Have you ever wondered which players the Giants could have had in a draft but passed up on? This is something that always intrigues me. I have just been doing a little research (due diligence) and decided to share some thoughts with you.
In the 2006 MLB Draft. The Giants had the 10th overall pick. With the pick they selected two time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. Now that was some good due diligence by Brian Sabean and his staff.
Now here’s the teams that passed up on Timmy… Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays did draft Evan Longoria so that’s understandable. The Dodgers also drafted Clayton Kershaw, so that wasn’t a bad draft pick either. Do you think the Dodgers wish they would have drafted little skinny Timmy? I’m sure they do!
In the 2007 MLB Draft. The Giants also had the 10th overall pick. They selected Madison Bumgarner. Now we don’t know how he will do in San Francisco, but we do know how he can dominate the minor leagues. He’s expected to be a front line starter in the Giants future rotation.
When the Giants selected Bumgarner. They did leave another young phenom on the board who was then drafted by the Atlanta Braves. Yes, I’m talking about Jason Heyward. This guy has been projected as the number 1 prospect in baseball, and also projected to be the 2010 Rookie Of The Year. Now do you think Sabean is thinking maybe they should have went for a bat in that draft?
Now the 2008 and 2009 MLB Draft still isn’t anything to fully judge yet. We don’t know who’s going to be the steal or the bust yet. With that said, the Giants did select Buster Posey with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. Posey was considered the best catcher available. ESPN’s Keith Law had Posey as the number two player in the draft.
In the 2009 MLB Draft. The Giants selected RHP Zach Wheeler with the sixth overall pick in the draft. Sabean has been going after pitching as a top priority in these drafts. I would say the next draft he should probably start looking for a solid position player, but you know what they say. You can never have too much pitching!
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says John Bowker is in jeopardy of losing his roster spot. The Giants must clear space for Aaron Rowand to come off the disabled list Sunday, and with their middle infield banged up, it’s no sure thing that Matt Downs will be sent back to Triple-A Fresno.
King of Cali thoughts: Bowker is currently hitting .186 (AVG), 1 homer and 4 RBI’s. It’s nothing to write home about, but I do feel bad for him. He’s not able to get in any rhythm. Once he was named the starting right fielder. Bruce Bochy didn’t put him out there everyday to show he can hit. Which means every time he’s at the plate now. He’s trying to hard to prove he can hit.
Bowker has already proven he can hit in Triple-A Fresno. He won a batting title in the Pacific Coast League last season. Bowker and Eugenio Velez both have an option remaining. Would you send down one of these guys or send down second baseman Matt Downs?
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says a leading theory posits the Giants will keep Buster Posey in the minors until June to ensure he does not gain an extra year of arbitration eligibility, but team officials have discussed bringing him up sooner.
King of Cali thoughts: Now it’s not rocket-science. If Posey is hitting and Aubrey Huff isn’t. I would bring up Posey, and let him get some games in at first. He can even get some games in when Bengie Molina needs a break behind the dish. This is just to help jump start the offense a bit.
Posey hasn’t been driving the ball so far this season, but he’s still getting his hits. He’s currently hitting .353 AVG with 1 homer and 9 RBI’s in 18 games for the Fresno Grizzlies. We need a guy that can hit. If you place him in this Giants lineup. He’s easily already one of the top 3 hitters in the everyday lineup. That’s how good this kids bat can be. Well then again… him being one of our top 3 hitters isn’t saying much for a team that desperately needs offensive help. Do you think the Giants should bring up Posey now?
The Giants could use Sanchez as soon as possible, Baggarly says. Juan Uribe is listed as day-to-day, Edgar Renteria is playing through bursitis in his right shoulder, and Mark DeRosa has a bad hamstring too.
SIDE NOTES
Todd Wellemeyer’s start Tuesday probably will be his last until May 8th. The Giants have two days off and are likely to skip his next start.
King of Cali thoughts: The 2010 Giants look like the 2009 Giants right now. They can’t seem to get any clutch hits. I was hoping Aubrey Huff would turn into the offseason steal like Uribe was a year ago. It’s still very early in the season, so a lot can change. I just wouldn’t be buying your “Vote For Huff” All Star shirts this year.
Huff still has that power that the Giants need. Even though he has yet to show it this season. It may take a while for him to get in his comfort zone since he’s coming from the American League. Just an FYI to Huff. Buster Posey is swinging a very hot bat in Fresno. He may force the issue and take over at first sooner or later if Huff isn’t producing! Things that make you go hmmm…
If F-Sanchez joins the team within 2 weeks. That’s going to be a big spark that the Giants desperately need. This guy can flat out hit and get on base. I know that doesn’t solve the problem of guys driving in runs, but it does bring an above average bat to the everyday lineup. This will also give the Giants more options as far as who’s hot to stay in the lineup. If Renteria isn’t pulling his weight. Then he can sit the bench and keep Bruce Bochy company.
Dan Fost the author of Giants Past & Present has picked a winner from the comments that were submitted on the “Q&A With Dan Fost – Author Of Giants Past & Present, Wing A Copy!” post. Dan liked all the comments and was torn between a few different comments. He did however decide to go with Dan Pera. He said let’s give Robb Nen his due. A lot of fans have been down on him after 2002 World Series, but I think Pera hits the nail on the head, and I like that he appreciates the sacrifice Nen made for the team. Dan Pera’s winning comment will be at the bottom of this post.
Just because you didn’t win the Giants Past & Present book. Doesn’t mean you can’t still purchase it. I’m telling you it’s a must have for Giants fans. You can purchase the book at Giants Past & Present. I’m sure you know some Giants fans who’s birthday is coming up or you want to get them the book for Fathers Day.
Winning Comment
Dan Pera,
Despite the fact I love Will Clark and Barry Bonds, I have to say that the guy I’ll always love and respect the most is Robb Nen.
He wasn’t a longtime Giant, but the years he was with us, he gave us a dominant presence at the end of the bullpen. His insane slider was like 92 mph. Just absolute pure filth. Plus, his theme song, “Smoke on the Water” is just too epic for words.
I’ll never forget how he pitched himself into an early career grave by giving up his shoulder in 2002. He gave everything he had, and never pitched again as a result. Love Robb Nen.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum wants to buy a Volkswagen Micro-bus. Lincecum dropped the news in a small piece in the May issue of GQ. Below is a picture of what he will be rolling in…
King of Cali thoughts: I guess this is one thing he wants to buy with his money. He can get whatever he wants. He’s sitting on top of the world. Although, he’s starting to remind me a lot of Shaggy from Scooby Doo. At least we know if Shaggy played baseball. He would be one hell-of-a-pitcher!
Lincecum is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA so far this season. I’m not calling him the 2011 Cy Young Award winner, but it seems like he’s going to make another run at it again this year. Do you think Lincecum can get the trifecta?
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says John Bowker is not starting very much for a guy that won the right field job. Andres Torres has been getting the starts against left-handed pitchers.
Schulman also says the Giants are not interested in patching their outfield with free agent Jermaine Dye. Dye’s asking price and defense are the chief considerations.
Side Notes
Aubrey Huff, Pablo Sandoval and Juan Uribe have started all 13 games.
King of Cali thoughts: The last couple of games the Giants haven’t looked like they did at the start of the season. Our offense is struggling to score runs. I have heard some fans say were back to the 2009 team. Where we can’t get enough runs across to win even low scoring games.
I think Bowker should be put in the everyday lineup for now. Torres isn’t obviously hitting anyone right now, so let Bowker show everyone he can be in there no matter who’s pitching. He has the bat that we need to drive in runs. With Mark DeRosa and Aaron Rowand out. It’s a no brainer in my mind. Get Bowker out there! Do you think Bowker should sit against left-handers or in the everyday lineup?
The San Francisco Giants 2010 Opening Day payroll is up 19% from the 2009 Opening Day payroll. The Giants have had some pay raises and added two bats (DeRosa and Huff) to the everyday lineup.
The 2009 Opening Day payroll was $82,616,450. Some tweaks to the lineup have been made since then. One player gone from that Opening Day Lineup is Randy Winn. That did free up $9.6 million, but that money was spent on raises. You didn’t think Lincecum and company would remain cheap did you?
Tim Lincecum was making $650,000 last year, and is now making $9 million this year. There goes the money that was free when Winn wasn’t re-signed. Randy Johnson (retired) was paid $8 million last year, so that money went to Matt Cain who’s salary went up this year by $2 million (2010 salary $4,583,333). Then the other $6 million went to Giants closer Brian Wilson. Wilson made $480,000 in 2009, and his salary has skyrocketed in 2010. He’s now making $6.5 million.
The two bats that were brought in to help the Giants score more runs on a consistent basis, so far seem to be doing the job. Mark DeRosa is making $6 million this year, and Aubrey Huff is making $3 million. Huff may turn into the big steal of the winter if he can drive in 100 runs. He’s already learned that his homers may take a hit at AT&T Park, but he’s still trying to get them any way he can. He did get his first homer as a Giant. It was an inside the park home-run!
With all of these pay raises and roster changes. The Giants Opening Day payroll is $98,641,333 in 2010. It’s nice to know that the team is willing to spend money to try to put out a team that has a chance to win. Our payroll is way below the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but at least were in the upper half in the league in payroll. Just be happy you’re not a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. They have the lowest payroll ($34,943,000).
NL West 2010 Payrolls and Top Player Salary
Arizona Diamondbacks – $60,718,166 – Brandon Webb $8.5 million
Colorado Rockies – $84,227,000 – Todd Helton $17,775,000 million
Los Angeles Dodgers – $95,358,016 – Manny Ramirez $18,695,006 million
San Diego Padres – $37,799,300 – Chris Young $6,375,000
San Francisco Giants – $98,641,333 – Barry Zito $18.5 million
UPDATE – Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Giants made Lewis happy Thursday by trading him to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named or cash (Just like the Kevin Frandsen trade to the Red Sox).
Giants GM Brian Sabean was on the radio (KNBR Giants Flagship Station) with Ralph and Tom. Sabean said that outfielder Fred Lewis has proved that he’s healthy and doesn’t need anymore rehab games. Lewis will likely be traded within the next 24-48 hours, Sabean said. Sabean said Eugenio Velez has an option, but doesn’t want to send him down. He thinks Velez can help the team. Sabean thinks it’s time for a fresh start for Lewis and said he will be with another organization soon.
King of Cali thoughts: Well, I must say that I seen this coming. The only guy I can see losing a spot is Andres Torres, but then that would take away from him being our right handed hitter off the bench. The Giants have a lot of outfielders and it doesn’t make sense to add Lewis to that mix. He had his shot and didn’t run away with it. I’m with Sabean on this one. It’s time for a fresh start for Lewis. I wonder if Bruce Bochy is going to put a red tag in his locker, and say thanks for coming out!
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says Fred Lewis future remains in limbo. The Giants have indicated to Lewis that he will be activated or traded by the weekend, Baggarly says.
The Giants have no need for Lewis. They already have six outfielders on the roster. Lewis does retain some trade value because of his athleticism and on-base skills and the Giants do not want to just give him away. The Padres and A’s have been interested but the Blue Jays might be the most likely destination.
Side Notes
Buster Posey played first base for Fresno on Sunday. “You’ll see him at first base one a week to keep his legs fresh, “Evans (Giants vice president Bobby Evans) said.
May 1st is still the target date for Freddy Sanchez to return to the Giants. “he hasn’t had any setbacks,” said Bochy.
King of Cali thoughts: It was pretty obvious that the Lewis experiment was over. I couldn’t see the Giants bringing him back. They have some guys that are already fighting for playing time in the outfield. Stone-hands Lewis got his shot and wasn’t able to make the best of it. It would be nice to see if we can part with him via trade, so we can get something for him.
Lewis still does have potential. He’s a very fast guy and has a nice swing (when he swings). I don’t know if it was just me or it was reality, but Lewis seemed to strike out like every other at bat last year. I really think he needs a fresh start with another organization. Just needs to work on his defense, and figure out a two strike swing to get the ball in play and use his legs to get him a few extra hits.
Have you ever wondered which players the Giants could have had in a draft but passed up on? This is something that always intrigues me. I have just been doing a little research (due diligence) and decided to share some thoughts with you.
Dan Fost
The San Francisco Giants 2010 Opening Day payroll is up 19% from the 2009 Opening Day payroll. The Giants have had some pay raises and added two bats (DeRosa and Huff) to the everyday lineup.
