As Baseball America notes, the new collective bargaining agreement's draft restrictions make it much harder for Giolito to fall in draft position and still receive a ton of money.
According to John Arguello's "Cubs Den" blog, Hoyer scouted Prior-esque (at least in his physique) USF righty Kyle Zimmer:
http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/03/draft-preview-cubs-scouting-rhp-kyle-zimmer/ (http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/03/draft-preview-cubs-scouting-rhp-kyle-zimmer/)
If you’ve paid even a modest level of attention to the MLB Draft over the past decade, that headline is not altogether shocking to you. But, for the most part, it was just a feeling and a trash can on the receiving end of your boot.
Now, thanks to a study by FanGraphs, we can put some ugly, ugly numbers on just how terrible the Cubs have been at the Draft.
Here’s a chart of the accumulated WAR of homegrown players drafted in the last decade for each team (i.e., the total WAR that the draftees contributed to the team that drafted them), together with the average WAR per homegrown player (to account for outliers):
sox were worse?And the Cardinals were 23rd?
If you extend the cutoff for that draft article by one year (2001 draft), it really changes the story for the Cubs. That was the year Prior (15.8 WAR), Soto (11.7 WAR), and Theriot (9 WAR) were all drafted. That would triple their score and put them somewhere in the middle of the pack.
They wouldn't get credit for them since they were traded, but Ricky Nolasco (15.4 WAR), Sergio Mitre (3.1 WAR), and Brendan Harris (2.5 WAR) were also drafted that year. The 2001 draft was really good for the Cubs.
But he's playing against poor high school competition in rural Georgia and has yet to homer this spring, so he's not without his risks.
If you're the potential #1 overall pick from high school and you're playing mediocre rural high school competition, how have you not hit one home run yet?
But he's playing against poor high school competition in rural Georgia and has yet to homer this spring, so he's not without his risks.
If you're the potential #1 overall pick from high school and you're playing mediocre rural high school competition, how have you not hit one home run yet?
Every boss has veto power. Few use it on a regular basis.
Theo should use his veto power when Wilken tries to show up for work.
We should have an equal shot. My point was that previously, Epstein's teams did NOT have an equal shot. They had a much better shot. That is an advantage that he will not have under the new labor agreement.
The number of players under consideration for the 6th pick will not be huge. At 43 and 56, there is a huge number of players who might be under consideration there. But to be one of the top 6, there can't be all that many. So I'd think that if Wilkin and McLeod have narrowed that to 10-15, Hoyer and/or Theo really could go and watch some of them themselves. And thoroughly pore over every bit of input on those guys the other scouts contribute. So it wouldn't surprise me if they really were players in the discussion.
I think that the recent drafts, with the exception of last year's, the Cubs have ended up with players that project to be low-ceiling / high floor guys.
There's been an awful lot of organizational players, utility men and guys that look like they'll end up as middle relievers.
One large problem with the previous administration's drafts was that, until ricketts bought the team, they never had the budget to draft 4 or 5 first round talents and pay them first round money, as Boston and some other teams did.
It's true that Wilkin hasn't consistently been given top-5 budget, and hasn't always been given cash to sign multiple picks to 1st-round, multimillion contracts. He's been given that perhaps in only 3 of his Cubs draft (last year, Samardz/Huseby, and Szczur). (Not sure if the Donaldson and Flaherty drafts had even two million-dollar guys.)
Over his reign as Cub draft boss, Wilkin's draft moneys have been in the upper half but not in the upper quarter. But it's not like he's been consistently forced cheap, although I think that was true in at least one draft (Jackson).
I don't think the high-floor-instead-of-high-ceiling thing was primarily necessitated by budget. I think the lack of high-ceiling guys is simply a function of scouting. Chris Carpenter seemed very high-ceiling. Brett Jackson seemed like super high ceiling (power, speed, OBP, defense; if he could hit the ball solid more consistently often, he'd be a superstar. Totally high ceiling.) Cashner had a very high ceiling. Perceived with the potential to pitch with control, to throw 100 mph, to have a heavy fastball and a devastating slider, hardly a conservative-low-ceiling pick. If Vitters was the great contact guy with 35-HR's and normal walks, he'd be a super prospect. If Shaffer recovered mid-90's velocity, with his control and curveball, his ceiling was plenty high. With Colvin's power, if he could hit the ball and recognize balls versus strikes, his ceiling too was plenty, plenty high. Hendry and Wilkin seemed to think that Lemahieu was a gifted hitter who'd hit for power. As a pure contact .300-hitter without HR's, if you suddently added on 25 HR-hits, he'd be a superstud. Flaherty and Donaldson had ceilings to hit with serious power and for high average.
It's not that the budget forced them to draft guys knowing they couldn't become very good, it's just that guys they drafted didn't become all that good in many cases. More scouting than budget.
In 2007, Tampa drafted Matt Moore and signed him for $115K. It's not that Wilkin couldn't afford him; he spent much more than that on Ryan Acosta, Jeff Russell, Josh Donaldson, Tony Thomas, Darwin Barney, and brandon Guyer; and while he may not have spent quite as much on Casey Lambert, Ty Wright, or Marquez Smith as Moore signed for, it's not that he passed on Moore for dollars, he did so based on his scouting preferences. (Because he had hundreds of thousands left to spend on Ryan Acosta and Russell many rounds later in that draft, so it's not like his budget was exhausted.)
So there were lots of choices in drafts in which scouting or preference, not dollars, went for guys who ended up being low-ceiling.
It's not that the budget forced them to draft guys knowing they couldn't become very good, it's just that guys they drafted didn't become all that good in many cases. More scouting than budget.
Wilkin may not have the biggest staff in the game, but it's been bigger than average. Hendry's front-office staff, I think, has been smaller than average, but not Wilkin's.
If Wilkin needs to outbudget everybody to have a chance, then maybe he's not the right guy.
6. CUBS: Once Appel, Gausman and Zimmer are chosen, there will be a run on position players, most of whom will be high schoolers. Chicago's pick could come down to Correa and polished Florida high school center fielder Albert Almora. The Cubs took another prep shortstop of Puerto Rican descent (Javier Baez) at No. 9 a year ago.
Projected Pick: ALBERT ALMORA.
Chicago Cubs
Albert Almora, CF, Mater Academy Charter (Hialeh Gardens, Fla.)
The Cubs also have their eyes California prep lefty Fried and Puerto Rico's Correa. Almora, who has an advanced feel for hitting and good range in center, is the likely favorite here.
But is he a better "pure hitter" than vitters?
True. He has already had 18 official at bats, and is only batting .277. Very disturbing.
True. He has already had 18 official at bats, and is only batting .277. Very disturbing.
Jeff (NoCal): Cubs at #6.....shouldn't the cubs focus on the college pitching available to them due to the lack of arms in their system or is Theo and crew going to hone in on Almora or Correa? Who do you like better of the two players?
Jim Callis: You have to take the best available talent. I love Texas A&M's Michael Wacha as much as the next guy, but if the top three college arms are gone (Appel, Gausman, Zimmer), you can't just pop Wacha at No. 6 because you need arms. I'm not even sure the Cubs would take all three of Appel, Gausman and Zimmer at No. 6.
One draft watching site has the Cubs taking U of Florida, power-hitting catcher Mike Zunino with the 6th pick. Has 25 doubles and 15 homers in 211 at-bats so far. Strikes out a lot though.
Dennis (Chicago): If the Cubs cannot get one of the top 3 pitching prospects who do you think they will take?
Jim Callis: Zunino, Almora or Correa.
Zunino, Almora or Correa.
I would rather not take a guy that has had problems making contact against college pitchers.
That was the fear about taking Brett Jackson and Jackson was less productive than Zunino in college and fanned more often.
Soler and Almora? Here's hoping this isn't pure fantasy.
deeg, are you pushing for Almora? What's the scoop on him? My limited sense is that the perception is that he's smart, mature, polished, and good across the board. Carlos Beltran type could-be? Could be wonderful. I also read that he's not very strong, slender shoulders, and it's iffy whether he'll have much HR power. And that he has a leg-kick/timing-hitch.
I'm not too enthused about the SEC K-kid. His power/production numbers as SEC MVP sophomore looked really good. But if he's been whiffing for 3 years in college, I'm hesitant to trust that he'll work it out in the pros. If you're going with a big-K guy, then he better hit bunches of HR's. Having HR power is easily scoutable, but lots of guys with plenty of HR-strength who don't actually hit enough versus pro pitching.
The SEC catcher is a non-starter for me. His numbers with aluminum are unimpressive.
6. Chicago Cubs: Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (Fla.)
Early talk involved high school hitters, with Almora and Correa very much in play, with the edge going to this toolsy outfielder right now. There also seems to be strong interest in Fried.
3. Seattle Mariners: Mike Zunino, C, Florida
There have been some whispers about Zunino sliding, but it's not quite time to make it happen in the projections. The college pitchers, as well as high school shortstop Carlos Correa, could get consideration here.
"Mike Zunino is in a class by himself," one scout said about the No. 1 name on the relatively small list of catching prospects. "He's a Matt Wieters type. He's a hitter, he has power, he can really handle a staff. He's got it all."
Mike Zunino, Florida (3)
As the top college bat in the class and no question about his ability to stay behind the plate, Zunino's name has consistently been near the top of Draft boards all spring. He calls his own game and is a natural leader behind the plate. The son of Reds scout Greg Zunino, Mike should hit for average and power. His name is being mentioned at the very top of the Draft, starting with the Astros at No. 1, and it shouldn't be a surprise to see him gone in the first few selections.
Not necessarily pushing for the catcher, Zunino. but except for one report this week, every mock I've seen to date has him going in the top five. So, if Cubs take him at six, I don't think it's a reach. ...
Seems like it's the same seven names that are pretty consistently showing up. Zunina, Buxton, the three pitchers, Almora, Correa. Of the several mocks I've seen, those seven seem to consistently cover the first six selections, and all seven seem to consistently show up among the first 8 picks.
If we take one of those seven, I think it will be hard for anybody to claim "reach".
I'll claim it.
Zunino is a classic case of a guy being inflated because of scarcity. The board is so weak for college hitters that by the mere fact that he's arguably the best of a bad bunch he gets jumped into the top five overall. He might be the 20th-best prospect objectively, but since there are no other college hitters, his perception is greater than his reality.
If you wanted a college catcher, Wieters was available when we took Vitters- don't compound that disaster by reaching for someone now.
If we take one of those seven, I think it will be hard for anybody to claim "reach".
Jed Hoyer is quoted as saying pitching will be a priority in this draft, so we'll see if they plays out.
Sure seems like the new rules are pretty fool-proof for trying to cheat it. The price for overspending on the high picks is so strong, giving up one or two first-round picks just doesn't seem to make any sense. I'm thinking this will be like the NFL; nobody ever signs NFL FA's when the cost will be 1st round draft pick(s). It just doesn't happen.
I expect teams will comply rather than sacrifice first round picks in baseball, too.
I imagine there could be informal unwritten promises. But not sure how much that will change anything.
How current do you think their list is?
If you think Wilken has any meaningful influence on who the Cubs actually draft, there's some beach land in Iowa I'd like to sell you.
If you think Wilken has any meaningful influence on who the Cubs actually draft, there's some beach land in Iowa I'd like to sell you.
I think it's more probable than not. Wilken has certainly been put in a spot where he should be part of the discussion. Not the final say, that's McLeod's call. But I'd think that Wilken should be in the loop, and a boss is a dope if he doesn't listen. Filter the input, and ignore as appropriate, sure. And obviously it's theoretically possible that after working with Wilken all spring, that McLeod has decided that Wilken's input is completely worthless. But I expect that some of his scouting perspective is both listened to and respected.
How much for the Iowa land?
Same old. Same old. The guys who have the best publicized lists are putting enough prospects in enough places that they'll be able to say "I told you so".
http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/d (http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/d) ... 13449.html
Quote:
PEER REVIEW
Baseball America posed this question to every amateur scout we could track down: Who is the best current scouting director? We allowed scouts to list up to three choices (in no particular order), and of the 276 votes we got back, here are the scouting directors who showed up on the most ballots:
32.6% Tim Wilken, Cubs
29.7% R.J. Harrison, Rays
26.8% Stan Meek, Marlins
26.4% Marti Wolever, Phillies
20.3% Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees
Speaking of Wilken, 276 draft scouts answered a BA poll, and Wilkin was voted the best current scouting director:
The article also has some other fluff stuff, including about Wilken. Among that was that this is the first year the Cub scouts all have video cameras, so they can review what they saw and can send it in to the bosses in the office. Pretty astonishing that in the 21st century that this hasn't been standard technology for years.
Speaking of Wilken, 276 draft scouts answered a BA poll, and Wilkin was voted the "best" current scouting director:
One thing I thought was interesting last year when I went to see Peoria was the Cub player charting pitches was using an iPad to do it. I think that was the first time I've seen that. The guy for the Rays was still using pencil and paper, and I haven't noticed iPads at any of the Nashville games I've been to yet.
Seems like the Cubs have made a pretty big investment in technology for their minor league department.
I think it's fair to say Wilken's input in this draft is a lot greater than 0, though, for better or for worse.
I'm guessing McLeod has more oversight/administrative bossy stuff, and perhaps spends more time in the office. Maybe he's watching video on six kids and doing a bunch of computer stuff in the office while Wilken is driving out to Texarcana and watching a potential 9th-round kid pitch.
..Remember McLeod is also responsible for overseeing Fleita's farm system too....And apparently at this point, McLeod also seems to think Fleita is terrific.
Chicago Cubs
Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake H.S., Studio City, Calif.
It will most likely be Fried, Almora or Zimmer here. Clemson third baseman Richie Shaffer is an extreme dark horse, but I don't see the board falling in a way to make him their pick.
Fried transferred to Harvard-Westlake for his senior season after his Montclair College Prep team eliminated its athletic program, and with teammate Lucas Giolito sidelined, Fried has carried the load as the Wolverines' ace and a key hitter. Lean, athletic and projectable at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, Fried has a fluid delivery and advanced feel for three pitches that all have a chance to be plus or better. At his best, he adds and subtracts from a fastball that ranges from 88-95 mph, generally pitching with solid-average velocity, though he has the ability to reach back for more when he needs to. His best pitch is a tight downer curveball in the 74-78 range that rates conservatively as a plus pitch and flashes plus-plus. He can manipulate the shape and velocity of the curveball depending on the situation, throwing it for a strike or a chase pitch. His low-80s changeup is already at least average and projects as another plus pitch. Fried looked like a good bet to be drafted in the top five to 10 picks for most of the spring, but his stock slipped a bit down the stretch as fatigue has evidently set in. In his most recent starts, Fried showed a 90-92 mph fastball and 79 curveball in the first, but dropped into the 86-88 range with a 69 mph curve by the third inning. A UCLA signee, Fried is cerebral and determined; his late-season dip notwithstanding, he projects as a potential No. 2 starter in the big leagues with a chance to be a No. 1.
Max Fried (Harvest-Westlake HS, Studio Valley, CA)
Max Fried is lean, athletic and projectable at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds. According to Baseball America, Fried has a fluid delivery and advanced feel for three pitches that all have a chance to be plus or better. Fried can add and subtract from a fastball that ranges from 88-95 mph. His best pitch is a tight downer curveball in the 74-78 range that rates conservatively as a plus pitch and flashes plus-plus. Fried throws a low-80s changeup that is already average and projects as another plus pitch. Baseball America described him as cerebral and determined and projects him as a potential number two starter in the big leagues with a chance to be a number one.
Interesting article from San Diego re McLeod and how he works.
www.nctimes.com/sports/baseballlprofessional/mlb/padres (http://www.nctimes.com/sports/baseballlprofessional/mlb/padres)
Who knows whether Wilkin (or Fleita) will remain after their contracts run out, but there is very little question but that the new leaders will maximize their potential contributions - and those of a great many others - as long as they are on the payroll. That's what good leaders do.
....most organizations have databases set up to organize every player's biographical information, background, medical history, psychological tests, vision tests, scouting reports, statistical analysis and video.
I doubt that they can walk on water, but so far I haven't seen anything that they have done that seems to be poor policy or decision making.
The team psychologist was for Crane Kenney though.
It does seem likely that the Hoyer-McLeod system may not be one that Wilken is comfortable implenting at this point in his career, and he will move on.
Then I assume that would include writing off the 2012 season, and in all probability writing off the 2013 season in order to focus on building something from the bottom up which has a strong chance of winning year in and year out for a sustained period.... Pretty much implicit in any such approach is the recognition that the team taken over last fall was so weak that splitting management attention and efforts between the long term building approach and trying to win in 2012 was misguided. And on that I agree... though it would seem to be a shift in your thinking on the matter.
Chicago CubsAlbert Almora, CF, Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.)
This is the closest thing we have to a lock in the top 10. Almora is the rare high school player with a strong combination of polish and ceiling.
6. Chicago Cubs: Albert Amora, OF, Mater Academy (FL)
Pretty much every eyeball in the Cubs front office has been spotted at Almora's late-season games, and his private workout was impressive. One source said this afternoon, “If the Cubs had the No. 1 pick in the entire draft, they might take Almora."
No. I don't think they would do anything as foolish as that which you espouse. Unlike you, they have a fiduciary responsibility to the owners.
It is already apparent the Theocracy has written off 2012, something you insisted there was no need to do, and which wouldn't be done.
I suspect they will do the same with 2013, and that they will do it with the full blessing of the owners.
Quoting certain messages defeats the purpose of the ignore button.
But they did NOT write it off in the winter, as you have advocated.
6. CUBS. As much as Chicago would love a shot at one of the top three college pitchers, that probably won't happen. Instead, the Cubs will be choosing from Correa, Fried and Florida high school outfielder Albert Almora. Almora has become the front-runner here.
Projected Pick: ALBERT ALMORA.
They may not have told you about it, but the roster makes pretty clear that they had done so.
If the roster makes it pretty clear that they wrote off the season before it began, why have you been complaining constantly that they SHOULD be writing off the season.
1. take whatever player is rumored to be picked by someone else soon.
If you think you have a top-5 teenage outfielder coming into the system, do you still draft Almora, another teenage outfielder?
"I think they'll get a player comparable to what they got last year at No. 9," Callis said, referring to the Cubs' selection of Javier Baez ninth overall in 2011. "Last year was a deeper draft, but they should get a good player. Even in a down draft, you're better off picking at the top, even with the new rules in spending. At least you get to pick the cream of the crop."
In a best-case scenario, Callis thinks Kevin Gausman, a right-handed pitcher out of LSU, would be the ideal choice for the Cubs, but Callis doesn't see him getting past Baltimore at No. 4 or Kansas City at 5.
Callis believes the Cubs will wind up taking Albert Almora, a high school outfielder out of Florida.
"He's less toosly than [projected first overall pick, outfielder Byron] Buxton, but he still has a lot of plus-tools and he's more polished," Callis said. "The ceiling is not quite as high as Buxton's, but the floor is higher. There's less risk. He's a player with a lot of tools and a lot of aptitude, which is a tremendous combination."
Some other options for the Cubs include shortstop Carlos Correa and high-school left-hander Max Fried.
"Gun to my head, I might take Correa," Callis said. "If you dream on him, you could see Troy Tulowitzki with Correa. Max Fried is the best high-school pitcher in the draft and he's left-handed...It's a tough call, but that's a pleasant problem to have. At least you have three very attractive options there. If you were picking 11th or 12th in the draft, you'd be looking at a totally different type of player."
Keith Law now saying that it's a toss-up between Correa and ALmora for the Cubs, assuming that Correa is still on the board at #6.
Either this Perkin guy has the scoop of the draft, he's just trying to get attention, or he's an idiot.
SI's Dave Perkin..-- Michael Wacha, .....Epstein... favors college players ... Wacha is a mature college starter who could provide quick help ...
Seattle Mariners Mike Zunino, C, Florida UPDATE: Now hearing Correa strongly with this pick.
6. (Cubs)
Hitters: Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter, Andy Van Slyke, Kevin McReynolds
Pitchers: Zack Greinke, Ricky Romero, Derek Lilliquist, Roy Thomas, Ross Detwiler
Boras always wins, no matter how they change the rules.
jimcallisBA profile
jimcallisBA Fried a great value at 7 for #Padres. Some directors told me he was best P in draft, over all the college guys. Kershaw comps. #mlbdraft
johnmanuelba profile
johnmanuelba Confirming @jimcallisba that the Cubs are taking "Double A" Albert Almora. Love Almora. Instinctive CF on defense, anticipates like an IF
conorglassey #Cubs #mlbdraft pick Albert Almora is an instinctive OF is the most polished player in this year’s HS class.
Albert Almora combines a high school player's upside with the polish of a college hitter. He's headed to Chicago after the Cubs selected him sixth overall.
Almora has tools, game instincts and makeup; his lone weakness is his fringe-average speed, which some scouts describe as below-average. Scouts give him 60s across the board otherwise, with some giving him higher grades for his arm strength. His instincts allow him to play center field at a high level; one scout said he was a 40 runner with 80 range and said he played center field like some players do shortstop, being instinctual rather than reactive like almost all outfielders.
2016 Cubs:
LF Jackson
CF Almora
RF Soler
3B Baez
SS Castro (still doing dumb stuff)
2B Barney
1B Rizzo
C Koyie
Something tells me Commissioner Bud will have to back to the drawing board on the clauster**** he's created for the draft.
When was the last time a pitcher wasn't taken with 1 of the first 3 picks?
Power arms? Are you on dope? Soft tossing lefties and fifth outfielders!!!
First round and supplemental. Cubs pick three times tonight.
Almora, who has played for Team USA in six different picks, is considered an unusually safe pick for a high school hitter. The Cubs have followed him for years and believe he can be a complete outfielder, hitting for a high average, with 20-plus home
run power, while playing a very solid center field.
Is Bud senile?
Almora is a latter-day A.J. Hinch in that he has become a go-to player for USA Baseball national teams from a young age. Almora was USA Baseball's 2011 athlete of the year after being MVP of the 18-and-under Pan American Championships in Colombia in November 2011. He tied Hinch's USA Baseball record by playing on his sixth national team, and scouts love his grinder approach and in-game savvy. What's more, Almora has outstanding tools. The Miami signee, in one scout's words, "has no issues. He's got above-average tools everywhere, and they all play. He has tools and he uses them." He doesn't turn in blazing times when he runs in showcases (generally he's a 6.8-second runner in the 60), but his game instincts help him steal bases and cover plenty of ground in center field. Scouts consider his defense major league-ready right now, with plus grades for his accurate throwing arm. With natural hitting rhythm and plenty of bat speed, Almora is a line-drive machine with a loose swing who stays inside the ball, relishes velocity and handles spin. He should have 20-homer power down the line, sufficient if he slows down and can't play center, and a definite bonus if (as expected) he stays in the middle garden. He plays the game with both ease and energy and may have some projection left in his athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. The Miami signee is considered one of the draft's safer picks and could sneak into the first 10 selections.
Few colleges can match Missouri State's recent track record for producing pitchers. Since 2001, the Bears have had three hurlers drafted in the first or sandwich rounds and sent a total of seven to the big leagues. The next in line is Johnson, who started to come on at the end of his sophomore season a year ago and ranked sixth in NCAA Division I in strikeouts per nine innings (11.5) in mid-May. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder misses bats with a lively 92-93 mph fastball that reaches 96 mph and a hard three-quarters breaking ball. He'll mix in an 86-87 mph cutter a few times per game and has improved his feel for his changeup. While scouts have no quibbles with Johnson's stuff, they do have some concerns, most notably his health. He missed two starts this spring with a forearm strain, an issue that also cropped up in high school and during the fall of his freshman year. He wasn't as sharp in his first three starts after his layoff, which could drop him from the first round to the supplemental first. He also dislocated a knee while warming up in the bullpen last summer in the Cape Cod League, and missed much of his high school senior season after breaking his hand on a comebacker. Johnson has just decent control and command, though he has improved in both regards this year. He also can fall in love with his breaking ball a bit too much.
Johnson was moving quickly up Draft boards, but a forearm strain put that on pause. He came back and threw well, with plenty of time to show everyone he’s fully healthy leading up to the Draft.
Johnson has a good three-pitch mix starting with a fastball that is plus at times, touching 94 mph. He’s more successful when he keeps it down in the zone, which he does when he repeats his delivery well. Johnson throws a hard curve that works as an effective out pitch, missing more bats than he does with the fastball. He doesn’t use the changeup as much, but it has the potential to be at least an average pitch in the future. He throws strikes and competes very well on the mound.
Assuming he’s healthy, Johnson should join a solid group of college starters who could go off the board shortly after the top tier, profiling well as a No. 3-type starter at the highest level.
Johnson was headed for certain first-round status before a forearm strain interrupted his spring, and while he returned to action and regained his stuff before the end of the season, the proximity of the forearm to the elbow casts a cloud over his draft status. When he's right, it's hard to argue with what comes out of his arm: 91-95 with a power curveball at 80-81 and a hard changeup at 80-83; he'll even show a slider/cutter in the upper 80s.
I'm not wild about Johnson's delivery, however: He turns his elbow over very hard through release, putting a lot of pressure on it, and his stride is so long that he can't finish out over his front side. Johnson apparently suffered no structural damage and his velocity had bounced back by mid-May. He's a potential No. 2 starter if fully healthy, but the rotation of his elbow through release, combined with the history now of forearm strains, is a red flag for me.
"If you look at the total package of Albert, he has the ability to no doubt play in the major leagues, but it's also the makeup and work ethic, how he carries himself and the leadership he's shown," said Jason McLeod, vice president of scouting and player development. "It's what we're looking to do here with the Cubs -- to bring in somebody that will be an impact player and to impact those around him."
"It goes back to the evaluation of him as a player on the ability, but even more on the makeup side," McLeod said. "He's driven to succeed and be the best. We feel that in this market there is something to the whole 'Theo Epstein first draft' and our first draft. But that will subside quickly and it will be about him and what he does for this franchise moving forward. We feel he will handle it well because of who he is and what it means to him to be great."
Blackburn stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 180 pounds. He is a good athlete and shows a clean delivery that he repeats well. His fastball sits in the 90-92 mph range and tops out at 94. Scouts can still project on Blackburn. His curveball and changeup show promise and he could eventually have three plus pitches. Because of his athleticism and smooth mechanics, scouts believe he will also eventually pitch with above-average control and command. He shows good feel and poise on the mound, too. Blackburn has consistently pitched well throughout the spring and is interested in professional baseball, so scouts don't believe he'll wind up at Arizona State, where he has committed.
Baseball America had Pierce Johnson ranked 32nd overall. Sounds like good value here.
After a big performance at last summer’s Area Code Games, Blackburn has continued pitching well this spring to keep him firmly on the prospect map.
The NoCal high schooler has a good fastball that hits 92 mph consistently and will touch a tick or two higher on the radar gun at times. His two secondary offerings – a curve and a changeup – both have the chance to be very effective pitches. He’s generally around the strike zone and thanks to his athleticism and sound delivery, his command should only improve with experience.
The Arizona State recruit has some projectability, meaning his already pretty good stuff has room to get even better. That should get him off the board early enough to keep him from heading to Arizona.
Blackburn is one of the more intriguing projection right-handers in this draft, sitting 89-91, but with a lean frame that has plenty of room to fill out and bring more velocity with it.
He gets some arm-side run on the fastball and stays on top of the ball well to generate downhill plane. His curveball has surprisingly tight rotation for its low-70s velocity, flashing plus, and he'll show a future-average changeup at 77-78 that's just inconsistent now.
He's pretty polished right now with good command for his age and some aggressiveness with the fastball, although I've seen him lose a little velocity out of the stretch. When he fills out, he should be more 90-93 with a three-pitch mix that would give him mid- to back-of-the-rotation potential.
On the day of the no-hitter, Blackburn topped the radar gun at 92 miles per hour, the same top speed he had at Area Code.
“I’ve topped at 94 and I have three pitches, four if you count the four-seam and two-seam (fastball). I also have a curve and a change.”
....
“Paul’s best assets are he’s right around the plate all the time. He has great command of his pitches,” said Heritage coach Kevin Brannan, a custodian at adjacent Adams Middle School and the Patriots’ coach for seven years, four with freshman and the last three on the varsity.
“Having Paul has been a blessing for our program. What’s unique is I got to coach him his first year as a freshman and he was already better than all but the top starter on varsity.”
....
“I really don’t know. I want to play pro, and if the money is there (after the draft) and if it’s a good environment, and it’s good for me, then I’ll probably go and play.”
Having a chance to study business as Paul would like to do, and pitch for a top college program isn’t a bad fallback position.
“ASU has a good reputation of players that have gone through there, plus I love the campus and the coaches. Hopefully I can help them win a national championship."
so over all how does the draft look to everyone.
Kiley McDaniel:
LOVE Almora, trust me. Pierce Johnson is a very sensible g amble, could be closer or #3 starter if he stays healthy. Be excited because you will love Albert Almora. Like you should be doing backflips. Stretch first.
Kiley McDaniel:
They could draft beer league players the rest of the way, Almora is enough for multiple drafts, scouts say he will likely solve time travel within the year and that's conservative
43. Chicago Cubs: Pierce Johnson, RHP, Missouri State
Johnson was gaining steam until a minor injury put him on the sideline in the middle of his season, but he returned and pitched well. He offers 91-93 mph heat that grazes the mid-90s, and complements with a good changeup and breaking ball. This could be a real steal. -- Churchill
56. Chicago Cubs: Paul Blackburn, RHP, Heritage (Calif.) H.S.
Blackburn, who may be leaning toward ASU rather than signing a pro contract, sits in the low 90s and showed some polish and poise this spring to move into this range. -- Churchill
Tyson Kimm @PGTyKai
Another @pgallamerican Almora goes to #Cubs. #mlbdraft Really like the swing comp to #brewers #braun earlier by @mlbnetwork
This could be a real steal. -- Churchill
Along those lines, Callis says Johnson might've been a mid-first rounder prior to the forearm strain.
It just seems the Cubs haven't had a lot of luck with college pitchers who fell due to some kind of injury scare.
Almora said he was thrilled, but he also showed the confidence that has made him an elite prospect.
“I believe in my ability,” Almora said. “But I’m not going to lie. In my book, I was the No. 1 pick.”
....
Should Almora decline his offer, he has a 4.1 grade-point average.
Almora, though, is expected to sign, even if he wouldn’t admit as much Monday night.
“Right now, I have no idea what I’m going to do,” Almora said.
“I’m not even thinking about money or anything. I’m just trying to take it all in and be happy.”
The Cubs, of course, would be thrilled if Almora accepts their offer. It came as no surprise to anyone in the industry that Chicago was Almora’s destination. The Cubs had scouted Almora extensively and had a private workout with him on May 22 at St. Thomas University.
One good thing about this year's draft is that everyone that they manage to sign will actually play in the minors this year.
But also, the risk of not signing Appel is especially great since this is Chicago and there's importance to this being "Theo's first draft".
One good thing about this year's draft is that everyone that they manage to sign will actually play in the minors this year. ...
Of course, Clanton's arm was kind of shot when we drafted him . . .
Wouldn't surprise me if Cubs didn't keep their work very limited this summer.
Well said, craig.
It's Boras, so somehow he always gets more. And if the Cubs are telling him and the world that Almora was #1 on their board, and if perhaps that's actually true, seems like Boras might be able to squeeze overslot out as he always does.
It'll be interesting to see how Boras tries to manipulate the new system. You know he's at least going to make an attempt.
Hopefully we can get Almora signed without too much drama, though.
Innings will still be limited by workload.
Good thing?
I thought it was clearly established that playing in the minors the summer of the draft didn't matter....
Underwood is everything you'd want from a high school pitcher: athletic with arm strength, a chance to have three at least Major League-average pitches and outstanding mound presence.
The Georgia product will sit in the low 90s with his fastball typically, but he can reach back for 95-96 mph occasionally. His secondary offerings aren't as good as the fastball, but both his curve and changeup have a chance. When he throws them right, his curve can have a very good 12-to-6 late break and his changeup can be very deceptive.
He doesn't throw either consistently right now and he does have some issues with command at times. His poise, knowledge of the game and athleticsm say he'll continue to evolve as a pitcher, meaning he could start moving up charts this spring.
Underwood is one of those pitchers scouts get excited about because when he?s good, he?s among the best pure arms in the draft.
He is athletic with above-average speed and some feel to hit that would allow him to contribute as a hitter at Georgia should he go to college. This athleticism helps him on the mound with a fluid, loose arm action and smooth delivery that will deliver some of the easiest mid-90?s velocity you will see. He is still somewhat raw on the mound and will occasionally cut himself off and other times rush his delivery. Underwood delivers his fastball with two-seam action down in the zone and backs it up with an 80-82 mph changeup which has good deception and fades with occasional command to both sides.
The problem has been Underwood?s inconsistency this spring as his feel for both off-speed pitches will come and go and he?ll be 91-94 touching 97 mph in some outings and 87-91 mph in others. His curveball, which at times he casts (like a fishing reel) and other times overthrows, is an obvious area of improvement.
Underwood will be 17 on draft day so he has age on his side and clubs have seen plenty of potential that he?s a possibility as early as the late first round that should be go on day one.
Underwood will be 17 on draft day . . .
craig will like that.
Mike (Chicago)
I don't get the love for Underwood. Reports had him throwing in the 80's this spring.
Klaw (12:31 PM)
That would be inaccurate. His last outing he was 94-96 in the first, 90-92 most of the day.
Almora: John Koronka! He must have just gotten started, since he was in the majors as recently as 2009, and in AAA in 2010. Even pitched in two Indy league games last summer. So he must have just gotten hired last summer. Surprising that a rookie scout would start right out in such a talent-heavy area as Florida. Perhaps that means he was largely apprenticing with one of the more established scouts. Florida and California are obviously two of the most important areas.
Blackburn: Scott Fairbanks. He's also quite new to the system, not sure how new. He's 31. Again, California is a hot spot. Is he really viewed as such a top scout that he's being given a premium California job this quickly? Or perhaps being kind of mentored by somebody older?
That's easier with a veteran scouting staff, which Wilken largely has with the Cubs. But he also has three first-year scouts, so he has spent more time with them to help them learn the ropes.
"He's made a point of being out with me and seeing my guys and talking with me about how things play out," said Tom Myers, who spent five years in the minor leagues and was a college coach before getting into scouting. "And then, as a person, he's always asking me questions. The interaction has been outstanding. Right from the get-go, he wanted to know about me. He wanted to learn my background and about my family. It's been nice that I can interact with him and feel comfortable, not just as my boss, but more like a teammate. I'm part of a team and he's been my teammate since day one."
Well this farm system definitely needs pitching. Basically you just draft a bunch of arms and hope one or two stay healthy enough and get good enough to be major league pitchers.
Theo sure was serious about focusing on arms, but we're pretty grisly for hitters in the system too. How about a few bats?
Hopefully we add Soler as well. That would make a big difference.
I remember when Curt could come up with more than one "joke" in a week.
No scouting report on our 8th rounder, Michael Heesch, LHP, South Carolina-Beaufort. He's the 30th ranked player in the state of South Carolina according to BA.So they finally let Wilken pick one?
"My main priority now is college," Almora said. "I just graduated high school and I have a full scholarship to the University of Miami, and that's all I'm looking forward to right now."
Why bother taking a catcher whose obp is .325 and runners stole 38 of 45 against (stats found on nsbb).
That's just a god awful 9th round pick.
JR, if I understood correctly, you can't sign a player for less than 40% of slot.
Someone said they hoped there wouldn't be much drama in getting Almora signed. Good luck with that.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-nab-another-pitcher-in-second-round-20120605,0,1652831.story (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-nab-another-pitcher-in-second-round-20120605,0,1652831.story)
JR, if I understood correctly, you can't sign a player for less than 40% of slot.
Yes. I can't find a link, but I've heard/read that a number of times.
Picks 7-10 have a combined slot of $543. If you sign all four at 40%, you can save a max of $326. Clearly that's what's being done here.
The Cubs total budget is $7.94. They can go up to 5% over, so basically they can spend up to $8.33.
The last four picks open up $0.33 to use for overslotting the 1st-6th round picks.
If you don't sign a guy, you lose his slot. So if you do not sign Almora, or Heesch, you don't get that money to spend on the others. I expect that with 7-10, we needed to pick players who are bad enough so that they'll be happy to sign for 40%. If you draft a junior who thinks he can boost his stock next year, and earn more than the 40% threshold, ($50K), and thus decides not to sign at all, then you don't free up anything. So if Chad Martin says I'm not going to sign for $50K, instead of freeing $75K to spend on Underwood, we free zero. I think several of these picks are the types of guys we usually draft in round 35.
If we pay those last four guys minimum, and free up $325 that way, and spend up to the 5% overage limit, which is almost $400K, we'll have about $720K "extra" to spend above slot on the prospects in rounds 1-6. So basically slot, and $0.7 of discretionary cash.
If we pay those last four guys minimum, and free up $325 that way, and spend up to the 5% overage limit, which is almost $400K, we'll have about $720K "extra" to spend above slot on the prospects in rounds 1-6. So basically slot, and $0.7 of discretionary cash.
Or if by some miracle we sign all of our early guys for slot, we could possibly offer a late round pick $700-800K (The $600-$700K discretionary we have built up plus the $100K Bud allows for any player taken after Round 10).
As I understand it, no one chosen after round 10 can be paid more than $100,000 each.
I don't think that's right. Their is the "pot" for rounds 1-10, based on the slot values.
Anything beyond $100K in rounds 11-40 comes out of the "pot".
So if the pot isn't exhausted on 1-10, you can use what's left to spend beyond $100K for 11-40 guys.
Bonuses for players signed after the first 10 rounds do not count against the overall budget, unless they exceed $100,000.
The Blue Jays' total bonus pool is $8,830,800. The seven Blue Jays' picks from the fourth through 10th round carry an allotment of $1.244 million. If the Blue Jays hypothetically signed those seven players for $200,000 total, that would be $1 million that could be used to sign Smoral or Alford.
By the way, this is an awful system Commissioner Bud has concocted for the draft. Basically you're encouraging teams to throw away 3 or 4 of your first 10 rounds, so they can build up extra funds for other parts of the draft.
The system is meant to prevent the richer teams from signing the better talent. So far, it looks like it will accomplish that.
The only reference to 40% I've seen in any of the CBA descriptions is the "Dickey rule", that if an injured player is offered less than 40% of slot, he can choose to become an FA.
You know, there might be some truth in that. Our college senior picks may have the option to elect free agency when we lowball their offers.
Still for Heesch, Krist, and Martin, though, they probably wouldn't get more than a $20K offer even if they were free agents. Our $20K to $30K offer will probably be the best offer they get even if they were on the open market, so it still makes financial sense for them to sign our lowball offer instead of electing free agency and probably having to wind up signing with a team for no signing bonus at all or getting stuck with an independent team like the Evansville Otters or Long Island Ducks.
And even if they become a free agent, anything that they sign for over $100,000 dollars goes against the signing team's cap for that year.
Hmm. Thanks guys. I wonder where on earth I dreamed up this 40% rule? Weird. Maybe from DaveP. :)
So can a team persuade a prospect to sign for a lower bonus than he wanted by including in the contract provisions granting him true FA status early?
JR etc. suggest that the short Virginia utility guy is a pretty decent player. That he's slot-justified, not some $10K guy you'd take in round 35.
I read that the INdiana pitcher was throwing 96 repeatedly at Wrigley workout (the day Correa was there, I think.) So maybe he's slot-legit too.
The catcher had some reputation, and Cubs always spend picks on no-stick catchers around that range.
the big lefty from Chicago allegedly throws in the 90's, so maybe they think he's a tweak and some experience from being legit.
Maybe being 5'9", 165 lbs., we can talk him into maybe taking $20K below slot or something like that and tell him this is his best chance at getting into pro ball. Being able to save $20K would not be a trivial amount with the new draft rules,
I am certain that as time goes on, the really smart teams will learn how to game the system. I'm just not sure that that is one of the better ways to do it. If they save money on the last 3 picks, they are likely to have to give it to Boras's client. He is going to know exactly how much money is available to sign Almora.
I don't know. There are several contractual items that are prohibited by MLB, such as performance bonuses and other unusual contract provisions. Since they did such a seemingly good job on the draft rules, I wouldn't be surprised if they dealt with this already.
Just out of curiosity, what would the team gain by such a contract?
The Cubs called Prieto before selecting him and asked if he would sign. Prieto said yes.
“The Cubs called and said they were ready to pick me and asked what my thoughts were,” Bruno said. “I told them I felt blessed for the opportunity and would be thrilled to become a Cub.
Ryan McNeil picked up his. On the other end was a representative from the Chicago Cubs. In this same moment, the Minnesota Twins called. Both teams wanted to pick him in the early rounds of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
“I really want to play professional baseball. If I don’t, I can always go to college. But I really want to sign. I really want to play professional baseball.” (McNeil)
Controy: He was monitoring the draft online and got word from his advisor as the fourth round started that he should start paying close attention.[/color][/size][/font]
Prieto (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) wowed the Cubs as part of a traveling team at a fall showcase in Peoria, Ariz. The lefty's fastball touched as high as 97 mph, according to some reports, and averaged in the low 90s. The Cubs' scouting director, Tim Wilken, also got to see Prieto, who had not crossed most scouts' paths because he had not played club ball before and started pitching late. "That was key," said Americas coach Jesse Muñoz. "The scouting director got to see Anthony before he got hurt."
It's the only other Cubs site that I follow regularly.
They've had great draft coverage, and one of the main writers regularly gets to te Peoria games and seems to know a thing or two about scouting. He's had some great info and observations on Baez, etc. Really great site.
Anyone else have a cubs or baseball blog they regularly follow? I love me some fangraphs, too.
Cubs selected 3B Rustin Sveum, son of Cubs manager Dale Sveum, in the 39th round out of Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.Probably because he always knows how many outs there are.
But Donahue, whose fastball at times sits in the 92-95 mph range with boring action, was the Blue Jays’ fourth-round pick in 2012. He’s already signed for a four-digit bonus; Donahue declined to give the exact amount.
Welcome to the new draft. “I talked to a good amount of teams, probably 15 teams, and I knew this was a possible play; it was pretty cut and dried,” Donahue said. “I’d say 10 of the 15 all asked if I would sign for something like that. As a senior, I knew it could happen. I figured the high draft round sticks with you. I thought it was worth trading a few grand to be a higher-round pick. Money disappears, but I will forever be a fourth-round pick.
Hoyer said the draft went the way the Cubs thought it would.
"We talked about adding pitching depth in the system, and we really pounded our way after pitching after taking (Albert) Almora with the first pick," he said. "I probably thought we'd take a hitter at the top and I thought we'd take a lot of pitching, and that's exactly what we did... We'll find out in five years if we were right, but we're happy with the process, and happy with the players who got to our picks, and we're excited to get these guys signed and into our system."
Almora said going to University of Miami is his priority. Hoyer said the Cubs are "comfortable with the background information we have on him," which suggests he believes Almora is simply starting the negotiating process.
For Deeg - one guy to keep an eye on - http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-simeons-hickman-drafted-by-cubs-in-20th-round-20120606,0,2676967.story
If he signs, I hope they keep him at catcher because from everything I read, they think he has the potential to be a very good hitter. If he doesn't develop as a catcher, they can then move him back to the mound. Seems like he could be a very big sleeper in this draft.
Chicago Cubs: Several scouts from other teams gave kudos to the Cubs' haul in the first Draft of the Theo Epstein era. After nabbing Albert Almora in the first round, Chicago went pitching-heavy, taking seven arms in a row after the toolsy outfielder. Four were of the high school variety, with Paul Blackburn and Duane Underwood offering upside one scout in particular liked.
BTW, this new draft system sucks. Like craig said, it really takes a lot of fun out of following the later rounds of the draft. This nonsense where teams are taking college seniors just to save money from Round 4 or 5 onward just makes a mockery of the whole process. You're pretty much encouraging two sport athletes to go to other sports. It takes away opportunities for teams like the Pirates to accumulate talent.
There's not too much I like about this.
The Cubs made Jonathan Mayo's list of best drafts based on the opinions of scouts and industry people.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120606&content_id=32875604&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120606&content_id=32875604&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb)
But there likely is a great deal the owners like about it.
Rhett Wiseman was expecting an exciting night. But in no way could he have imagined that it would be this special.
While preparing for his senior prom last night, the Buckingham Browne & Nichols star learned that he had been selected in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago Cubs.
“I was actually walking into the tuxedo shop, picking up my tux for my prom tonight when I got the call,” the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year said.
Though he was scooped up by the Cubs more than 20 rounds after he was projected to be taken — he was ranked as the 136th best prospect by Baseball America — the center fielder was ecstatic just to be drafted.
“You work your whole life to get drafted as a baseball player,” Wiseman said. “I was so honored, I was so humbled, and the Cubs are a great organization. I’m just so impressed with the people that run the Cubs from behind the scenes and the organization itself. To know that I was drafted by a team like the Cubs — not only a respected organization, but run by very, very respectable people — I was definitely humbled.”
Wiseman, who committed to Vanderbilt when he was 15 and plans on playing for the Commodores next year, was hitting .444 with eight home runs, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored for BB&N through last Friday. The 6-foot-2 senior noted he would be wearing an unconventional item in all of his prom pictures.
“I’ll show up to prom pictures with my Cubbies hat on, and it’s going to be tough for anyone to take it off my head tonight, that’s for sure.”
I think it's just boilerplate. He likely would've said it even if the old regime were still around.
Okay, interpret for me. He's happy with the Cubs, but has no intention to sign and still is going to Vandy? Does that mean the pick was a show of faith and the Cubs will draft him again in the future? He still might sign if the money is right? He's going to Vandy, but signing before the deadline and won't start playing until next spring?
I'm lost in the verbiage.
It's Theo's organization now. My guess is that he's a guy that does things the right way, and that comes across in his dealings with prospects.
I think it's less fun for us as fans. Particularly us as rich Cubs fans.
But I think it's good for the game. It's one significant avenue of competition dictated by something other than money. (Scouting smarts is more important than just a big budget.) And where the weaker teams have an opportunity to gain competitive ground on the strongest teams. (Houston and Minnesota will have had a big chance to gain ground....)
I'm still confused about just how much the Cubs can offer someone drafted that low. What is the max?
An insider poster at PSD says that Hickman is likely to be a surprise sign. No idea whether as pitcher or catcher.
To buy kids out of Vanderbilt, you have to offer at least $1 million, and even that doesn't work a lot of the time (Jason Esposito, Tyler Beede, Pedro Alvarez, etc. turned down 7 figure bonuses to go to Vandy.). That's what it took to get Shawon Dunston, Jr. out of his Vanderbilt commitment. The Red Sox paid over $1 million to get Ryan Westmoreland out of his Vanderbilt commitment. Their coach is very very good at holding on to commitments, even when major league teams offer ridiculous amounts of money for them to go pro.
That was under the old system, where free market conditions governed.
The new system is likely to result in entirely new equations.
We act like $100K is so low and such a no-chance amount. But in past, $100K has been recommended slot for 7th or 8th rounders or so. We've signed a bunch of HS/JC guys for list prices in the $125-200 range.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that in past the "list" price has included college scholarship option. (Which most kids don't actually utilize.) What I'm suggesting is that there are a lot of teenagers who DID sign and weren't getting $100K in actual cash, or if so not a lot more. Get a $150K deal, but actually $60 of that is college scholarship money, so it looked overslot but the actual cash really wasn't that much beyond the $100K slot now. I'm not talking Maples or Dunston, obviously, or Wiseman. But Hickman or some of the other HS/JC guys, maybe.
Anybody know how the new CBA treats benefits like college scholarships? Will teams be able to offer them, and they don't count against the cap? Will they count full? Or will they count partial? (I believe BA had some thing a few years back where across the industry teams paid out less than 25% of the scholarship money.)
jes has raised the question of what ways there might be to entice kids to sign, without killing your cap. Offer of early free agency? Guarantee for early addition to 40-man? Team-paid trips for parents to watch son play? I assume the cba should have put some very tight restrictions on what kinds of benefits a contract can include. Perhaps there is now a rigid contract form: dollars only, no other perks allowed whatsoever. I think it will continue to be interesting to learn more about the details as the next month goes on.
On my 40% rule, that appears to be entirely imaginary. Or at least that a player can voluntarily go under that. Any contract is voluntary, so if a guy can voluntarily go to $5K, there must be no floor.
I have been wondering about that myself. Does a scholarship count against the cap?
And we have been talking about gaming the system. Can you offer the kid's father a job in the Cubs system (coach, janitor, whatever)? Can his brother be given the job of mowing theo's 12 square feet of grass for $100,000 per year. Maybe it's time to run MLB the way big college football programs have been run for decades.
Chicago Cubs: Albert Almora
Almora immediately becomes the Cubs' best prospect, even over Anthony Rizzo.
Awful hard to take a guy seriously when he rates a high school kid who has never faced a professional slider higher than a prospect that is having a fantastic year in AAA.
Keith Law has a new post about where each team's top pick would rate on their top prospects list: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/2012/story/_/id/8020064/where-top-draft-picks-fit-organizational-player-rankings
Just FWIW, Law updated his top 100 prospects list a couple weeks ago, and ranked Rizzo #20 at that time.
Mike (Chelmsford): What are the chances that Rhett Wiseman is able to get a deal done with the Cubs?
Jim Callis: Unlikely. He fell to the 25th round because of signability. That said, the Cubs can probably take some deep discounts in rounds 4-10, so it's possible they could throw all of that money at Wiseman.
Dan (Chicago): Would you rank Almora ahead of Javier Baez on a list of Cubs top prospects?
Jim Callis: It's close ... would have to see how this season plays out. Baez has more offensive ceiling, Almora a good ceiling and higher floor.
Dan (Chicago): What do you make of Almora's comments about going to college? Should I be concerned he won't sign or are they just Boras tactics?
Jim Callis: He'll sign. I'd be stunned if he didn't.
Benny (Cubs Central): Looking forward to seeing Theo lock up Almora, Underwood and Johnson. Can he get all three done, in your opinion?
Jim Callis: Yes. Combined pick value for those three is $5.3 million, which should be close enough to get it done.
Baez, Rizzo and Almora in the same system. Wish we had 5 or 6 more like them.
...Brett Jackson....'s still 22 years old and still has a substantial upside...
Jackson is 23, turns 24 in August.
We act like $100K is so low and such a no-chance amount. But in past, $100K has been recommended slot for 7th or 8th rounders or so. We've signed a bunch of HS/JC guys for list prices in the $125-200 range.
Astros sign the overall #1 pick - Carlos Correra:
Our 26th rounder is warming up in Stony Brook's bullpen...
This Stony Brook/LSU game is quite good.
And nearly a walk-off on the next pitch...
14th rounder Corbin Hoffner has signed. http://www.newssun.com/sports/FRI-6-8-12-Corbin (http://www.newssun.com/sports/FRI-6-8-12-Corbin)
"I decided to sign," Hoffner said. "I felt that the money was right, especially because money for school was included in the offer. Even though college is a step up in the process, I am looking forward to what is next.
"Around the eighth round, both the Blue Jays and the Cubs called and were wondering if I was willing to sign," he said. "Heard from them a couple more times, but was never notified that I was being drafted.
Now we know that college money can still be included. Still don't know how it calculates into the cap. Do you get capped/taxed for all of it, or none of it, or some cba-agreed fraction? But I'd wondered whether stuff like that would be ruled out.
Our 26th rounder is warming up in Stony Brook's bullpen...
This Stony Brook/LSU game is quite good.
Craig: Jim Callis says that money for college doesn't count toward the allotments. Doubt if it counts in overall total, though Callis wasn't asked that directly.
Jim Callis @jimcallisBA
No. @gbib21: but does MLB count tuition $ towards allotments??
Craig: Jim Callis says that money for college doesn't count toward the allotments. Doubt if it counts in overall total, though Callis wasn't asked that directly.
Jim Callis @jimcallisBA
No. @gbib21: but does MLB count tuition $ towards allotments??
Ricky Jacquez, a freshman pitcher for the Longhorns, has been dismissed from the team for his second violation of an unspecified team policy.
The ruling, announced Wednesday, was made by head coach Augie Garrido and the Texas athletic department, a team spokesman said.
Garrido declined to comment on Jacquez, citing athletic department policy forbidding coaches to discuss athletes who have been dismissed.
Jacquez, who was 2-1 with a 5.79 ERA, missed his scheduled start at Missouri on Sunday, leaving the mound after warming up before the bottom of the first inning.
The Cubs haven’t yet officially announced any Draft signings (making them one of the few teams yet to do so, it seems like), but we know of several that have or are happening. Lance Rymel, a catcher taken in the 28th round out of Rogers State, has signed. Seventeenth round pitcher out of SIU Nathan Dorris has signed. Intriguing 14th round pitcher out of a Florida Juco Corbin Hoffner has signed. Isaac Garcez, a 30th round outfield masher has signed. And there is strong buzz that fifth round high school pitcher Daniel Prieto is going to sign soon. Ditto third rounder Ryan McNeil, and 11th rounder Rashad Crawford. When some of the formalities are in place, I’ll starting having official signing posts.
From Miami to SGF to a potential six-figure signing bonus. That was Pierce Johnson‘s Monday after the Missouri State righthanded pitcher was drafted in the supplemental round (43rd overall) by the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night.
Johnson and his MSU teammates left Miami Monday after the NCAA regional with just enough time arrive in SGF, crush some Chinese buffet and plant himself and about half his teammates in front of his apartment’s TV to watch the MLB Network’s coverage. He knew he better get settled in, because he wasn’t sure where he was headed.
Mock drafts and industry insiders couldn’t get a feel for where Johnson was going to land, either. Some reports had him as high as the 20s, but recently he was left out of first round mock drafts and ranked as low as 59th. The reason for the uncertainty? His health.
“I was getting calls all day from teams wanting to know how I felt,” Johnson said. “I told them I was ready to play.
“A lot of people don’t want to invest a lot of money into something they feel might be broken, and I understand that,” Johnson said. “But, after I took those two weeks off, I feel like I proved I am healthy.”
Johnson’s advisor (and soon-to-be-agent) told him he’d fall no lower than 43 to the Cubs, but that might have made his stomach feel worse. “It felt like every pick was an hour, even though it wasn’t.”
Then, right before the Cubs selected, his advisor called, asking him if he was ready to be a Cub. Then the pick came over the TV and the roomful of teammates exploded with jubilation. After the pick, the other half showed up and the celebration was on.
Johnson’s not sure what the next phase of his life is going to consist of – outside of a noon visit to TAG HQ (334. E. Walnut) Wednesday for another interview — but he said he just wants to get to the big leagues as soon as possible.
“Not going to be too picky about negotiations,” he said. “I just want to get out and play.”
Before Underwood, they called a different guy who wanted 20-40-slot money, and didn't take him. If they wouldn't sign other guy for that, I doubt they took Underwood expecting to pay that.
Ending up with the Cubs has likely made a lot of players sick....
On the contrary, most draft picks fail. If they can't make it with the Cubs, who CAN they make it with?
Where did you see that, and who was the prospect?
Sam Gillikin entered the MLB Draft with a number in mind. Gillikin and his family wanted to be drafted by a certain point, or he would honor his signing with Auburn.
He was almost taken No. 21 overall to the Atlanta Braves. It almost happened again with the Arizona Diamondbacks at No. 26 overall. Both instances Gillikin was told it was he or another prospect, both instances the other prospect was drafted.
On Tuesday morning, Gillikin, from Hoover H.S. (Ala.), had his mind made up. The first round and the first round supplemental had passed and he had decided he would attend Auburn.
But that's when a phone call came that almost changed everything.
The Chicago Cubs called Gillikin, they told him they wanted to select him with the No. 67 overall pick, an early second round selection. The slotted money for that selection was nearly $800,000. Gillikin was told he had 10 minutes to make a decision or the Cubs would move on.
Gillikin was about to make an incredibly tough call, with no time to spare.
"We all gathered around the table and everything got real emotional. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life," Gillikin said.
After a short deliberation, Gillikin had reached a verdict. He would turn down a deal...
that Gillikin was given only 10 minutes suggests there was a time urgency. If they called him 4 hours before the round started,that wouldn't have applied. Maybe that's a maneuvre; for guys who have asked for too much, maybe you put them on a short clock just to get it over with, or maybe to test their commitment and to try to pressure them into admitting they really do want to sign, I don't know. But assuming no mind games, it just sounds to me like they might have had a whole bunch of guys they called who weren't willing to sign at their price.
One thing I thought was borderline interesting is that it appears college money is paid directly by the club and doesn't come from an MLB pool set up. I was always under the impression for some reason that MLB had some type of pool set up by all 30 teams for drafted players.
Also, it looks like how much college is paid for is a negotiated thing, and it isn't an automatic given that the Cubs will pay for all of a player's education. Of course, it seems like the Cubs typically cover everything for college anyway based on most of the accounts we read, so that doesn't seem like a big issue.
I don't think we have a definitave answer on whether or not scholarship money counts against the slot.
That being said, if MLB covers all of a player's tuition even if they want to go to an out of state school or private school, I wonder what the incentive is for a player to turn down MLB and go to college instead. Except for experiencing college at a "normal" age instead of starting out at 22 or 25 years old and maybe/probably having more fun playing college baseball instead of practicing and playing baseball 8 hours a day in a place like Mesa in front of a dozen people, I'm not sure why players would choose college right away instead of getting a bonus along with college money from an MLB team.
JR, I believe it's negotiated case-by-case. In past, a kid would have to have the smarts to get that included in the package. But I think you can negotiate in whether it's $3K or it's Vanderbilt tuition or whatever. That's between the team and the player. The team is trying to add value to the deal to persuade the kid to sign; the kid is trying to get more value.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Former Missouri State pitcher Pierce Johnson officially signed with the Chicago Cubs Monday afternoon. The 6'3" 21-year old was selected 43rd overall in last weeks MLB amateur draft.
"I wanted to get out and play," said Johnson. "There wasn’t much negotiation to be done. We just needed to dot some I’s and cross some t’s.
Johnson will now undergo a team physical before being sent to the short season Boise Hawks.
"Once I get down there they'll give me a training routine," said Johnson, who is spending some time with his family in Arvado, Colorado. "Right now, we’re just both really excited and looking forward to the future."
Johnson plans to not make his signing bonus public.
I like the name "Pierce Johnson." It's not "Rock Shoulders" cool, but it's up there.
It sounds like a service offered at a tattoo parlor.
Patrick (Fort Wayne, In): Jim, did the Cubs draft Rhett Wiseman in the 25th round as a back up plan in case Almora is not signed? Or, do you think the Cubs will seriously consider signing Wiseman along with Almora? Can you give a sleeper pick in the Cub's draft?
Jim Callis: Not really, because if Almora doesn't sign, his $3.25 million disappears from their draft pool. That said, I don't see how Almora will turn down a bonus in the neighborhood of $3 million. I think Wiseman is a totally separate consideration, albeit one who fell because he's going to be a very tough sign. We don't know how much the Cubs will have to play with because they haven't officially signed any of their first 10 picks, but they might be able to scrape up $1 million and make a run at Wiseman if they want.
Dave (Chicago): Strength of the next years draft?
Jim Callis: I think it's comparable to the 2012 crop, which was below average. The college bats aren't anything special (again), and I don't see pitchers to rival the Appel/Gausman/Zimmer trio. There are some interesting high schoolers, but no one lights me up like Buxton, Correa or a healthy Giolito do.
Fifth-rounder Anthony Prieto signs for 200K. Plus we learn Frank Castillo is the Mesa pitching coach.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20853855/prieto-signs-cubs-200k?source=most_viewed
So here's how our draft budget is looking right now, assuming $10,000 bonuses for our college seniors in Rounds 8-10 and everyone else signs for slot.
Hopefully we'll find out Conway, Bruno, and maybe even Johnson signed for $50K or more below slot apiece.
Allowed 5% Overage - $396,665
5th Round Savings - $57,000
Possible 8th Round Savings - $128,800
Possible 9th Round Savings - $119,600
Possible 10th Round Savings - $115,000
Current Free Money to Spend - $817,095
I know JR has figured that Bruno was a good value BPA type pick, but it's looking like he too was an underslot signability guy. Might not mean he's no good, but it might not speak well to his scouting value.
Question: Are you getting exact dollars from a BA website or something? For subscribers?
[/size]Bonnell said he hasn’t decided whether to sign a pro deal or head to UNLV. The 6-5 right-hander went 7-1 with a 1.92 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 62 innings, while batting .548 with four home runs and 35 RBIs.Bonnell said the Cubs plan to monitor his progress this summer while he plays for the Utah Marshalls.“I’ll probably be making my decision close to or on July 13,” Bonnell said.Though he hasn't made a decision on his future, Bonnell said there would be many positives to playing at UNLV.[/size]"Going there, getting my degree and playing (Division I) baseball have always been goals," he said. "My education is first, to have that as a backup. Playing with a lot of guys from in town I've known all my life, it'd be fun to be a part of."[/l][/l]
JR into the booze early today.
Actually I imagine the Cubs would much rather have Almora than a couple of $400K superslots from the later rounds who really aren't worth that kind of money in the first place.
If they don't sign Almora, they're not allowed to spend the $3+ million for his slot on later picks. If they don't sign Almora, that money is lost from the budget.
If they don't sign Almora, not only do they lose his bonus pool amount, but they also lose the 5% overage attributable to his slot ($162,500).
If they don't sign Almora, not only do they lose his bonus pool amount, but they also lose the 5% overage attributable to his slot ($162,500).
“Pierce Johnson is somebody that we watched closely all year,” Epstein said. “We didn’t think we were going to have a chance at him. The little forearm strain that he had probably played to our advantage, because he doesn’t get out of the first round if he had stayed healthy the entire year.
“He threw great right before the draft and looked really healthy and we were real happy to be in a position to choose him. He’s got a plus fastball and gets swings-and-misses and groundballs with it, and has a plus breaking ball as well. He’s a real competitor on the mound.”
“Blackburn is a more advanced, sort of polished high school pitcher who also has a chance to have three average-to-above pitches.
If I understand the scouting reports on Almora, he sounds to me like a right handed Jim Edmonds. An outstanding center fielder even without outstanding speed, coupled with a 280 - 290 BA and 20 - 25 home runs per year. (Yes, he had some years above that, and some years below that.) A plus for Almora seems to be that he might be a fairly good base stealer.
But does he dive unnecessarily to catch balls?
I'm not sure I've ever heard anybody but Cub fans say that about Edmonds. Maybe that's just because Cub fans are so perceptive, and has nothing to do with a dislike for successful Cardinal players though.The phrase Bob Brenly used to describe Edmonds unnecessary dives was "he short legs the ball".
The phrase Bob Brenly used to describe Edmonds unnecessary dives was "he short legs the ball".
So he seems to profile more like Castro as a gifted contact guy with low-K-low-walk than like a high-K-high-walk Edmonds.
Pierce Johnson has officially signed.For the assigned pick value of $1.196mm
22nd-rounder Eduardo Orozco (1 K) - I'm assuming that's not a typo
I doubt it is a typo. College seniors taken that late usually get next to nothing except a chance to play.
Basically a guy like Orozco is taken just to help fill out a short season roster somewhere.
..Updated Draft Budget
Allowed 5% Overage - $396,665
....
Current Free Money to Spend - $878,865
craig, for some reason BA doesn't have Prieto's signing bonus up yet, and that's where the $57K difference is coming in. Otherwise, we're on the same page with BA....
Although you never know. Mark Grace was drafted in the 24th round.
Did Grace sign for a lot? Also, I believe he missed the first year entirely. Was he injured at the time of the draft?
Did Grace sign for a lot? Also, I believe he missed the first year entirely. Was he injured at the time of the draft?
I think that Grace was an overslot. He was a young 20-year-old junior. When he didn't go in the first ten rounds, the assumption was that he'd go back for his senior year. But over the summer the Cubs raised the offer and he decided to sign after all. Seems to me there may have been something else that factored; he was hurt that spring, and/or playing out of position? (He was hurt at the beginning, some other even slower guy took over at 1st, then when Grace came back he had to play LF or maybe even RF, or something?)
Three things I do know, he was 20 when drafted not 23 like Orozco; he was a young-junior draftee not a senior draftee like Orozco; and relative to inflation he signed for a lot more than Orozco's $1K.
Not to quibble, but Grace was 21 when he was drafted (born June 28, 1964). ....
Ron, I don't quite understand your non-quibble quibble. Wouldn't a guy with a June 28 birthday be a pre-drinking-age 20 if drafted in early June of 1985? Or am I struggling with my jesmath here or something? Or was the draft later in those days, in July or August instead of the early June that I know and remember?
Please explain how this entire debate relates to the 2012 draft. Isn't there a Cubs History topic?
Or am I struggling with my jesmath here or something?
So does anyone have a list of all the signees?
So does anyone have a list of all the signees?
I'll predict we'll give him an extra $200K to smooth things over with him and to help appease Boras some.
I get the feeling we won't go so far as $500K over. I bet Theo and McLeod are going to try to protect as much of their budget surplus as they can to try to splurge on some of their later picks, and they're going to play hardball on that front.
If I'm Theo, I tell Boras that he can sign for 200k over slot now and for as long as I have it. Past that, I will be using the surplus to pursue other picks. If I end up spending the entire surplus, even the 200k over I'm offering Almora, too bad so sad. At the very least I'll always have slot for Almora. If I'm unable to sign anyone else with the surplus, and Almora wants to risk losing the 200k over offer, I'm happy to give them the leftover surplus if there is any.
Summary, slot guaranteed. 200k surplus on the table as long as I have it. If he wants to **** on there being leftover surplus at the end of the day, fine, but the downside is he may lose the 200k over offer.
As soon as a couple clubs tell Boras to "take it or leave it", the MLBPA will scream Collusion III. And probably win.
19. Frandy de la Rosa, ss, Dominican Republic
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. B-T: B-R.
De la Rosa is a 16-year-old who lives in Boca Chica, plays in the Dominican Prospect League and trains with Valentin Monero. Like many players at the bottom of the Top 20 and below, de la Rosa does a few things that scouts like but brings question marks. Scouts like his ability to handle the bat as a switch-hitter. He has a simple, short swing and quick hands at the plate and has shown he can barrel balls up, but he's more of a line-drive hitter than much of a power threat right now.
His tools beyond the bat aren't as flashy. He's not quite an average runner and he doesn't have the range or arm for shortstop, though he's made strides with his arm and hands. Teams who like him see a potential offensive-oriented second baseman, but where he ends up playing in the field remains to be seen. The Cubs have been the team most prominently linked to de la Rosa, though the Astros and White Sox are also believed to have interest.
7. Luiz Gohara, lhp, Brazil Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 215. B-T: L-L.
It was 20 years ago that the Blue Jays signed Brazilian righthander Jose Pett for $700,000, at the time a record bonus for an international amateur. Gohara may be the most significant Brazilian prospect since Pett, who never reached the major leagues, and he played in Brazilian amateur national tournaments since he was 10. He represented his country at the 14-and-under Pan American championships two years ago and again last August at the 16-and-under World Championship in Mexico. Gohara was named the best pitcher at the event, where he threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings with one unearned run, three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Not every team has seen Gohara, who will be able to sign when he turns 16 on July 31, but those who have come away impressed. He threw in the high 80s at the World Championship, but scouts have since reported his fastball velocity ranging from 86-94 mph, with recent reports of him pitching at 89-90 and hitting 92. It's rare velocity for a 15-year-old lefty, and Gohara complements it with a slider that some scouts grade as a future plus offering. He's a physical pitcher and projects to be a large man. Some teams put a higher grade on Gohara than Castillo, but in general teams feel less certain about Gohara because so few of them do much coverage in Brazil.
The Cubs and Dodgers were in on Gohara at one point, but the Mariners, who are one of the few teams who have signed Brazilian players in recent years, look like the favorite. Seattle hasn't been tied to any other frontline prospects yet, and when the Mariners want a player, history shows they typically get their guy.
"There's dialogue, but there's nothing to report," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Saturday.
....
"We're optimistic," Hoyer said. "We've had dialogue, but beyond that, we're not going to characterize the discussions."
After the first game of the 2012 Prospect Classic ended in a 2-2 tie, the bats busted out in Game Two, but just for one side. Behind an eight-run second inning the Stars beat the Stripes 15-3 with 16 hits and seven walks. Oral Roberts infielder Jose Trevino led the barrage by going 2-for-3 with six RBIs and two runs scored. He doubled in the top of the second to open the scoring and followed with a grand slam in the fourth to make it 12-0.
Despite the outburst of offense, Arkansas righthander Ryne Stanek was one of the bigger highlights of the night. He pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four. The only trouble he found was in the second inning when he allowed a leadoff single, got two outs and then loaded the bases with a walk and fielder's choice. But he got Kentucky outfielder Austin Cousino to fly out to end the inning. He cruised through the third inning and was taken out in the fourth with two outs after walking a batter. He had thrown 59 pitches.
....
Stanek's stuff was electric. His fastball sat around 93 mph and he touched 95-96 a couple times. His slider was a swing-and-miss pitch in the mid 80s and he also mixed in a solid changeup in the low 80s. Former major league righthander and Cy Young winner Jack McDowell is working with the 18-and-under pitchers, but got a look at one of the top pitching prospects for 2013 and was impressed with what he saw.
"He's got electric stuff obviously and threw the ball great," McDowell said. "Lots of confidence, you can tell he has command mentally on top of having the stuff physically. How he handles himself out there is one thing I noticed today."
ABTY7
Underwood signed...
......
ABTY7
Apparently, deall is just north of slot... Hasn't been 'signed' yet but Underwood doing a physical soon...
despite offers that topped $200,000 from a starting point of $50,000, Amlung refused to sign in favor of returning to Louisville. He has essentially duplicated his performance this spring in going 8-3, 1.99 with 18 walks and 91 strikeouts in 90 innings. And by allowing just 58 hits, Amlung leads the Big East Conference in opponent batting average. In addition to being very difficult to square up, Amlung has an excellent feel for pitching and commands his 90-93 mph fastball, hard 78-79 slider and dynamite change extremely well in the bottom of the strike zone. An unconventional arm action adds to his deception.
In addition to McNeil, the list of new Cubs signees includes right-handed pitcher Trey Lang (sixth round), right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung (12th round) and infielder David Bote (18th round).
High MLB draft picks sign for $1,000 apiece
Updated: July 4, 2012, 2:31 PM ET
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Signing bonuses have dropped for first-round picks in this year's amateur draft, the first under restrictive rules in baseball's new collective bargaining agreement.
Twenty-two of the 31 first-round picks last month already have signed, and their bonuses total $51.8 million, according to a review by The Associated Press. Last year, 32 of the 33 first-round selections signed for a total of $91.6 million in guaranteed money.
Because teams face penalties for exceeding specified thresholds for picks in the first 10 rounds, clubs drafted players they could sign on the cheap in order to shift the allocated money to other picks.
University of Portland pitcher Kyle Kraus, taken by Boston in the seventh round with the 241st pick, signed for $1,000.
As usual, there are lies, damn lies and statistics. The averages compared are apples and oranges - all the signed picks last year versus the signed picks with ten days to go this year. Almora and Appel, among others, will raise the 2012 average if or when they sign. While I expect the final average will be a bit lower, it probably won't be much lower. Most if not all of the difference will be due to the one or two mega-contracts at the top of the 2011 draft.
$51.8/22 = $2.35My point in posting those averages was to show how misleading the numbers from the article were unless you did a little work. I try to avoid lengthy posts assuming most everybody is looking at the subject the same way as I am. In this case, I was both right and wrong.
$91.6/32 = $2.86
Next week I will officially be a Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs Organization #gocubs[/q]
Where did we lose so much of our surplus? Weren't we at nearly a million under budget?
I'm a bit mystified at Boras here. At this point shouldn't it be clear to within a few dollars just what the Cubs offer is allowed to be? What's the point in dragging this out?
Originally Posted by ABTY7
Almora coming to Chicago mid week...expect post All Star announcement...
Originally Posted by ABTY7
Deals done, awaiting physical which won't be done in time to beat MLB AS moratorium...
Almora's bonus exceeded the assigned value for the No. 6 pick by $650,000, leaving the Cubs $373,800 above their $7,933,900 bonus pool for the first 10 rounds. They'll pay a 75-percent tax on the overage as a penalty under the new draft rules, a bill that will come to $280,350.
he says nobody he knows thinks signing with the Cubs is a good idea.
The Cubs have signed all of their first 18 draft picks. I'm not sure I remember that ever happening.
Does anyone know if we have any excess cap money left?
I think teams should be obligated to offer at least slot to top picks in this new system. Heaney is getting hosed.
...Can someone be signed as a free agent out of an independent league? Cause if I'm a truly once-in-generation position player prospect, and I can circumvent the draft by going Indy for a year after high school, I'd do that and thumb my nose at the $7 mil max bonus. Create a situation where I'm a FA and let the bidding begin.
It's all so crazy. The Nationals are thrilled right now that they had the chance to hand out 8 figure contracts/bonuses to Harper and Strasburg. In terms of present market value for wins, they will easily out-produce their draft earnings and be some of the most efficient commodities in baseball, in terms of production per dollar, barring injury. Even with injury, the Nats have already recouped their investment in Strasburg, an will do so within a couple months on Harper.
Bryan Bonnell @Bonnell11
I **** up! :((( #draft
Regrets for not signing?
I think teams should be obligated to offer at least slot to top picks in this new system. Heaney is getting hosed.
Didn't Harrington end up with the Cubs for a little bit?
Harrington is probably the guy, although it seems like there was another one, too. One with a funky name. Maybe earlier.
Matt Harrington? I've been trying to think of it too. Believe he was drafted and signed by the Rockies for much less than what he could have signed for the first time he was drafted. Never did anything.You men Costco Boy
The results of our poll thus far are overwhelming. 87% of our readers want the Cubs to take a college pitcher, whether it be Mark Appel, Ryan Stanek, or Sean Manaea.
It seems like a no-brainer. The Cubs need pitching. Soon. They need impact talent on the mound in their organization. I'm one of those guys on board with taking a pitcher with their first round pick (#2 overall).
But it seems to me that if someone like outfielders Austin Wilson, Austin Meadows, and/or Clint Frazier (pictured above) show greater long term impact potential, the Cubs will have to think long and hard about selecting them rather than stretching to fill a need. Though it is the strength of the draft, there really are no "can't miss" prospects among the starting pitchers. The Cubs will have to decide if there is a potential Justin Verlander (who was no sure thing) in the group. If not, maybe they'll have to look to fill their starting pitching needs elsewhere and just take the best available player.
Craig, I doubt many big college programs have schedules that have pitchers throwing once a week. Most colleges have 5 and 6 games schedules per week,That may be true during the non-conference portion of their schedule. The PAC-12, if it is typical, plays conference games Friday through Sunday.
This guy could be decent:
http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=318511