Brian Sabean's Greatest Hits

by GiantJim on Jan 13, 2007 5:07 PM PST

I also did this during last season. I'm not much of a football fan, so I'm at it again.

Who are the best players, based on MLB performance, who have been drafted or signed by Brian Sabean for the Giants? Ten drafts. According to me, here they are:

Francisco Liriano
Age 23, 145 IP, 13-5, 163 ERA+, 1.02 WHIP, 4.53 K/BB, 11.0 K/9, FA 2000
Only 145 career innings, but those are Hall of Fame rate numbers. Who knows if the IP will follow?

Matt Cain
Age 22, 237 IP, 15-13, 117 ERA+, 1.21 WHIP, 1.97 K/BB, 7.9 K/9, 1st 2002
If he could re-create his career avg. this season, I think the Giants, and most of the rest of us, would be very happy. Probably needs to improve his BB rate to get to the next level.

Noah Lowry
Age 26, 462 IP, 26-23, 106 ERA+, 1.31 WHIP, 2.06 K/BB, 6.5 K/9, 1st 2001
Is it me, or does he not seem as good as these stats? If he keeps it up, he's going to be one rich man in a few years. The follow up to last season's 4.7 K/9 is worth watching.

Scott Linebrink
Age 30, 372 IP, 25-10, 132 ERA+, 1.26 WHIP, 2.45 K/BB, 7.9 K/BB, 2nd 1997
He didn't amount to much when they traded him to the Astros, but the Giants sure could have used his performance the last few years.

Boof Bonser
Age 25, 100 IP, 7-6, 106 ERA+, 1.28 WHIP, 3.5 K/BB, 7.6 K/9, 1st 2000
Wait no longer. Only 100 innings, but those periphials are something to keep an eye on. Ecspecially because his problem in the Giants organization was BB, which now appears to be a strength.

Clay Hensley
Age 27, 235 IP, 12-13, 126 ERA+, 1.28 WHIP, 1.62 K/BB, 5.7 K/9, 8th 2001
The ERA and the K rate don't seem to go together, which means that he's likely not this good. The 2003 mid-season trade which sent him packing, seems worse and worse, mostly because Herges' good stint with the Giants made Nathan tradable. Sorry.

Kevin Correia
Age 26, 186 IP,, 7-7, 100 ERA+, 1.46 WHIP, 1.74 K/BB, 6.9 K/9, 4th 2002
Last season, was by far his best, so hopefully he's better than this.

Jeremy Accardo
Age 25, 99 IP, 3-9, 90 ERA+, 1.33 WHIP, 2.41 K/BB, 6.4 K/9, FA 2003
This is the 8th best player? His stinky 28 IP with Toronto hurt his small sample stats, but his periphrials point out that he can stick around for awhile.

Jonathon Sanchez
Age 24, 40 IP, 3-1, 91 ERA+, 1.55 WHIP, 1.43 K/BB, 7.4 K/9, 27th Rd. 2004
Well, his potential is a lot better than his to-date performance. But even so, one can pick out his relief-only numbers and K rate as plus signs.

Brad Hennessey
Age 27, 235 IP, 12-16, 95 ERA+, 1.47 WHIP, 1.20 K/BB, 4.7 K/9, 1st 2001
Not to be periphial stat Nazi, but I think this will be his last season with a major role on the Giants. Diminishing returns.

Not using pure potential for this exercise. So Lincecum, Wilson, Sadler, etc.. will have to wait their turn to make the list. If it was potential only, Jesse Foppert might head the list. And Jerome Williams (and Ainsworth, etc..) doesn't count since he is out of baseball.

So, who's the best non-pitcher? Linden?

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Comments

Re: Brian Sabean's Greatest Hits

I think Lowry was as good as those stats, just not last year. He's a finesse guy, but his curve and change up do actually get strikeouts. I think everyone here will attest, when he's on Noah's a very, very good pitcher.

I don't think it's out of the question that Lowry, if he recoevers from those injuries could make Zito our third best pitcher this year.

I'm not saying that is going to happen, but it is very possible. (That Matt Cain could outpitch Zito this year I consider not just a live possibility but something worth betting on).

zhongguo mei you bangqiu

by oldjacket on Jan 13, 2007 7:50 PM PST reply actions

Jerome Williams

Williams is not out of baseball. He just signed with the Nationals, and will likely be in their starting rotation in 2007.

by Skaldheim on Jan 13, 2007 8:13 PM PST reply actions

Re: Jerome Williams

I'd also consider giving credit to Williams's peak value. At one point he would have garnered some of the best players in baseball in trade. That has to count for something.

Also, I posted this from my Wii. I took me twenty minutes, but I did it because I could.

by Grant Brisbee on Jan 13, 2007 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

That's nothing

I posted this from my new APPLE iMicrowave, by putting it on "baked potato" for ten minutes.

And I did it because I shouldn't.

by Moggeee on Jan 14, 2007 12:14 AM PST up reply actions

Re: That's nothing

Idiot! Steamed vegetables! No wonder you're posts are dried out.

Save The Pitcher. Save The World

by E Ticket on Jan 14, 2007 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

Re: That's nothing

The one-touch setting for "baked potato" on my microwave is "4:20".

by satyricrash on Jan 14, 2007 7:28 PM PST up reply actions

Tech Wars

Your microwave must have the new Intel Dual Core food proecessor.

by Moggeee on Jan 14, 2007 11:25 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Jerome Williams

Williams career numbers are not too far behind Lowry and he is a year younger. But his numbers over the last two seasons, when three teams have given up on him, have been a dead ringer for Hennessey. He never was much of strikeout pitcher and now he is pretty pedestrian. Like Hennessey, I think it's diminshing returns. I doubt it's likely that he starts for the Nationals. He has to turn around his mechanics, his physical conditioning and confidence problems. That's a lot.

I'd probably still rate him below Hennessey, giving William's last couple of seasons a lot more weight than his first two.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix

by GiantJim on Jan 14, 2007 9:45 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Jerome Williams

He needs the new E Kitchen Magician/George Foreman Deep Fryer.

Jerome has an option to play Humpty Dumpty in the "Its a Small World" exhibit at Disney World.

Save The Pitcher. Save The World

by E Ticket on Jan 14, 2007 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

That's nothing

I posted this from my new APPLE iMicrowave, by putting it on "baked potato" for ten minutes.

And I did it because I shouldn't.

by Moggeee on Jan 13, 2007 11:55 PM PST reply actions

If something's life-changing, it's worth repeating

Steve Job has paid for multiple product insertions in this episode of the Chronicles.

by Moggeee on Jan 14, 2007 12:16 AM PST up reply actions

Product Insertions?

I didn't realize this was that kind of site.

by Skaldheim on Jan 14, 2007 10:13 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Product Insertions?

You just have to put on Barry White and look at the screen a little sideways and you will begin to feel it. Yeah, Baby!

or was that Humm Baby?

yob

by Sayhey on Jan 14, 2007 11:11 AM PST up reply actions

Guaranteed, or your money (and clothes) back

The Hummm Baby is now available on the Shop Erotic Channel, as well as your local McCovey T-Shirt Store.

by Moggeee on Jan 14, 2007 3:13 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Brian Sabean's Greatest Hits

You correctly point out that Brian Sabean hasn't drafted much of anyone as a position player. Not only have the position players who came up during his regime not been great -- Rich Aurilia, Marvin Benard, Billy Mueller and Pedro Feliz -- they weren't even Sabean draftees.

I would concur that the best of the lot would be Linden, although Jason Ellison has actually had better stats at the major-league level. But I like Todd because I think that somewhere between 2007 and 2010 he will demonstrate the ability to be a fourth outfielder/more than occasional starter.

Look at how long it took Todd to develop in AAA. Why should we think he will adjust to the majors more quickly? But he looked far better when he was recalled this past season (How could he have looked worse?) and probably isn't a bad candidate to replace Steve Finley as the Giants fourth outfielder. Given that only Barry Bonds has outfield power among the Giants outfielders, if Todd could show something early, he could likely get a fair amount of playing time.

The Giants are developing a darn good young pitching staff (Wait till we Timmy Lincecum!), but positionally aside from Barry Bonds, the players are as mediocre as they are old.

If Kevin Lincecum can finally learn to play shortstop, the Giants will have their backup infielder and outfielder in place with him and Todd. It's just starters they're lacking. Maybe Todd and/or Nate Schierholtz can break into the lineup in the next two or three years. Maybe Eddie Martinez-Esteve.

And then there's Angel Villalona after that. And something like six choices in the first 64 this year?

Thank goodness Brian finally realized it all starts with drafting and development. He should have asked us when he hired on. Didn't the Mighty Quinn develop Brian himself for his job?

by sharksrog on Jan 14, 2007 3:48 PM PST reply actions