Cubs draft

[hawkfarmer]

The cubs used their first round pick on a RHP from Southern Arkansas (or something like that) and many people were left scratching their heads at what some thought was a 5th rounder (so it was said). He can throw in upper 90's and has a good slider and 12-6 curve. The slider is reportedly his best pitch. Called a mix of Oswalt and Lincecum.

Hopefully the cubs found a diamond in the rough, or maybe they wasted the pick. Hopefully it's the first.

 

[CubHawk1237]

Grabbing a guy in the middle of the first round when he would have still been available in the 4th round is something the Oakland Raiders do. Is Al Davis in charge of our draft this year?

 

[hawkfarmer]

Grabbing a guy in the middle of the first round when he would have still been available in the 4th round is something the Oakland Raiders do. Is Al Davis in charge of our draft this year?

Haha hope not. One difference is there are 700 rounds in baseball instead of 7, but still I think there was probably a bigger need out there. They said they think he can get through the system quickly, let's hope that it isn't too fast like Prior and then they use his arm up in 2 years.

 

[CubHawk1237]

I will say that Tim Wilken seems to know what he's doing in the draft. People thought he was reaching when Colvin was picked in 2006, and that pick looks genious now. Cashner was a late first rounder and he sky-rocketed through the system and looks like the real deal.

Wilken's first round picks so far in his 5 season with the Cubs...

2006 - Colvin
2007 - Vitters
2008 - Cashner
2009 - Brett Jackson
2010 - Simpson

Colvin and Cashner look likey they should be solid major leaguers, and the book is still out on Vitters. He has the talent, but seems really streaky and hasn't improved on his plate discipline. Brett Jackson was the 31st overall pick in last years draft and is having a pretty decent year in Daytona (A ball).

 

[hawkfarmer]

I will say that Tim Wilken seems to know what he's doing in the draft. People thought he was reaching when Colvin was picked two years ago, and that pick looks genious now. Cashner was a late first rounder and he sky-rocketed through the system and looks like the real deal.

Agreed. I am hoping they can find a 3B that is solid this year and be the back up plan if Vitters doesn't pan out

 

[hawkfarmer]

Cubs take high risk high reward highschool CF in 2nd Round. He's talented but a project. Here's to you those who wanted the cubs to take a chance on a young gun. Hope he works out even though they took a CF last year I believe.

 

[CubHawk1237]

Hawkfarmer, Question for you....

Do you fear that we'll make a little run before the trade deadline and trade someone like Colvin or Cashner for a veteran player with little left in the tank? This is my biggest fear. I want this team to get back into contention like you wouldn't believe, but I don't want to give up any young talent on the team. I don't trust Hendry at all.

 

[hawkfarmer]

Just took a switch hitting Catcher from LSU. Sounds like nobody thinks he's an everyday bat, but is good behind the plate.

 

[hawkfarmer]

Hawkfarmer, Question for you....

Do you fear that we'll make a little run before the trade deadline and trade someone like Colvin or Cashner for a veteran player with little left in the tank? This is my biggest fear. I want this team to get back into contention like you wouldn't believe, but I don't want to give up any young talent on the team. I don't trust Hendry at all.

I don't see Cashner going anywhere, but with the contracts in the outfield I could see Colvin getting traded, which though would be poor judgement in my opinion, I think we could deal with that better than Cashner. I don't realalistically think that the Cubs will make a run, they've been way to inconsistent to even try to make a run. I'm honestly hoping that if they don't make a run soon they just sink to the bottom and cna move some pieces to make room for a good acquisition and some young guys.

I also think Hendry has less control and Ricketts more than before, so a little more restraint may be used this go around.

 

[CubHawk1237]

Just took a switch hitting Catcher from LSU. Sounds like nobody thinks he's an everyday bat, but is good behind the plate.

Lot of LSU kids on the roster/in the system. Theriot, Fontenot on the big league team. LeMahieu at Daytona and now the Gibbs kid. There could be more, but these are the ones off the top of my head.

 

[CubHawk1237]

I don't see Cashner going anywhere, but with the contracts in the outfield I could see Colvin getting traded, which though would be poor judgement in my opinion, I think we could deal with that better than Cashner. I don't realalistically think that the Cubs will make a run, they've been way to inconsistent to even try to make a run. I'm honestly hoping that if they don't make a run soon they just sink to the bottom and cna move some pieces to make room for a good acquisition and some young guys.

I also think Hendry has less control and Ricketts more than before, so a little more restraint may be used this go around.

I agree. I hate saying it, but I would rather plummet to the bottom of the standings than hang around the 3 to 6 games unde .500 mark. Hovering around the .500 mark would make us less likely to deal away veterans on the team. We would have to seriously look at unloading guys like Lee, Fukudome and Zambrano if we fall apart and I would like to see this get done either way.

 

[hawkfarmer]

I agree. I hate saying it, but I would rather plummet to the bottom of the standings than hang around the 3 to 6 games unde .500 mark. Hovering around the .500 mark would make us less likely to deal away veterans on the team. We would have to seriously look at unloading guys like Lee, Fukudome and Zambrano if we fall apart and I would like to see this get done either way.

Agreed. This team is in need of major retooling. I think you keep Lee this year and bring up someone to play a little since his contract is up at the end of the season. I think Z and Soriano will be put on the block, but they have no trade clauses. I'd like to see Fuk gone to but he has a no trade and said he only wants to play for the cubs, but at least he only has one year left on his deal after this one.
I like our bullpen and I could see Silva getting traded since he is high value right now. I'd be ok with that since his contract is large and transpiring in a year or two. I think he could bring high prospects back from a team in serious contention for this year!

I think Grabow could get traded since he's a vet and our young guys are better anyway.

 

[JHHawk]

In todays Suntimes,they quoted Baseball America as having this cubs pick rated as the 191st pitching prospect....ouch. Meanwhile,Baseball America had Chris Sales,sox 1st pick, as the #4 overall prospect....and #2 pitcher...with their #13 pick in the first round...all good.

 

[MSGT1]

Hawkfarmer, Question for you....

Do you fear that we'll make a little run before the trade deadline and trade someone like Colvin or Cashner for a veteran player with little left in the tank? This is my biggest fear. I want this team to get back into contention like you wouldn't believe, but I don't want to give up any young talent on the team. I don't trust Hendry at all.

I'm not going to try to claim that either of those guys are the savior of the franchise, because they're not. However, if Hendry trades either of them to try to save this crappy season, he shouldn't be fired, he should be shot.

I'd add about 20 names in their system to that also. They may not have any guys that are going to be stars, but they have a few that can very easily be productive, everyday players. They need to hold onto those guys and quit trying to keep a window open that has been getting tiny for the last year and a half.

They keep those guys, they have a good base to build around in a couple of years when a bunch of their bad contracts are gone. Use it to pick up an FA or two (Fielder or Gonzalez, to start with) over the next couple of offseasons, make a trade or two once you see what the young guys can do and you have a window open again that will stay open for a few years, instead of one or two. And your doing it with a good mix of vets and young guys, instead of a bunch of past their prime players that are expensive and not as good as they were 3 years ago.

Oh, and as I mentioned in a different thread, quit signing FA relievers.