Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Leandro Damiao Is Still Really Good

Draft VII: The Dark Horsies

We’ve already established that the Giants tend to develop high school hitters as well as they develop Pulitzer-winning playwrights. It’s not entirely fair to keep bringing that up, though, without noting a couple of points:

a. The Giants don’t often draft high school hitters in the first round.
b. They hardly draft high school hitters in the first five rounds.
c. Hardly anyone drafted after the first five rounds – college, high school, vocational school – makes it to the majors from any organization.

In the Brian Sabean era, the Giants drafted Tony Torcato and Arturo McDowell in the first round of the 1998 draft, and they went for Wendell Fairley, Nick Noonan, and Charlie Culberson last year. Those are all of the high school hitters drafted in the first five rounds over the past decade. The first two were busts, and it’s too soon to tell about the last three. The portrayal of the Giants as the natural enemy of teenaged hitters in the wild was greatly exaggerated. My apologies.

So that brings us to two wildcard options for the fifth pick of the draft: Eric Hosmer (1B) and Kyle Skipworth (C). Jim Callis says he’d take Hosmer over any of the college first basemen – his power is supposed to be incredible for a high school kid. Hosmer, not Callis, that is. Callis has middling power, and he’s already out of high school. Hosmer's swing is beautiful. The Rays writer at MVN says Hosmer's swing is a little long, but I’m not seeing the same thing. The swing looks flawless to these untrained eyes. He can hit 95 with his fastball, too, so the Giants can reverse-Ankiel him in the event of organizational failure.

Skipworth is the best high school catching prospect since Joe Mauer. That written, high school catchers are a risky bunch. Mauer is the exception, not the rule. Even if Skipworth hits, he might not stay behind the plate. That was the path of Paul Konerko and Justin Morneau, who were both drafted as catchers out of high school. Both of those hitters eventually justified their selection, but if the Giants are looking for a lefty power bat out of high school and they aren’t sure if Skipworth can play catcher at the big league level, they should just select Hosmer. If the Giants are convinced that Skipworth can stick at catcher, however, he might be at the top of their draft board. Lefty-hitting middle-of-the-order catchers are once-in-a-generation rare.

If the Giants drafted either player, I wouldn’t complain. My initial aversion to high school hitters was unfounded, and there’s something appealing about the Giants building a core of teenaged prospects. Either Skipworth or Hosmer would fit in well with the Noonan/Fairley/Villalona group, as Hosmer is athletic enough to move to the outfield should Villalona develop as expected.

As a fan, I don’t want to wait six years to see the results of this draft. I want instant gratification, and I want it yesterday. I want Justin Smoak to surprise everyone by making the team out of next year’s spring training, and I want him to hit a homer off of Nolan Ryan in his first at-bat. I want Buster Posey to start 2009 in A-ball and put up video game stats all the way through AAA. 

Instant gratification isn’t exactly the best way to run an organization, though. So add Hosmer and Skipworth to the pile of players who would interest me with the fifth pick of the draft. I'm easy to please with this draft, folks.

Links:

Eric Hosmer

MLB draft report
Extended video clips of Hosmer’s swing
Another extended video
USA Today profile
Brewerfan profile
MVN profile
IMDB page

Kyle Skipworth

MLB draft report
Brewerfan profile
Baseball America post
MVN profile

Links for both:

BA high school preview
Profiles from a blog named after one of the more notorious high school draft busts in Giants history. (That can’t be a good omen.)

Comment 21 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Can any of these guys play centerfield?

If not, I say NO.

Thanks to all of you for all the draft info. I would love to spend hours researching potential draft picks but just can’t do it with a wife and 2 kids. I enjoy reading the info posted on here.

I'm an ESPN Insider!

by The Thrill on Jun 2, 2008 1:38 PM PDT reply actions  

Eric Hosmer

Very talented kid with lots of power. SF must also factor signability into the equation. Love that he can pitch.

by wilriv21 on Jun 2, 2008 2:03 PM PDT reply actions  

That Callis line made me laugh really hard, I’m not sure why.

Hosmer is tempting.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jun 2, 2008 2:08 PM PDT reply actions  

This swing was pretty impressive. Looked like he was fooled a bit and just flicked it out to the opposite field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TqsNf30Gdg&feature=related

Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.

by SF Pete on Jun 2, 2008 2:09 PM PDT reply actions  

Unreal

Check out the other Hosmer videos. Sweet, sweet swing.

Noonan. Nooooonan!

by Giant Fan in Singapore on Jun 2, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hosmer’s STARmeter shot up 234% since last week! Get him now!

Everybody Loves Durham
comics | cartoons | Nattowear

by Natto on Jun 2, 2008 2:09 PM PDT reply actions  

The question that comes to mind:

Can Smoak do the Nuschler face after hitting one off Ryan?

Man, this draft is such a toss up with so many conflicting draft predictions. I love it. There are a lot of talented kids at the top of this draft. For some reason I have this nagging feeling that the Giants will f* this up somehow. I hope to God I am wrong.

Hosmer would be my next pick if Alvarez and Smoak were picked up by those 4 teams ahead of the Giants.

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on Jun 2, 2008 2:15 PM PDT reply actions  

The problem with HS hitters

Isn’t that the Giants suck at developing them – it is that they as a group are so entirely unpredictable.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jun 2, 2008 2:22 PM PDT reply actions  

Given all the players Grant would be happy with....

...I think he should just cut to the chase and list the players he wouldn’t be happy with.

Also, I’m still waiting for “The Fall of Ryan O’Brian” to end up in the title of one of these draft posts.

All-Father Watch: 1.32 ERA, 5 saves, 0.95 WHIP, 26 Ks in 27 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on Jun 2, 2008 3:21 PM PDT reply actions  

All the Pretty Dark Horsies

great book.

If the Giants pass on Hosmer, hopefully it doesn’t turn out like the Dubs passing on Garnett.

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on Jun 2, 2008 3:37 PM PDT reply actions  

“Hooray Joe Smith!”

argh

About as Alex Smith as you can get.

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on Jun 2, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hosmer

I think Hosmer would be the better pick over Smoak. At this point, the Giants need upside more than immediate impact (we can’t expect to plug one whole and start winning). My only fear is that Smoak will leave for free agency before the rest of the talent in the low minors gets to the majors. Hosmer and Villalona could make a formidable middle of the lineup for years to come.

by kal on Jun 2, 2008 3:50 PM PDT reply actions  

I think sometimes the “moneyball”-ing around here goes a bit too far. Yes, it’s cheaper to win with a lot of young players, a la the Florida Marlins. But it’s not like the Giants are a small market team. If we develop a guy like Smoak, ownership can probably afford to keep him. It’s kind of immaterial because the Giants haven’t developed much young talent recently, but when’s the last time a young Giant who the team really would’ve liked to keep left for a richer deal elsewhere?

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Jun 2, 2008 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

... and yeah, I think I’d prefer Smoak to Hosmer just because I, personally, don’t see that much difference between their upsides, whereas at this point Smoak has a much higher floor.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Jun 2, 2008 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

I’m not sure there’s much reason to have concern over losing Smoak before the rest of the talent in the low minors gets to the majors. He’s a year behind them & whilst he may well get to the majors before them he’s got 6-7 years before he reaches free agency. If you consider the best case scenario of only a year for Smoak in the minors, that gives the talent in the low minors 8-9 years to reach the majors from being drafted, before he reaches free agency. If they don’t make it by then, then they’re probably not going to make it at all!

Proud owner of the most boring Username! Alex Hinshaw: Now showing in a bullpen near you!

by GiantFan on Jun 3, 2008 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'd be really happy with either

Smoak or Hosmer.

Hosmer may have a higher ceiling as you say (although both have great potential), a chance to play the outfield, and if all else fails, the chance to pitch, but Smoak has proven himself at a higher level of competition.

After Alvarez, I’m torn between Hosmer and Smoak, but I would have to go with the latter for the reason mentioned.

I don’t think the possible free agency of any 2008 draftee should be a reason not to select that player. If that player turns out to be good enough to warrant widespread interest on the free agent market it means we have drafted well, and that we should look to trade that player if his loss to free agency is inevitable.

by baseballjunkie on Jun 2, 2008 5:51 PM PDT reply actions  

please oh please

anything but Gordon Beckham
he has dud written all over him

waiting for 2011....

by Osama91w9 on Jun 2, 2008 6:22 PM PDT reply actions  

you know what's sad?

my expectations are so low for this franchise right now that i would be happy with a long list of position players right now, because in two years, that player might be the best player on the field for the Giants. starting with Smoak

by baetown415 on Jun 2, 2008 6:55 PM PDT reply actions  

Both players were probably a bit lower on my preferences, but i’ve warmed to them & both seem to have more upside over some of the other choices. I’d still prefer Alvarez & Smoak if they were available, but i’d be happy if we chose either of these dark horses.

Proud owner of the most boring Username! Alex Hinshaw: Now showing in a bullpen near you!

by GiantFan on Jun 3, 2008 2:11 AM PDT reply actions  

theres a bunch of hitters I would be happy with: Smoak, Wallace, Alonso, and Hosmer. mathematically at least 1 will be available. Posey and Gordon Beckham, just my guess, won’t be dominant big league hitters. Skipworth is not a #5 I hope.

adopter/sponsor of "Go, Antoan" Richardson

by foothillsfan on Jun 3, 2008 1:08 PM PDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about San Francisco Giants.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Sp-giants21_ph_t_0501991449_part6_small
The McCovey Chronicles Fantasy League, For Money.
Calvin_and_hobbes_small
2012 Adoption Draft: Who's In?
Calvin_and_hobbes_small
2012 Adoption Draft: Rules Discussion
Honus_wagner4_small
Hector & Gregor's Excellent Adventure (In the VWL)
Calvin_and_hobbes_small
Community Prospect List: The Results

Recent FanPosts

T_36396_small
2012 MLB Draft Snapshot – College Left Handed Pitchers
Img_0100_small
Cormac McCarthy novel The Road
T_36396_small
2012 MLB Draft Snapshot – HS Left handed pitchers
Small
Angel Villalona reported to have a work visa
T_36396_small
2012 MLB Draft Snapshot – The Catchers
Hidey-fern_small
Hiking on the 18th?
T_36396_small
2012 MLB Draft Snapshot - The Shortstops

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Manager

174246766_ea2fd78204_small Grant Brisbee

Moderators

Minime_small Natto

Fawlty_small WalrusMan

Goofus_small Goofus

Howtheyscoredcat_small howtheyscored

Det_7193_small jponry

Authors

09_small JT Jordan

Small steve S