Author Topic: 2015 MLB Draft  (Read 16691 times)

davep

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #285 on: June 04, 2015, 11:16:39 am »
Hudson sounds really interesting.  According to mlb.com write up he might jump into the supplemental first round so the Cubs may not get a shot at him with their second pick.  The only thing I worry about is calling him "projectable" and counting on the velocity increase.  More often it seems like the increased velocity never shows up, see Blackburn.

Sometimes increased velocity does show up.  See Concepcion.

Sometimes increased velocity doesn't help a bit.  See Concepcion.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #286 on: June 04, 2015, 11:28:34 am »
Wasn't Concepcion throwing harder when the Cubs signed him and then he got sick and lost it?

I'm not saying the velocity never shows up, just counting on it makes me nervous.

Jay at #9 would be fantastic.

davep

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #287 on: June 04, 2015, 11:33:03 am »
No.  Reports when he signed were that he was a curve ball control pitcher with a fastball occasionally topping at 93.  He immediately came down with Valley Fever, and afterwards was throwing in the 87 - 89 range at best for years.  Recent reports have him at 97.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #288 on: June 04, 2015, 11:36:42 am »
I remember he threw harder, just didn't realize it had jumped that much.  He needs to cut down on the walks and he could get really interesting.

Chris27

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #289 on: June 05, 2015, 03:27:50 am »
Benintendi and Arkansas are on ESPN 2 at 3:30 today to open the Super Regionals.


craig

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #291 on: June 05, 2015, 09:32:57 am »
The variance from one of these rankings to the next is fun, and reflects how similarly variant ranking may be from one club to another. 

Interesting that Ian Happ was in the discussion of top 5-15 range early in spring, seemed to kind of get forgotten, and now is reappearing back in that range in several of these lists/mocks.  Law seemed to mention him as a safer analog to Benintendi, with a safer swing and a longer track record.

I think we've been kind of bored because he's a 2B/corner-OF profile.  I wonder, though.  *IF* he actually can play a good 2b, I wonder if we should be overly bored with that?  Everything changes.  Optimistically speaking, it would be 2017 before a guy in his situation would be ready.  (And that's assuming he does well and actually ever does get ready....)  Right now we think we've got a surplus of infielders.  But, by then, who knows?  *If* Bryant sticks at 3rd and Schwarber doesn't end up in left, Happ might be VERY useful in left field.  Bryant will either be infield or outfield at that point; so if he's infield, LF is not exactly overloaded.  But if Bryant is outfield, then we're hardly overloaded at infield either.  *IF* Bryant moves to left, that would basically leave us with Russell, Castro, and Baez to cover the three infield spots, with Alcantara and LaStella as depth.  Two years from now, there are then all kinds of scenarios where a good-hitting Happ at 2B (assuming he can field it fine) could be useful.  Baez might never really make it as more than a decent utility guy.  Castro might be long-gone traded by then, or might be running on his 4th-in-5 .640-OPS seasons offensively.  Could well be that Russell will be at SS, Bryant won't be at 3rd, and manning both 2B and 3B between Baez, Castro, LaStella, and Alcantara will be not at all overloaded with professional hitters. 

*If* they think Happ will both hit AND play 2B satisfactorily, and *if* he actually was to do so, two years and beyond from now we might not regret having him. 

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #292 on: June 05, 2015, 11:39:34 am »
BA latest Mock out today has Cubs passing on Benintendi, Happ, and Dillon Tate---and picking Jon Harris.

Cubs linked to him previously.

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #293 on: June 05, 2015, 11:46:05 am »
It was an odd mock.

1.) Tyler Stephensen, C  (everybody else is putting Swanson here)
2.) Dansby Swanson, SS
3.) Tyler Jay, LHP   (I have a hard time believing they would pass on Rogers)
4.) Brendan Rogers, SS
5.) Daz Cameron, CF (Signing bonus might be an issue or a ruse)
6.) Kyle Tucker, OF 
7.) Alex Bregman, SS (I can't believe he would fall this far)
8.) Carson Fulmer, RHP
9.) Jon Harris
10.) Dillion Tate, RHP (Phillies win the lottery.  I doubt the Cubs would pass on him.)

CUBluejays

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #294 on: June 05, 2015, 12:52:06 pm »
Here is the latest from McDaniel

-Aiken's medicals may not be as bad as rumored.  If true he could go somewhere between 8-12.
- His latest mini mock has Jay to to the Cubs.
- Ian Happ had a private work out at Wrigley.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-mock-draft-replacement-post/

StrikeZone

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #295 on: June 05, 2015, 01:32:29 pm »
I'd be fine with Happ and even Cameron.

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #296 on: June 05, 2015, 01:37:13 pm »
Callis mock today has Benintendi to Cubs. Says Cubs targeting Benintendi and Happ, ahead of Jon Harris. Think that assumes usual top suspects are already off the board.

StrikeZone

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #297 on: June 05, 2015, 02:05:05 pm »
Callis mock today has Benintendi to Cubs. Says Cubs targeting Benintendi and Happ, ahead of Jon Harris. Think that assumes usual top suspects are already off the board.

I think that Benintendi is a bit of a gamble but at nine you're already out of sure things.

Chris27

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #298 on: June 05, 2015, 02:17:59 pm »
Manuel says he hears the Cubs are targeting pitchers, Callis says they're linked to more bats. Glad that's cleared up.

Sure sounds like the Red Sox might take Benintendi if they don't get Bregman.

Personally, I think Jay, Benintendi, or Fullmer might be my favs at the moment. Not sure what to make of Cameron who was a favorite to go 1/1 less than a year ago.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2015, 02:20:04 pm by Chris27 »

Reb

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Re: 2015 MLB Draft
« Reply #299 on: June 05, 2015, 02:23:22 pm »

- Ian Happ had a private work out at Wrigley.


That's pretty interesting, isn't it?

Guessing that Cubs scrutinized his infield abilities---has to be a big factor.  Positional flexibility, important to the brass, obviously.  Makes me think Happ is the fallback pick if the top rated guys are all gone at #9.  As I've said, saw his lefty swing, while I was sitting right behind home plate on a folding chair at the Cape, and very impressed.  No clue about his defense.