KLaw gives the Giants his love

by Speedforthewin on Jun 7, 2008 7:54 AM PDT Comment 27 comments

I'm sure some of you have read this, but i thought i would post this for the benefit of all. Keith Law ranked the Giants first day draft as the top first day draft this year. His thoughts:

1. San Francisco Giants

Buster Posey falling to them at No. 5 was part luck, but the Giants also had the guts to take him. Posey reportedly is asking for $12 million. Sandwich pick Conor Gillaspie should have gone in the first round, and Roger Kieschnick has first-round potential despite mediocre performances. Keep an eye on fifth-rounder Edwin Quirarte, a reliever from Cal State Northridge with big-time sink on his fastball and an improving splitter.

It's nice to hear something tangible about Quirate, he sounds like an interesting pick for the Giants at the very least. Rounding out the top 5 (2-5) were the Red Sox, Royals, Cardinals and Tigers.

Thoughts?

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I'm jacked

Let’s face it. Prior to the 2006 draft, the Dodgers had been right - if 55 years premature - when they said, “The Gints (Yes, that’s Gints, not Giants) is dead.” Until the guy at the draft podium announced, “The San Francisco Giants draft Tim Lincecum, pitcher, the University of Washington,” the drought - which had already reached 51seasons and was well underway toward its 52nd - was in full pucker.

Suddenly there was hope. It started as a rumble. Then the clomping of hoofs. The track announcer belted out his “and down the stretch they COME.” And suddenly it was Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit the batboy. Seasbiscuit the pitcher. Seabiscuit “The Future.” Seabiscuit “The Franchise.”

Then the Giants went to a track in Latin America and came back with a plow horse. A plow horse named Angel Villalona who, though just a mere colt, could pull a heavy load, pull a ball out of the park, take it out the opposite way.

Then in 2007 the Giants had the thrill of picking six of the top 51 horses. They chose a left-hander, a right-hander, a right fielder and then a solid young horse named Keystone Kid. Then they dropped down to claimers. But their stable was already filling with eager colts.

Now comes 2008, and the Giants have completed their drafting Triple Crown. To Seabiscuit, the Giants have added BA, OBP, SLG and OPS King. If ever horse racing becomes a doubles event, they will feature Golden Spikes Battery. Or perhaps the even younger tandem of Both Guys Homer, also known as The .400 Club.

Yes, the Giants have won the Triple Crown of Drafting. While Brian Sabean once looked like a pile of dung, we now see that he is actually Big Brown.

by sharksrog on Jun 7, 2008 8:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow..nice post

by giants92388 on Jun 7, 2008 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

beautiful stuff

by Nellieball on Jun 7, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Thanks a lot, guys. This post would have been more meaningful if Big Brown had won. He looked as hot as Tim the night before.

by sharksrog on Jun 8, 2008 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amen.

Preach on.

Hopefully, Sabes will be kept around long enough to see the fruits of the more recent drafts produce at the MLB level.

Tim Lincecum is Baseball's Chuck Norris

by Azantor on Jun 7, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d rather see someone else be the GM of the Giants when our kids make the Majors.

Proud adoptive parent of Tim Alderson.

by Anticon23 on Jun 7, 2008 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

Well, that’s your opinion, and you are definitely entitled to it.

I think that Sabean did a fine job of putting teams out on the field that had a good chance to win during the regular season and compete during the playoffs. He’d been outstanding at adding pieces during the regular season, and this year, I’d like to see how he does with selling guys off to real contenders.

Yes, he and Dusty did try and top each other’s Veteran fetishes, but as a whole, MLB GM’s are moving away from “proven” players, and are more willing to give younger players a chance and it looks like Sabean is no exception. But unless a guy like Epstein or Beane become available (which they undoubtedly won’t), there are very few real options out there. I’d hate to have some re-tread like Ed Wade or Pat Gillick running the Giants, as those guys are always looking for a job…

Tim Lincecum is Baseball's Chuck Norris

by Azantor on Jun 7, 2008 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re completely right in that Sabean did a fine job at putting together a team that competed on an annual basis. But he did it without putting much thought, if any, towards the farm system. It’s not impossible to develop a farm system and win at the same time (Beane, Epstein, Schuerholz . . .well, you get the picture). His track record overall since his run of success is quite embarrassing, and I don’t know if he’s really learned from that. I mean, he almost pulled the trigger on sending Lincecum for Rios. Not only that, but his management of the 40-man roster this season is absolutely mind-boggling.

That being said, I’m not too confident in Sabean. I might actually prefer Wade or Gillick to Sabean, but I really wouldn’t want any of them. I’d rather pry Paul DePodesta from the Padres or try and steal Chris Antonetti from Cleveland (which would seem impossible given Neal Huntington’s departure).

Proud adoptive parent of Tim Alderson.

by Anticon23 on Jun 7, 2008 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's Repo DePo

I like the idea of getting Paul DePodesta. In fact, I think the Padres might have two or three GM’s or GM candidates I like better than Brian.

That said, I’m hoping that Brian wasn’t really considering making the Lincecum/Rios trade, since that would make him an idiot, and he told us over a decade ago that he wasn’t. I’m hoping it was really a shrewd move on his part so that if he were unable to come up with any big deals (He DID later sign Aaron Rowand.), he could say that his big move of the winter was keeping his two young pitchers.

And I do like the draft/Villalona moves he has made beginning with Tim Lincecum. Before that, with the exception of Matt Cain and precious few others, his draft record was dog meat.

I’m still shocked that Brian kept his job last summer, but I’m desperately hoping it will work out.

If Brian had traded Tim for Rios, I might have lost my mind (assuming I still have it to lose :).

by sharksrog on Jun 7, 2008 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

After Timmy I really really disliked the rest of the ‘06 draft. Give the guy points for consistency, it was the epitome of a speed and defense mentality, since that’s virtually all the team took in that draft - not a bat in sight - and I have some issues with the way we spent the 6 picks last year, too.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jun 8, 2008 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clayton Tanner

I liked the selection of Clayton Tanner with the Giants’ third pick in the 2006 draft. Clayton is still just 20 IIRC, and he has been progressing nicely until his last three starts in 2007 and a May slump this year. He seemed to be getting back on track in his last start. I was starting to wonder about his arm health.

I don’t think I would have chosen Emmanuel Burriss at #33 overall, given his lack of pop. But the Giants likely saw that he improved it to the Omar Vizquel level in his final year at Kent State (assuming they paid attention to it at all) and figured he was on his way.

Amazingly, I did see one draft projection from 2006 that actually had Manny going immediately after Tim Lincecum. Not right after him as in the Giants’ next pick, but right after Tim with the next pick OVERALL!

by sharksrog on Jun 8, 2008 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I stand as the #1 disbeliever on Clayton Tanner – he’s young but he really doesn’t have much stuff. As I recall, they said upon drafting him that they love his competitiveness, but I’m not sure that should be the #1 skill in a high school draftee’s toolbox. I’ve seen him twice and both times he was working consistently in the 82-86 range with all of his pitches. I think you have to be very very exceptional to survive in the majors with that level of stuff, and like Jaime Moyer, the poster boy for major league success with bush league stuff, it’s probably a success that can only come later on.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jun 9, 2008 5:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rog has been possessed by the spirit of Grantland Rice!

Quick, someone get an exorcist, or an Old-Timey typewriter!

"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Jun 7, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jim McKay

Sadly Jim McKay of ABC’s Wide World of Sports has died at 86. In their tribute to Jim on ABC yesterday they did indeed show him typing on an old-time typewriter.

My son can’t believe how loudly I type—but then he doesn’t realize the machine I learned on! :)

by sharksrog on Jun 8, 2008 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow. I think I love you.

I'm an ESPN Insider!

by The Thrill on Jun 7, 2008 10:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m also really intrigued with Quirarte. Looking at his scouting video showed some really great movement on his stuff, and low 90s velocity? I’m on board.

Day 1 was great. Day 2 had some guys who are really interesting to me. I may be jumping on Carter Bell early and foolishly because he’s still a high school kid, but he intrigues me. He has a committment to play at Oregon State but is enthusiastic about playing professionally. In fact it’s almost what I was feeling for Nick Noonan last year minus the concerns that he wouldn’t sign. 25 teams were scaling Bell’s nutsack prior to the draft and we won.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jun 7, 2008 12:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That sounds painful

Will he heal in time to play this year?

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Jun 7, 2008 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barr said they had Quirarte at 94 mph while scouting him. He’s a college reliever so he could move fast.

The guy I liked most other then the top 4 was high school RHP Ryan O’Sullivan. He’s going to difficult to sign but everything I’ve read about him sounds promising. He throws four average to plus pitches which are his four-seam 88-92 mph fastball, curve, sinker, change.

by Cainer on Jun 7, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Edwin Quirarte

On draft day was surprised when looked at Quirarte unimpressive stats that he could go so high so hearing this from Law is refreshing

by wilriv21 on Jun 7, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my day, “jumping on him early and foolishly” meant something that people would make more jokes about than they have so far.

Damn kids!

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Jun 8, 2008 12:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It just dawned on me

It just dawned on me that the Giants drafted Tim Lincecum 55 years after the premature proclamation that “the Gints is dead” was made—and then gave him #55.

I KNEW there was some subtle reason for that ridiculously high number. To be honest, though, I kind of like it. I was thinking maybe Tim could someday have the highest number in the Hall of Fame (assuming he makes it), but Carlton Fisk, at the very least, stands higher than he in that regard.

by sharksrog on Jun 7, 2008 1:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Giants seem to have a thing with givng 55 to young starters. I know Estes wore it, and I think VanLandingham did as well.

by tyrannoman on Jun 7, 2008 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We better start praying for Timmy

I'm an ESPN Insider!

by The Thrill on Jun 7, 2008 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nah...

just nickname him “Speed Limit” and move on.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Jun 8, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I beat you

I beat you on that “Speed Limit” nickname, Smoke. When I mentioned it to Tim’s dad two and a half months ago he didn’t really bite, although I know he can remember back in the 70’s when the speed limit was dropped to 55 to conserve gas.

Tim’s brother liked “The Ace of Diamonds,” which is my personal favorite. I’ve got to admit though that it is pretty hard to beat “The Franchise” when that nickname is given to you by your teammates before you have even thrown a major-league pitch.

by sharksrog on Jun 8, 2008 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol the mental health of Shawn Estes

Defender of Noah Lowry.

by Kid Fresh on Jun 7, 2008 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

More Posey Love

A rival National League executive raved about the Giants’ first-round draft pick, Florida State catcher Buster Posey: “Great pick. He’s Jason Varitek and Jorge Posada for the next 10 years. Hope he signs.”

by wilriv21 on Jun 7, 2008 8:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs