Open Vulture Thread

by Grant on Jul 31, 2007 9:55 PM PDT in News Comment 67 comments

It's never too early to speculate about the player to be thanked later in the Matt Morris deal. Guess the new Giant, win a prize*:

Pittsburgh organizational stats (hitting)

Pittsburgh organizational stats (pitching)

I trust the Giants to pick a diamond in the rough from the pitching side of the Pirates' organization more than I would with the hitting side. I know that's going out on a huge limb. So I'll guess....

Jean Garavito

But I'll hope for...

Patrick Bresnehan

And if the Giants do decide on a hitter, I'd be ecstatic with...

Jason Delaney.

Sabean did note in a radio interview that the Giants had "a chance to get a pretty good player" with the PTBNL.

* The prize will also be named later. Much, much later.

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Re: Open Vulture Thread

I love this deal more and more:

From Jayson Stark:
http://proxy.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2956465

"The Giants' brass was sitting around its suite Tuesday morning, bemoaning the fact that it had no decent deals cooking whatsoever. And then, out of the blue, it happened. The Pirates called. And wanted Matt Morris. His 7.94 ERA since mid-June? Not a problem. That $9.5 million he's owed next year (counting his 2009 buyout)? Not a problem. And so they swooped in and finished off a deal for Morris minutes before the deadline -- for a legit prospect (Rajai Davis), a second prospect to be chosen from an agreed-upon list and absolutely zero money changing hands. Well, it didn't take long. For the next two hours, after people around baseball learned of this deal, they couldn't stop calling, e-mailing and texting reactions that could probably be summed up with three succinct words: WHAT THE BX!GRZFDQ!!!!! Don't get us wrong here. We love Matt Morris. Terrific guy. Has had a wonderful career. Should be a fine mentor to those young Pirates starters. But the Giants were just about begging teams to take Morris and offering to chomp big chunks of his money if they had to. Then this team going nowhere dropped out of the sky and took the man and the money. What a country. "That move," said one incredulous front-office man, "is so far out of left field, it's in the Monongahela."

by Aadik on Jul 31, 2007 9:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

He also mentions that the Padres signed Shea Hillenbrand. That about guarantees they won't make the post season.

by paboperfecto on Aug 1, 2007 5:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Torres?

Benitez is owed $5,066,666 from the remainder of his $7.6 million salary, of which Florida will pay $333,333 and San Francisco will pay $4,733,333.

by Whipping Boy on Jul 31, 2007 10:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Torres is not possible

(don't remember the exact rule)

but now would be a good time to bust out a list of excellent ptbnl's.

I'll start: Francisco Liriano.

***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Jul 31, 2007 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Torres is not possible

If I remember correctly the PTBNL can't be playing in the same league. So, it can't be someone on the Pirates major league roster.

by Sayhey on Aug 1, 2007 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Gil Gorman from that Slingbox commercial "...shoulda traded that guy a long time ago".

Benitez is owed $5,066,666 from the remainder of his $7.6 million salary, of which Florida will pay $333,333 and San Francisco will pay $4,733,333.

by Whipping Boy on Jul 31, 2007 10:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

If I'm feeling pessimistic: Nate McLouth.

If I'm feeling supremely optimistic: Ryan Doumit.

If I'm feeling masochistic: Brad Corley.

If I'm feeling like I can talk myself into a player who I think used to be a very solid prospect but who's lost a little luster over the past year: Andrew McCutchen.

If I want to get behind a fifth OF because he's a cousin of a family friend and my dad met him at a social gathering and said he was exceptionally nice: Chris Aguila.

Take a flier on a bat/glove, Sabes.

David Arnott
Sportszilla -- Kickass Sports Writing
Adopted EME

by David Arnott on Jul 31, 2007 10:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Can't be someone on the 40 man roster, which rules out everyone you cited (except Corley IMO).

I figure its a low-A arm type - who knows, might be something useful down the line.

by Aadik on Jul 31, 2007 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Why can't it be someone on the 40-man?

by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Jul 31, 2007 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Actually, now I'm not certain whether its the 40-man roster, or a rule that the PTNBL can't be in the same league as the player being trade. Can't find a transaction primer anywhere.

by Aadik on Jul 31, 2007 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I've been looking through Google results trying to figure this out and it's fairly unclear. It looks like the rule is that the player to be named later can't have played in the same league that he is traded to. When it's phrased like this, it leads me to believe that players that have appeared in major league games for the Pirates are off-limits, but not everyone on the 40-man.

by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Jul 31, 2007 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Here is the Rob Neyer's Transaction Primer found on ESPN. The PTBNL just can't be in the same league as the Pirates but he can be on the DL or in the minors and he can be on the 40 man roster just not on the 25 man roster.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/transanctionsprimer.html

by giantsrainman on Jul 31, 2007 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

If I'm understanding this, the PTBNL could be a more valuble prize than Rajhal? Wow. I always think of PTBNLs as throw ins.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Aug 1, 2007 6:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Huh, that's odd. I know there's been a couple of occasions in baseball history where a player was the PTBNL in his own trade (i.e., the player being traded was shipped back to his original team at year's end). Harry Chiti most famously but there was another one more recently, within the past 20 years certainly. I wonder if they've changed that rule to prevent that from happening again or if those players ended up on the DL causing the receiving team to sour on them.

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Ah, yes, Dickie Noles. Actually there does seem to be something illicit about that transaction, evoking smoke-filled backrooms and gentlemen's agreements. It wouldn't surprise me if that caused a rule change to close a loophole.

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

hmmm, interesting to hear Sabes say that... at the very least, it sounds like the PTBNL won't just be organizational fodder

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 31, 2007 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sabean loves his pitching

Henry Cabrera

by wilriv21 on Jul 31, 2007 10:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Simply based on best names available, I'll take Nicholas Stillwagon or Yonelvy Canal.

Jesse Foppert: Welcome home, my son. And meet your adopted brother, Kelvin Pichardo. He's from the Dominican Republic.

by leftymalo on Jul 31, 2007 11:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Whoa -- James Barksdale, too! Talk about a second career.

Jesse Foppert: Welcome home, my son. And meet your adopted brother, Kelvin Pichardo. He's from the Dominican Republic.

by leftymalo on Jul 31, 2007 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Maybe I'm just being anal, but cheering for a guy named Canal would be eerie.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Aug 1, 2007 6:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

If you don't like eerie cheering, at least you could root for Canal.

Jesse Foppert: Welcome home, my son. And meet your adopted brother, Kelvin Pichardo. He's from the Dominican Republic.

by leftymalo on Aug 1, 2007 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The name game

I like Henry Henry, Tripper Johnson III, Dagoberto Guzman, and Starling Marte too. Luis Bueno could work out. With a name like that he has to be good.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 1, 2007 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Dang, Baron, you beat me to it. Henry Henry is definitely the guy I'm pulling for. A 20-yr-old 3B, with an OPS of .981! Plus, you know, his name would fuel endless diaries.

Your 2012 NL ERA champion: Sergio Romo

by Lyle on Aug 1, 2007 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

I predict a Herman's Hermits themed circle of jokes, something reminiscent of, though hardly identical to the Brian Wilson days.

Coming to you by proxy (I adopted: Dave Righetti!)

by howtheyscored on Aug 1, 2007 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

It would be a much shorter cycle, though, as hardly anyone can name more than two Herman's Hermits songs.

Proud adoptive father of the All-Father and his 2.29 ERA

by EliminateMe on Aug 1, 2007 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

I'm Henry VIII I Am
There's a Kind of Hush
No Milk Today (my personal fave)
Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter
I'm into Something Good
Silhouettes
Don't they know it's the end of the world (before Skeeter Davis I believe)

how hard was that?

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Let's hear it for Hardly Anyone, ladies and gentlemen! Give him a big hand!

Proud adoptive father of the All-Father and his 2.29 ERA

by EliminateMe on Aug 1, 2007 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

I'll be here all week. Next up, the 20 greatest Turtles' songs you've never heard of.

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

You forget Lyle, "speed is the new power". If Sabes could grab his fantasy 20 year old 3B, it would definitely be Adenson Chourio.

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Jesus there's more than a few fabulous porn names in there.

Omar Vizquel to Big Sam, "Barton, Viduka, Rozenhal, Geremi, Deco even?...way to go Gaffer, keep up the great work!"

by PacBellBoozer on Aug 1, 2007 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Tripper Johnson is definitely a winner.

Coming to you by proxy (I adopted: Dave Righetti!)

by howtheyscored on Aug 1, 2007 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Tripper, ne Nelson Alexander Johnson III, went to Newport HS in Bellevue, not too far away from our Timmeh's high school. Tripper was drafted three years ahead of our Timmeh, though, and has spent the last seven years in the minors.

Still love the name.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 1, 2007 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Henry Henry isn't half bad either. It would be great if the first/last was pronounced differently.

HEN-ree, HON-ree...like the French footballer.

Omar Vizquel to Big Sam, "Barton, Viduka, Rozenhal, Geremi, Deco even?...way to go Gaffer, keep up the great work!"

by PacBellBoozer on Aug 1, 2007 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The name game

Henry Henri, we could call him Hank Henri. Love it.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 1, 2007 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Ok, I've narrowed it down to my 3 hopefuls:

RP Romulo Sanchez - AA Altoona - I believe he has a big fastball but little else, rated Pittsburgh's 30th overall prospect entering the season. Gives up too many homeruns but other than that having a solid season. He seems like just the kind of pitcher the Giants love to mold.
C Steven Lerud - High A Lynchburg - Broke Matt Williams' Nevada High School homerun record with 40 career long balls and his parents apparently shared a duplex with Williams' parents at one time. Has had his pro career derailed by injuries and he's not having a very good year but has upside and could use with a position switch, probably to 1st base or if the Giants brass if feeling optimistic 3rd. Entered the year as the Pirates #23 overall prospect by BA but has definitely dropped off the map after hitting only .203 so far this year.
OF Victor Igsema - SS State College - I don't know much about him other than the fact that he was rated as Pittsburgh's sleeper pick by BA in the preseason and that he apparently has "huge raw power" according to BA. he's only found his way into 7 games so far this season and is only hitting .167 but this may just be one of those gambles that pays off big meaning: big risk/big reward.

by Keenlow on Aug 1, 2007 12:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I would like the PTNL to be Stephen Pearce, first baseman of the Altoona Curve.

by Buzzword on Aug 1, 2007 4:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

That seems really unlikely. I doubt it will be anyone in their top-10.

by LBJ on Aug 1, 2007 4:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I thought we won the lottery when they took Morris with no cash involved...so... "you never know."

by Buzzword on Aug 1, 2007 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Prize

Having access to some of the hidden features of the site, I can see that the McCovey Bucks account is practically overflowing. (Grant's purchase of all those Matt Morris put options a week ago showed great foresight.)

C'mon Grant, don't be a cheapo.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Aug 1, 2007 6:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Buy High, Sell Mo

Put options show Grant's stock market savvy.

But I loaded up on the Morris punt options.

by Moggeee on Aug 1, 2007 7:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

i know this is a thread about something else, but can I just say that I'm so glad that I now only have to be depressed about one spot in the pitching rotation. I can much more easily handle rooting for the four guys after zito when one of them isn't Morris. I don't know, something about it makes me feel so much better about this team. Anyone out there with me?

by sweetjuxtapose on Aug 1, 2007 7:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Showing solidarity in answering your question, the entire McCovey Chorus Line takes one step forward.

by Moggeee on Aug 1, 2007 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: choosing from a list

This usually works one of two ways

the teams agree on a list of players that Giants can choose amoung.
the teams agree on players off limits and the Giants can choose from the rest. Remember players in their first year are also off limits. So I wouldn't be surprised if the Pirates agreed that the Giants could have anyone off their 40-man plus an addition 6-8 guys they specifically named.

So the key is to figure out who the best 10 prospects not on the 40 man and know you will probably get someone at the end of that list.

by melottfan on Aug 1, 2007 8:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Grant, if I remember the call right, Sabean said "pretty good player TOO" (emphasis mine). Given that Davis is clearly not a pretty good player...

"I'm a Giant now" and "I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley "I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 1, 2007 8:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

"He'd kill us if he had the chance."
"He'd kill us if he had the chance."

Yeah, that's a good point. If he thinks Davis is some kind of prize, then all bets are off. That's not how I heard it, though. He thinks Davis is an interesting player, and he hopes for the same with the PTBNL. That kind of makes sense.

by Grant on Aug 1, 2007 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I listened to it again, here's what I heard: "Another pretty good player to be named later..."

OK, he didn't say "too" but I know he said the above and that's basically what I was saying about what Sabean thinks about Rajai Davis.

Davis is not a pretty good player, except if you are talking about his ability to steal 40+ bases in the minors, but that's more speed than technique as his success rate is bad, around 75-80% or so (ideally you want over 80% if I remember right). He also had a very nice BB/K ratio (nearly 1.0) early in his career, but he has scuffled against better competition in AA and AAA (down near 0.5). But his contact rate is still nice, around 85% (i.e. strikeout rate of 15%), so he should have a nice batting average, but no power and not a good walk rate, though decent.

His best plus for us is that he's a hitter with OK defense in CF. But if he is a 4th OF type and still on the bench when the Pirates have a bunch of 4th OF types starting, what does that say about him?

He apparently has been doing well in the majors in limited play recently, but if we dealt Feliz at the right time he probably would look like Babe Ruth at the time.

The key to the deal is striking Morris's contract off the books totally, the players are just filler. However, overall, we end up losers, as didn't we lose a draft pick for him, like a 2nd rounder? Davis is not a 2nd rounder and most probably not the PTBNL either. Still, water under the bridge, for here, for now, great deal, frees up $13.5M to spend next season (money saved this season, money saved from buyout, plus salary next season).

"I'm a Giant now" and "I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley "I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 1, 2007 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Martin, oh obsessive one,
Might you be hanging on each of Sabes' words a litte too much? He might have simply met, "Another player, who's pretty good."

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Aug 1, 2007 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

No, oh goofy one, I'm pretty sure he said "another pretty good player" and you know as well as I do that Sabean has always been very specific with his language and pronouncements, he is like a lawyer when he's being interviewed, you can just hear the gears grinding away as he thinks.

"I'm a Giant now" and "I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley "I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 3, 2007 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO SABES NO

Dewon Brazelton is in their organization. I shudder to think...

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 1, 2007 8:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Ok, I'll pick Brian Bixler (not a preference, just a prediction).

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 8:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I second this.

by giantsrainman on Aug 2, 2007 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PTBNL Jeopardy

"This first basemen, now playing at Low-A Hickory, grew up in Bakersfield."

"Who is Kent Sakamoto?"

Lon Simmons' adopted dad.

by Kitspool on Aug 1, 2007 8:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: PTBNL Jeopardy

I was just looking at him and hoping that he would be the prize. I'll hold out hope only because Littlefield's stupidity has proven to be epic in the last 24 hours.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease I'll never ask for anything ever again.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 1, 2007 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

cue Thomas Dolby

"Good heavens, Mr. Sakamoto - you're beautiful!"

He blinded me with OPS.

"We'll see who's strong enough to be the whipping boy now."

by juanboy on Aug 1, 2007 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: cue Thomas Dolby

Oh, misread his stat line. OPS not blinding. Still, a solid prospect.

"We'll see who's strong enough to be the whipping boy now."

by juanboy on Aug 1, 2007 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Just to add more squee to the trade as a whole, I read in the Chron this morning that when Morris expressed disappointment over being shipped to Pittsburgh ("Pittsburgh was never brought up before. That's a team that wasn't even in the cards."), Brian Sabean had this to say:

"Maybe if he pitched better there would have been different circumstances for him orthe organization as far as the deal."

My loose translation:

Morris: "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Sabean: "STFU, dipwad."

Coming to you by proxy (I adopted: Dave Righetti!)

by howtheyscored on Aug 1, 2007 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

i hate Sabes a little bit less now. :)

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Aug 1, 2007 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I felt the same way

When I read that quote.

***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Aug 1, 2007 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

So Sabes called the Waaahmbulance. Nice!

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 1, 2007 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I nominate that for quote of the year. Freakin' awesome.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Aug 1, 2007 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I guess Grant just made it official.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Aug 1, 2007 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

And then there was this quote from Morris yesterday:

"I'm excited about getting back to the NL Central and getting some better defense and some young guys out there who are looking to play hard," Morris said.

Matty, you can't blame the defense for all of the rocket shots that flew all over the park, ya whiney little bitch. Maybe if you wouldn't have shat the bed in June a contender would have wanted you.

by bisquik on Aug 1, 2007 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The terms of Sabes' extension.

Clearly, it had nothing to do with results, or even freedom to construct the roster the way he wishes.

It had to do with the right to call the players wankers when they're being wankers.

Now THAT'S job satisfaction.

"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Aug 1, 2007 11:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I'll take Charles Benoit for no particular reason.

And, man, after flipping through those pages and the Giants pages, I feel a lot better about the state of our farm system.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Aug 1, 2007 11:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

I don't know. We certainly have nothing like Neil Walker who would easily be the #1 prospect in our system.

by Roger on Aug 1, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Maybe. Today Kevin Goldstein ranked Villalona as the #4 3B prospect in baseball, and Walker (who is no longer catching and hasn't homered in 26 games) as #5. In the preseason, Goldstein ranked four of their prospects as better than average: Walker, McCutchen (having a horrible season), Lincoln (had Tommy John surgery) and Lillibridge (foolishly tossed into a deal with Atlanta). There are plenty of players I'd like to have in that system, but there's no way I'd want to trade systems right now. Given the fact that the Pirates are generally perpetual sellers with high draft picks, that's pretty sad.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Aug 1, 2007 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Open Vulture Thread

Thanks for the info, very interesting Pants, particularly Villalona. I don't subscribe, he list Longoria #1, LaRoche #2, but who was #3?

I would also note here that many people like to knock the Giants system right now, but they've also graduated a lot of players quickly to the majors who would normally still be part of our farm system, like Cain and Lincecum, who instead would be toiling in the minors right now.

"I'm a Giant now" and "I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley "I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Aug 1, 2007 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs