Keith Law likes Andrew Susac, but ranks the Giants' farm system 29th

Here we have the yearly prospect blast from Keith Law and ESPN. The bad news is expected. The good news is something of a surprise. With this all in mind, let us consider the sum of this news to be a rousing success.

The bad news is the Giants rank 29th out of 30 teams in ESPN's organizational rankings. They had a shot at 30, a real shot, if the Tigers didn't load all of their prospects into a trade trebuchet and fire it at the distant hills. But the Giants' farm system is in a bad way compared to the rest of baseball. You knew that.

The good news is that Law likes Andrew Susac a lot more than I figured a lot of prognosticators would, putting him 46th on his top-100 prospects list. This was going to be the year that I wasn't going to be surprised if the Giants didn't have an entry on a top-100 list. To see one in the top half is a pleasant surprise.

That isn't to suggest that I'm down on Susac. I've been a fan from the beginning, junior. But there are 300 players who made a top-10 list for a given team. Some of those teams have really, really deep farm systems. I just figured Susac might get squeezed out in a numbers game.

Instead, he's in the top 50. Here's some of what Law has to say (subscription required):

If he gets to play every day, which may not happen right away in San Francisco, he'd hit .260-270 with 20 bombs and add a few runs of value on his defense, good enough to start in 2015 for maybe half the teams in the majors.

The next question is what in the heck to do with Susac. He's not wasted as a backup here, but he might have more value in the right trade than he'll ever have as a super-reserve. On the other hand, while it's an established practice around here to pie anyone suggesting Buster Posey should switch positions, if the day could come for Johnny Bench, it can come for anyone. It's a good thing to have a second major-league-quality player at a position that requires extensive rest.

And here's a gentle reminder that just because a team ranks at the bottom of the organizational rankings, it doesn't mean they're doomed for the rest of prospect eternity. The Giants still might get help from the farm this year. Not just from Susac, either. It's not likely for either Clayton Blackburn or Ty Blach to go deGrom on the world, but both of them could contribute this season in an emergency. The Giants got the right prospect they needed at the right time for the right position last year, too. Like hittin' a womprat back home, no big deal.

Still, the ESPN rankings over the last five years:

2010 - 20th
2011 - 23rd
2012 - 26th
2013 - 26th
2014 - 25th
2015 - 29th

It's easy to go back to the gag where we pretend it's hard to be satisfied with the World Series wins, but there's something to be said about this being at least a little discouraging. It's been a while since the Giants have had a BUSTER POSEY or TIM LINCECUM or MADISON BUMGARNER to look forward to. All of these solid regulars and homegrown helpers are a good thing, certainly, but I'm still looking for the next big thing.

As is, the Giants have a good prospect to back up their greatest position player. It's not the ideal farm system, but at least there's a sliver of optimism to go with the win-now mentality. Hit some dingers, Andrew. Throw strikes, Kyle. Shock the world, Daniel. It's hard to be cynical when you remember how easy it is to get really, really, really excited to follow the 29th-ranked farm system in baseball.