**OFFICIAL CUBS REGULAR SEASON THREAD**

Other 2 picks were both pitchers.

Pierce Johnson was listed as the 38th best prospect on mlb.com, solid value selection for a sandwich pick. The Cubs did reach a little for Paul Blackburn but he is a high school pitcher that may end up with a higher upside than Johnson.

Good write ups here: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/#list=draft

Pierce Johnson
Rank: 38
Missouri St., Junior
Height: 6'3", Weight: 180
Position: RHP
DOB: 05/10/1991
Bats: R, Throws: R
Previous: '09, 15th (469), TB
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.
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Paul Blackburn
Rank: 69
Heritage HS (Calif.), Senior
Height: 6'2", Weight: 180
Position: RHP
DOB: 12/4/1993
Bats: R, Throws: R
Commitment: Arizona State
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.
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Cubs draft has been all pitching up until the 7th round. They picked up Stephen Bruno a third baseman from Virginia, bats righthanded. He only hit 9 career home runs (6 last season) but hits for high average and hit for a bunch of doubles (23) which could mean his power is still under development.

I got glossy eyed at all the pitchers, I did not bother researching them. Interesting pick in the 4th round at #134 they picked up a JC pitcher named Josh Conway. He would have been a 1st or 2nd round pick but hurt his elbow and had to have Tommy John surgery. So he will need time to rehab even before playing in the minors. In the 2nd round they got another high school player, Duane Underwood, who throws in the mid 90s. They went with HS pitchers in both the 3rd and 5th round as well. Drafting all these high school players shows the Cubs are building for years down the road and not drafting anybody that can help them soon. College players can be ready in a couple of years while HS players, especially pitchers, usually take 4 or 5 years.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Cubs pick Almora talking about college - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago

Almora, though the sixth pick, may still be headed to college
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No way, I heard that interview and Boras prepped him well. If he is so intent on going to Miami then why was he so ecstatic the Cubs drafted him? It is the oldest trick in the book, you threaten to go to college to get more money out of the team that drafted you. He would be stupid to pass up the millions, go to college, and risk it all. When you read stuff like this just remember who his agent is.
 
sorry for the "cool story brah" moment here, but my wife surprised me with tickets to last night's game in Milwaukee as an early Father's Day gift. we were already vacationing in the Dells so it was a two hour drive or so there. Just wanted to say if you get a chance to see a game at Miller Park, do it. It's a great park and not a bad seat. Even better when the Cubs drop a ten spot on the home team with three homeruns and a shutout. Great win last night, and good to see Dempster get his first win finally!
 
MikeDog70 said:
sorry for the "cool story brah" moment here, but my wife surprised me with tickets to last night's game in Milwaukee as an early Father's Day gift. we were already vacationing in the Dells so it was a two hour drive or so there. Just wanted to say if you get a chance to see a game at Miller Park, do it. It's a great park and not a bad seat. Even better when the Cubs drop a ten spot on the home team with three homeruns and a shutout. Great win last night, and good to see Dempster get his first win finally!
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That is a great park ever since I went three years ago I always try to get back at least once a year.
 
Here is a list in order of 5 players I wouldn't trade if I were the cubs:

1. Samardzija
2. Russel
3. Clevenger
4. Rizzo
5. Jackson

Everyone else, if the deal was right, I wouldn't mind if they were traded.
 
hawkfarmer said:
Here is a list in order of 5 players I wouldn't trade if I were the cubs: 1. Samardzija2. Russel3. Clevenger4. Rizzo5. Jackson Everyone else, if the deal was right, I wouldn't mind if they were traded.
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I know many would disagree but I would add Castro and Lahair to the list.
 
BlckNGldHwk said:
I know many would disagree but I would add Castro and Lahair to the list.
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Here are the reasons I left Castro off the list. To me it seems like Sveum is getting frustrated with him. Is he a good hitter, yes, but that is because he gets a lot of hits, not because his average is that great. Also his OBP is not good at all compared to his average. Now I know he is 22 and still learning but his plate discipline is bad, his defense is not good, and he has mental lapses more than any MLB player should. Could he turn into a star and improve in these areas, absolutely, but I think if you get the right deal for him, which would bring in 2 or 3 really good prospects you need to think about it for sure. Also, eventually he will be expensive and tough to keep without a big contract, and that may be before the cubs are ready to be contenders. Just my thoughts.

On LaHair, I like his power, though he has slowed down a bit. I think the cubs way does not include a big outfielder that may be a defensive liability. I think the cubs want more DeJesus/Jackson type outfielders than Carlos Lees. I don't know what his value is to anyone else, but if you can get a decent propsect I think you trade him, especially since we know his time at 1B is limited to Rizzo's appearance in Chicago.
 
I heard a stat the other day: Of plays that "could, or should be made" and WERE NOT, in the last two years, Castro leads the league by over 30. No one is really even close. His OBP is awful.

I think the Cubs trade him. JMO.
 
man what happened to all the guys that got mad when i said castro was overrated. move him to 2B and he becomes more capable and even could be put on the no trade side but as a SS he is not that good. he is a 1 or 2 hitter at best and him being put in the 3 hole was a joke.
 
Foval21 said:
man what happened to all the guys that got mad when i said castro was overrated. move him to 2B and he becomes more capable and even could be put on the no trade side but as a SS he is not that good. he is a 1 or 2 hitter at best and him being put in the 3 hole was a joke.
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3 hole is a joke because he doesn't hit for power.

1 hole is a joke because he doesn't get on base.

2 hole is where he has to hit - and that is stretching it.

His OBP is about the same as his batting average. I'd put him in the 5 hole, to be honest.
 
Hawkeye11en1 said:
I heard a stat the other day: Of plays that "could, or should be made" and WERE NOT, in the last two years, Castro leads the league by over 30. No one is really even close. His OBP is awful.

I think the Cubs trade him. JMO.
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Read that too. It is sad that he is the hope/foundation of this rebuilding, that is why I think he needs to go honestly.
 
With Castro only being 22 he can still develop into a quality 2nd or SS, he is a good hitter for those positions and is still developing. It would take an overwhelming offer for me to trade Castro.

LaHair is not untradeable but I don't know if the Cubs can get enough in return for him to justify trading someone you control for a long time and is a left handed power hitter. Yeah Rizzo looks really good in Iowa but he still has to prove he can perform at the big league level.
 
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