Sickels Top 20
by Giant among Angels on Nov 30, 2009 8:25 PM PST
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1) Buster Posey, C, Grade A: No-brainer. All he needs is playing time.
2) Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Grade A-: Almost went with B+, but strikeout rates aren't everything. More concerned about dropping velocity. May still go with B+ eventually.
3) Thomas Neal, OF, Grade B: Solid all-around hitter, saw him in Arizona Fall League and he convinced me bat is for real.
4) Zack Wheeler, RHP, Grade B: I'm hesitant to give a grade this high to any high school pitcher without a pro track record, but I really like Wheeler.
5) Roger Kieschnick, OF, Grade B-: Love the power and he's not just a one-dimensional slugger, but the high strikeout rate and low walk rate is concerning. How will he transition to Double-A?
6) Tommy Joseph, C, Grade B-: Have to see where he fits defensively but scouting reports about the bat are very positive.
7) Dan Runzler, LHP, Grade B-: Very impressive relief arm, if he throws enough strikes.
8) Waldis Joaquin, RHP, Grade B-: Another impressive relief arm, if he throws enough strikes.
9) Jason Stoffel, RHP, Grade B-: Another impressive relief arm, could be a bargain as a fourth rounder.
10) Francisco Peguero, OF, Grade B-: Difficult to grade, speed and high batting average are positives, but walk rate is way too low. Borderline C+.
11) Rafael Rodriguez, OF, Grade C+: Held his own in rookie ball though power isn't there yet. Very very young, loads of potential but have to see how it pans out. Difficult to grade, you can make a case for B- as well as a straight C.
12) Jose Casilla, RHP, Grade C+: Another lively relief arm.
12) Nick Noonan, 2B, Grade C+: Numbers haven't lived up to scouting reports but still young. Giants hype him but I'm not sure at all that he will live up to it.
13) Aaron King, LHP, Grade C+: Live-armed lefty needs better command.
14) Henry Sosa, RHP, Grade C+: Can he stay healthy? Maybe a switch to relief would help.
15) Darren Ford, OF, Grade C+: Not convinced he'll hit at higher levels. Borderline Grade C.
16) Clayton Tanner, LHP, Grade C+: For some reason I like him a lot. Another borderline Grade C guy, need to see if game will work against better hitters.
17) Ehire Adrianza, SS, Grade C: Scouts love him. Great glove. I'm not convinced he'll hit, but I could be convinced to give him a Grade C+ and move him up the list. Anyone want to convince me?
18) Conor Gillaspie, 3B, Grade C: He showed outstanding plate discipline but nothing else. I think he still has a chance to be a good hitter.
19) Brandon Crawford, SS, Grade C: Excellent glove. I do not believe in his bat. Baseball America ranks Adrianza and Crawford much higher than I do.
20) Edwin Concepcion, RHP, Grade C: Interesting power arm at the lower levels with strikeouts/grounders combination.
OTHERS (all Grade C): Brandon Belt, 1B; Brock Bond, 2B; Jorge Buchardo, RHP, Craig Clark, LHP; Chris Dominguez, 3B; Matt Downs, INF-OF: Steve Edlefsen, RHP: Matt Graham, RHP; Julio Izturis, 2B; Mike McBryde, OF; Kyle Nicholson, RHP; Dan Otero, RHP; Joe Paterson, LHP: Brett Pill, 1B; Ryan Rohlinger, 3B: Ari Ronick, LHP; Hector Sanchez, C; Ben Snyder, LHP; Eric Surkamp, LHP; Ydwin Villegas, SS; Craig Westcott, RHP.
The Giants have one can't-miss prospect in Buster Posey, but after that things thin out. Bumgarner is something of an enigma for well-known reasons, and I keep going back and forth between A- and B+ for him. Neal looks very solid to me, while Wheeler is very promising but unproven professionally. The B- guys all have some impressive positives but enough uncertainty to preclude a higher grade at this point: Kieschnick's strikeouts, command for the pitchers, position and lack of experience for Joseph, Peguero's low walk rate. Same thing for the C+ guys only more so.
Baseball America's list which came out today ranks Adrianza 8th and Crawford 9th. This reflects the fact that the organization loves them, something that BA weights more heavily in their rankings than I do in mine. I like their gloves but have serious doubts about their bats, especially Crawford's. I've seen him play and I think he looks like a weak hitter. I could be persuaded to boost Adrianza's grade but I just don't believe in Crawford's bat and he's staying a C.
Overall this system has pitching depth, with a mixture of power and finesse arms. They could use more hitting depth beyond Posey and Neal. Joseph provides hope in that department if he is as polished a high school hitter as reports indicate.
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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Interesting
Very surprising how down he is on Adrianza and Crawford. He’s very high on the relief prospects though.
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
The Giants being so high on those two doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence…
If they were pitchers it’d make me feel better, with hitters I think it makes me feel worse…
by Missing Barry on Nov 30, 2009 8:35 PM PST up reply actions
IDK much about Sickels ranking system, but he seems to heavily favor guys close to the major leagues. Seems wise, I just would have 3-5 different guys in my top 20 simply b/c there ceilings are that much higher.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Nov 30, 2009 8:45 PM PST up reply actions
Both Crawford and Adrianza have bat concerns, but each seems to be plenty good enough defensively to play shortstop, which in itself can go a long way.
Crawford’s K/BB ratio was awful even when he hit .371 at San Jose, so a 100+ point drop in his average at Connecticut wasn’t surprising. But he wasn’t overwhelmed there and does have a little pop for a shortstop. I have been impressed with the fine reports on his glove.
Brandon could be ready in 2011 (ideal) or 2012, and it is still possible he could have the bat to get the job done. Likely a low-OBP hitter, but perhaps with enough power to help compensate.
Adrianza does show plate discipline. His problem area is pop. But if he can get on base and has a fine glove, he doesn’t really need much pop in order to succeed at his position. The key will be whether his bat is overpowered as he moves up through the system.
I have heard that the Giants like him even better than Crawford, but naturally he is further away — but still only 20 IIRC.
I would rank the two shortstops much closer to BA than to John. And this is one I would really like to be correct on. Manny Burriss hasn’t yet shown the glove at short to compensate for his almost total lack of pop, so it could well be one of these two guys for the future.
I expect an improvement from Nick Noonan next season, but it is always possible that the Giants’ middle infield of the future could come from among the trio mentioned above.
They could use more hitting depthbeyond Posey and Neal.
/sigh
Story of the Giants farm system since I can remember.
If you can get 3:2 on a headline of "Giants Pitcher Assaults General Manager" at some point this year, take it.
Jim Ray Hart
says you’re wrong.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Dec 1, 2009 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
Nice pull
There’s a guy who wouldn’t give the job back to Davenport in this day and age, regardless of the fielding differences.
"The questions are so stupid. I don't believe in rivalries. I don't believe in curses. Wake up the damn Bambino, maybe I'll drill him in the ass."
- Pedro Martinez, asked about the Curse of the Bambino
I like how John agrees that Neal…is real
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Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's
by Giant among Angels on Nov 30, 2009 8:36 PM PST reply actions
If he was a chef he could be the real deal in teal serving veal.
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by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Dec 2, 2009 11:26 AM PST up reply actions
If he was enthusiastic he could be the real deal in teal serving veal with zeal.
WHY IS BOCOCK?!
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 2, 2009 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
If it was rare enough, he could be the real deal in teal serving squealing veal with zeal.
Utter frustration and futility.
by Johnny Disaster on Dec 2, 2009 4:42 PM PST up reply actions
If he could learn to ride a unicycle, he could be the real deal in teal serving squealing veal with zeal on a wheel.
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Boy does Sickels love the relievers. This list also highlights how few starting pitching prospects we have.
Joe Martinez: You are cool.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
What? Sickels doesn’t like Barnes and T2? oh…wait.
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Nov 30, 2009 8:40 PM PST up reply actions
Boy does Sickels love the relievers. This list also highlights how few starting pitching prospects we have.
I’m really starting to think Joey Martinez might have a chance. BA had a story with AZ. fall league velocities and JM average 92.62 on his fastball. For the sake of comparison, Aaron Crow averaged 92.72 on his fastball and Brandon Erbe averaged the same 92.62 MPH as Martinez. Martinez’ fastball peaked at 94.4 MPH in the AZ fall league. Erbe’s high was 93.8, while Crow’s was 95.5. I just picked those guys b/c they’re usually recognized as having solid to plus fastballs. Perhaps Martinez’ fastball velocity has been understated or he’s picked up some velocity in the last year or two.
Velocity isn’t everything, but I thought his fastball had plenty of movement during his time in the majors. I didn’t really see a swing and miss off speed pitch with him, but if he can add a wrinkle or two I think he’s got a chance to be a quality back of the rotation starter.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Nov 30, 2009 8:55 PM PST up reply actions
Nothing I saw from Martinez last year indicated to me that he’s a starter. I think he’ll end up a good long reliever, but the guy can’t throw six innings a night (he went five twice last year), and his K/BB rates . Admittedly, he needs some more development in the minors, so we shouldn’t be making final judgments now, but I just don’t see it. He’s going to have to beat out one of Tim, Matt, Dirty, Zito, and Bumgarner to get a rotation spot, and that is not going to happen.
He’s going to have to beat out one of Tim, Matt, Dirty, Zito, and Bumgarner to get a rotation spot, and that is not going to happen.
Yeah, except no. If Martinez or any other emerges as a major-league ready starter, it allows the team to deal an existing starter.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
Of it allows Bumgarner to start in AAA, where he probably should.
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If we re-signed Penny, I could easily see Sabes dealing one of those starters. Well, three of the five, anyway.
If you can get 3:2 on a headline of "Giants Pitcher Assaults General Manager" at some point this year, take it.
Yeah, I noticed that, too. He’s apparently got way more velocity than I remember.
by Dan from NM on Nov 30, 2009 11:03 PM PST up reply actions
I remember watching one of Martinez’ starts with my Dad and we both saw him hit 95 once and looked at each other in amazement. I just assumed the radar reading was a couple ticks high, but it really seems like he’s got at least average ML arm strength and that coupled with the fact that it’s usually a sinker he’s putting up at those velocities, I really think there’s a foundation to work with.
I would agree that he didn’t look like a ML starter yet. IMO he seemed to be able to set pitchers up but didn’t have either the two strike stuff or location to finish guys off. I don’t think he’s special by any means I just think he’s got enough talent to stick. Given the fact that he’s swings a hell of a stick, throws a sinker and fields the position well, I really think he might make a decent, cheap #5 starter in the NL.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Dec 1, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions
I like what we’re seeing from Joey now. The added speed should be a nice plus for a solid ground ball pitcher.
Bill James projects Joey at 4.18 next season with just 16 walks in 56 innings. And that’s with 10 of his 14 appearances coming as a starter.
I like the idea of sticking with what the Giants have for 2010 — adding only a couple of bargains who might fall between the cracks. In that mold, I would have no problem with Joey’s winning the #5 starter job until Mad Bum is ready to join the rotation.
And has been mentioned here, if the Giants could develop TWO young starters to add to the rotation, they could dangle a starter as the centerpiece in a package to acquire a true cleanup hitter.
I haven’t been very high on Joey, and he is older (27 when the 2010 season begins). But ground ball pitchers who can gain control almost always have a chance. That could be Joey, who had shown good control prior to his callup.
Angel Villalona, Grade F
speaking of 20’s, MLB’s online store has 20% off everything for today only. Go buy as much stuff as I just did
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Lincecum refused. He didn’t want to give him a handshake. He wanted to give him a chest bump."
We did a bit better than I was expecting. A lot more B-s than I was expecting, anyway.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Anyway
I think this upcoming season will be pretty important for the farm system, as we see how a lot of those B- players adjust to the upper minors and see how the next crop of pitching prospects (Wheeler, Graham, Tanner, Surkamp, Bucardos (?) and so on) develop.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
Some promising stories too follow but I’m more and more beginning to think that the 2007 draft that was going to restock our system with it’s bonanza of picks is in danger of becoming a Giant swing and a miss. Two of the three 1st round picks are clearly worthless (or worth gone at this point) and the same is almost certainly true of two of the three supplemental round picks. Right now that entire draft appears to come down to Madbums mysterious velocity, Noonan’s mysterious offensive develoment and Runzler’s mysterious command.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
I think your analysis is correct Roger. Of course, I’m the one who’s criticized that draft perhaps more than anyone else here – but that was because those weren’t good decisions at the time, not because I necessarily thought they would turn out to be failures. Although failure does indeed strengthen my opinion.
Officially disinterested in any high school outfielders from the state of Mississippi.
That draft can still prove useful. If by 2011 Bumgarner is in the rotation, Runzler is in the Bullpen and Mr. F is playing an above average 2B. If Noonan turns it around, maybe Freddy gets spun off at the 2011 trading deadline for more prospects. But, all that considered, the shine of that draft has dulled considerably
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Dec 1, 2009 6:49 AM PST up reply actions
Well it’s important to note that anything that Sanchez gives from this point forward has nothing to do with that draft as he’s been resigned to a contract similar to one that could have attained him off the market had he not been traded for. The total value for the Alderson pick is at this point cashed out. It was 25 games of 61 OPS+.
And, it frankly must be said, (must be said because of the consensus view of the draft board at that point in time, not because it’s an enjoyable topic to rehash), that throwing the pro-rated Sanchez contract on top of the Alderson signing bonus, you end up at a very similar dollar figure to Porcello’s signing bonus with Detroit, and whatever his warts its pretty incontrovertible at this point that he’s going to end up giving the Tigers a lot more value than 25 games of 61 OPS+.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Well, I think there’s at least something to be said for us resigning Sanchez. I’m not sure if we got a discount or not, but it’s possible, and it seems to me if nothing else, we at least got first shot at Sanchez that we may not have gotten on the FA market.
Of course I still agree with your point, because I think the point I just made is only a small factor and doesn’t really take anything away from what you’re saying, I just think it should at least be acknolwedged…
by Missing Barry on Dec 1, 2009 10:16 AM PST up reply actions
Sanchez’s contract was not at a discount, and there’s certainly no shortage of FA second basemen this year, so I don’t see how getting first crack at Sanchez had any value. If they wanted Sanchez and couldn’t get him, they could have signed Lopez, Iwamura, Figgins, Scutaro, Polanco….
Maybe we liked Sanchez more than those other options for some reason. Again, not saying it’s a substantial amount of value, just saying it’s something.
by Missing Barry on Dec 1, 2009 10:54 AM PST up reply actions
THEREFORE
draft pick + sanchez + 26 games of 61 OPS+ > sanchez + alderson
draft pick + 26 games of 61 OPS+ > alderson
QED
Or, Sabean is an idiot.
What’s sad and funny is that at a 61 OPS+… he probably did the Giants a FAVOR by being injured.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
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the effect of this information on the perception of Sabean’s intelligence is left as an exercise to the reader.
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
I agree with missing barry’s point, and I also see what you’re getting at. At the very least, any value sanchez gives the giants has ver little if any correlation to the ’07 draft class.
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Dec 1, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
Check the stats, Runzler had no problems throwing strikes all of last season. Clearly he had a light-switch moment at the beginning of the year (just like Panda did in 2008) where he suddenly put it all together and became a different pitcher in terms of velocity, command, control and effectiveness. Just like Panda, he rocketed all the way from A ball to SF in less than 1 season. It remains to be seen if he can keep it going next year at the MLB level, like Panda did in 2009, but clearly you can throw out all of his stats prior to 2009 as no longer meaningful.
"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner
You’re talking about the guy who just walked close to 11% of all batters in 2009? With pretty much the only good spot of control coming when he pitched at home for SJ?
Juan Carlos Perez, please start hitting.
but clearly you can throw out all of his stats prior to 2009 as no longer meaningful.
This statement makes me cringe in so many ways…
*Added note, this is the type of thing Brian Sabean tells himself about Edgar Renteria at night.
by Missing Barry on Dec 1, 2009 1:03 PM PST up reply actions
it’s a stretch to say they’re no longer meaningful, but the main point about Runzler is the improvement in control. His pre-2009 bb/9 stats were off the charts high and he cut that down considerably and that made him a dominating reliever. Whether he can sustain that is unsettled, but it’s certainly heading in the right direction and there’s reason for optimism. He acknowledged pretty okay Augusta pitching coach Steve Kline for helping him make adjustments to improve his control.
His control is an issue and probably always will be to one degree or another, but it seems to me that he’s got a handle on it…but we’ll see.
Neal before Zod!
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by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 1, 2009 1:14 PM PST up reply actions
It’s not that I’m arguing against the idea that he figured something out, and given a positive trend in the right direction, that IS saying something good. It’s the idea that we can just throw out past data points that I feel strongly enough about to object to. That’s just a bad thought process. We don’t know what the future holds, that should be an obvious concept but often gets lost on people – the best we can do is use all the data we have to form an educated guess. Throwing out data because it dosen’t conform to our opinion is more than just a stretch, it’s a really, really bad method of thinking.
There’s lots of stuff we do know about baseball – from sample size to more heavily weighting more recent performance than past performance, and looking at Runzler, sure I see a case that something changed and he’s dramatically improved, but I also see a guy who threw less than 70 innings last year that we’re basing this on. He was incredibly wild as recently as 2008 (well over 6 BB/9)….
The main point is the future is uncertain. Don’t presume to know too much about it – use all the data available, and use it properly (regression to the mean, more heavily weighting recent performance, etc) to make the best guess about the future you can. There is never a “clearly” situation when it comes to this stuff, and if you think there is and you’re throwing out anything to the contrary of what’s so “clear” to you, you’re doing it wrong.
by Missing Barry on Dec 1, 2009 1:25 PM PST up reply actions
Not to be snarky, but couldn’t you say something similar every year?
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
Of course, but not every year provides the opportunity that the 6 out of the top 50 picks, — coinciding exactly with a stated change in organizational direction — did. It was a bellweather moment, really even the organization billed it as such, and one we really needed to seize.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Yeah, we made it through the top 10 without a C
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Nov 30, 2009 8:57 PM PST up reply actions
what non relievers would you have in the top 20?
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Dec 1, 2009 6:44 AM PST up reply actions
Rohlinger and Hector Sanchez should be in the top 20. I would drop Sosa and Concepcion. I’m also not sure about King – I expected a lot more Ks, though he did turn it on in the 2nd half. But arguing over C/C+ guys is probably a bit silly as they’re all about the same.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 1, 2009 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
I tend to forget about Rohlinger sometimes. He impressed me this season, he could reasonably be the Giants utility infielder next season if Uribe isn’t resigned
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Dec 1, 2009 3:07 PM PST up reply actions
MOG MadBum 3rd starter at best!
I’m torn on MadBum
There’s speculation that his velocity will return and he was simply overworked, but it wouldn’t be the first time a prospect has inexplicably lost his heater for good. If he can get it back up there, he’s easily one of the top 5 pitching prospects in the game, IMO. If he stays in the high 80s, he’s a 3rd starter.
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by Conjunction on Nov 30, 2009 11:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan
3rd starter?
I’ll take it. If only a position player from that list could do that well.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Dec 1, 2009 10:33 AM PST up reply actions
Right, Crawford and Adrianza are rotten hitters. But with their fielding skills, if they can hit just a little bit — .270/.300/.420, say, or .270/.330/.360 — they’re solid major-league regulars. So I’d rather have one of those guys than a decent relief prospect.
Runzler
This is the first time that I remember there being a player that was far higher rated by the experts than by us fans.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
Well, Runzler is like the pitching version of Pablo, with the exception that he still has prospect status. I kinda wonder where Pablo would have been on prospect lists…
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Dec 1, 2009 7:40 AM PST up reply actions
I think Pablo and Bumgarner would had been #1-2 on the prospect list last year.
say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan
by say hey nation on Dec 1, 2009 7:43 AM PST up reply actions
I’d like to think so, but part of me thinks some lists would have him lower and consider that year a fluke
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Dec 1, 2009 9:00 AM PST up reply actions
I love Aaron King
But #13? Just the whole increase in walk rate and decrease in K rate has me pushing him down…
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
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GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!
Aaron King showed a big improvement with Ks in the second half. The walks came up a bit as well, but there was definitely improvement.
In 45.1 first half innings he had ratios of 4.17 BB/9 and 6.75 K/9 for a K/BB ratio of 1.62.
In 59.1 second half innings he posted a 4.7 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 for a K/BB ratio of 1.74.
He’s definitely a work in progress. Clearly the control’s not totally there yet. But he’s lefthanded and supposedly has hit 94 on the fastball. He had a tough assignment jumping from the AZL to the Sally. It’s not surprising that he struggled coming out of the gate considering he’d never played above JC as an amateur.
I really like Aaron King at 13. If he does well in the Cal League at age 21, I could see him moving up even further. Personally, I always thought his upside was higher than Scott Barnes.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Dec 1, 2009 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
A 0.12 improvement in K/BB is pretty meaningless over a full season, let alone 50 innings. If he had walked 2 mores batter in the 1st half, his first half K/BB would have been higher than the second half one.
I was promised lasagna.
I agree about the walks. As I stated he actually walked more in the second half.
The increase in Ks IMO is more important than the walks at this stage in his development. If he can keep a K/9 over 8 as he moves up, then I think he’s got a solid chance to bring those BBs into.
He was drafted as a raw lefty with a plus arm. There were going to be stumbles. I think his Sally league season showed signs that he’s on the right track.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Dec 2, 2009 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
Tanner?
What’s wrong with him? I saw him strike out 13 guys this year, and that’s exactly the sample size the Ginats like.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
He was repeating the level. The better question is why was he repeating the level for the whole season?
I really think Tanner was ready to see AA by midseason last year.
Still, if his supposed late season velocity increase holds firm, I think he may raise his profile pitching in the Eastern League.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Dec 1, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions
he should have started the season in AA, but due to the glut of pitching prospects in A+/AA (6-man rotations) he got left in A+, probably because he was younger and not a premier prospect.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 1, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
I disagree that he should have started the year in AA. He really hadn’t developed his repertoire enough to warrant a promotion. The strikeout numbers tell the tale. He could have survived in AA, but he really learned to thrive in A-ball as the ’09 season progressed. In the long run his performance in A-ball this year will help his develpment much more than it would to have had him simply keep his head above water in AA.
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