Comments on: Draft Reviews: Chicago Cubs http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/draft-reviews-chicago-cubs/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:36:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eliyahu http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/draft-reviews-chicago-cubs/#comment-77776 Eliyahu Thu, 28 May 2009 11:00:08 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5110#comment-77776 Another point: Moustakas was actually a shortstop in high school, so it's a bit misleading to say that Vitters was the second of three third basemen taken. In fact, I believe that Dominguez and Moustakas were on the same high school team. Another point: Moustakas was actually a shortstop in high school, so it’s a bit misleading to say that Vitters was the second of three third basemen taken. In fact, I believe that Dominguez and Moustakas were on the same high school team.

]]> By: DavidCEisen http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/draft-reviews-chicago-cubs/#comment-77714 DavidCEisen Wed, 27 May 2009 23:22:29 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5110#comment-77714 It's also interesting that they were born on back-to-back days (8/27 & 8/28). Doesn't mean anything, but kind of interesting in a human interest story way. It’s also interesting that they were born on back-to-back days (8/27 & 8/28). Doesn’t mean anything, but kind of interesting in a human interest story way.

]]> By: battlekow http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/draft-reviews-chicago-cubs/#comment-77702 battlekow Wed, 27 May 2009 22:02:34 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5110#comment-77702 It's worth noting that Vitters and Dominguez are almost a year younger than Moustakas despite all being prep players from the same draft. So, while Vitters may be behind Moustakas, he's still young for the MWL (five months older than Brett Lawrie). It's Dominguez that's really ahead of the pace, though he's struggling badly in the FSL. It’s worth noting that Vitters and Dominguez are almost a year younger than Moustakas despite all being prep players from the same draft. So, while Vitters may be behind Moustakas, he’s still young for the MWL (five months older than Brett Lawrie). It’s Dominguez that’s really ahead of the pace, though he’s struggling badly in the FSL.

]]> By: Tony http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/draft-reviews-chicago-cubs/#comment-77701 Tony Wed, 27 May 2009 21:58:51 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5110#comment-77701 Oh, one guy I would watch draft wise would be Alex Wilson. Cubs drafted him in the 10th round last year, but didn't get him signed. Wilken follows his guys and repeats picks (Cashner, Marquez Smith come to mind), and for the most part, Wilson seems to have had a solid year. I know few have him as a late first round option, and more of a sandwich option, but at that point, I wouldn't be stunned if the Cubs took a guy they liked over if it's only a few slots difference. Oh, one guy I would watch draft wise would be Alex Wilson. Cubs drafted him in the 10th round last year, but didn’t get him signed. Wilken follows his guys and repeats picks (Cashner, Marquez Smith come to mind), and for the most part, Wilson seems to have had a solid year. I know few have him as a late first round option, and more of a sandwich option, but at that point, I wouldn’t be stunned if the Cubs took a guy they liked over if it’s only a few slots difference.

]]> By: Tony http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/draft-reviews-chicago-cubs/#comment-77700 Tony Wed, 27 May 2009 21:51:15 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5110#comment-77700 I'm curious how Brandon Guyer is the worst pick from the 2007 draft? He's struggled badly in AA, and the Cubs might've been better off sending him to Daytona and slowly working him up, but he was productive in Peoria last year, ARL wasn't bad, and was looked at as a possible breakout candidate this year. It hasn't happened yet, and it may not happen, but considering the attrition rates, I honestly don't see what the justification is behind naming him the worst pick from 2007 outside of a kneejerk reaction to his struggles this year. He's a typical Wilken tools pick, a mid-round gamble hoping for the best. As for Colvin, one thing to remember is that, twas the night before the draft, most reports suggested he'd be a first rounder (IIRC, White Sox were linked to him). Cubs just took him a half-round earlier than expected, as Wilken had said in interviews that he just didn't trust some of the options there. Another note is that he was rehabbing this year, not really demoted to double A. He did finish last year strong. That said, that's sugercoating it. He's had enough time in Daytona that he should be raking in Daytona. He had an injury that knocked him out a few games and all the postponements didn't help, but at some point, you've got to get it going a bit. I still don't know if I buy Cashner as a starter, but he did have an excellent outing the other night. In terms of this upcoming draft, my gut feeling says it'll be closer to 2007 than 2008. We went heavy on arms in 08, and in 07, we went positional. That said, I think the first round pick would likely be a BPA nod. What the club needs is power, arms and hitting. We're starting to see some arm depth develop in the Cubs system, with Jay Jackson, Casey Coleman, Dan McDaniel, Ryan Searle (all 4 were also aggressively pushed), but more could be used. Positionally, I'm hardpressed to call 3rd base a strength, as there's really only Vitters and questions. I really like Jovan Rosa, but he's likely a first baseman, and has been in slump to start the year. C is alright, with Soto in the bigs and Clevenger at AAA. Castillo has tools and is at AA, Flores was a pick last year in High A, and Brenly is in Low A. 2nd base is pretty deep in options system wise, with Tony Thomas, Ryan Flaherty, Junior Lake, Dwayne Kemp, Josh Harrison, Jake Opitz. SS is a bit weaker, but Darwin Barney has been excellent in AA this year, and Starlin Castro has been solid in Daytona after a 3 level jump. Hak-ju Lee and a couple other assets in XST hold some intrigue. OF could use more upside talent, as there's too many Jim Adduci's and Ty Wright's in the mix. Guyer and Rundle have struggled. Burke has finally had a good season, but let's see him do it a level higher. At first, Rebel Ridling has a great name, but has been up and down this year, and Jovan Rosa has to get his bat going. Jericho Jones is an OF/1st mix that could be a factor later in the year. I’m curious how Brandon Guyer is the worst pick from the 2007 draft? He’s struggled badly in AA, and the Cubs might’ve been better off sending him to Daytona and slowly working him up, but he was productive in Peoria last year, ARL wasn’t bad, and was looked at as a possible breakout candidate this year. It hasn’t happened yet, and it may not happen, but considering the attrition rates, I honestly don’t see what the justification is behind naming him the worst pick from 2007 outside of a kneejerk reaction to his struggles this year. He’s a typical Wilken tools pick, a mid-round gamble hoping for the best.

As for Colvin, one thing to remember is that, twas the night before the draft, most reports suggested he’d be a first rounder (IIRC, White Sox were linked to him). Cubs just took him a half-round earlier than expected, as Wilken had said in interviews that he just didn’t trust some of the options there. Another note is that he was rehabbing this year, not really demoted to double A. He did finish last year strong. That said, that’s sugercoating it. He’s had enough time in Daytona that he should be raking in Daytona. He had an injury that knocked him out a few games and all the postponements didn’t help, but at some point, you’ve got to get it going a bit.

I still don’t know if I buy Cashner as a starter, but he did have an excellent outing the other night.

In terms of this upcoming draft, my gut feeling says it’ll be closer to 2007 than 2008. We went heavy on arms in 08, and in 07, we went positional. That said, I think the first round pick would likely be a BPA nod. What the club needs is power, arms and hitting. We’re starting to see some arm depth develop in the Cubs system, with Jay Jackson, Casey Coleman, Dan McDaniel, Ryan Searle (all 4 were also aggressively pushed), but more could be used. Positionally, I’m hardpressed to call 3rd base a strength, as there’s really only Vitters and questions. I really like Jovan Rosa, but he’s likely a first baseman, and has been in slump to start the year. C is alright, with Soto in the bigs and Clevenger at AAA. Castillo has tools and is at AA, Flores was a pick last year in High A, and Brenly is in Low A. 2nd base is pretty deep in options system wise, with Tony Thomas, Ryan Flaherty, Junior Lake, Dwayne Kemp, Josh Harrison, Jake Opitz. SS is a bit weaker, but Darwin Barney has been excellent in AA this year, and Starlin Castro has been solid in Daytona after a 3 level jump. Hak-ju Lee and a couple other assets in XST hold some intrigue. OF could use more upside talent, as there’s too many Jim Adduci’s and Ty Wright’s in the mix. Guyer and Rundle have struggled. Burke has finally had a good season, but let’s see him do it a level higher. At first, Rebel Ridling has a great name, but has been up and down this year, and Jovan Rosa has to get his bat going. Jericho Jones is an OF/1st mix that could be a factor later in the year.

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