I took a look at the draft histories at mlb.com for shits and giggles. I found that the Cubs produce very few players that make it to the pro ranks, and have had a couple of DISASTEROUS 1st round picks. For instance, in 2003 they took Ryan Harvey (STILL in high A with a .249 BA), when they could have had:

Nick Markakis
Paul Maholm
Lastings Milledge
Aaron Hill
Ryan Wagner
Conor Jackson
Chad Cordero (!!!)
Chad Billingsley
Carlos Quentin

Not all of those are great players, but all have seen major league playing time and some are on their way.

They didn't have a 1st round pick in 2004, but in 2005 they took Mark Pawelek, when they could have had:

Matt Garza
Craig Hansen
Joey Devine

Now I know that drafting is an inexact science, but your best "home grown" prospects in recent years include Corey Patterson (failed under terrible management, starting to blossom elsewhere), Mark Prior (injury prone), and Kerry Wood (even more injury prone), it seems like an overhaul of the scouting system (among other things) needs to be done.

At least we have Jeremy Papelbon (who, judging from his rookie ball stats, may cut from the same cloth as his brother) and Donald Veal (also in rookie ball, 2nd round pick from '05 I think).

the cubs drafted Billingsley? wow.

hes doing very well right now in LA and is projected to be their #1 ace in a few yrs

that's what they COULD have had.

I disagree with you somewhat. The picks themselves do not suck. What sucks (and what keeps these players from either producing or improving) is the Cubs' poor handling of and instruction to these players. How many players have you heard a ton of hype about, only to see them either stall in the minors or fall on their faces in the majors once they're called up. Of these players, how many have had somewhat respectable years after they left the Cubs? Christ, look no further than at Corey Patterson.

The Cubs do not know how to develop talent . . . period.

What may be the problem is that teams now draft players based on signibility. This is how Hansen fell to the Sox, nobody thought they could sign him because his agent is the vile Scott Boras.

I understand, but the Cubs are one of the teams that can afford high dollar players...their payroll is consistently in the mid-$90 millions.

The MLB draft is the biggest crapshoot of any of the drafts. Only 3-5 #1s from each draft end up doing anything in the majors.

Hindsight is silly, if the Cubs knew how those players were going to turn out they obviously would have drafted them.

I remember a time a couple years back when I heard the Cubs had far and away the best farm system in the majors. I don't hear much about that now.

The minor league team here is part of the Cubs farm system...hooray! At least we got Jeff Samardzija here not too long ago.

that's not really true. it's closer to 1/2 of the first round, though i guess it depends what the criteria is.

however, bitching about draft picks in baseball is pretty pointless, because beyond two or three guys per draft nobody knows who's going to pan out with any reliability at all.

Bitching about drafting is nearly ALWAYS pointless...

Darko V. Carmelo is one that wasnt- because there was at least some debate before the pick, but what makes it ridiculous is when people throw in guys that wernt even being discussed- ie Dwayne Wade.

This thread reminds me of hearing that the Red Wings could have drafted Ed Belfour instead of Keith Primeau...

or the whole "Coulda had Joe Montana (or tom brady)" arguements.