Reds sign former Cubs #1 draft pick

by kcox17 on May 26, 2009 6:13 PM EDT

His name is Mark Pawele. He was the Cubs first overall draft pick in 2005. He spent 2008 at Class Low-A Boise and was 2-2 with a 6.20 ERA in 13 apperances. He has been pitching in the Golden Baseball league in Dublin California. One of the scouts saw him and the Reds negotiated a purchase from Cubs. Purchase price was not disclosed.

and just incase you guys dont trust me I searched out a link for verification.

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As bad as the Reds drafts have been in the past 15 or so years, the Cubs have been even worse.

They haven’t had a first rounder in the majors since their 2001 pick, which, of course, was Mark Prior (2nd overall). Their pick from 2000, Luis Montanez (3rd overall), just made it to the majors last year as a bench guy for the Orioles (where all failed Cubs go to die, right before they go to Cincinnati). They took Corey Patterson 3rd overall in 1998. I’d say their last successful first round pick was in 1997 with Jon Garland, who, in traditional Cubs fashion, did not have his success with them.

Whenever I get down about the Reds, I think about the Cubs and become happy again.

by Geki on May 26, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions

dont forget ryan freel

who failed with the reds, then failed with the O’s, then failed with the Cubs.

What do you mean, "blank slate"?

by boobs on May 27, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

he also failed with Toronto before failing in Cincinnati

Bloop

by justin007000 on May 29, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Freel=Abraham Lincoln?

Will he finally catch on with the Nats before careening into a wall a dieing?

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on May 29, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Kevin Goldtein on Pawelek (from March 2009)

This is semi-quoted:

Ryan Harvey, OF, and Mark Pawelek, LHP (ex-Cubs)
The Cubs were 26th in this year’s organizational rankings, and that’s mostly due to some really bad draft picks of late. The situation was made all the more glaring by this week’s release of Harvey and Pawelek, a pair of former highly touted first-round selections….Two years after drafting Harvey, the Cubs appeared to have quite a find in Pawelek, when the left-hander that some saw as the top high school pitcher in the draft fell to 20th overall due to bonus concerns, and quickly signed for a slightly over-slot bonus of $1.75 million. Seen as a highly polished product who might move quickly, instead conditioning issues, effort issues, and the occasional ridiculous injury (he broke his non-throwing arm two years ago by tripping over his PlayStation) led to just four innings in a full-season league, and just 149 1/3 IP overall in his four professional seasons. Harvey and Pawelek were supposed to be the team’s starting right fielder and a fixture in the rotation by now, but instead they’re just footnotes in a long thesis proving that the draft is an inexact science.

by D-Rock on May 27, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

well

if motivation and freak injuries are all that have held him back, then perhaps there’s still something there. that would be nice.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 27, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

So we want the Reds to motivate him and Doc Kremchek to poke him with a stick?

Poor kid is doomed.

by Geki on May 27, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Pawelek

After watching the Cubs try to change everything about Pawelek’s mechanics and wreck what worked for him, including his throwing program Reds will benefit. This kid has a great LIVE arm, he has a throwing program that provides strength and conditioning but the Cubs were down on it. Strong Lefty that has 4 solid pitches, been clocked last week in the mid 90’s. New location will do him a world of good. Cubs dont seem to change, If the Reds give him some looks he has something to prove and lots of gas left in the tank. Watched him throw week and a half ago, just real smooth and has good control. Somehow the Cubs just cant get their prospects to get to the higher levels. Time will tell

by kurkoman on May 27, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

hmmm

that’s encouraging. thanks. im not holding my breath though.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 27, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Deja Vu on line one, Mr. Redlegs.......

"It seems as if every mistake I've ever made in life I've had an erection in one hand and a Bud Light in the other."

by jch24 on May 27, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm if only the Reds would develop a consistently successful program designed to effectively bring young pitchers along each specific young pitcher.

But hey Cueto’s doing all right and for the most part Edison has also blossomed here…Motivation is difficult to manufacture…sometimes it is just who you’re hanging with that makes all the difference… but witnessing BP, Votto and Volquez coming of age with the Reds makes me think that this present Red’s team is good place for a young player to find himself and his motivation. I mean Gomes hasn’t been a single fight since being called up…..

"I just wanted to be like my dad, Jesus. He was a good shortstop.
Johan Santana

by Madville on May 27, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs