MOD II: Cubs

by Ian Miller on May 25, 2006 2:42 PM EDT

Any more comments on the Cubs first round pick? I'd like to narrow it down to about five or six guys. Right now I'm looking at:

Clayton Kershaw
Brandon Morrow
Max Scherzer
Luke Hochevar
Drew Stubbs
Kyle Drabek
Bill Rowell
Daniel Bard
Travis Snider
Brett Anderson
Matt LaPorta
Chris Marrero
Hank Conger

I'm assuming that Longoria, Lincoln, Miller and Lincecum are locks to be taken before the Cubs pick. It's also probable that at least two or three of the guys on my list will also be gone by that point.

Any thoughts? I'm completely open to suggestion on the fifth round pick, as well.

Also, I still need a deputy.

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The 13 pick

Full disclosure - I am the Mock Scouting Director for the Kansas City Royals.

That said, if Hockevar does not sign with Los Angeles in these waning moments, and if he somehow miraculously slips to No. 13, he becomes the biggest no-brainer selection imaginable.

You have some players listed we would never consider at 13 (Conger, Drabek), and a couple that will probably not slip that far (Morrow, Rowell but have left off a couple we would consider at this spot -- the first is Matt Antonelli, 3b, Wake Forest, who presently projects in most corners as a mid-teen selection, and the other is UCLA LHP David Huff, who for reasons we have trouble verbalizing strikes us as a potential mid-to-late first rounder that will surprise everyone. Huff is probably early at No. 13, but you have to at least consider him here.

by C @ Minor League Ball on May 25, 2006 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

thanks for the reply

Is there a reason you would "never consider" Drabek at 13? Both Baseball America(12) and Brewerfan(4) have him rated pretty high, and BA goes so far as to say that there isn't a more gifted player in the entire draft, saying that he would be a surefire first rounder as a pitcher or position player. Is there something I'm not aware of?

Antonelli is one of several guys that I like, but have small concerns about, and couldn't see myself taking before the players I already have listed. There seems to be some doubt about how much power he'll hit for(similar to another third baseman I like but didn't include on my list, Wes Hodges). He is on my radar, though.

Huff for me is a lot like Kyle McCulloch of Texas. A "safe" pick without a big upside talent-wise. There's not much of a reason to take a guy like that in the top half of the first round of a mock draft when signability isn't a factor.

by Ian Miller on May 26, 2006 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions

dont draft

mcculloch, antonelli, huff or drabek.

by Ienpw on May 26, 2006 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions

oh and

hodges has fallen some this spring. He's #52 on BAs top 200 draft prospects. They said this on him as well as other things:

Hodges has outstanding eye-hand coordination and makes consistent contact. He has shown above-average bat speed in the past, though it wasn't as impressive this season. He doesn't project to hit for considerable power, yet he has a penchant for finding holes and has a good hitter's mentality, with good plate discipline and pitch recognition. He's a below-average runner. He has shown above-average arm strength in the past, but many of his throws lacked carry this spring.

If you want to take an impact arm, go with a guy with a high potential like Daniel Bard, but I'd stay away from Huff and Drabek (too many external issues with him and we cant take too big of a risk with only one pick in the first few rounds)

by Ienpw on May 26, 2006 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions

re:

I wasn't planning on taking Hodges(hence his absence from my list), but you make a good point about Drabek. With no second, third, or fourth round pick, taking a high school pitcher becomes an enormous risk.

Bard has been fairly underwhelming this year, but I do like his stuff.

by Ian Miller on May 26, 2006 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

On Drabek

Drabek indeed is very talented and has some projectable skills, but there are questions about his make-up and maturity and at No. 13, those questions would scare me.

I have no first-hand information and obviously there are people watching young Drabek closely who are in a better position to decide whether he is the right man for them. But based on the questions that are being asked, I believe there are better choices at No. 13.

by C @ Minor League Ball on May 28, 2006 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Well...

Without a second round pick and the 13th pick of the draft...my dream of Cory Rasmus becoming a Cub is done.

Just knowing we don't have a second to fourth round pick and the farm system has gone to sh*t is disgusting. This team is going nowhere.

I do like the 3B from NJ, and if Drabek is there I say we take him.

by SenorGato88 on May 27, 2006 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

wow

Oh really?

Matt Murton
Ronny Cedeno
Sean Marshall
Felix Pie
Eric Patterson
Carlos Marmol
Sean Gallagher
Donald Veal
Scott Moore
Luis Montanez
Mark Pawalek

That's alot of sh*t, isn't it? I'm guessing you're giving up on Rich Hill, Angel Guzman and Ryu already too. I guess every team has 3 rookies starting and doing well. Looks like a good system to me ...

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

by WayneCampbell05 on May 28, 2006 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions