SB Nation User Blog: jcb9

Faces Made for the Internet: MCC Photos

jcb9 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:34:46 -0000

Last year, we had a thread in which to post photographs of ourselves, pulled blinking and confused out of our mothers' basements or our Unabomber-style shacks. But that was some time ago and a lot of folks have come and gone since then. So, with the night at the park coming soon, I figured it would be a good time to have another such thread, so anyone considering attending an take one look at the lot of us, say, "My god they're hideous!" and stay far, far away.

Random Draft Pick Info found Online

jcb9 — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:09:33 -0000

I've been Googling and otherwise looking up our draft picks today. A few things I've learned:

- 28th round pick Jamaine Cotton is, like Juan Carlos Perez from last year's draft class, a student at Western Oklahoma. Despite the name, he's not a New Zealander - he's a native of the US Virgin Islands. He has a Facebook account - you can't see it without being a friend, but in his profile picture he's wearing a Cardinals hat (boooo). Here is his player profile page from Western Oklahoma. Not much info, sadly.

- 3rd round pick Chris Dominguez is apparently not popular among some fans of the University of Missouri, who have set up a Facebook group predicting he has a future as a sanitation worker due to his exuberant celebration of a home run against their team. The group is two years old and has 17 members, all of whom, I'm sure, are devastated that Dominguez's career as a "garbologist" is now on hold.

- 50th round pick Kaohi Downing was drafted as a pitcher, but mainly played as an outfielder and hit .339 with 8 home runs and a .442 OBP. His pitching consisted of a relatively small number of appearances as a reliever. Despite growing up in Hawaii and attending college in San Diego, he's a White Sox fan. His profile specifically mentions he wants to play professionally, so unlike last year's 50th round pick, maybe he'll sign.

- It's hard to find info on 49th round pick Austin Goolsby - the results are mostly for Austan Goolsbee, an economic advisor to Barack Obama.

- Attn wilriv: Diego Seastrunk can toe the rubber! He has a perfect 0.00 ERA, in fact - in one inning in 2008. He's also a native of the humble town of Humble, Texas.

Just a few random tidbits I've come across. I'm posting them in the hopes that they might amuse, and that this fanpost might give a place for other people to share similar tidbits they've come across.

Our former future franchise hitter Alex Rios having a bad day: hours after striking out five times,...

jcb9 — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:51:38 -0000

Our former future franchise hitter Alex Rios having a bad day: hours after striking out five times, he's leaving a charity event, won't sign an autograph for a kid, and gets into it with a fan who tells him he's lucky anyone wants his autograph at all.

Community Mock Draft: The Giants!

jcb9 — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:04:54 -0000

#1: Stephen Strasburg RHP, San Diego State University (Washington Nationals)

#2: Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina (Seattle Mariners)

#3: Aaron Crow RHP, Fort Worth Cats (San Diego Padres)

#4: Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri (Pittsburgh Pirates)

#5: Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina (Baltimore Orioles)

In the last round, Alex White edged out Tyler Matzek, Tanner Scheppers, and Grant Green.

Next up are YOUR San Francisco Giants. Several names have come up in connection to the Giants - Donavan Tate is one, Tyler Matzek is another. Jonathan Mayo's fist mock draft had them going off the board a bit for Michael Trout, but in his second mock draft he admitted that was too much of a reach. Oh, and Sabean attended a recent Aaron Crow start, I believe, but our mock draft has him long gone.

I've added Mike Leake to the options, since wilriv has mentioned him as someone the Giants should look at.

Scouting reports:

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Mike Leake LHP, Arizona State University

Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood High School (Texas)

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

Matt Purke LHP, Klein High School (Texas)

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

Donavan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Jacob Turner RHP, Westminster High School (Missouri)

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

By the way, I'm going to call it a day for these posts after this pick, since we've reached the Giants. If anyone else wants to keep them going, feel free.

Poll

Who will the Giants select with the #6 pick in the draft?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

1 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

3 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

25 votes

Mike Leake LHP, Arizona State University

2 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

107 votes

Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood High School (Texas)

5 votes

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

1 votes

Matt Purke LHP, Klein High School (Texas)

0 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

15 votes

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

3 votes

Donavan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

52 votes

Jacob Turner RHP, Westminster High School (Missouri)

2 votes

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

5 votes

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

5 votes

Write-in Vote

1 votes

227 votes | Poll has closed

Community Mock Draft: Fifth Pick

jcb9 — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:50:20 -0000

#1: Stephen Strasburg RHP, San Diego State University (Washington Nationals)

#2: Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina (Seattle Mariners)

#3: Aaron Crow RHP, Fort Worth Cats (San Diego Padres)

#4: Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Gibson won in a runoff over Alex White, another RHP from the University of North Carolina. Also receiving a lot of votes in the initial thread were Grant Green, shortstop from USC, and Tyler Matzek, a high school lefty.

Next up are the Baltimore Orioles. Last year they drafted Brian Matusz, a college lefty, fourth overall, but their system is best known for catcher Matt Wieters.

Scouting reports:

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood High School (Texas)

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

Donavan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Jacob Turner RHP, Westminster High School (Missouri)

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

I've added Shelby Miller and Jacob Turner, two high school pitchers, to the voting They were both oversights - they should've already been on the list. D'oh!

Poll

Who will the Baltimore Orioles take with the fifth draft pick?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

1 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

2 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

14 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

19 votes

Shelby Miller RHP, Brownwood High School (Texas)

2 votes

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

1 votes

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

0 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

18 votes

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

0 votes

Donavan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

9 votes

Jacob Turner RHP, Westminster High School (Missouri)

0 votes

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

1 votes

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

8 votes

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

27 votes

Write-in Vote (explain in comments)

1 votes

103 votes | Poll has closed

Community Mock Draft: 4th Pick Runoff

jcb9 — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:01 -0000

Kyle Gibson and Alex White are tied with 26% of the vote each. Here are the scouting reports:

Kyle Gibson

Alex White

On the surface, they look pretty similar - both right-handed starting college pitchers. As I understand it - and I make no claims of expertise here - the choice between the two comes down to safety vs. potential. Gibson is seen as the safer pick, while many think White has the higher upside.

So, again: who will the Pittsburgh Pirates take with the #4 pick?

Poll

Who will the Pittsburgh Pirates select with the #4 pick in the draft?

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

51 votes

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

39 votes

90 votes | Poll has closed

Community Mock Draft: Fourth Pick

jcb9 — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:53:08 -0000

#1: Stephen Strasburg RHP, San Diego State University (Washington Nationals)

#2: Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina (Seattle Mariners)

Ackley was the overwhelming choice for #2, but Crow won the #3 vote with a plurality of just over 30%. Most of the rest of the vote was split by Grant Green, Donovan Tate, Tyler Matzek, Alex White, and Kyle Gibson.

For this round, I added a few new names - Mike Minor, Michael Trout, and Tim Wheeler. At this point I think pretty much all the names I'm familiar with are already on the list, so I'd appreciate suggestions for who to add next time around.

Next up are the Pittsburgh Pirates. They have something of a history of being cheap-asses in he draft, going for signability and affordability over top tier talent - most famously by selected Bryan Bullington #1 overall in 2002. Even at the time, the Pirates admitted that being a fourth starter or so was probably his ceiling. They tried to change that last year, drafting Pedro Alvarez second overall and Tanner Scheppers (a top talent who fell due to injury) in the second round. However, they got a bit burned by Alvarez on his contract and Scheppers didn't sign and is again available in the draft.

Who will the Pittsburgh Pirates draft with the #4 pick?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

Donavon Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

Poll

Who will the Pittsburgh Pirates select with the #4 pick?

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

1 votes

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

28 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

1 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

18 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

17 votes

Mike Minor LHP, Vanderbilt University

0 votes

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

1 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

6 votes

Michael Trout OF, Millville High School (New Jersey)

5 votes

Donavon Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

7 votes

Tim Wheeler OF, Sacramento State University

2 votes

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

6 votes

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

28 votes

Write-in Vote (Explain in comments)

1 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

Community Mock Draft: Third Pick

jcb9 — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:28:09 -0000

#1: Stephen Strasburg RHP, San Diego State University (Washington Nationals)

#2: Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina (Seattle Mariners)

Who will the San Diego Padres draft with the #3 pick?

FYI: I added Alex White, who I meant to put on the list for the #2 pick. Again, there's a Write-In Vote option. If you select that, please explain who you want to pick. If there's anyone you feel should be added to the voting for the next pick, please let me know.

Aaron Crow RHP, Fort Worth Cats

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

Donavon Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

Poll

Who will the San Diego Padres select with the third pick in the draft?

Aaron Crow RHP, Forth Worth Cats

26 votes

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

1 votes

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

5 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

0 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

13 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

7 votes

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

0 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

3 votes

Donovan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

12 votes

Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

2 votes

Alex White RHP, University of North Carolina

5 votes

Write-In Vote (Explain in comments)

0 votes

74 votes | Poll has closed

Community Mock Draft

jcb9 — Sat, 23 May 2009 18:55:56 -0000

Over the offseason, the Community Prospect Ranking was a lot of fun, so I was thinking it might be fun to do something similar for the forthcoming draft. The people being ranked here are guys we know a lot less about than the Giants' own minor league players, but still, I'd be interested in what people have to say. I figure it could be interesting at least to the point where the Giants make their pick, and maybe through the first ten or so. Hell, maybe we'll even go nuts and do the whole first round. If nothing else, it's a good chance to learn more names and the arguments for and against the various players available.

We can skip the #1 pick, since the Nationals have already said they're taking Strasburg. So, we start with the Seattle Mariners at #2.

Here are mlb.com scouting reports for the players I've put on the poll:

Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina

Aaron Crow RHP, Fort Worth Cats

Kentrail Davis OF, University of Tennessee

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

Donavon Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

Zach Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

Inexplicably, mlb.com doesn't have a scouting report for Aaron Crow, so I linked to the first one that came up on Google. It's old, though.

I've thrown out a bunch of guys, but I'm sure there are many I'm overlooking, so I'm including a Write-In Vote option as well.

Oh, and if we do continue these, someone else should take over putting the polls together. I just don't know that much about who's available.

Poll

Who will the Seattle Mariners take with the #2 pick in the 2009 draft?

Dustin Ackley OF/1B, University of North Carolina

99 votes

Aaron Crow RHP, Fort Worth Cats

9 votes

Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri

1 votes

Mychal Givens SS, Jefferson High School (Florida)

0 votes

Grant Green SS, University of Southern California

4 votes

Tyler Matzek LHP, Capistrano Valley High School (California)

4 votes

Matt Purke RHP, Klein High School (Texas)

0 votes

Tanner Scheppers RHP, Saint Paul Saints

1 votes

Donovan Tate OF, Cartersville High School (Georgia)

0 votes

Zach Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (Georgia)

2 votes

Write-In Vote (Explain in Comments)

1 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

GRM = Larry Baer?

jcb9 — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:18:29 -0000

GRM = Larry Baer?

"An anonymous commenter defending Warriors management on the WarriorsWorld.net fan site turns out to be none other than the Warriors' own director of public relations."

I'm intrigued to think of the possibilities, if only Brian Sabean knew what the Internet was.