San Francisco Giants Draft Preview
by Grant Brisbee on May 27, 2009 1:46 PM PDT
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PrintDraft time: Past #6 overall picks of note:
1973 – Johnny LeMaster
1977 – Terry Kennedy
1981 – Kevin McReynolds
1985 – Barry Bonds
1986 – Gary Sheffield
1988 – Monty Fariss
1992 – Derek Jeter
1993 – Steve Soderstrom
2002 – Zack Grienke
I included Monty Fariss only because I had 692 of his 1989 Topps "1st-round pick!" cards. I included Johnny LeMaster because he was nice to me when I saw him in the Redwood City Kaiser when I was four. And I included Steve Soderstrom, Terry Kennedy, Derek Jeter, and Barry Bonds to support my prediction that the player the Giants draft will either be a complete bust, a respectable player with a long career, a star, or the greatest player in the universe.
Obviously, the suck-to-spectacular spectrum is wide open on this one. Heck, it’s an amateur baseball draft. The Giants drafted Ronnie Merrill WHEN THEY COULD HAVE HAD ALBERT PUJOLS omg. But remember, a team with Pujols isn’t drafting in a spot where Lincecum’s available, and we all know that the sacred texts, scrolls, and Bazooka Joe wrappers all point to Lincecum leading us to the Promised Land in 2012. Just forget that Pujols already took a team on his back and won a title. I’m off track now.
Notes on the draft scuttlebutt:
- It’s supposed to be a terribly weak draft on college position players, which is the type of pick that Giants fans are most likely to daydream about.
- Power high-school arms abound, which seems to fit the Giants’ modus operandi, but others pointed out that this is only John Barr’s second draft, so maybe there isn’t a whole bunch of predictive information to be found with past Giants drafts. In Barr’s bio, A.J. Burnett, Mike Mussina, Suck It Russell Martin, and Jay Payton are listed as some of his past draftees – so he likes high school pitchers, polished college pitchers, high school position players, or college position players. Got it.
- There are interesting college arms, too, like Aaron Crow, Alex White, and Tanner Scheppers. The Giants aren’t in a spot where college/high school should make a huge difference – they aren’t one quick rotation fix away from contending, so they can afford to be patient if they think the best arm that of a high-schooler.
- The Giants have been occasionally linked to Donovan Tate, which is mildly alarming. The Giants take talented, toolsy teenaged hitters and make them into productive major league hitters as often as they make them into master sommeliers. Again, though, it’s a new regime. And a whole lot of the excitement about the future has to do with teenagers Angel Villalona, Rafael Rodriguez, and Nick Noonan. It just makes me nervous to think about the tools-to-performance ratio the Giants have worked up over the past couple of decades.
Over the next week and a half, I’m planning on spotlighting a few of the players who could go at #6. So this is a preview of the draft preview to come, I guess. What would you like to see? Grainy YouTube videos? Okay, check. Links? Uninformed analysis? Check. Would y’all like to see a series of draft profiles like the one I did last year, even more on the draft, or is this the sort of thing that plays well in FanPosts and FanShots without my help?
Open draft preview preview thread.
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Uninformed analysis pls
The days of the drafts are among the highlights of my year but the stuff leading up to it makes my eyes glaze over. Just give me the picks and get out of my way.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 27, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions
I liked last year’s stuff.
I wonder if people will freak out again about this year’s pick, or if everyone will be so conscious of feeling stupid for freaking out over Bumgarner and Posey.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
everyone will be so conscious of feeling stupid for freaking out over Bumgarner and Posey.
I REFUSE TO LEARN ANY LESSONS
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
And I remember someone saying that some people freaked out over Lincecum, too. I haven’t seen that one, though.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
I freaked out on Posey,
only because I didn’t know who Gerald Posey was.. Took me at least 15 seconds to realize that 2 catchers from the same school and have the same last name are probably the same person.
Brandon Crawford: Your 2011 Opening Day starting SS!
Wilriv21: "Your" as in your SF Giants.
Also, when Selig said it, it sounded like “Geraldine.”
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
Yes I had a heart attack too, when the Giants were picking I rattled off a list of names to my friends in the room with who I would be happy with, and the second that motherfucker said “Gerald” I had an immediate “who the fuck is gerald run through my head”
Proud leader of the Lunatic Fringe breaking off from the Lunatic Fringe of McCovey Chronicles
So, Grant, why did you include Kevin McReynolds and Zach Greinke? The people need to know.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
The mention of Soderstrom
Makes me hope they don’t draft Tanner Scheppers. The Giants should probably stop drafting Fresno Staters altogether (see: Soderstrom, Chiaramonte, Hosey, and any others I’m forgetting).
Anagram of "knowing how to win" = WOW, I KNOW NOTHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on May 27, 2009 2:06 PM PDT reply actions
I agree
Fuck Fresneck!
Original member of the Van Buren Boys
by NuschlerFace on May 27, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I think reading profiles on possible draft choices is interesting when they are lumped together. Individual ones when we have the #6 pick just seems like a waste of time. I’d rather read about your opinion of Up! to be honest.
Once the draft is done, then discussing our choices because really interesting. Beforehand, not so much.
I still can’t believe the niners picked Alex Smith. Freaking morons. We have a round hole…hmm, mebbe this square will fit. Oh wells…wasted pick. Always take the BPA. It’s that simple. This strategy will always hold up in the long term. All others are just gambles.
by positiveuphemism on May 27, 2009 2:15 PM PDT reply actions
I have never in my life rooted harder for a draft pick than I did with the Smith pick. And I’m still one of the 5%ers who thinks that this year’s the year!
by Grant Brisbee on May 27, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Yay the niners have a lunatic fringe as well
Proud leader of the Lunatic Fringe breaking off from the Lunatic Fringe of McCovey Chronicles
The next couple of high picks they had did a lot better, thankfully.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
Once the draft is done, then discussing our choices because really interesting.
You mean like:
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Wait.
NO NO
no
no
no
no
no
asdofasdfijas;dfjasfd
l;kajsdfl;ja;sldf
or
What has he done?
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=posey
A no power, no defense, slow, good hitting catcher.
Why?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
If you're referring to who I'm thinking of...
I did not enjoy his basketball camps.
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.
my favorite is the one where he says Posey doesn’t project to be a league-average catcher.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
OTOH, if the Giants drafted Skipworth and he said that, we’d be heralding him as a prophet. Dude’s hitting worse than Jacks Williams.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
LOL
Wow..that brought a smile to my face. Thanks much!
by positiveuphemism on May 27, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Totally read that as:
he’s a little behind in things like shitting behind the plate
Anagram of "knowing how to win" = WOW, I KNOW NOTHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on May 27, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I saw Posey was at the game last night…maybe he picked up some pointers from Rowand in that department.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, coming soon to a minor league near you.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on May 27, 2009 2:28 PM PDT reply actions
you know that if the Giants had taken Poo Holes, the Giants would have converted him into a brain dead slop hacker…
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on May 27, 2009 2:33 PM PDT reply actions
We are all Poo Holes.
Anagram of "knowing how to win" = WOW, I KNOW NOTHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on May 27, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Side note about LeMaster
Until 1985, he was the highest draft pick the Giants had ever made.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
le master
is a high draft pick… that generates future high draft picks
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 like what you did last year, it gave a focused topic to discuss in each post instead of a draft free-for-all.
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness. - Emo Philips
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.
my thoughtful draft recommendation
I propose that the Giants draft a good player and not draft a bad player.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on May 27, 2009 3:26 PM PDT reply actions
The Giants should go ahead and draft Pujols anyway…see if anyone notices.
Side note – I bet someone could draft Manny Ramirez and fool him into thinking he was a rookie again.
"There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
That’s just Manny accidentally inventing time travel!
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
The Giants drafted Ronnie Merrill WHEN THEY COULD HAVE HAD ALBERT PUJOLS omg
There’s also that time the Giants passed up 61 chances to draft Mike Piazza. GIANTS BRASS!!!!!!
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that pie > cake, that Bochy is endowed by his creator with certain undeniable traits, that among these are veteran man-love, a gigantic skull, and the pursuit of the double switch.
Adopted Giant: Fred Lewis, who can still draw a walk.
Keep it simple sweetie
Would like you to to contact John Barr and ask him who the Giants are drafting.with th #6 pick and then report back to us. Thanx in advance.
MLB mock drafts!
Like discussion your fantasy baseball team, but slightly more interesting to future generations.
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 absolutely loved this
The Giants take talented, toolsy teenaged hitters and make them into productive major league hitters as often as they make them into master sommeliers.
That’s one of my favorite Grant quotes in a long time.
Proud member of the Adopt-a-Giant program (Aaron Rowand)
You’d think the team would turn out more sommeliers, given the region it habitates.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
So Fresno’s in town to play the O-Royals this week and I was planning on going out to Rosenblatt for the game. Unfortunately, the weather is crap – cold, windy, a few sprinkles – and it turns out I have better things to do, say studying and moving. It’s too bad, cause the Grizzlies only come to Omaha once a year.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Would love to see the top candidates in one, long, monster post
Also, for the record, I’d like to see the Giants trade their first and second picks for Seattle’s pick and take Ackley.
For posterity, I wanted Smoak last year but was happy with Posey. I hated the Bumgarner pick but loved the Alderson and Gillaspie picks. Also, I cheered the Alfonzo and Rowand signings but hated the Zito and Howry signings.
Just to make sure, you are aware that there is no trading of draft picks in baseball? Heck, you can’t even trade a player for a year after he’s been drafted.
Joe Martinez: My fingers are crossed and my palms are together for you.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Donovan Tate?? SRSLY??
The Giants have been occasionally linked to Donovan Tate, which is mildly alarming.
Boy, I’ll say!! It’s been all downhill since “Love Potion No. 9”!!
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??
I voted "Do the same thing you did lst year"
…even though I can’t remember what you did last year.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
Since I keep hearing bogus trade rumors regarding Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and other pitching prospects, it would probably be wise to draft one of these pitchers, since I can’t bare to see them take a High School position player who can’t hit a curveball, and got scholarships from USC to play football.
Go Fresno State! Get Mendonca in a later round?
Johnny LeMaster
Great guy: gave me three or four balls after taking fielding practice before a game at Candlestick.
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