Archive - Jun 5, 2008

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And so, here we are:

The final, deciding game in the Cubs' and Dodgers' best-of-2,021 game series.

Who'd have thought it would come down to this?

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ROUND #1 (19). Andrew Cashner, RHP (TCU)
R/R, 6'6, 180, 21 years old
COMMENT: Was drafted by the Cubs in the 29th round of the 2007 Rule 4 Draft out of Angelina JC in Texas, but he did not sign, opting instead to transfer to TCU where he was arguably the #1 closer prospect in college baseball in 2008 (43.1 IP, 14 H, 24 BB, 65 K, 2.08 ERA, .104 OBA, 0.95 WHIP), ... Throws a 96-98 MPH fastball that runs in on right-handed hitters and moves away from left-handed hitters. but what made him the pitcher he is now is when he junked his mediocre curve in favor of a 84-85 MPH power slider... Power arm would profile very closely to that of Jose Ceda, one of the Cubs top pitching prospects...  

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ROUND #1-S (41). Ryan Flaherty, SS (Vanderbilt)
L/R, 6'3, 210, 21 years old
COMMENT: Good defensive player but with below-average range for a SS...Played 2B for Team USA, which is probably the position he will ultimately play in pro ball... Had 35 game hitting streak at Vanderbilt, and improved his power stroke in his junior year... Hit 324/411/543 with 14 HR and 63 RBI (led team) with 39/46 BB/K in 303 PA, 10 SB (2 CS), in 2008... Nickname is "Flash"...

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ROUND #2 (65). Aaron Shafer, RHP (Wichita State)
L/R, 6'4, 205, 21 years old
COMMENT: Rotation starter with an 88-91 MPH fastball (down from 91-94 from before he suffered strained elbow in 2007), a "12-6" curve, and a solid change-up..

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ROUND #3 (97): Chris Carpenter, RHP (Kent State)
R/R, 6'4, 215, 22 years old
COMMENT: Had Tommy John surgery in 2005 and additional elbow surgery in 2006...Power pitcher with 92-96 MPH fastball that has touched 98, a hard, tight curve, and OK change-up...27/74 BB/K with only 49 hits allowed in 65.2 IP in 2008...

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ROUND #4 (131): Matt Cerda, SS (Oceanside HS - Oceanside, CA)
L/R, 5'10, 175, 17 years old
COMMENT: Hit 542/647/1.075 with 16 HR in just 139 PA at Oceanside HS in 2008... Signed NLI with University of San Diego... Was the catcher on the Oceanside Little League team that advanced to LLWS in 2001
... Will likely move to 2B at higher levels...

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ROUND #5 (161): Justin Bristow, RHP (East Carolina)
R/R, 6'4, 213, 21 years old
COMMENT: Throws 90-92 "straight" fastball, a cutter, and a "filthy" curve... pitched two CG shutouts in 2008 season... Transferred from Auburn, where he was a teammate of Josh Donaldson... Played 3B at Auburn, before moving to the mound in 2007...  

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ROUND #6 (191): Josh Harrison, 2B (U. of Cincinnati)
R/R, 5'8, 177, 20 years old
COMMENT: 2008 Co-Big East Conference Player of the Year... Hit .378 (.433 OBP) with 22 doubles, 25/20 BB/K in 282 PA, and 32 SB (8 CS) in '08... Well below-average defender (19 E in 59 G)... Nephew of ex-MLB OF John Shelby...

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Quick Update(Rob G.): Scout.com has a live blog going for the draft and they'll be answering user questions. The writer running it is hearing that the Cubs will not pass on Casey Kelly if he's available. Also, Parachat is (always) open if you want to chat amongst yourselves.

The MLB Rule 4 Draft (AKA “First-Year Player Draft”) starts at 2 PM ET today, with the 1st round and Supplemental 1st round to be televised "live" on ESPN2. The draft will continue tomorrow (Friday). Last year, the first five rounds of the draft were completed by the end of the first day, and the remaining 45 rounds were completed by the end of the second day.

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