Bleacher Bums Forum

Can't say I understand why Howard is still that high and in front of players like Herz, Killian, and Made. Has Killian's stock dropped that much? And is Wicks being rated based on his floor rather than his ceiling?

Also, I know Horton hasn't pitched professionally yet, but shouldn't a top-10 pick be higher than 11th?

I agree with Callis, I'd have Horton and Ferris higher than Broz does.  Horton seems to have big stuff, but unlike some of our other good-stuff pitching prospects, he profiles to perhaps have good command.  I'd put him ahead of any of the other minor-league pitchers, given the potential ceiling and control, and given what the Cubs invested to get him.  I'd also put Ferris higher than Broz, if the Cubs thought he was worth $3M, that's a whole lot of perceived potential.  A guy they valued as a mid-1st rounder, either they're really dumb (they might be), or else he should be valued higher than 19th. 

"Can't say I understand why Howard is still that high and in front of players like Herz, Killian, and Made. Has Killian's stock dropped that much?"  hard to guess.  I'd not put Howard quite that high, but kinda no right or wrong on any of these.  Who knows?  Herz, doesn't throw hard and he was wilder than wild last year.  Hard to be too confident that a no-control guy who's projected to end up in relief even if he does make the majors is more valuable than a potential SS.  Howard, I'm kind of a doubter that guys who can't hit will ever learn to hit.  And given that Swanson is going to be playing SS for a long time, that value for defensive shortstop Howard with iffy bat seems iffy to me.  But, who knows, he's a big strong kid, maybe he will learn to hit and he'll become a very good player?  Hopefully he'll bounce back healthy and be playing games again by May, and have a good-bat summer after all?  Killian, I imagine his stock has kinda dropped?  As a pitch-to-contact control pitcher, coming off a year with no control, his rating has to reflect that.  Hopefully his health and command will be back, and some of his stuff will have more swing-and-miss?  *IF* he can locate, I'm still hopeful that he can be a good big-league starter.  Made, like Howard, who knows if he'll hit?  Hopefully he does, and becomes a good player. 

I feel like Broz's #5 for Wicks is pretty favorable, and must certainly be assuming more than his floor.  BA didn't even include him in top-10, and their scouts profiled him as a #5 guy.  At draft, he was scouting as having this wow changeup; the BA scouts suggested that his change wasn't actually all that great, so that he didn't really have any signature standout pitches.  Velocity is kinda low, obviously.  Hopefully his velocity and fastball ride ends up making his fastball reasonably good and usable this year; his change comes back as more special and deadly; and all the work on creating curve/slider pays and he's commanding a full repertoire.  I had him #6 on my list. 

https://twitter.com/TommyBirch/status/1641859263596249090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1641859263596249090%7Ctwgr%5Ed2caa38373a238cccfaad1980ed5ad71f954cb66%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnorthsidebaseball.com%2Findex.php%3Fapp%3Dcoremodule%3Dsystemcontroller%3Dembedurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Ftommybirch%2Fstatus%2F1641859263596249090%3Fs%3D4626t%3DW37ISIrjUHdGm-Y3K3j6Aw

Iowa roser.

Mervis goes yard.

Mervis: 0-4, SF, RBI, 3 K

Davis: 0-3, CS, 2 K, HBP

Estrada: 1-0-0-0-0-2

https://www.milb.com/gameday/clippers-vs-cubs/2023/04/01/723532#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=723532

AZ Phil report on Jackson Ferris:

I have seen Jackson Ferris throw "live" BP several times but not in a game, most recently a couple of days ago. Two innings. 30 pitches (exactly 15 pitches each inning). Eight swing & miss out of 30 pitches (which is outstanding). There was a home plate umpire calling balls & strikes. 17 strikes (includes foul balls and balls in play) and 13 balls (including three or four sliders that bounced away from the catcher). Only one of the 30 pitches was put into play (a 4-3 GO). Also three foul balls. In summary, I would say his stuff was electric, maybe even unhittable, but he had difficulty throwing strikes, which is why he was pitching in a very controlled environment instead of in a game.

Iowa wins, 12-11.  Velasquez is off to a blazing start, my understanding is that even some of his outs the other days were high-velocity drives. 

Tough start for Killian, 4 HR's and 8 runs in 2.1. 

5 HBP by Iowa batters.

Impressive.

unless you're playing dodgeball