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Available 1B in 2008 Draft

Baseball America had a short article on the first basemen in this upcoming draft.  For those of you who'd like to go to the direct source, you can find it here.

Here's the information for others, since it's not subscriber material:

-Brett Wallace and Andy Dykstra are more sandwich picks than true first rounders.

-Smoak is a candidate to go #1 overall, while Yonder Alonso will most likely go in the middle of the first round.

-Eric Hosmer is the top HS first baseman, and could go ahead of Smoak.

Justin Smoak:

Based solely on performance, Smoak would not have cracked the list. After collecting three doubles and three home runs during Team USA's six-game tour of the New England Collegiate League, Smoak went 20-for-102 without any more homers, finishing with paltry .223/.291/.380 numbers. The performance was atypical for Smoak, who tore up the Cape Cod League last summer and batted .315/.434/.631 as a sophomore at South Carolina. He has plus raw power from both sides of the plate and a swing that has leverage.

Changeups gave him fits this summer and he didn't adjust quickly, often lacking balance, spinning off the ball and failing to recognize pitches consistently. He's a poor runner but has good hands and playable arm strength and footwork at first base.

"I couldn't pick out anything mechanically in his swing that was an obvious concern," an American League scout said. "We expect the world from this guy because he set the bar so high. In the end, it's one summer and I think you can give that type of player a pass because he's done so much."

Yonder Alonso:

Alonso was the consensus choice as the Cape's top all-around hitter. He had the best approach in the league, and it was tested when the Whitecaps lost all of their other power threats to injuries and early departures. Alonso remained patient and continued to use the whole field, finishing with league highs in walks (36) and on-base percentage (.468) while hitting .338.

"He's more than a power bat," a second NL scouting director said. "He's a hitter with power, so that's all the better. He's pretty advanced."

Alonso has a loose, compact stroke and excellent balance, and most of his current power comes in the form of line drives to the gaps. He should become more of a home run threat once he turns on and lifts more pitches. He's a below-average athlete who could work harder on his conditioning and defense, and even then he probably still will be limited to first base.

Brett Wallace:

The Pacific-10 Conference Triple Crown winner and a first-team All-American as a sophomore, Wallace knows how to handle the bat. He spent most of the summer batting behind Pedro Alvarez and Smoak, and made consistent contact, posting a .312 average and .345 on-base percentage. He joined the team after Arizona State was eliminated in the College World Series and homered in his first at-bat, but managed just one more homer and four doubles the rest of the summer.

He's a mature hitter who drives balls to both gaps and has mastered the backside single. He'll show above-average bat speed and average raw power in batting practice, but it didn't translate to games with wood. All his value lies in his bat, as Wallace is a below-average runner and lacks the mobility to play the outfield as a professional, so he's likely locked into a role as a first baseman or designated hitter. As a result, the development of his power will dictate his draft stock.

Alan Dykstra:

Dykstra also was back for his second stint on the Cape, and though his home run total dropped from seven to five, he was more impressive this time around. He improved his batting average 76 points to .308 and started hitting the ball to the opposite field with authority. He's a huge (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) lefthanded hitter with lots of raw strength and lift in his swing. His bat will have to carry him because he's limited to first base.

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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Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
I'll take one of each please.
I see Fred Stanely.

by The Thrill on Oct 14, 2007 10:05 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
We're drafting pitching and you know it. Don't get our hopes up, man.
Adopted Giant: Randy Winn. Can't wait for Zito to start Opening Day '08 so I can get a leg up on my drinking.

by Punch Rockgroin on Oct 14, 2007 10:13 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
If Villalona is gonna make the move to 1st base then i really don't see any point in drafting a 1st baseman. I think we should go outfield
Giants rebuilding strategy: making more trades with The Pirates

by Frogger91w9 on Oct 14, 2007 10:22 PM PDT   0 recs

Big V
Big V is at least 3 years away from being ready to break into the major leagues.  A top college hitter taken in next year's draft could conceivably be ready as early as 2009.  If you end up with too much of a good thing, you can make trades.  I do agree that we should go for the best player available regardless of position, but all things being equal, we should go for one of the college sluggers and most of them are firstbasemen.  I personally think Alonso is the best hitter of the bunch.  I think his downside is his fielding, but we need hitters!

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 14, 2007 10:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
i hope you mean best hitter regardless of position.
Pedro Feliz: Marginally better this year.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Oct 14, 2007 11:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Best Hitter
Well, as near as I can tell, no truly dominant pitchers have emerged in the 2008 draft class as yet, so probably.  Still, if it was a choice between, say, Tim Lincecum and any of those 1B sluggers, I'd probably take Lincecum regardless.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 9:46 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
You know, I'd really really like to put a moratorium on "The Big V" as a nickname.  Somehow it just smacks of being stuck in a room with your dad's Moose Lodge buddies or something. It seems smarmy and is already killing my joyful anticipation of this kid.
My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 15, 2007 7:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
I think it might be too late for that.  BA already dubbed Angel Villalona "Big V" in the headline of their AZL Top Prospect Rankings. As far as I know, I'm the first person to use that moniker for him, so sorry if it offends you, but I'm not going to give it up easily.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 9:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
Being a superstitious baseball fan, I'm all for dropping the "Big" part and just calling him "V"

He certainly doesn't need to get any "bigger" :-)

My adopted son Matt Downs. My boy used to be a pitcher. Who knew he could hit and play defense ?

by nvsfg on Oct 15, 2007 10:44 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
Since he supposedly runs well, how about "Flying V" like the guitar?

by Goofus on Oct 15, 2007 3:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
It also brings back fond memories of The Mighty Ducks.
Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 15, 2007 3:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
the way he fields, he should be called "Big E."
Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 15, 2007 10:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
Everyone knows that anyone named "Big V" is a just a short for "Vic", which is a high roller within our father's Moose Lodge.  Not so high that guys are always kissing his ass, but her can certainly throw his weight around when needed.  He also knows how to put away more than his share of the Miller HIgh Lifes.  Oh, and his daughter is hot, but doesn't even think about it, because Big V loves his baby girl and will thank you to keep your grubby mitts offa her, capice?

by satyricrash on Oct 15, 2007 3:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
It makes me think of professional wrestler Big Daddy V AKA Viscera.

Nattowear | comics | Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Oct 15, 2007 4:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V ?
GIS turned up Big V ?
My adopted son Matt Downs. My boy used to be a pitcher. Who knew he could hit and play defense ?

by nvsfg on Oct 17, 2007 10:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Big V
Just reading that report, it's hard to see why anyone would prefer Smoak to Alonso. I mean, it doesn't sound like Smoak is any great shakes as an athlete and fielder.

by Evan on Oct 15, 2007 8:50 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Smoak vs Alonso
I haven't see either of them play personally, but from looking at their stats and reading reports like that, I have Smoak's ceiling as Adam Dunn and Alonso's as Albert Pujols.  Both good players, but I'd take Pujols.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 9:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Smoak vs Alonso
Pujols is athletic while Alonso isn't, and I've heard Smoak compared to  Chipper Jones.

I think there are some odd scouts out there.  Then again, it isn't uncommon for there to be differing opinions on players.

Brian Anderson: I can has spot in Fresno 'pen?

by Anticon23 on Oct 15, 2007 9:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Scouts
I think scouts put a lot of stock in wood bat league performances.  Smoak did well in 2006, not so good this year while Alonso destroyed the league this year.  Also, a .312 BA isn't so hot for a top notch college hitter.  So yeah, there are doubts about both, doubts about Smoak making consistent contact and doubts about Alonso's ability to field a position.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 10:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Scouts
doubts about Alonso's ability to field a position

We heard this with Beau Mills, and now the Indians are saying they plan to keep him at third rather than move him to first.

How many good hitters are there whose inability to play a decent first base keeps them off the field? David Ortiz, Frank Thomas ... anyone else of note? It seems like a really rare thing, so it puzzles me that scouting people seem to put such weight on a college first baseman's glovework.

Also ... I haven't really thought this through, but: Fielding first base is pretty much the same in college as in the majors. You still have to handle grounders, dig out throws, move quickly to the bag, etc. Things will happen a little quicker in the majors, but it's basically the same job. At the plate, though, there's a HUGE difference between hitting in college and hitting in the majors. It's a quantum leap. And that's going to magnify the small differences between hitters into big differences.

In other words, if college player A is a slightly better fielder than college player B, he will still be a slightly better fielder when they both reach the majors. But if college player B is the slightly better hitter, he will likely have evolved into a much better hitter when they both reach the majors. Does that make sense?

by Evan on Oct 15, 2007 11:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Scouts
Makes perfect sense to me.  Probably would make sense to Billy Beane.  Not sure Sabean buys into that line of reasoning though. I just know I would be happy if we drafted Yonder Alonso with the #5 pick in next year's draft.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 11:42 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Scouts
Jack Cust?
I see Fred Stanely.

by The Thrill on Oct 16, 2007 7:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Smoak vs Alonso
I watched him play a little at the CWS and he didn't seem like that bad of an athlete and i was extremely impressed by his swing.
Pedro Feliz: Marginally better this year.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Oct 15, 2007 8:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
I don't know, man. You heard the early reports, Villalona has 40-steal speed. There's no reason he can't play in the outfield.

Yes, that's sarcastic.

Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Oct 14, 2007 11:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
I'd welcome having two good-hitting 1B as a problem.
Nattowear | comics | Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Oct 15, 2007 12:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
I'm as big a fan of Villalona as anybody, but assuming that he's going to fulfill even a fraction of his potential at the major league level when it's so far away and he's barely 17 years old is a very dangerous game to play. But you can never go wrong with options.

I say sign me up.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 15, 2007 8:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Front office
How about Roy Clark, the scouting director for the Braves? Ken Rosenthal has an item today suggesting Clark might leave Atlanta for the Giants' front office. The Braves, of course, have one of the best farm systems around, so I imagine he'd be a great addition.

by Dan from NM on Oct 14, 2007 10:29 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
I say we sign every lefty pitcher available with a special preference for the guys nobody has ever heard of.  I only mention this, so that when it really happens, I can do that snarky "I told you so" post with a link to this very note.
Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 14, 2007 11:53 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Available 1B in 2008 Draft
I say that we sign a bunch of old FA's who barely qualified for type A/B status, giving away all our early picks after the first round while not improving the team at all.
Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Oct 15, 2007 12:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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