolds over Longoria.  Moral of the story, take who ever you think is best.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2015, 12:18:56 pm by CUBluejays »

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #44 on: April 28, 2015, 12:26:33 pm »
Yeah, if the draft had played out differently in recent years, Cubs may have taken pitchers at top of the draft. Theo/Hoyer are too smart to decide they have to pick a certain type of guy---depends on the facts of each instance.

Possible a position player will just be the better pick again. Think they do look at certain traits, though none singly are dispositive.  If they're looking at Clark, doesn't hurt that he's a lefty bat who may be able to stay in CF.