Community Prospect List #30

by marcello on Feb 8, 2011 12:06 PM PST

Please do not rec these, we don't want to have them cluttering up the recommended fanposts. Thanks!

Well, for a moment it looked like we were going to get a 3 way tie, but Roibal takes it. Here is our list so far:

1. Brandon Belt
2. Zack Wheeler
3. Thomas Neal
4. Gary Brown
5. Francisco Peguero
6. Brandon Crawford
7. Charlie Culberson
8. Chuckie Jones
9. Ehire Adrianza
10. Jose Casilla
11. Jorge Bucardo
12. Tommy Joseph
13. Eric Surkamp
14. Mike Kickham
15. Jarrett Parker
16. Hector Sanchez
17. Heath Hembree
18. Roger Kieschnick
19. Conor Gillaspie
20. Rafael Rodriguez
21. Seth Rosin
22. Jason Stoffel
23. Nick Noonan
24. Michael Main
T25. Brock Bond
T25. Jake Dunning
27. Chris Dominguez
28. Ryan Verdugo
29. Reinier Roibal

For #30, we have the following options:

Dan Burkhart - FYI, the first link has his age wrong, it's right in the 2nd link

Each player should have a link to Baseball Cube in their first name and a link to FanGraphs in their last name, unless one wasn't available. The poll will close Wednesday at noon, unless it's clear enough to call before then.

Poll

Who is the Giants #30 prospect?

Dan Burkhart

15 votes

Darren Ford

14 votes

Johnny Monell

18 votes

Juan Perez

23 votes

Clayton Tanner

34 votes

Carlos Willoughby

5 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed

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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Comments

Voted Burkhart, but considered Willoughby.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
—Rogers Hornsby

by Lyle on Feb 8, 2011 1:09 PM PST reply actions

It's past time for Burkhart

1. He has been succesfully calling his own pitches since at least the beginning of 2009. That means he’s got around 125 games (between college and the minor leagues) of calling his own pitches over the last 2 seasons. Typically, the highest hurdle for a catcher to hurdle in pro ball is learning how to call a ball game and handle his pitching staff. That’s why you usually hear that teams want even their best catching prospects who can already hit pro pitching to get at least 150 games under their belts in the minor leagues before they can be ready for the majors. 99.9% of the college catchers get their pitches called by a coach in the dugout, but Burkhart didn’t so he’s got a leg up on most catching prospects.

2. He plays above-average defense at catcher, with ony his arm-strentgh holding him back from being higher-rated. Despite the average arm strength, he has the footwork and mechanics that allows him to get the ball to 2B in good time and throw out potential basestealers at an above-average rate.

3. He hits left-handed, which is always a plus for a catcher. He’s never going to be a Buster Posey with the bat, but he has always put up above-average (for a catcher) stats with the bat. He doesn’t have a lot of power, but he does appear to stay within himself and be a gap-to-gap line drive doubles & singles hitter. He shows a good approach at the bat (k-rate=14.67% & bb-rate=9.5% in pro ball / k-rate=12.4% & bb-rate=20.6% as a junior in college) – and yes, that was an elite 20.6% bb-rate in 189 AB’s as a junior at Ohio State.

Now that Steve Holm is gone, I believe that Burkhart is the 2nd most major league-ready catcher in the system – behind only Jackson Williams. I know that they signed a guy named Stewart last month, but he’s no prospect and he’s going to stay in Fresno to provide catching depth behind Jax.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 1:13 PM PST reply actions

highest hurdle for a catcher to hurdle

LOL – where’s my editor?

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 1:34 PM PST up reply actions

LOL...

You’d better be careful. Some people might think you’re offering…

"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Check out the new look of SFDugout.com•

by BruteSentiment on Feb 9, 2011 12:03 AM PST up reply actions

"My name is nvsfg, and I approve of this message."

Well stated Fla, and much more eloquently than I could have. Damn, I was stuck in meetings all of yesterday, as well as some non-profit meetings after work. I did not get a chance to check in and stand up for my guy. Burkhart not making the top 30 is just plain wrong people. Now that Posey is starting, I gues some don’t see the need for a potential solid hitting backup catcher.

I'm a Giants Fan, but I'll always be rooting for Matt Downs
Where is Dan Burkhart going to play ?

by nvsfg on Feb 9, 2011 12:37 PM PST up reply actions

Hey Marcello, I like the brisk pace you’ve got going now, but how about putting up a new list of names so we can get some new blood in the next round? I’d like to be able to vote for Brandon Allen, Jacob Dunnington, or Kendry Flores after Burkhart.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 1:19 PM PST reply actions

Other possibles: Ydwin Villegas, Armando Paniagua, Julio Izturis, Jose de la Cruz, Leonardo Fuentes, Chris Lofton

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Feb 8, 2011 1:44 PM PST up reply actions

+1

I like those guys too.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 2:25 PM PST up reply actions

Matt Graham please

by krukkuipandclint on Feb 8, 2011 4:29 PM PST up reply actions

I can’t see ranking Graham ahead of Kelvin Marte. In fact, Marte belongs before any of the AZL, DSL, or NWL guys I think, and ahead any of the Sally guys other than Wheeler and Bucardo. Jose Valdez is another interesting arm. If they’re really looking to put him in the SJ rotation, this season could provide a huge opportunity for the big guy, although obviously he’s a guy whose had a real struggle getting any mechanics down in his career.

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Feb 9, 2011 6:25 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah

I’ll put up another vote-rec-off for the next poll. I’m trying to avoid having too many options in the polls though.

Juan "Doesn't Cheat The Game" Perez, future CF for the World Champion San Francisco Giants.

by marcello on Feb 8, 2011 3:20 PM PST up reply actions

I could probably be convinced out of it with a well-reasoned argument, but I’m of the current opinion that the lower down we go in these CPL’s the more candidates there should be for the positions. That’s because I believe there’s much more of a wide range of opinions on all of these lower-ranked prospects. I wouldn’t mind it if you opened each vote up to 10 guys from now on.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 3:37 PM PST up reply actions

Honestly

It’s fine with me, as that makes perfect sense to me.

Juan "Doesn't Cheat The Game" Perez, future CF for the World Champion San Francisco Giants.

by marcello on Feb 8, 2011 4:37 PM PST up reply actions

by the way, Marcello, you’re doing a helluva job!

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Feb 8, 2011 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

+1

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 5:03 PM PST up reply actions

Huzzah !

I'm a Giants Fan, but I'll always be rooting for Matt Downs
Where is Dan Burkhart going to play ?

by nvsfg on Feb 9, 2011 12:39 PM PST up reply actions

Where’s Simon Mercedes?!

I have seen the future of rock n' roll, and its name is Buster Posey.
"Practice is a crutch for the talentless."

by atxgiantsfan on Feb 8, 2011 1:20 PM PST reply actions

Wait how deep does this list go again? 40?

I have seen the future of rock n' roll, and its name is Buster Posey.
"Practice is a crutch for the talentless."

by atxgiantsfan on Feb 8, 2011 1:21 PM PST up reply actions

44 I think

"You think someone that big would be more well endowed" Aubrey Huff's mother on Pat Burrell
I thought he was going to punch me and I was totally accepting of it. I was planning a reason to thank him if he did." Brian Wilson on Buster Posey
Twiitter: @gobroks
Blog: GMPotential.blogspot

by Gobroks on Feb 8, 2011 1:26 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

has he learned to hit?

I liked him initially too

former adoptive papa of "Geno" Eugenio Velez, Antoan Richardson, and Adam Wittler--

by foothillsfan on Feb 8, 2011 2:00 PM PST up reply actions

woops that was supposed to be a reply about Jurica, just below this

former adoptive papa of "Geno" Eugenio Velez, Antoan Richardson, and Adam Wittler--

by foothillsfan on Feb 8, 2011 2:01 PM PST up reply actions

I think that #44 was a pretty good hitter in his day

/smiley face

by Gobroks on Feb 8, 2011 6:33 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

You know who’s going to be badly underranked? Carter Jurica. I didn’t like the pick either, but come on, we’ve already ranked four players drafted after him and will soon add a fifth in Burkhart.

by Evan on Feb 8, 2011 1:29 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Somebody must get stoned!

A new anthem for a new era.

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Feb 8, 2011 1:30 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not sure where to put him

I think I put him at 45 on my list, but I could see that being low

by Gobroks on Feb 8, 2011 1:46 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I’d agree with that. The funny thing about Jurica is. IMO, of he puts up just a slightly below-average year for a SS in Augusta this season he’s likely to leap way up next year’s list into the top 20.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Feb 8, 2011 5:05 PM PST up reply actions

He should probably be top 20 right now. You could make an argument to drop him to 25 or so, but beyond that is presumptuous. We are not wiser than the Giants’ draft braintrust.

by Evan on Feb 8, 2011 6:44 PM PST up reply actions

We were in 2003.

Hector Sanchez: Underrated. Fighting body bias since the 2009 off season. I still love you, son, even if you're fat.

by tedfordfan on Feb 8, 2011 7:14 PM PST up reply actions

Hey, they got the shutdown closer they were looking for in the 2003 draft.

by Evan on Feb 8, 2011 8:06 PM PST up reply actions

Plus Nate! (who as I recall was considered the head scratcher overreach of that draft — that was the first draft I remember their being a live blog for and most of the comment after the Schierholtz guy were along the lines of "who was that person the Giants took in the 2nd round, because he hadn’t even shown up in a lot of scouting databases).

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Feb 9, 2011 5:22 AM PST up reply actions

FWIW he didn't make BA's top 30

by Gobroks on Feb 8, 2011 11:58 PM PST up reply actions

Generally, I agree with that presumption, Evan, but man that was a strange pick — it really seemed to be the Jax pick of the draft. Obviously at least one of their area scouts saw something he really liked and was persuasive in his argument, so hopefully whatever that was will show up this year. But until it does, I might just have to feel, oh so smugly, that the braintrust had a brainfart in that one case.

MY DAD WAS WRONG!
MY BOY NEEDS TO THROW HARDER!

by Roger on Feb 9, 2011 5:24 AM PST up reply actions

I liked Tanner last year too, but

the K rate dropped dropped by 3, to 4.8, and the BB rate went up by over 1, to 3.9.
So I gotta go JC Perez for now. Lookin Burkhardt, Monell, WIlloughby, Tanner soon

former adoptive papa of "Geno" Eugenio Velez, Antoan Richardson, and Adam Wittler--

by foothillsfan on Feb 8, 2011 2:07 PM PST reply actions