So the Giants drafted two well respected college hitters this year with their two first picks. The question is, where will they start off the season? I mean they are advanced hitters right, so will Sabes start them off in San Jose or do they go safe and put them in low a ball? What do you guys predict? And what are your opinions?

I for one hope the Giants start these advanced college hitters off in San Jose.

Something came up, and it looks like I will have to unfortunately leave before this draft ends. I have already made three picks, but there are still at least three more coming up.  Can we have a backup person designated so that if I’m not there, that person can step up and take over.

So far I have taken

Right Handed Pitcher Gerrit Cole Orange Lutheran High school, California

First Baseman David Cooper California

Left Handed Pitcher Tim Murphy UCLA

Hey guys,

While I am not a Cubbies fan first, I do like the team, and I promise to put in the research about the organization to help us have the best draft possible.  With that being said, I would like any input possible. I have done two past drafts: one as the Giants and one as the Reds last year.

2006 Giants draft

1st round: RHP Kyle Drabek 
1st supplemental: RHP Bryan Morris
3rd round: LHP Wade LeBlanc
4th round: OF Brennan Boesch
5th round: SS Chris Valaika

Notes: This draft has been hit hard by injuries to Drabek and Morris. Though I really liked their arms as power pitchers with big breaking balls.  High potential pitchers. I mixed early high school picks with college players.  Valaika seems to have been a good draft pick so far. He was hitting .360/.390/.581 with 7hrs in 136 at bats in high A this year. LeBlanc had also been doing very well until a bump this year in AAA.

2007 Reds Draft

15: 3B Matt Dominguez
34: LHP Nick Hagadone
53: LHP Jack McGeary
79: RHP Sam Demel
104: C Cameron Rupp
109: SS Brian Friday
139: 1B John Kaskow

Notes: This draft, I had a balanced mix of high school and college players. Dominguez is struggling in low A right now. Hagadone has done very well both years so far. It is hard to evaluate McGeary, but scouting places seem to like him a lot. Demel is doing pretty well in high A right now. Rupp has been a pretty solid player for the Texas Longhorns. Friday has a solid if unspectacular line in high A right now. Kaskow is a freshman with Stanford right now.

I provided those to just give you a sense of how I have drafted in the past. Looking at the organization's prospects, it appears that the Cubs dont have too much talent either in terms of hitting or pitching. In the majors, a lot of the stars are over 30 years old. Basically, I think in this draft, I am going to target best player possible with each pick.  I may stick to my past strategy of mixing high school and college players.

The Cubs have picks 19, 41, 65, 97, 131, 161. 

I have some guys in mind for the first picks, but I will need assistance with the later picks.  I am just going to name a lot of names, and get your opinions on them. What do you guys feel between Gerrit Cole and Alex Meyer? I don’t know much about Meyer at all.  Other guys to consider are Casey Kelly, Brett Wallace, Gillaspie, Weeks. What do you guys think?

I saw BA's top 20 prospects and didnt see Delin Betances.  I am really intrigued by him and was wondering if anyone knew how he was doing this year.

Also, I read this about Kyle Drabek and Kasey Kiker.  Kyle Drabek "the Woodlands (Texas) High righthander Kyle Drabek has as much pure physical ability and aptitude as anyone...he delivers a mid-90s fastball and two quality breaking balls with ease...Kasey Kiker of Russell County High (Seale, Ala.) has arguably the best raw arm strength among prep lefthanders. He regularly hits 95-96 mph for the defending national high school champions."

So they are really talented.
But what is alarming is what I read afterwards, "Yet Drabek and Kiker may not go as high as their talent alone would warrant. Scouts have expressed worries about their makeup, both on and off the diamond."(Drabek) will still go in the first round . . . but you better do your homework on him. Kasey Kiker, too," a second AL scouting director said. "On the mound, they're both top 10 picks. But with all the other stuff, it's hard to pick those guys."

Does anyone know what those scouts are referring to??  And how much should or does a prospect's makeup affect him?

John Manuel of BA had a chat today where he discussed top minor leaguers at various positions.  

Giants fans (like myself) should be pretty happy after the chat today, because Manuel wrote glowing reports regarding SS Marcus Sanders.

Here are some excerpts from the FREE CONTENT.

Q: Rowdy Hardy from Clarksville, TN asks:
Who would consider the best base stealer in the minors? Anyone to challenge Ricky Henderson's records in near or distant future?

A: John Manuel: Marcus Sanders is my pick, speed with savvy and the boldness to steal a lot of bases. But no one's touching Rickey's 130 or career mark in the near future, not that I can see, people just don't play that way anymore and Rickey was a very unique player.

Q: Ian from Illadelph asks:
Please justify Marcus Sanders over Dustin Pedroia. My BA subscription renewal rests upon your answer. The clock is ticking...

A: John Manuel: That's a ceiling deal, and I like Pedroia a lot. I consider Sanders the best leadoff hitter in the minors--a line-drive bat, ability to take a walk and game-changing speed combined with baserunning savvy. Just harder to find than Pedroia's tools, and that's even with Pedroia's tools playing up because of his outstanding makeup, drive and desire.

My analysis: I am pretty excited because I have always wanted the Giants to be more active on the basepaths.  Manuel considers him the best leadoff man with the potential to change the game with his speed!! Another real plus is that Sanders can take a walk and can GET ON BASE where he then can wreak havoc on the other teams.  If he can continue to stay at the MI spot (which is no guarantee with his injury problems to his arm), then he may be able to eventually  become an "impact" player.

What other ideas/comments did you guys see as interesting in that chat?

Guys,

These are the rumors that I am hearing...AJ Burnett will go to the Cards though I am not sure what the contract will be.  I really do not know what to think, but if this is true, I think that this means for sure Jason Marquis is as good as gone.

What does everyone else think about this move?  IF TRUE, how much better does this upgrade the Cards? And has anyone else heard this rumor?

Hey Met Fans,

I'm here on the West Coast and so dont hear much about if he will sign.  With Omar Minaya so busy this offseason, have you guys heard anything about him signing this guy. I think Pelfrey is a potential frontline starter and they need to get him signed.  So has anyone heard anything about his signing status?  And, will he go to high A to start off?  What is a reasonable timeline for Pelfrey's road to the majors?

And finally, another thing.  Same questions about Luke Hochevar.  What is happening with him?  Justin Upton is a draft and follow right?

Thanks guys.

I am really curious about him as to what his future holds.  Can he continue to gradually improve as he had been doing prior to this injury filled 2005 season?  In his first full major league season in 2003, he hit 11 homeruns with 89 runs, 78 rbis, and had 27 stolen bases along with .289 average and a .326 OBP. He had 30 BBs compared to 128k's.  In his second big league season, he hit 16 homeruns, scored 79 runs, had 74 rbis, 17 stolen bases, .280 average with a .326 OBP.  He also had 30 BBs with 88 k's...all this coming in about a 100 less at bats than 03.  I think I saw somewhere, that he was BA's prospect of the year at least once, maybe twice.  So he has quite the pedigree.  

But this past year, he has suffered from numerous injuries.  What does the future hold for him, next year and beyond (he still is only 24 years old)?  Will he be able to continue his progression.  Will his speed be sapped from him due to injury or will he maybe one day be able to become a possible 25-25 man?  What will the Drays do with him?

And on a fantasy note, between Alex Gordon and
Billy Butler...who is going to be the better overall hitter?  I am assuming Gordon will play 3B and Butler will play OF.  I personally think that Gordon will be a little less of a hitter than Butler but safer.  What do you guys all think?

Hey JOhn,

Can you think about doing one of these for the Giants next week?  I would really appreciate it and I think that it would be very very interesting to do one for the Giants.

Sabean is faced with many many questions this offseason.  With this being Bonds possibly last year in 2006, what does he have to do shore up the team and make a run for it?  It looks like they definitely need another starting pitcher, like a #2.  Who do they target either in trades or FA??  They need more power at the corner infield spots in order to "protect" Bonds (Fonzie and Snow just dont cut it).  What does Sabean do?  Are Hennessey and Correia worthy of pitching in the Giants rotation?  What can you count on from Cain?  Will Lowry be able to build on his impressive August?  There are many other questions.

With regards to the farm system...the single A team offensively performed very well.  Who do you promote?  What route do you take with Eddy Esteve, who can hit but cant field??  What about Freddy Lewis?  Merkin Valdez remains a mystery, where should he pitch next year? And what about Frandsen?  

Though the Giants have usually been very conservative in their draft strategy which route should they go in this upcoming draft? It seems they have a lack of pitching in their system.  Should they draft a lot of young, high ceiling pitchers or take polished college pitchers?  Do they also need to target more IF's, if so high ceiling players or polished ones?? I am wondering any other people's opinions too...

How far apart are they talent wise?? I remember reading on BA, that Drew has 20/30 potential...
I am not sure how much stealing ability Kinsler has, but it seems he may be able to hit 15-20 hrs at Arlington right??

And where does everyone feel Drew will eventually wind up playing for the Dbacks?  And is Ian Kinsler going to take over 2B once Soriano is probably traded??