SB Nation User Blog: UncleBuck44

MOD: Cardinals

UncleBuck44 — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:32:41 -0000

Here are the Cardinal's picks for this mock draft:

#19

#67

#98

I'll try a poll to see what everyone thinks about some of the early candidates for pick 19. I've left off Mike Leake, Jake Turner, Shelby Miller and Zack Wheeler because most mock drafts have all of them going before the Cardinals pick.

I think when you look at the Cardinals farm system, the one thing missing is a starting pitcher with true middle of the rotation potential. Judging by the mock drafts and rankings, there should be a good opportunity for the Cardinals to grab one in the 2009 draft.

Poll

Who should the Cards take in the 1st round?

Tyler Skaggs

6 votes

James Paxton

11 votes

Rex Brothers

31 votes

Bobby Borchering

1 votes

Alex Wilson

5 votes

Chad James

11 votes

Andy Oliver

20 votes

Mike Minor

8 votes

Kendal Volz

2 votes

Other(please name)

5 votes

100 votes | Poll has closed

Dexter Fowler vs. Travis Snider

UncleBuck44 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:51:50 -0000

I'm trying to decided who to add to my fantasy teams bench and I've decided I'll go with one of these two. Maybe one will go on to hit .290 with 15-20 HRs and really help me so that is why its between these two.

Which of the two would you pick up?

Fowler's speed and patience has me leaning towards him but I know a lot of people are higher on Snider for this year.

Poll

Who should I pick up?

Dexter Fowler

84 votes

Travis Snider

180 votes

264 votes | Poll has closed

RIP Nick Adenhart

UncleBuck44 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:22:06 -0000

I'm sorry I didn't change this post sooner (it originally was discussing Adenhart's repertoire, 2009 outlook and a comparison following his great outing against Oakland).

I made the post about an hour before I learned Adenhart died. Looking back at it, it really makes me even more sad. One minute I was looking forward to a bright future from the kid and then almost literally the next minute he's gone.

Anyways, RIP Nick. 22 is way to young.

MOD: Minnesota Twins

UncleBuck44 — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:45:57 -0000

The Twins will have 7 picks in this mock draft with 3 of them coming in the top 31 picks:

1st round- 14th overall

1st round- 27th overall

Sandwich round- 31st overall

2nd round- 60th overall

3rd round- 92nd overall

4th round- 126th overall

5th round- 156th overall

According to John Sickels, the Twins top 20 prospects include: 14 pitchers, 6 hitters(2 OFers, 1 SS, 2 3B, 1 1B). But that was before adding 3 solid pitchers and a hitter in the Santana trade

I think BPA is the way to go. If a pitcher is the best pick at 14, then we've still got two more early picks to go get hitters. Lets just discuss pick 14 for now and then I'll post a MOD #2 for picks 27 and 31.

Poll

Who should the Twins pick at 14?

Tim Melville

9 votes

Brett Wallace

11 votes

Christian Friedrich

2 votes

Aaron Hicks

5 votes

Ethan Martin

6 votes

Alex Meyer

3 votes

Jemile Weeks

11 votes

Joshua Fields

0 votes

Other (please list)

0 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

MOD Chicago Cubs #3

UncleBuck44 — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:41:19 -0000

I've got all the names ready for the draft tomorrow. I've got a list of the top 50 players and the best player left at 48 will be the pick. From there I've got lists of 10 for each pick and hopefully a couple of names will remain when the picks come up.
I WOULD LOVE IT IF EVERYONE POSTED THEIR OWN 5 PICK MOCK DRAFT.

I am, however, struggling to distinguish the best player at pick #3. Matt Wieters is my #1 but after that I can't decide who is #2 between Vitters and Moustakas.
A lot of publications and a lot of scouts are saying that Moustakas had moved ahead of Vitters because his bat is equally as impressive and he has a better chance of handling the hot corner. Moustakas has put up the monster spring playing in the same area as Vitters who has not put up good numbers. You may say who cares about HS numbers but when players are this close, you've got to use whatever you can find to sift out the best.

I'll put it to you in a vote Edit: Don't vote for Wieters because I'll probably take him if Kansas City doesn't. I want to know who you would take if Kansas City takes Wieters.

Poll

Who would you take at #3

Josh Vitters

5 votes

Rick Porcello

14 votes

Matt Wieters

9 votes

Mike Moustakas

5 votes

33 votes | Poll has closed

MOD Chicago Cubs #2

UncleBuck44 — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:27:02 -0000

Cubs have picks 3, 48, 98, 128, 158

Players I'm looking at for pick 3:
Matt Wieters
Josh Vitters
Rick Porcello

That's pretty much what it boils down to with the 3rd overall pick. At this point I'm leaning towards Wieters.

Pick 48:
Justin Jackson
Todd Frazier
Joshua Fields
Jordan Walden(if he doesn't sign)
Matt Mangini
Mitch Canham
Yasmani Grandal
Cole St. Clair
Nevin Griffith
Chris Withrow

Guys like Mangini, Grandal and Canham could be taken off this list because of Wieters and Vitters. If I take Wieters, I'm not going to take Canham or Grandal. If I take Vitters, I'm not going to take Mangini.
This how I'd rank the pitchers on my list: Griffith, Walden, Withrow, St. Clair, Fields.

Would love to get suggestions for pick 48, 98, 128, 158.

MOD Cubs

UncleBuck44 — Fri, 18 May 2007 04:24:18 -0000

The Cubs selections will be: #3, 48, 98, 128, 158

Recent first round selections:

Tyler Colvin-OF-Clemson
Mark Pawelek-LHP-High School(Utah)
Grant Johnson-RHP-Notre Dame(2ND ROUND)
Ryan Harvey-OF-High School(Florida)

Top 10 Prospects:

Felix Pie-OF
Donald Veal-LHP
Jeff Samardzija-RHP
Tyler Colvin-OF
Sean Gallagher-RHP
Eric Patterson-2B
Scott Moore-3B
Ryan Harvey-OF
Chris Huseby-RHP
Mark Pawelek-LHP

I'm confident in saying that David Price will be one of two players that won't be available when the Cubs pick at #3, but if he is still on the board, I'm guessing most will want me to take him.

My Top 5 for pick #3:
Josh Vitters
Matt Wieters
Rick Porcello
Andrew Brackman
Ross Detwiler

Feel free to add anything you want. Would love to get a lot of suggestions for picks 48, 98, 128 and 158.

Billy Butler

UncleBuck44 — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:50:33 -0000

Can anyone tell me why Billy Butler is not a consensus Top 10 prospect in MLB?
And I will not accept poor defense as an answer because he is going to be playing for an AL ballclub and as well all know, the AL has a position called Designated Hitter(DH) that allows a player to get 4-5 at bats a game without having to play defense.

I keep seeing his name pop up in the 10-20 range and I keep seeing "poor defense" as the reason he's not higher. I also know he is slow, but again, DH/1Bmen that hit for power don't necessarily need speed.

Can anyone tell me why Butler really isn't a Top 10 prospect? Is there some major flaw in his game besides something that won't plague him whatsoever in the majors?

Am I reaching when I predict his best seasons to be around:
.320, 35 HR, 110 RBI, .400 OBP?