COMMENTS: Brown and Parker are good picks from the athlete/tools standpoint, but neither is guaranteed to help the Giants hitting attack until we see if they can handle pro pitching. Brown's speed would certainly help if he gets on base enough, but that is an open question at this stage. Rosin, Hembree, and Kickham could all be good but also have question-marks. Other picks have a similar blend of potential and weakness, and there are no sure things in this class. Overall I'm not that impressed.

Source

Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft starts at 7 p.m. ET, presented live by MLB Network and MLB.com.

Baseball America Jim Callis Mock Draft has the Giants selecting Yordy Cabrera with their first pick.

FanHouse Frank Pilliere Mock Draft has the Giants selecting Yordy Cabrera with their first pick.

Yordy! Yordy! Yordy!

MLB.com Scouting Report: Yordy Cabrera

Is you ready for some drafing?  Some Monday Nite drafting?  

What rumors have you heard?  Who do you want the Giants to select?

Everyone here has their favorite baseball links.  Whether it is for following our Giants, tracking your fantasy teams, monitoring our minor league affiliates or the baseball draft.   Following the theme of the "Share Your Info Week", what are your favorite baseball links (other than MCC of course)?

SF Giants Minor League Affiliates Page  (Great way to follow the kids)

B3: Big, Bald and Beautiful  (Jonathan Mayo)

Baseball Rumor Mill   (Great way to get inside info on draft)

Buster Posey

Madison Bumgarner

Thomas Neal

Zack Wheeler

Roger Kieschnick

Thomas Joseph

Angel Villalona

Brandon Crawford

Rafael Rodriguez

Dan Runzler

Nick Nooner

Conor Gillaspie

Ehire Adrianza

Francisco Peguero

Hector Sanchez

Jason Stoffel

Waldis Joaquin

Clayton Tanner

Darren Ford

Brett Pill

Jorge Bucardo

Henry Sosa

Eric Surkamp

Matt Graham

Jose Casilla

Ryan Cavan

Chris Dominguez

Edward Concepcion

Brock Bond

Kevin Pucetas

Ryan Rohlinger

Steve Edlefsen

Matt Downs

Brandon Belt

Wendell Fairley

Craig Clark

Chris Gloor

Mike McBryde

Steven Johnson

Aaron King

Jesus Guzman

This year the draft is being held June 7-9 in Secaucus, New Jersey. The first day will be televised by MLB Network with many of the top draftees in attendance along with Snooki and The Situation.

The Giants have the 24th pick in the first round.  The next Giants pick will be the 74th overall.

  My choices:

     Christian Colon   SS   CSF

     Stefan Sabol   C/OF   Aliso Niguel HS

     Gary Brown  CF  CSF

      ANY pitcher that Dick Tidrow recommends

Who are your draftee preferences for 2010?

MLB.com Draft Reports

Baseball America Draft Tracker

The Dugout Doctors Draft Database

Joe Ritzo from SJGiants.com with Giants minor league hitting preview.

Over the last decade, the San Francisco Giants have been known as a franchise that has struggled to develop homegrown hitting talent. However, that distinction is beginning to change, most notably due to the emergence of Pablo Sandoval as one of the better hitters in the National League.

Now entering the 2010 season, nearly all of the top prospects in the farm system are position players and several will be suiting up for teams in the upper levels of the organization as they look to take the next step in their professional careers.

Continue reading this post »

The instructionals have come to an end.  Winter ball is winding down.  The Community List is raging.  Sabean continues to kick tire.

Last season there was the 2009 Breakout Candidate fanpost.   By the way where is Waldo Sadler?

This season wanted to have a breakout SF Giants player, a breakout prospect and an organization changing player.

An organization changing player is a player who can change the course of the organization based on their good/poor performance. A player if he/she performs well the Giants will not have to go outside the organization to find a suitable replacement. A player if he/she performs poorly the Giants will no longer count on and will need to replace. Those that had Angel Villalona step forward to receive your prize.

1. Giants Player:  John Bowker
2.  Prospect:        Matt Graham
3. Organization Changing Prospect:  Brandon Crawford. If the professor explodes at AAA and becomes a top prospect, the Giants will have a quality SS and top of the order bat for many seasons to come.
   

Where have all the outfielders gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the outfielders gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the outfielders gone?
Bad soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Currently on the 25-man roster:
John Bowker
Fred Lewis
Aaron Rowand
Nate Schierholtz
Andres Torres
Eugenio Velez

When will they ever learn?

RHH:  Rowand
LHH:  Bowker, Lewis, Schierholtz
SH:   Torres. Velez

LF:  ALL
CF:  Rowand, Torres, Velez 
RF:  Rowand, Schierholtz, Torres, Velez


There are no outfielders from AAA Fresno who can come to the rescue. Do not depend on any 
Flying Squirrels. And the Giants have prioritized a search for a corner infielder?

According to Peter Gammons the Giants would offer Jason Bay a 5yr deal however Bay does not 
want to play in SF pure and simple.  Other FA outfielders available:

Rick Ankiel
Marlon Byrd - rumor to be a Cub 
Ryan Church
Coco Crisp   - to A's ?
Jack Cust
Johnny Damon
Mark DeRosa
Jermaine Dye
Jonny Gomes
Matt Holliday  
Xavier Nady
Scott Podsednik
Jeremy Reed
Marcus Thames

Bad soldiers every one?

Any one of these outfielders worth the monies?  If Sabean offered Bay 5yrs why wouldn't he 
offer Holliday 5yrs?

Ankiel on an inexpensive bargain bin deal?
Damon on a Renteria deal?
DeRosa on a 2yr deal?
Dye on a hometown discount?
Now batting leadoff for YOUR SF Giants Scott Podsednik?

Where have all the outfielders gone?
Long time passing

For Christmas me wants an outfielder. And a pony. And a rocketship.

Per Baggs:

Friday was the deadline to submit reserve lists and the Giants protected four players from the Rule 5 draft, adding 1B Brett Pill, OF Francisco Peguero, OF Darren Ford and RHP Kevin Pucetas to the 40-man roster.

Pill, a leftright-handed hitter, worked with new hitting coach Roberto Kelly Hensley Meulens earlier this month at AT&T Park and his inclusion was not a surprise after a banner year at Double-A Connecticut. He wasn’t considered a top prospect out of Cal State Fullerton and he’s still got to prove himself at every level, but he’s hit gobs of doubles while thriving in two pitcher’s parks (Connecticut’s Dodd Stadium, and two years earlier, Augusta’s ballpark). He’s also rated a better defensive first baseman than Travis Ishikawa, which is a nice compliment.

SP  Tim Lincecum

SP  Barry Zito

SP  Matt Cain

SP  Brad Penny

RP  Brian Wilson

RP  Sergio Romo

RP  Justin Miller

RP  Brandon Medders

RP  Bobby Howry

RP  Jeremy Affeldt

RP  Jonathan Sanchez

An 11 man pitching staff - four starting pitchers and seven relievers.  Would consider carrying eight relievers if Randy Johnson proves he is healthy and ready to pitch in September.  Carrying 11 pitchers would allow manager Bruce Bochy the flexibility of carrying 14 positions players.

Cot's Baseball Contracts has the Giants Opening Day payrolls for 25-man roster (salaries plus pro-rated signing bonuses): 2009: $ 82,616,450.  The Giants 2010 budget has yet to be set however FOUR AVERAGE players could command more than fifty percent of the budget.

LHP  Barry Zito   $18.5M

CF    Aaron Rowand   $12M

SS   Edgardo Renteria  $9M

2B    Freddy Sanchez   $8M  (Sabean has said he will pick up 2010 option)

  Total:  $47.5M  

And that is before Super 2 Cy Young award winner RHP Tim Lincecum earns $10M in arbitration.

The Los Angeles Clippers have reached an agreement in principle to trade guard Quentin Richardson to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Sebastian Telfair, Mark Madsen and Craig Smith, leagues sources said Monday.

The trade is expected to be finalized later Monday. The Clippers had previously been in negotiations with free agent guards Ramon Sessions and Allen Iverson.

Telfair is signed thru 10/11:  09/10:   $2.5M    /   10/11   $2.7M

Madsen: is signed thru 09/10:   $2.84M

Smith:  is signed thru 09/10    $2.5M

Source:  Yahoo Sports

Edit:  Telfair has a player option for 2010/2011

Randy Winn is in the final year of his contract. Young  LHHs John Bowker, Fred Lewis and Nate Schierholtz are vying for two spots on the roster.  One of these players may be dealt.  Are they ML regulars?  The farm has no one available at AAA Fresno.  AA Connecticut has Eddy Martinez-Esteve but management seems to overlook him.

Most of the corner outfield talent is in the lower minors.  McCoven favorite, Thomas Neal, is viewed as a 4th outfielder by another McCoven favorite, Keith Law.  Roger Kieschnick has done well with his aggressive push to A+ ball in his first full season.

17 year old Rafael Rodriguez is making contact and holding his own in AZ rookie league.

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

My top Giants corner outfield prospects:

1.  Thomas Neal  A+

2.  Roger Kieschnick  A+

3.  Eddy Martinez-Esteve   AA

4.  Rafael Rodriguez  R

 Who are your top SF Giants top corner outfield prospects?

The organization has been blessed with some quality 1b throughout the decades.  Stretch.  Big Mac.  This blog's namesake Willie Lee McCovey is a HOFer.  Today the Giants have LHH Travis Ishikawa manning the corner.  The farm is filled with potential stars and power bats. 

Soon to be 19 yr old Angel Villalona was move from 3b to 1b.  Still raw and learning Villalona is years away from contributing at the big club.  Doubles machine Brett Pill has been turning some of the doubles into HRs this season. Pill is a superior defensive 1b.

Jesus Guzman best position is in the batters box.  The brother can hit and often leaves his glove at home.  Third round pick Chris Domingurz was drafted as a 3b however the Giants have been playing him at 1b. CD has lighttower power and a great arm.

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

My top Giants 1b prospects:

1.  Angel Villalona   A+

2.  Brett Pill   AA

3.  Chris Dominguez  R

4.  Jesus Guzman   AAA

 Who are your top SF Giants top 1b prospects?

Third base. The Hot Corner.  Pablo Sandoval is currently playing third base at an All-Star level for our SF Giants. Yes, the Giants are currently blessed.  Previously the Giants drafted third baseman Nate Schierholtz now a RF.  They signed third baseman Angel Villalona now a 1b.  Recent third round pick Chris Dominguez was drafted as a third baseman is playing 1b for the same team that has 22nd round pick Andrew Biery playing 3b.  

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

My top Giants 3b prospects:

1.  Ryan Rohlinger   AAA

2.  Conor Gillaspie   A+

3.  Charlie Culberson

 Who are your top SF Giants top 3b prospects?

Second base.  Manny Burriss beats out Kevin Frandsen in spring training.  Burriss struggles and is demoted to AAA.  Franny gets his chances with bereavement leaves. Top minor league prospect Nick Noonan has been struggling at A+ San Jose.  The kid in AA is quietly having a fine season.  And now a 40-something rounder is lighting it up in rookie ball.  Oh, and the Velez experiment did not work out. 

Robby Thompson must be rolling over in his grave.  What's that?  He is alive you say?

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

My top Giants 2b prospects:

1.  Kevin Frandsen

2.  Manny Burriss   AAA

3.  Brock Bond   AA

4.  Nick Noonan A+

5.  Juan Martinez  R

 Who are your top SF Giants top 2b prospects?

Winning teams are consistently strong up the middle defensively.  While the SF Giants have few if any top SS and CF prospects the position of catcher can soon be manned by a perennial All-Star in Gerald (Buster) Posey. Be patient Giants brass and do not rush him.

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

My top Giants catching prospects:

1.  Gerald Posey   A+

2.  Jackson Williams   AA

3.  Matt Klimas  A

4.  Johnny Monell A

5.  Tyler LaTorre  AA

 Who are your top SF Giants top catching prospects?

The shortstop position is thought as the most important defensive position in baseball.  Currently the SF Giants have Edgar Renteria as their starting shortstop.  Renteria is under contract through the 2010 season with a team option for the 2011 season.  The Giants will have a new shortstop in 2011. Who?  My favorite candidate would be Elvis Andrus.  Ain't gonna happen. I know.  But what prospects do the Giants have?

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

My top organization prospect shortstops:

1.  Ehire Adrianza    A

2.  Brandon Crawford    AA

3.  Brian Bocock    A+

Who are your top SF Giants shortstop prospects?

For an organization that had one of the greatest players ever roaming centerfield the Giants centerfield prospects are very lean.  Aaron Rowand is under contract for another 3.5 years however the minors are quite bare.

Here is my organization top prospects centerfielders

1.  Mike McBryde  AA

2.  Karl Benusa  R

3.  Eugenio Velez  AAA

Who are your SF Giants top centerfield prospects?

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

Continue reading this post »

The Giants are going to make a trade this summer.  "It's gonna happen whether you like it or not".  That was a comment made by GM Brian Sabean. Or was it the mayor?  Either way, the Giants trading partner will most likely seek pitching in return for a bat Sabean craves.

What pitching prospects do the Giants have?  Which prospects should the Giants retain which pitching prospects should the Giants offer in trade?  How do you rank the Giants pitching prospects?  

What is your SF Giants starting pitching prospects Top 10?

1.  LHP  Madison Bumgarner

2.  RHP  Tim Alderson

3.  LHP  Scott Barnes

4,  RHP  Henry Sosa

5.  LHP  Craig Clark

6.  RHP  Jorge Bucardo

7.  LHP  Clayton Tanner

8.  RHP  Kevin Pucetas

9.  LHP  Eric Surkamp

10.  LHP  Aaron King

AAA Fresno Grizzlies

AA Connecticut Defenders

A+ San Jose Giants

A Augusta GreenJackets

A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

R Arizona Giants

The SF Giants have a one game lead in the NL Wild Card race.  The lead in the wild card race can be traced to the success of the Giants pitching.  Lead by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, the starters have been very good.  GM Brian Sabean focused on rebuilding the bullpen this offseason and should receive high marks.  The bullpen has been lights out.

Sabean sez: "we know what we need" when talking about potential trades. There is a report that Giants mananaging partner William Neukom is said to be purshing hard for action. 

The Giants are contenders.  Sabean will make a trade.  Giants have some relievers and prospects to deal.  Along with one of the three LHH outfielders (Lewis, Schierholtz and Bowker).  October baseball will be fun.

1.  Madison Bumganer:  NO

2.  Gerald Posey: NO

3.  Tim Alderson:  Yes

4.  Angel Villalona:  Yes

5.  Thomas Neal:  Yes

6.  Henry Sosa:  Yes

7.  Nick Noonam: Yes

8.  Conor Gillaspie:  Yes

9.  Roger Kieschnick:  Yes

10.  Eddy Martinez- Esteve: Only if Jacks Williams stays

Which SF prospects are you willing to trade for the bat Sabean will be trading for?