BA - Cubs Skimping Out??

by metafour on Jun 5, 2007 11:16 PM EDT

I seriously doubt this happens, but in today's BA Draft Tracker they mention that Cubs GM Jim Hendry was at Virginia's regional this week to check out 1B/LHP Sean Doolittle with the possibility of, get this,...drafting him 3rd overall. They mention that new ownership could perhaps be "tightening the purse strings in Chicago" which could push them to make a signability pick at number 3 overall.

Like I said; I seriously doubt this happens, but does any Chicago fan think that this may be something to look at? I doubt BA would just throw that in there for jokes, but the Cubs cant seriously be thinking about this...can they? If this happened would this be possibly the biggest reach in a LONG time? Doolittle is a fringe first rounder and this would surely trump the Padres taking Bush 1st overall a few years back (Bush was still considered a top 10 - top 15 talent).

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Only the Cubs

The GM knows he's done at the end of the year so why not screw the next GM in line with a horrific reach.

by Bravesin07 on Jun 5, 2007 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

Quiet You

He'd be the biggest moron this side of you if that is his thinking. Why would any team hire him after this year if he's fired, if he did something like that, huh?

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 5, 2007 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

hire him

if he said that ownership forced him to take the guy, what is another team going to say?

by fewgoodcards on Jun 5, 2007 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

FGC

I was commenting on Braves incredible statement that Hendry would deliberately tank the Cubs' draft this year. That really pissed me off because he's probably one of the most honest and forthright GMs out there. Probably too honest for his own good. Not to mention and insanely hard worker. Mahalo

Matt

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 5, 2007 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Honest

Maybe, but he's also one of the worst, so he may be tanking it, just not on purpose!

by DrBGiantsfan on Jun 5, 2007 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

I thought that possibility was better left unsaid. ;) Mahalo

Matt

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 5, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

samardijza

maybe ownership wasn't too thrilled with the samardijza deal last year and told them they can't spend any money?

anyway, if you are going to make a signability pick, why don't you just take casey weathers? everyone projects him as a first rounder, and he is a college senior so he has no leverage and has to sign for whatever you offer him. if you are being forced to save money, at least take a guy with a high 90's fastball and a nasty slider.

by fewgoodcards on Jun 5, 2007 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

Another Possibility

Is the usual pre-draft misdirection and lying to the media to mask their true intentions. Nobody saw the Colvin pick last year, did they? Oh and another thing Bravesin07, Hendry doesn't make the picks, Tim Wilkens does. And as far as I know, Tim still has full autonomy when it comes to the draft. Mahalo

Matt

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 5, 2007 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Full Autonomy?

That is a very naive comment. Who hires and fires the scouting director? If Hendry has no input, then whattheheck was Hendry doing hanging around a college game? He just loves watching baseball so much?

by DrBGiantsfan on Jun 5, 2007 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Clarification

Well, I didn't mean to imply that had no input into the decision whatsoever. I believe Tim will take Hendry's opinions into account when he makes the pick. I also believe that since Hendry was a Scouting Director previously, he won't force his current SD into taking the guy he wants if it's different from Tim's.

Granted I've been out of the loop for the last week losing alot of money in Vegas but based on their previous interviews talking about their working relationship, I feel Hendry will let Wilkens choose whoever Tim feels will be the best player for the Cubs to take. Mahalo

Matt

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 5, 2007 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I Wouldn't Be Surprised

They took Colvin last year to much criticism, right?

by DrBGiantsfan on Jun 5, 2007 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

I Thought they May Be Conservative

When I heard they were strongly considering Parker. Still, Parker is a HS kid who I don't think is a Boras client - seems like he would be a smarter cheap pick.

Phillip Hughes turning into Barbaro? Odds are that Hughes will probably be put to sleep within the next year. --Bravesin08

by Dfarth on Jun 5, 2007 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

I don't have any comment on your comment. I just loved your sig. :) Mahalo

Matt

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 5, 2007 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

This is COMPLETE hogwash...

...they could easily go with a signability guy who is still a top 15 guy like Aumont etc.

I would personally like to thank Dave Littlefield for banishing the ghost of Scott Kazmir from Shea Stadium.

by uga007 on Jun 5, 2007 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

you know,

i wish there was some way i could be outside playing basketball in the rain and not get wet. now wouldn't that be great?

by wily mo on Jun 5, 2007 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

Actually,

I don't. :) Another thing is that they were spending big money on Huseby and another post-10th round pick as well as the Shark so I think it's highly doubtful they'll go cheapo just one year later. Mahalo

Matt

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

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 6, 2007 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

It is interesting that

Jon Mayo also noted Doolittle's climb by putting him to Oakland in round 1, and noting he could go top 10. Maybe Doolittle is climbing. There is a lot to like.

That said, personally, I wouldn't think Sean Doolittle was a top 20 pick. Outside top 20, okay, I'm fine with that. Top 20 just seems to be a big projection on the bat succeeding and developing some more.

by toonsterwu on Jun 6, 2007 2:04 AM EDT reply actions

It would NOT

trump Matt Bush. Doolittle can at least PLAY in the big leagues.

casedog

by casejud on Jun 6, 2007 2:58 AM EDT reply actions

Vitters

If they were focusing on signability, why not just take Vitters? He's going to sign for slot no matter what, and should sign fairly quickly. I can't see Chicago's ownership expecting them to go that much below slot on their 1st round pick where they would need to pay a few mill below the expected price.

But who knows, maybe they see something in Doolittle that no one else does right now.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jun 6, 2007 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

I agree with eazyb

I could understand ownership wanting an easy sign pick but there are plenty of guys with lots of talent who will probably be easy signs, anyone who isnt represented by Boras and is a college player would probably go for slot. Why draft Doolittle when you could probably have Mills at slot?

by Kanst42 on Jun 6, 2007 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Dunno if anyone saw Jon Mayo's blog

but he noted Doolittle as a consideration for Arizona and Seattle. Interesting that Doolittle seems to be rising ... or maybe this is just some pre-draft smoke aimed at lowering costs.

by toonsterwu on Jun 6, 2007 11:00 AM EDT reply actions