Author Topic: Cubs Draft 2017  (Read 10547 times)

craig

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Re: Cubs Draft 2017
« on: June 09, 2017, 09:11:18 am »
Jason McLeod on Cubs draft re. pitching:

"It's going to be a focal point," McLeod said. "We might be a little more focused on a particular type [of pitcher] rather than just casting a really wide net like we have the last couple of years. When you look up after Tuesday, and we've gone through a few rounds, you'll see a pretty good mix of pitching again."
McLeod said they have a specific wish list, although he wouldn't reveal the characteristics.
"I feel now we're going to look for something a little more specific -- body type, pitch type, how the arm works," he said. "A lot of that is learning what we've done since we got here."

Curious comments.  I thought there have been studies and stuff suggesting that "body type" doesn't really make that much difference, and that the new Cubs were less prioritized on height and build than back in Hendry days.  Obviously McLeod's comments are fairly vague (we don't know what "body type" they thing makes a pitcher better....).  But I do vaguely hypothesis/infer (probably foolishly so) that this involves:
1.  Enhanced odds that they may go pitching with both first rounders.  After first round, nobody's perfect.  Beggars can't be choosers, you're going to need to settle/compromise, whether that be "body type" or health history or low-risk mechanics or command or velocity or something.  But in round one, larger pool of guys who have better chance to offer both velocity and command and body type and low-risk delivery? 

2.  A way to focus draft preparation?  When picking top 5, they could really focus on small group of top guys and scout them like crazy.  Last year, a bunch of top guys they didn't need to spend time on.  If they filter, for example, for college pitchers 6'3" or taller whose preliminary evals pass their injury-risk threshold, maybe that allows more chance to really exhaustively study a smaller pool of guys. 

3.  "Body type" would seem to imply rotation wannabes.  For relief, we're not concerned about Edwards.