09-26-2009, 10:13 PM
Getting back to the original point, let me say that the Cubs have nothing to be proud of when it comes to first rounders. Their record is pretty bad. However, I would second Sipes point to an extent, in that it is slanted, in a way. Specifically, it's slanted in everything it DOESN'T tell you. And that is (as was discussed earlier) that first round draft picks in baseball, unlike football and basketball, are far less likely to make an impact. KB, you said:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->But Sipes is reaching by saying the article is "slanted." The big-league draft began before most people on this site were born, before the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper, when the hot TV show was "Andy Griffith." In all that time to not have ONE true star come out of the first round is almost unfathomable.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The problem is, it's NOT unfathomable. I looked up exactly one example, the first team that came into my head, when I saw this. I don't think any of us would argue that the Cardinals are not a well run organization, with far more success than the Cubs. However, I looked up their draft history. Again, you could argue the fringes of the argument, but essentially, their first rounders are no better than the Cubs. I might be missing someone, but I count one really great guy, and 4 or 5 good guys. They drafted Ted Simmons, but then you are into guys like Garry Templeton, Joe Magrane, JD Drew, etc. Again, probably better than the Cubs, but comparable. going through other random teams bears out some with the same (rough) record as the Cubs.
The Orioles basically have Bobby Grich. The Tigers, Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish. The Royals have Kevin Appier. But not much after those guys. Even a great team like the Braves, known for their farm system and drafting, have Chipper Jones (first pick in the draft), and then Dale Murphy and maybe Steve Avery.
In summary, the Cubs have been bad, but it's not nearly as bad as it seems, if you check out the context.
(PS, I fully admit I could have missed some guys, as my research for each team lasted about 12 seconds).
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->But Sipes is reaching by saying the article is "slanted." The big-league draft began before most people on this site were born, before the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper, when the hot TV show was "Andy Griffith." In all that time to not have ONE true star come out of the first round is almost unfathomable.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The problem is, it's NOT unfathomable. I looked up exactly one example, the first team that came into my head, when I saw this. I don't think any of us would argue that the Cardinals are not a well run organization, with far more success than the Cubs. However, I looked up their draft history. Again, you could argue the fringes of the argument, but essentially, their first rounders are no better than the Cubs. I might be missing someone, but I count one really great guy, and 4 or 5 good guys. They drafted Ted Simmons, but then you are into guys like Garry Templeton, Joe Magrane, JD Drew, etc. Again, probably better than the Cubs, but comparable. going through other random teams bears out some with the same (rough) record as the Cubs.
The Orioles basically have Bobby Grich. The Tigers, Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish. The Royals have Kevin Appier. But not much after those guys. Even a great team like the Braves, known for their farm system and drafting, have Chipper Jones (first pick in the draft), and then Dale Murphy and maybe Steve Avery.
In summary, the Cubs have been bad, but it's not nearly as bad as it seems, if you check out the context.
(PS, I fully admit I could have missed some guys, as my research for each team lasted about 12 seconds).
I wish that I believed in Fate. I wish I didn't sleep so late. I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders.