SB Nation User Blog: wilriv21

Some scouts believe Randy Winn will be a hot name as the July 31 trade deadline approaches

wilriv21 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:35:34 -0000

Hank Schulman writes Randy Winn will be a hot name as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. One team with apparent interest is the Atlanta Braves. The Braves could then use Winn as their everyday LF.

Trading Winn would serve multiple purposes for the SF Giants. The trade would then open up an OF spot for the Giants to promote Nate Schierholtz if so desired and could save the Giants from the obligation of the $8.125M owed to Winn for 2009 season. Monies the organization could use for scouting and player development.

Braves 40-Man Roster.

Braves Baseball America Top 10 list dated November 5, 2007.

Braves Baseball Prospectus Top10 list dated January 15, 2008.

Possibly GM Brian Sabean could package Winn and a reliever to Atlanta to bring back some young talented infield prospects or pitching.

Which Atlanta player(s) should GM Brian Sabean target in trade for Winn?

Tim Russert has passed

wilriv21 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:56:32 -0000

NBC Washing News bureau chief and host of "Meet The Press" , Tim Russert has died today at the age of 58 from a heart attack. Tim was on the Board of Directors of the Baseball HOF. Thank you for your great work. Gonna miss you Little Russ.

Asked who was his favorite sports interview and he said Yogi Berra, by far. I kidded him, "Yogi, is it true you walked into a pizzeria and the waiter said, 'Do you want your pizza cut into six or eight slices?' And you said, 'Six, I can't eat eight.'" He said, "I'm too nervous to talk." I go, "Yogi, here's the interview: Whatever I say, whatever comes to your mind, just say it, OK?" He says, "OK." I said, "Mickey Mantle." He says, "What about him?"


	Don't tell Yogi that Robinson was safe in the '55 World Series.

I had Yogi, Whitey Ford and Phil Rizzuto, and they all said Jackie Robinson was safe coming into home plate (stealing home in the 1955 World Series). Yogi went crazy on the air, swearing in Italian, swearing in English. Rizzuto says, "I saw the tag, you gotta put the glove down!" One of the viewers saw it, sent me a photograph; and Rizzuto wasn't even on the field. He was in the dugout. They just do it to get Yogi's goat.

Untouchables, Keepers and Plums

wilriv21 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:50:59 -0000

There have been a flood of Fan Posts in the last few days whether the Giants could be buyers, who they can trade, what Sabean should do and predicting future line-ups.

Predict the 2010 Opening Day Roster

Sabean must come through......

Why the big rush to trade everyone for "B Level or C Level" guys

People we could trade

Could we be buyers at the deadline?

Our SF Giants are only five games out in the NL West. This division is there for the taking. The SF Giants have the pitching and defense to win the NL West this season. Where the Giants are lacking is another bat in the middle of the order. The Giants have the resources to go out and get that bat. The difference making availables bats will not come cheap, they seldom do. Is Sabean willing to trade for that bat?

Do you the fans want the Giants to trade for that bat?

Steve S Furture Top 40 dated June 5, 2008

1. 1B Angel Villalona
2. RHP Timothy Alderson
3. LHP Madison Bumgarner
4. RHP Henry Sosa
5. 2B Nick Noonan
6. LF John Bowker
7. RF Nate Schierholtz
8. CF Wendell Fairley
9. SS Emmanuel Burriss
10. RHP Merkin Valdez
11. 2B Eugenio Velez
12. LHP Clayton Tanner
13. LHP Alex Hinshaw
14. C Pablo Sandoval
15. 2B Travis Denker
16. LHP Benjamin Snyder
17. RHP Billy Sadler
18. SS Brian Bocock
19. RHP Kelvin Pichardo
20. RHP Osiris Matos
21. RHP Wilbur Bucardo
22. LHP Paul Oseguera
23. LHP Erick Threets
24. LHP Jesse English
25. RHP Sergio Romo
26. LF Brian Horwitz
27. 1B Travis Ishikawa
28. 1B Thomas Neal
29. SS Charlie Culberson
30. RHP Brian Anderson
31. CF Clay Timpner
32. LF Eddy Martinez-Esteve
33. RHP Waldis Joaquin
34. CF Ben Copeland
35. RHP Adam Cowart
36. CF Michael McBryde
37. RHP Kevin Pucetas
38. C Adam Witter
39. 2B Matt Downs
40. RHP Nick Pereira

John Sickels SF Top 20 dated January 15, 2008

Angel Villalona, 3B, Grade B+
Henry Sosa, RHP Grade B
Tim Alderson, RHP, Grade B
Madison Burmgarner, LHP, Grade B-
Nate Schierholtz, OF, Grade B-
Nick Noonan, 2B, Grade B-
Clayton Tanner, LHP, Grade B-
Eugenio Velez, UT, Grade B-
Wendell Fairley, OF, Grade C+
John Bowker, OF, Grade C+
Charlie Culberson, INF, Grade C+
Osiris Matos, RHP, Grade C+
Wilber Bucardo, RHP, Grade C+
Jose Capellan, LHP, Grade C
Sergio Romo, RHP, Grade C+
Travis Denker, 2B, Grade C+
Emmanuel Burriss, SS, Grade C
Nick Pereira, RHP, Grade C
Ben Copeland, OF, Grade C
Benjamin Snider, LHP, Grade C

What GM Sabean & Co. need to determine are which SF Giants prospects are the untouchables, keepers and plums of the organization. The prospects that have a realistic chance of being future All-Stars, perennial All-Stars or HOFers. These are the prospects that are to be retained and developed.

The prospects that could eventually become MLers or at best an average everyday player then can be used in trades. Not every player in the prospect Top 10 becomes a star or even a MLer.

Here is a SF Giants Top 10 from Baseball America dated February 16, 2005:

1. Matt Cain, rhp
2. Merkin Valdez, rhp
3. Fred Lewis, of
4. Eddy Martinez-Esteve, of
5. Nate Schierholtz, of/3b
6. Alfredo Simon, rhp
7. Brad Hennessey, rhp
8. Craig Whitaker, rhp
9. David Aardsma, rhp
10. Travis Ishikawa, 1b

This list is from three years ago. Matt Cain was a keeper. Most of the other top prospects have yet panned out. A couple may yet prove to be worth keeping while at least 6 of these players have yet to prove much.

Yes, the Giants can contend in 2008. Yes, the Giants can trade some of their prospects for a middle of the order bat. Yes, the Giants can contend, trade prospects and still build for the future. They can and should.

While I do not believe any player is an untouchable, here is my list of SF Giant players and prospects I wish they do not trade:

Tim Lincecum
Madison Bumgarner
Angel Villalona
Henry Sosa

Who do you think are the SF untouchables, keepers or plums which you would not trade?

With a mock mock here and a mock mock there

wilriv21 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:56:51 -0000

With all the anticipation for Thursday's draft I decided to review which source had the best inside skinny in the 2007 mock drafts. David Price was the sure fire #1 pick. After that the mock boards were all over the place. As we will find out many teams like to play it close to the vest, signability is an issue and evaluating players is not a science.

Team	Actual	Jim Callis	Jonathan Mayo	Kevin Goldstein	John Sickels	Keith Law
1. Rays	Price	Price	Price	Price	Price	Price
2. Royals	Moustakas	Vitters	Vitters	Vitters	Wieters	Vitters
3. Cubs	Vitters	Parker	Parker	Parker	Porcello	Dominguez
4. Pirates	Moskos	Detwiler	Moskos	Mesoraco	Vitters	Detwiler
5. Orioles	Weiters	Aumont	Detwiler	Detwiler	Moustakas	Aumont
6. Nationals	Detwiler	Moustakas	Moustakas	Wieters	Mills	Moustakas
7. Brewers	LaPorta	Mesoraco	Mesoraco	Moustakas	Parker	Wieters
8. Rockies	Weathers	Moskos	Weathers	Dominguez	Detwiler	Heyward
9. DBacks	Parker	Schmidt	Schmidt	Moskos	Heyward	Moskos
10. Giants	Bumgarner	Wieters	Wieters	Weathers	Bumgarner	Parker
11. Mariners	Aumont	Weathers	Doolittle	Schmidt	Aumont	Schmidt
12. Marlins	Dominguez	Borbon	Aumont	Heyward	Harvey	Bumgarner
13. Indians	Mills	Beavan	Beavan	Beavan	Moskos	Beavan
14. Braves	Heyward	Heyward	Main	Smoker	Smoker	Smoker
15. Reds	Mesoraco	Kozma	Dominguez	Aumont	Dominguez	Weathers
16. Blue Jays	Aherns	Dominguez	Mills	Arencibia	Mesoraco	Mills
17. Rangers	Beavan	Main	Borbon	Harvey	Beavan	Alderson
18. Cardinals	Kozma	LaPorta	Ahrens	Borbon	Ahrens	Harvey
19. Phillies	Savery	Withrow	Heyward	Main	Jackson	Burgess
20. Dodgers	Withrow	Bumgarner	Smoker	Bumgarner	Alderson	Mattair
21. Blue Jays	Arencibia	Arencibia	Kozma	Simmons	Noonan	Kozma
22. Giants	Alderson	Poreda	Poreda	Mills	Brown	Poreda
23. Padres	Schmidt	Simmons	Simmons	Savery	Main	Simmons
24. Rangers	Main	Porcello	Harvey	Ahrens	Borbon	Borbon
25. White Sox	Poreda	Jackson	Withrow	Alderson	LaPorta	Noonan
26. Athletics	Simmons	Mills	Frazier	Poreda	Weathers	Adkins
27. Tigers	Porcello	Alderson	Alderson	Porcello	Frazier	Brackman
28. Twins	Revere	Savery	Bumgarner	Middlebrooks	Mangini	Cumberlad
29. Giants	Fairley	Smoker	Noonan	Frazier	Griffith	Fairley
30. Yankees	Brackman	Harvey	Porcello	LaPorta	Brackman	Porcello

Middle relievers give Giants room to deal

wilriv21 — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:04:08 -0000

The Giants are actively shopping several players according to sources. The Giants have informed other clubs that relievers Tyler Walker, Jack Taschner and Vinnie Chulk are available in fair-value deals. The club also is soliciting offers for Erick Threets and Brad Hennessey, who is starting for Triple-A Fresno. Closer Brian Wilson is not among the players the Giants are keen on moving.

The sudden motivation to deal relief pitching is twofold: several contenders are in bullpen crisis mode, and the Giants believe they have several younger relievers who are emerging or on the cusp of doing so. Left-hander Alex Hinshaw and right-hander Billy Sadler have impressed since joining the club and right-hander Merkin Valdez is viewed as a prime setup man once he returns from the disabled list. Sergio Romo, Kelvin Pichardo and Osiris Matos are all pitching well for Double-A Connecticut, with Matos posting a 1.37 ERA in 18 games.

Let the bidding begin.

Angel Villalona Breaks into BA Hot Prospects Sheet

wilriv21 — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:41:52 -0000

No. 3 ANGEL VILLALONA, 1B

GIANTS

Team: low Class A Augusta (South Atlantic)
Age: 17
Why he's here: .360/.385/.800 (9-for-25), 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 R
The Scoop: Villalona had a tough April, hitting only .213/.273/.325, but we can forgive him for that since he's the youngest player in full-season ball at the tender age of 17. That, and May has been a different story as the Giants' top prospect is hitting .275/.296/.436 this month. Villalona has hits in 10 of his last 12 games, with four multi-hit games mixed in, and he's already hit five home runs in May after hitting only one in April. His week was highlighted by a monster effort on Sunday against Columbus, when he went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs.

Giants seeking top-tier talent at No. 5 draft pick

wilriv21 — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:31:29 -0000

"Eight or nine guys in the mix"

The scoop: John Barr, the Giants' special assistant to the general manager who's in charge of scouting, is both certain and unsure about the club's status with its first-round pick. Citing the lack of a consensus over the likely top draftees, Barr said, "the four teams in front of us don't know who they're going to get." Hence, neither does San Francisco. He said, noting that the Giants have "eight or nine guys in the mix" who they're considering at No. 5.

First-round buzz: Given San Francisco's lack of thump at the Major League level at the infield corners, fans have clamored for the Giants to select a first or third baseman, such as Vanderbilt's Pedro Alvarez, South Carolina's Justin Smoak or Arizona State's Brett Wallace. If the four teams ahead of the Giants deplete the pool of attractive position players, they could lean toward selecting a pitcher.

Shopping list: The Giants have tried to replenish their farm system with the last two drafts, although the bulk of their more attractive prospects remain in the lower Minors. Third base could be an area of need, especially if 17-year-old prospect Angel Villalona settles at first base instead of third. The outfield could use some restocking. And catching remains a priority, even though they drafted Jackson Williams 43rd overall last year.

Which eight or nine guys are the SF Giants considering at No.5?

Here is my list:

Pedro Alvarez 3b
Brian Matusz LHP
Tim Beckham SS
Aaron Crow RHP
Justin Smoak 1b
Eric Hosmer 1b
Tanner Scheppers RHP
Yonder Alonso
Buster Posey C

Blend of hiters, pitchers, mostly college players with a dash of some high school kids.

Giants placed RHP Kevin Correia the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain

wilriv21 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:52:25 -0000

Correia, who left his start Saturday in the first inning, could miss a month. Patrick Misch is up from Triple-A and figures to be the choice to take his rotation spot. Misch will be available out of the pen today, but he's expected to take Kevin Correia's spot in the rotation next weekend.

Why not keep Misch as second LHP in pen and build up the arm strength of Merkin Valdez as a starter?

OT: Website project

wilriv21 — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:07:24 -0000

This request has been cleared by McCovey Chronicles

While posting here at McCovey Chronicles I have found many of the McCoven faithful to not only know their baseball but also be quite technical and internet savvy. We have a project for a web site create that will use flash and a customer database. If you have the experience and technical knowledge to complete such a project please contact me at: wilriv@yahoo.com for more information.

We have been supplied with many references to complete our project, however, our first preference would be some local talent within the EST to PST time zones.

Thank you.

Watch Sanchez vs Johnson for FREE on MLB.tv

wilriv21 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:48:58 -0000

The D-backs are making the game, which will not be broadcast on FSN Arizona, available on MLB.TV FREE of charge without a local blackout in the Phoenix area.

'With Doug down, I think the timing is pretty good for [Johnson] coming back," Melvin said. "His last outing was encouraging for him. He felt the best he had felt. He got his six innings in, he got his pitch count in, the strikeouts were up a little bit and he was a little bit better with his slider."

After being on a specific pitch count in his two Minor League outings, Johnson will not be on a limited in San Francisco. Melvin said he will gauge the pitch count on how he's throwing.