Gerrit Cole Was Back Tonight

[Jaypers]

Faced ASU. 124 pitches. Topped out at 101 twice, was still hitting 98 in the 8th.

Line - 8 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 9 K :)!

[7290morint]

Faced ASU. 124 pitches. Topped out at 101 twice, was still hitting 98 in the 8th.

Line - 8 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 9 K :)!

Yeah, I saw this. From what I've read the Pirates are still very much considering him as the first overall choice and there is less than a 20% chance of them taking Rendon from what I've read.

[ExpFacilitators]

Yeah, I saw this. From what I've read the Pirates are still very much considering him as the first overall choice and there is less than a 20% chance of them taking Rendon from what I've read.

So if not Rendon, the Cole or Bundy? Surely not Bundy or Hultzen with the 1st pick, right? Almost Cole by default.

[7290morint]

So if not Rendon, the Cole or Bundy? Surely not Bundy or Hultzen with the 1st pick, right? Almost Cole by default.

I think that Bundy is not going to go #1 because he doesn't want to play for the Pirates, but I think Hultzen is certainly in the mix and while I agree he isn't the best available talent, I don't think the Pirates always go for that as witnessed by the Tony Sanchez pick in 2009. I think it's going to be Hultzen or Cole.

[Jaypers]

For those who didn't see, Jim Callis published his 2nd Mock draft tonight. He'll do two more before the draft.


1. PIRATES: Anthony Rendon, 3b, Rice.

2. MARINERS: Bubba Starling, of, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Gardner, Kan.

3. DIAMONDBACKS: Danny Hultzen, lhp, Virginia.

4. ORIOLES: Dylan Bundy, rhp, Owasso (Okla.) HS.

5. ROYALS: Gerrit Cole, rhp, UCLA.

6. NATIONALS: Trevor Bauer, rhp, UCLA.

7. DIAMONDBACKS: Javier Baez, ss, Arlington Country Day School, Jacksonville, Fla.

8. INDIANS: Jed Bradley, lhp, Georgia Tech.

9. CUBS: Archie Bradley, rhp, Broken Arrow (Okla.) HS.

10. PADRES: Matt Barnes, rhp, Connecticut.

11. ASTROS: Taylor Jungmann, rhp, Texas.

12. BREWERS: Francisco Lindor, ss, Monteverde (Fla.) Academy.

13. METS: Mikie Mahtook, of, Louisiana State.

14. MARLINS: Cory Spangenberg, 3b, Indian River (Fla.) JC.

15. BREWERS: Sonny Gray, rhp, Vanderbilt.

16. DODGERS: Taylor Guerrieri, rhp, Spring Valley HS, Columbia, S.C.

17. ANGELS: Alex Meyer, rhp, Kentucky.

18. ATHLETICS: George Springer, of, Connecticut.

19. RED SOX: Josh Bell, of, Dallas Jesuit HS.

20. ROCKIES: Levi Michael, ss, North Carolina.

21. BLUE JAYS: Daniel Norris, lhp, Science Hill HS, Johnson City, Tenn.

22. CARDINALS: C.J. Cron, 1b, Utah.

23. NATIONALS: Tyler Anderson, lhp, Oregon.

24. RAYS: Jose Fernandez, rhp, Alonso HS, Tampa.

25. PADRES: Brian Goodwin, of, Miami-Dade JC.

26. RED SOX: Austin Hedges, c, JSerra HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

27. REDS: Robert Stephenson, rhp, Alhambra HS, Martinez, Calif.

28. BRAVES: Henry Owens, lhp, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.

29. GIANTS: Josh Osich, lhp, Oregon State.

30. TWINS: Sean Gilmartin, lhp, Florida State.

31. RAYS: Kolten Wong, 2b, Hawaii

32. RAYS: Blake Swihart, c, Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M.

33. RANGERS: Brandon Nimmo, of, East HS, Cheyenne, Wyo.

[7290morint]

For those who didn't see, Jim Callis published his 2nd Mock draft tonight. He'll do two more before the draft.


1. PIRATES: Anthony Rendon, 3b, Rice.

2. MARINERS: Bubba Starling, of, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Gardner, Kan.

3. DIAMONDBACKS: Danny Hultzen, lhp, Virginia.

4. ORIOLES: Dylan Bundy, rhp, Owasso (Okla.) HS.

5. ROYALS: Gerrit Cole, rhp, UCLA.

6. NATIONALS: Trevor Bauer, rhp, UCLA.

7. DIAMONDBACKS: Javier Baez, ss, Arlington Country Day School, Jacksonville, Fla.

8. INDIANS: Jed Bradley, lhp, Georgia Tech.

9. CUBS: Archie Bradley, rhp, Broken Arrow (Okla.) HS.

10. PADRES: Matt Barnes, rhp, Connecticut.

11. ASTROS: Taylor Jungmann, rhp, Texas.

12. BREWERS: Francisco Lindor, ss, Monteverde (Fla.) Academy.

13. METS: Mikie Mahtook, of, Louisiana State.

14. MARLINS: Cory Spangenberg, 3b, Indian River (Fla.) JC.

15. BREWERS: Sonny Gray, rhp, Vanderbilt.

16. DODGERS: Taylor Guerrieri, rhp, Spring Valley HS, Columbia, S.C.

17. ANGELS: Alex Meyer, rhp, Kentucky.

18. ATHLETICS: George Springer, of, Connecticut.

19. RED SOX: Josh Bell, of, Dallas Jesuit HS.

20. ROCKIES: Levi Michael, ss, North Carolina.

21. BLUE JAYS: Daniel Norris, lhp, Science Hill HS, Johnson City, Tenn.

22. CARDINALS: C.J. Cron, 1b, Utah.

23. NATIONALS: Tyler Anderson, lhp, Oregon.

24. RAYS: Jose Fernandez, rhp, Alonso HS, Tampa.

25. PADRES: Brian Goodwin, of, Miami-Dade JC.

26. RED SOX: Austin Hedges, c, JSerra HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

27. REDS: Robert Stephenson, rhp, Alhambra HS, Martinez, Calif.

28. BRAVES: Henry Owens, lhp, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.

29. GIANTS: Josh Osich, lhp, Oregon State.

30. TWINS: Sean Gilmartin, lhp, Florida State.

31. RAYS: Kolten Wong, 2b, Hawaii

32. RAYS: Blake Swihart, c, Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M.

33. RANGERS: Brandon Nimmo, of, East HS, Cheyenne, Wyo.


Wow, there has to be some conflicting information out there. Keith Law is saying that there is 20% chance or less that the Pirates take Rendon and that if they do the Mariners are looking at Lindor. However, if Rendon is available at 2 they are going to take him providing the medicals check out. Not that Law is the end all be all just interesting being that he is out there and talking with scouts and other insiders with organizations. Although, I can't say I would be disappointed if the Brewers ended up with Lindor. I also have a hard time believe the Brewers would take Gray (although I would be happy if they did) based on what they announced last year as their plan for "drafting" pitchers and one of the biggest things was that they need to be 6 ft or taller.

[ExpFacilitators]

I think that Bundy is not going to go #1 because he doesn't want to play for the Pirates, but I think Hultzen is certainly in the mix and while I agree he isn't the best available talent, I don't think the Pirates always go for that as witnessed by the Tony Sanchez pick in 2009. I think it's going to be Hultzen or Cole.

I don't know enough about it to be too "surprised" either way, but the Pirates are such a mess.

RE: the mock draft

I just don't know how you pull the trigger on Rendon 1st. I can see him going to the Mariners I guess, but to me it's

1- Cole
2- Rendon
3- Hultzen

If the Royals wind up with Cole at 5, sheesh...I'd almost like to see their minor league all-stars play the big league team.

[Casebreaker]

i have heard the mariners have been high on bubba and lindor for a few months now, would not be suprised if they take one of them if rendon is gone

[pskell02]

Exp, I think you are seriously devaluing the Pirates system. It is leaps and bounds better than what it was in 07 when Littlefield finally got canned. Most of the talent is still in the lowest levels and as they progress, the system as a whole will be much higher than 19 where BA has them now.

From everything I have heard from the Pirates beat writers, Bundy, nor his agent have ever said anything about not wanting to play for or be drafted by the Pirates.

As for who they take, Dejan Kovacevic stated today
Anyone trying to figure out #Pirates (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/pittsburgh-pirates) favorite for No. 1 in #MLBDraft is wasting time. They're open to top 3-4 guys, with no front-runner.

So there really hasn't been a decision yet. I would tend to lean on his knowledge of the Bucs FO and what they are thinking over Law and Callis.

For my money, I'm still banking on Rendon as the pick. Still OPS'ing over 1.000, .500+ OBP, and nearly 50% of his hits are for extra bases. He has superior plate discipline and has drawn almost 80 walks. He has no protection, so opposing pitchers have absolutely no reason to pitch to him. So the shoulder is not the only reason why his power numbers are down. He just isn't getting any good pitches to hit. If I'm the Pirates, I'm looking at a total body of work with the #1 pick. Rendon has had it all up to this season, and by no means is this a bad season. The shoulder is not a concern according to just about everyone. It is just something that needs rest and we all know how college players are treated (looking at you UCLA coaches). I'll take a guy with plus defense and a Ryan Zimmerman ceiling (or higher) bat any day of the week over an overworked pitcher with bad command, a high school kid that may or may not sign, or Hultzen (nothing bad to say about him as he would be my second pick).

[7290morint]

Exp, I think you are seriously devaluing the Pirates system. It is leaps and bounds better than what it was in 07 when Littlefield finally got canned. Most of the talent is still in the lowest levels and as they progress, the system as a whole will be much higher than 19 where BA has them now.

From everything I have heard from the Pirates beat writers, Bundy, nor his agent have ever said anything about not wanting to play for or be drafted by the Pirates.

As for who they take, Dejan Kovacevic stated today


So there really hasn't been a decision yet. I would tend to lean on his knowledge of the Bucs FO and what they are thinking over Law and Callis.

For my money, I'm still banking on Rendon as the pick. Still OPS'ing over 1.000, .500+ OBP, and nearly 50% of his hits are for extra bases. He has superior plate discipline and has drawn almost 80 walks. He has no protection, so opposing pitchers have absolutely no reason to pitch to him. So the shoulder is not the only reason why his power numbers are down. He just isn't getting any good pitches to hit. If I'm the Pirates, I'm looking at a total body of work with the #1 pick. Rendon has had it all up to this season, and by no means is this a bad season. The shoulder is not a concern according to just about everyone. It is just something that needs rest and we all know how college players are treated (looking at you UCLA coaches). I'll take a guy with plus defense and a Ryan Zimmerman ceiling (or higher) bat any day of the week over an overworked pitcher with bad command, a high school kid that may or may not sign, or Hultzen (nothing bad to say about him as he would be my second pick).


For the record Bundy and his agent have said they do not want him picked by the pirates you can see here:

Long-toss debate shakes up MLB draft - MLB - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ak7itvG54LSl70KH6Ttfr9gRvLYF?slug=jp-passan_baseball_draft_bundy_bauer_long_toss_debate_051911)

I would still be surprised if Rendon goes number #1. I've heard his medicals are clean and there is nothing structurally wrong with his shoulder. I have a very had time believe any team would move Rendon to secondbase and delay his time to the majors. I still think that there is a chance that the Pirates take Hultzen at #1.

[jasonadkins]

Cole's line may not be that dominant in terms of allowing 3 Runs, but that is on the road against Arizona State, the #6 team in the nation. His last two or three starts have been back to the quality you would hope for in the #1 Pick. He had one bad five start stretch really in his entire UCLA career, maybe he was reading too many mock drafts and getting the jitters, hard to say. I don't think there's too much risk in the Pirates taking Cole or Hultzen, there are just too many excuses for Rendon's struggles and multiple injuries to gamble on him #1 Overall when there is so much talent in this draft.

[Qwasian]

hmm, maybe I should keep his purple refractor I got on ebay for a bit

[jp98]

5. ROYALS: Gerrit Cole, rhp, UCLA.



I would love that! But I think the chances are slim.