Granted, Wheeler is a superior arm, the 2009 sixth-overall pick was ranked as the No. 35 prospect...

Granted, Wheeler is a superior arm, the 2009 sixth-overall pick was ranked as the No. 35 prospect in the minor leagues during Baseball America’s midseason ranking after entering the season as No. 2 on the Giants’ list. He also came in at No. 31 on the ESPN midseason list and analyst Keith Law said the Mets "made out like bandits" in the deal.

However, that doesn’t tell the whole story of the Wheeler fellow.

It’s true that the 21-year-old Wheeler has an ideal pitchers’ frame at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds and a lively arm with a fastball that can reach 95 miles per hour. However Giants general manager Brian Sabean said on Mad Dog Radio after the deal that Wheeler’s future might be as a reliever.

Wow! That’s quite a comedown. Sabean might be blowing smoke but he does know something about developing pitchers. Sabean also said that the organization views Class AA lefthander Eric Surkamp (8-3, 2.05 ERA) at Richmond more highly than Wheeler

The Otherside Of Zack Wheeler

(emphasis in the quote was mine)

H/T To @SFBleachergirl for mentioning this story

10 months ago Gobroks 6 comments 0 recs |

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WOO SURKAMP!

Seth Rosin can hit the side of a barn with a baseball. From space.
Giants baseball: We're stupid enough to WIN that (TM)

by quincy0191 on Aug 3, 2011 10:39 PM PDT reply actions

Of course the Giants prefer Surkamp, he's older.

(minor league) veteran savvy FTW!

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Aug 3, 2011 10:49 PM PDT reply actions

If they love Surkamp

why has he been getting to slow-mo promos?

A: “Because I don’t know what it means anymore, in the PCL. It’s almost like years ago.”

Please don't cut Ishikawa! 2009 Tops All-Star Rookie and World Champ 2010!

by kennv on Aug 4, 2011 9:07 AM PDT reply actions

He was going to get a mid-season promo to AA last year but he hurt his hip and missed the second half of the season.

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

by Roger on Aug 4, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Since he’s unlikely to be needed in SF anytime this year, moving him to AAA at this point really isn’t of great importance. If they need him in SF due to injuries, there’s no problem for him to jump straight from Richmond to SF now.

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

Keep an eye on my son, Jake "The Jacksonville Rifle" Dunning. From SS to the mound - exclusively toeing the rubber since March 2010.

by Fla-Giant on Aug 4, 2011 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Not very controversial, IMO

However Giants general manager Brian Sabean said on Mad Dog Radio after the deal that Wheeler’s future might be as a reliever.

I didn’t hear the interview, so I don’t know what tone and exact context that Sabes was speaking in, but I don’t find that quote at all controversial. You can say that about any highly-ranked pitching prospect in the minors below the age of about 23 who has less than 2 full seasons of low-minors ball under his belt and who is having an issue with his control and developing a dependable 2nd and 3rd pitch. There’s nothing specific to Wheeler in a statement like that, and there’s no way, barring injury, that Wheeler would ever be relegated exclusively to the bullpen by any org for at least 2 more full seasons.

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

Keep an eye on my son, Jake "The Jacksonville Rifle" Dunning. From SS to the mound - exclusively toeing the rubber since March 2010.

by Fla-Giant on Aug 4, 2011 4:07 PM PDT reply actions