2012 Cubs Draft Tracker Ticker - Day One

1st ROUND (6):
Albert Almora, CF
R/R, 6'2 180, 18 years old
Mater Academy - Hialeah Gardens, FL
COMMENT: Rated best HS defensive outfielder and 2nd best HS hitter in draft by Baseball America... Gold Glove quality defender right now... has average arm strength but with outstanding accuracy... is line-drive hitter with plus bat-speed... has just average speed for a centerfielder but is an above-average baserunner and base-stealer... was named tournament MVP while playing for Team USA 18 & Under squad at Pan American Games in Columbia last November... signed NLI with U. of Miami...
SIGNING BONUS POOL #6 SLOT VALUE: $3.25M


===========================================



1st ROUND - SUPPLEMENTAL (43):
Pierce Johnson, RHP
R/R, 6'3 180, 21 years old
Missouri State
COMMENT: College junior... Ranked 6th in NCAA D-1 in K-per-IP in 2012.... 4-6 with 2.53 ERA in 14 GS for the Bears in 2012, with 85 hits allowed and 28/119 BB/K in 99.2 IP... Throws 92-93 MPH fastball that has touched 96, a mid-80's cutter, and a hard-breaking curve... Has had several injuries in his career, including broken hand senior year in HS, forearm strain freshman year in college, dislocated knee-cap while pitching in Cape Cod League in 2011, and more forearm issues this past season...
SIGNING BONUS POOL #43 SLOT VALUE: $1.196M
NOTE: This was compensation pick received by Cubs for losing Type "B" MLB Article XX-B FA Aramis Ramirez


===========================================


1st ROUND - SUPPLEMENTAL (56):
Paul Blackburn, RHP
R/R, 6'2 180, 18 years old
Heritage HS - Brentwood, CA
COMMENT: Athletic pitcher with 90-92 MPH fastball that touches 94, curve, and change-up... Excellent control... Impressed scouts in Area Code Games (HS All-Star) in 2011... Signed NLI with Arizona State...
SIGNING BONUS POOL #56 SLOT VALUE: $911,700
NOTE: This was compensation pick received by Cubs for losing Type "B" MLB Article XX-B FA Carlos Pena

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Rule 4 Draft
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 6:58pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:04pm

Gold Glove quality defender right now

Holy over-hype Batman! I'm sure he's great and all, but yeah...a bit much.

especially matched with that
has just average speed for a centerfielder

unless he reads balls like Andruw Jones or Shoeless Joe Jackson.

I know that's not directly from AZ Phil, who hasn't seem him play yet.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:05pm

I am surprised. Someone splain it to me.

This team has ZERO top of rotation pitching.

Thete wasn't one "worthy" pitcher at 6??

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:07pm

explanation #1, it's the MLB draft, rarely what you draft today will make an impact when you want it to...so you pick the best available player based on your evaluation.

#2, the top of the rotation pitching in this draft was suspect. Appel, Gausman, Zimmer, Fried...no one thinks any of them are sure things.

#3, allegedly a draft deep in HS pitchers, the Cubs are probably hoping to unearth a few Matt Moore's in the later rounds.

little doubt they'll be taking a lot of pitching in subsequent rounds.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:16pm

Cool. Thanks for splainin' it to me.

Indeed, as stated, lots of HSers this draft.

Guess its really a dice roll...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:24pm

BA write-up on Almora

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/201...

60 tools across the board, speed is the most suspect of tools.

His instincts allow him to play center field at a high level; one scout said he was a 40 runner with 80 range and said he played center field like some players do shortstop, being instinctual rather than reactive like almost all outfielders.

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:32pm

Muskat tweet: Jason McLeod says Almora was top player on their board. "He fits the criteria of what we were looking for."

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 7:51pm

so much for Stroman rocketing up the board, still out there after 15 picks.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:14pm

Nationals pick up Giolito with #16, $2.125M slot

Appel's slot was $2.9M fwiw.

Both are allegedly in the $5-7M range in terms of asking price.

this should be fun, see how they handle the rest of their draft.

Submitted by springs
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:15pm

Giolito and Strasburg could be a nice combo though

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:18pm

in 4 years? sure

a lot could happen between then and now, like Giolito's elbow exploding or Strasburg's again.

Submitted by springs
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:40pm

Very true...fortunately we have Wood and Prior on top of our rotation and have no need to worry about injuries :)

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:20pm

it was thought by some this kind of draft would penalize small market teams for a variety of reasons, but 2 smaller markets have bought into 2 of the biggest $$ names so far.

woo, draft strategies.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:55pm

good start for Appel

@jperrotto It would appear Mr. Appel may not be happy about his No. 8 selection. He declined to do a conference call with Pittsburgh media.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:58pm

lulz.

if he didn't go top-3 the money ticked away quickly out of his pocket.

PIT may have to pay a penalty depending on how far they go over budget depending on their draft strategy, but when you effectively pay 75 cents more per $1 you go over budget even boras can't make millions happen for hell of it.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:59pm

fun fact Pittsburgh is in second place

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:00pm

they're nothing without pat meares.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:06pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrz_qowIIbQ

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:08pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plPsnWFng0w

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:16pm

relatives or neighbors or both?

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:42pm

local law enforcement in a world that's too harsh for cops.

it's rough in the hood, homie.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:18pm

John Koronka is the area scout that recommended Almora.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:19pm

for no good reason, I'm disappointed to learn this.

Submitted by Ryno
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:47pm

Dear god that name sounds familiar.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:50pm

He really sucked in 2005

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:59pm

Hey. He was good enough to bring Freddie Bynum to Chicago. I think that speaks volumes.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:26pm

Stroman finally taken by Blue Jays at #22

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:33pm

Brandon McCarthy is the best...

@BMcCarthy32 Draft comps: do it by race, and if that doesn't work, well just do it anyway.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:45pm

He really has quite a sense of humor. The ump stuff he wrote on his blog recently was just great.

I guess he was just barely out of getting his driving license when he was with the Sox here.

Submitted by Ryno
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:46pm

Give him a bat and send him to Chicago.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:07pm

Cubs "grab" Jairo Asencio off waivers from Tribe.

3/44?

Anyone post this previously?

No doubt the bullpen will be tremendously upgraded.

I am psyched!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:08pm

incredibly 3/44

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:22pm

So - you'd say, 6/88, then?

Submitted by springs
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 7:30am

Maybe 6/88 with a no-trade clause.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 9:59am

lmao

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:15pm

maybe next year MLB Network will deinterlace all their video of prospects before they put it on tv...some of this is painful to watch (all that lines-all-over-the-video looking stuff).

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:15pm

Lance McCullers Jr. still out there apparently...no idea his signing demands.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:19pm

he has a lot of leverage because he could go another year and be a 1-3 pick...he's got the stuff.

it's hard to handicap how teams will play under the new rules...there's a number of ways to approach it and new leverage to both sides.

he was expected to go pick 1st round for a lot of people.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:28pm

from the department of you-can't-make-this-shit-up, June 2nd...

“It’s frustrating, the whole draft thing is frustrating,” McCullers said. “I’ve done nothing than get better since I’ve been ranked No. 1 forever, and no one in the country had a better year than me on the hill.

“If Major League Baseball wants to undervalue me, then I’ll show them what I’m really about three years from now.”

---

“I think it’s going to push a lot of high school guys who wouldn’t have considered going to school more in that direction.”

http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/when-ta...

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:34pm

McCullers threw 136 pitches for the win in the Class 6A region finals before turning around and throwing 93 more over six scoreless innings in the state semifinals.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:19pm

a shrubbery

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:45am

Thank you!

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:15pm

holy hell...victor roache's (MIL) father is a tank.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:50pm

larry dierker's hairpiece selected L.McCullers with the 41st pick for HOU.

this is interesting given the savings on their #1 pick.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:54pm

at least they got a college pitcher in the mix.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:53pm

Cubs at #43 take Pierce Johnson, RHP Missouri St

"plus fastball, plus curve" according to John Hart

starter or reliever, some sort of minor arm injury.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:55pm

a bit of a scouting report

http://www.coast2coastprospects.com/pierce-jo...

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:11pm

MLB comparison is Zach Stewart. Well, NOW I'm salivating...

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:59pm

Jim Callis‏@jimcallisBA
#Cubs take Pierce Johnson at 43. Might have been mid-1st-rder before forearm strain in April. Potential No. 3-4 SP

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:21pm

Pierce Brosnan?

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:12pm

MLB network coverage on Pierce Johnson...announced by Fergie Jenkins:

closest mlb comp: Drew Storen
Two plus pitches, fastball, breaking ball
J. Mayo: he came back at the end of the season to show his forearm strain wasn't a serious injury.
Comp pick for Aramis Ramirez

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:12pm

Cubs at #56 take Paul Blackburn, RHP Heritage HS, Oakley, CA

"committed to Arizona State, potential for 3-plus pitches"

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:14pm

MLB draft ticker on Blackburn

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.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:18pm

this is what $10M for Carlos Pena bought the Cubs btw :)

Submitted by George Altman
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:14pm

I'm good with that.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 10:16pm

Goldstein on the Score right now talking Cubs picks.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:28pm

didn't notice til now, but m.prior is back.

he pitched his debut for AAA BOS june 2nd.

1ip 0h 1bb 1k

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 7:50am

He's gotta be, like, 50 years old by now.

Submitted by Newport
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 9:17am

If they get him back, it will be just like making a big trade at the deadline!

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 10:17am

Rec'd!!!!

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 10:30am

lol

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:31pm

spin, spin, spin

Team Epstein actually got all three of the players they targeted in their first and most important moves as leaders of the “jinxed” franchise.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/i...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:33pm

43. Cubs: Pierce Johnson, rhp, Missouri State: Has a lively fastball (up to 96 mph), but was dinged up some this year.

56. Cubs: Paul Blackburn, rhp, Heritage HS, Brentwood, Calif.: Consistent performer touches 94 mph with chance for three plus pitches and command.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/201...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 11:24am

2nd round pick, Duane Underwood, HS RHP from Georgia

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 11:28am

Hit 98 mph at times, but quite inconsistent. Commitment to U of Georgia

Submitted by tem99
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 12:59pm

Keith Law approved of this pick. Which isn't surprising really given his love for Epstein, Hoyer et al.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:21pm

I disagree. He has been fairly voicerfous in his dislike of most anything Cub for at least 10years I have been reading him.

Maybe he likes HoyStein, but that was in Boston. Not here so much, imo.

Submitted by tem99
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 2:07pm

IMHO any of his anti-Cubs dislike is more remnants from the Hendry era. Hendry might be gone, but his legacy will live on with the players, farm system, etc that he left behind for a few years. Law was on the Waddle & Silvy show yesterday and was pretty complimentary of the new regime and that there is now a "process."

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 2:20pm

Ok. "From his mouth..."

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 11:49am

http://www.lonestarball.com/2012/5/29/3050867...

good rundown on him, ranked as high as #52 on pre-draft lists (Keith Law) and as low as #104 (BA), questions about losing concentration and trouble overcoming adversity.

BA's report on Underwood has him touching 97-98 mph on his fastball at times, but also dropping down as low as 87 mph this spring, with "erratic command" and little feel for pitching.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 11:50am

Underwood is everything you'd want from a high school pitcher: athletic with arm strength, a chance to have three at least Major League-average pitches and outstanding mound presence.The Georgia product will sit in the low 90s with his fastball typically, but he can reach back for 95-96 mph occasionally. His secondary offerings aren't as good as the fastball, but both his curve and changeup have a chance. When he throws them right, his curve can have a very good 12-to-6 late break and his changeup can be very deceptive.He doesn't throw either consistently right now and he does have some issues with command at times. His poise, knowledge of the game and athleticsm say he'll continue to evolve as a pitcher, meaning he could start moving up charts this spring.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 12:09pm

3rd round pick, #101 - Ryan McNeil, HS RHP Nipomo, CA

Mayo - "good athlete, headed to Long Beach State"

Callis - "basketball player, started off slow but finished strong, 90-93 mph fastball"

http://www.bbprospectreport.com/2012/05/04/ry...

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 12:13pm

at the Cubs convention this year, I heard several of the Cub field scouts and Tim Wilken say that they like HS kids that play multiple sports. So a basketball player and pitcher is probably just something they look at as a positive.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:08pm

that never works, look at Jeff Samardzija

/every Cub fan before this year

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 12:14pm

4 pitchers, 1 position player to start the draft.

Restocking the minor league pitching depth: check.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 12:21pm

Good.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:03pm

Sheesh. The Cubs already have a minor leagues full of minor league pitchers, plus five or six more on the major league roster.

(/snark)

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:26pm

Rimshot.

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:14pm

No lefties though, huh?

Submitted by springs
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:59pm

Round 5....Cubs draft 6 consecutive pitcher and first lefty, Anthony Prieto. From BA:

"Prieto barely pitched in high school until his junior season and joined his first travel team last summer, when he reportedly reached the mid-90s at a tournament in Phoenix. Scouts haven't seen that kind of velocity out of the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder this season, when he missed the first six weeks with a forearm strain. Since returning, Prieto mostly has dealt fastballs at 88-90 mph. Though he's not physical, he generates his heat with an effortless delivery that allows him to throw strikes with three pitches. Both his changeup and curveball show promise. He has signed with Howard (Texas) JC. "

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:08pm

4th round pick, Josh Conway, RHP Coastal Carolina

In the smaller Big South Conference, Coastal Carolina has built a pretty good program that saw four players get drafted and sign in 2011. This year, it could have been Conway's turn before an elbow injury ended his season and required Tommy John surgery. Once a two-way player, Conway gave up hitting completely to focus on the mound in 2012 and it was paying off. Coastal Carolina's Friday starter, he’s a bit of an undersized right-hander, but one with a pretty good three-pitch mix. A good athlete on the mound, he throws a fastball, slider and changeup, all of which have the chance to be solid average offerings. Without truly overpowering stuff, he’ll have to continue to improve his command and keep hitters off-balance. Pre-injury, he had the chance to join teammate (and 2011 second-round pick) Anthony Meo as a fairly early Draft pick. Now a team will have to be willing to draft him and let him rehab under its watchful eye.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 2:12pm

Anyone else wondering if drafting players whose stock might have fallen due to injuries is Theo's new Moneyball?

Submitted by Newport
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 4:36pm

Jim Hendry already wrote that book.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 4:46pm

this new draft format has proven itself to be a disaster right out of the gate.

highschool kids have heavy leverage to pull 1 season at a community college or pulling a few years at a 4-year school now more than ever.

guys like m.appell are/were supposed to go top-3 based on their actual value and how much loot it's going to take to sign them.

agents may work hard to actually ruin this year's draft for the sake of getting rid of the framework. it wouldn't be the first time they put their interests ahead of the kid(s) for the sake of loot...not like the player doesn't want more loot, too.

Submitted by Charlie
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 6:06pm

Seems like it's just a way of limiting what young players can earn. Don't see a benefit to anyone here.

Submitted by Newport
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 6:25pm

I think it could work, but the numbers are set waaaaay too low.

Submitted by George Altman
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 7:31pm

Anytime Reinsdorff and Selig get a wild hair up their ass, shit like this happens. Someday, Jerry will finally get his hard salary cap in Basketball. Meanwhile, he continues to lead every effort in baseball to do the same thing. For over a decade he has refused to spend money in the Rule 4 draft either assuming or, more likely, hoping the majority of other owners would do the same.

If your owner's team has deeper pockets, big market revenue, or just likes to spend money on amateur talent, isn't that what a 'free-market' economy is supposed to do? The fact that some baseball GM's are better at scouting and developing that talent than other organizations is whose fault?

Anytime the 'powers that be' start legislating how you can/cannot spend your money, the hair on the back of my neck goes up.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 7:50pm

so far it seems there could be a record # of 1st round picks not signed along with a stupid amount of highschool kids not signed.

it should be interesting/ugly. MLB/owners are going to have to really stick to their guns if they want to convince the agents this isn't just going to "go away."

...last year's #5 pick (a highschooler) got more than the slot for this year's #1.

Submitted by tem99
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 7:51pm

The CBA is set up to protect those already in the union - current MLB players. If teams can't spend $20 mil on the draft or on Cubans and other foreign players, they'll have to spend it on MLB players in free agency, contract extensions, etc. Or I suppose not spend it. But that's not going to happen.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 7:54pm

they should have given rounds 1-3 flat money rather than slotting everything so sharply after the first 3 picks, then again mid-1st round.

there's not enough millions to get things done unless you're a top-3 team getting those extra millions of flexibility.

...when your #1 decides to go on a bargain hunt, though...kinda screws things up. astros picked a highschool kid who should have gone round 1 with their 2nd pick. they actually have some flexibility over where to throw loot thanks to how they played the draft.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:12pm

If my source is accurate that Appel turned down $6 mm from Astros, #Stanford RHP is a huge egg in #Pirates basket. Bucs draft pool: $6.6 mm.

Cubs draft pool is: $7,933,900 fwiw.

Submitted by George Altman
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 3:55pm

I think you made the point, Rob, this week...'have you read the latest CBA on the Rule 4 draft?'. Has Appel and Boras? I mean, what exactly is the leverage they think they have? The Pirates are going to go so far above the slot guidelines that they're going to pay a 100% tax and lose a couple of 1st round picks in 2013, 2014? Really? I had no idea Boras had those kind of super powers.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:17pm

LeMahieu looks like the one recently traded (or Rule 5'ed) Cub who is getting significant playing time, starting the last five games for the Rockies at 2B, during which he is 6 for 17, all singles.

Marwin Gonzalez has appeared in 36 games for Houston but mostly as a PH or late-inning sub.

Colvin is slumping--not hard to picture. Flaherty is showing defensive versatility at 2B, SS, 3B and RF while he tries to point his BA in the direction of .200.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 1:24pm

As MIKE C pointed out over a month ago (and I too lazy to check) Colvin's nice stats at the time were mostly generated in Denver.

I thought he was on the road to productivity at the time.

But, Maybe he will turn out to be a total bust - or full-time Camp Director at his own camp?

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