The Chicago Cubs and Saint Louis Cardinals, long time rivals, have been polar opposites when it comes to organizational philosophy. For years, the Cubs' front office has focused more on trades, and using financial resources to acquire free agents. Moves like acquiring Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano proved enough to get the Cubs to the playoffs several times, though could do little more than that. On the other hand, the Cardinals' organization focuses on player development. Going into Saturday's tilt against the San Francisco Giants, the first place Cardinals' starting lineup was:
1. Matt Carpenter, 2B
2. Yadier Molina, C
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Allen Craig, RF
5. Matt Adams, 1B
6. David Freese, 3B
7. Jon Jay, CF
8. Pete Kozma, SS
9. Shelby Miller, P
With the exception of Holliday, everyone in the Cardinals' lineup listed above is a home-grown player. Their pitching staff is loaded with players that they drafted as well. Rookie phenon Shelby Miller and all-star Lance Lynn rose through the system, as did Trevor Rosenthal, Seth Manes and Tyler Lyons. The Cardinals are loaded for years to come, all because of drafting and player development. Another team loaded with primarily home-grown stars is the Washington Nationals. The Nats have built a solid future around cornerstones like Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and Bryce Harper.
Good drafting and player development make the difference between teams of overpaid former stars, and World Series wins. The draft is crucial to all 30 teams, though it is only the first step of the process.
Mock Draft picks 1-5:
1.1 Houston Astros- Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
All of the experts are expecting the Astros to take a pitcher with the top overall pick. Most teams could use young, impact pitchers and the Astros are no exception to that. Bryant may be the most sure fire star in the draft though. Since his high school days, he has been compared offensively to Brewers superstar Ryan Braun. He can hit the stitches off a baseball; in 62 games in his junior season at the University of San Diego, Bryant has 31 home runs. His on base percentage is at .429, his slugging percentage is at a ludicrous .820, and his average with runners on base is .530. In layman's terms, Bryant is hitting a home run every other game, reaches base at an incredible clip, and doesn't hit a whole lot of singles. The knock on Bryant is that he hasn't faced stiff competition at San Diego. This is a valid point, and there is practically no way that Bryant's numbers will directly translate to Major League Baseball. Still, San Diego is a D1school that faced D1 competition. Bryant had three hits against San Francisco's ace Alex Balog, who is expected to be a late first round pick in the upcoming draft. The best approach to drafting is usually taking the best player available. The verdict is still out on whether he is the best player in the draft or not. An infield several years down the road that includes Jose Altuve, Carlos Corea, and Bryant could be absolutely outstanding.
1.2 Chicago Cubs- Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford
Appel is the most polished pitcher in the draft, and there is really no question about that. His Mark Prior comparisons make it somewhat ironic that the Cubs are the team to get him, but they won't pass up on the chance to sign the all time strikeout leader at Stanford. Appel was expected to be chosen first overall by Houston last year, though he dropped to eighth and returned to college for his senior season. Appel was the best last year, and proved again in 2013 how dominant he can be. Numbers might not always tell the whole story, but they certainly don't lie. Opponents batting average on ball in play (BABIP) against Appel is a relatively high .297. Still, hitters are only batting .203 against him on the year. Appel's K/9 for his senior season was a remarkable 11, and his ERA sat at just 2.12. There is really only one red flag, and that is his agent. Scott Boras was largely to blame for Appel falling to eight last year, and then not signing in Pittsburgh. Boras has already said that he will "play fair" this year, which hopefully means that he'll be less greedy. The Cubs have the resources to sign Appel, regardless of Boras' demands, and they are desperate for impact pitching. Appel coming to the Windy City would be a win for both parties.
1. 3 Colorado Rockies- Clint Frazier, OF, Serra High School
If Bryant is gone before the Rockies are on the clock, expect them to go with option 1. A, outfielder Clint Frazier. He doesn't have the power of Bryant, but he's just as dangerous. Having already committed to Georgia, picking Frazier could be a risk. Scouts love his plate discipline, and he has huge power potential. Frazier is a five-tool player, posting solid numbers in every major category. He might be only 18 years old, but Frazier is likely to rise through the farm system quickly. The knock on Frazier is that he is incredibly raw, though he could do serious damage in Coors Field, which is known as a hitter's park. Frazier could be a bit of a reach at three, but he should be a good match for Colorado.
1. 4 Minnesota Twins- Kohl Stewart, RHP, Saint Pius High School
Lets the slide for Jonathan Gray continue. Despite Gray being the better pitcher, the Twins are completely enamored with Stewart. Minnesota has been watching Stewart like a hawk, even assigning a scout to watch all of his games. He is already committed to Texas A&M, but scouts don't see that being much of an issue. Stewart does not have outstanding stuff, though his fastball has the potential to be a plus pitch. His slider has excellent movement, as well. He suffers from Type 1 Diabetes, which has many scouts concerned for his future. Vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff does not see this as being a significant issue, as the illness is controllable. Some scouts see his mechanics as disastrous for the future, seeing as more of a "thrower than a pitcher"(Jonathan Mayo). If Gray drops, it would not be surprising to see the Twins jump at the chance to get him. They seem exceedingly devoted to Stewart, which will be very interesting considering his medical history and raw tools.
1. 5 Cleveland Indians- Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma
There is no way that Gray drops past the five spot, and Cleveland will be jumping at their opportunity. He might not be as polished as Appel, but he is easily the second best pitcher in this draft class. Gray has the best fastball in the draft, and has a plus slider. Gray makes a living mainly off of his fastball, and there should be some concern as to where he will turn if that fastball loses velocity (i.e Tim Lincecum). Gray does fit an organizational need and is the best player available. He recently tested positive for Adderall, though that should carry little weight in regards to where he is drafted. This will actually be the second time that Gray is drafted. He was chosen in the 12th round of the 2010 draft by the Kansas City Royals.
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