When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

06.05.2008
Update Du Draft

This quote demonstrates Brian Sabean's finely-honed personal skills:

"[Posey]'s on the fast track and Bengie's clock's winding down," Sabean said. "It's really up to him how soon he wants to get going and how soon he can get here."

It's true that the best case scenario has Posey taking over for Molina in 2010, but there are better ways of saying it when the guy "winding down" is your cleanup hitter and team leader.

The next hurdle: signing Posey, who reportedly let it be known he wanted a $12 M signing bonus. Uh, yeah. Tim Lincecum got a $2 M bonus. Some draftniks thought the demand was just a way to keep the Tampas and Royals and Giants of the world from drafting him. The Giants will certainly call his bluff. Let the poker games commence.

So what does this mean for Pablo Sandoval, the Giants' best catching prospect? He's currently tearing up high-A ball with San Jose, and he's only 21. After an insane April he's come back to Earth somewhat, but unless he has a major setback he'll be promoted to Fresno this year, Sabean reportedly said today. If Sandoval continues to hit well and make progress defensively, the Giants might have a logjam. Which is a good thing. Sandoval plays first base, sometimes, and Posey was an All-American shortstop his freshman year in college. So the team has options.

The sandwich pick was Wichita State 3B Conor Gillaspie, and the report on him is a Bill-Mueller type bat and mediocre glove. The Giants could do worse than finding the next Bill Mueller, especially the 2003 version. For those with short memories, however, please note that Mueller' never OPS'ed higher than .800 with the Giants. I hope Gillaspie is a better hitter than S.F.-era Mueller, especially if he's not going to help much with the glove.

Other picks today. Let us know if you have any thoughts on them, too:

* Texas Tech OF Roger Kieschnick
* UCLA SS Brandon Crawford
* Cal State Northridge RHP Edwin Quirarte
* N Carolina St. LHP Eric Surcamp

Hmm, all college players so far. Looks like the Giants are pressing the fast-track button.



Also on the Network:



[June 5, 2008 9:41 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ProspectHound said

Just curious lefty, but where are you quoting the 'mediocre' defender on Gillespe from? Not from BA, who say he has soft hands and average arm, though his range is questioned. Also, Bill Mueller never won the Cape Cod league batting and slugging crowns- Gillespe has a touch more pop than Billy. Roger K is a great pick at 82

[June 5, 2008 11:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to ProspectHound

Sorry, I should have cited sources. I believe it was in the MLB.com draft tracker widget, but now I'm not sure. I saw a scouting video of him muffing a couple ground balls to his backhand.

[June 6, 2008 1:19 AM]  |  link  |  reply
losingcalifornia said

I interviewed Kieschnick a couple of summers ago when he was trying out for Team USA as part of a documentary on summer baseball. He flashed great power during the BP and exhibition, although he didn't win the HR Derby they held.

David Price, Pedro Alvarez, and Jemile Weeks were all part of that Team USA. Price and Weeks were really nice kids, seemed mature for their age.

[June 6, 2008 8:28 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris said

I LOVE the Roger K. and Brandon Crawford picks. A chance for some good talent late in the draft.

[June 6, 2008 11:20 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to Chris

Tell us more about them, if you could. Why all the love?

[June 6, 2008 12:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris replied to ELM

Lefty,

Roger K. was ranked by BA as the 44th best player in the draft, picking him up with the 82nd pick is a steal. He has above average power to all fields and when he pulls the ball, puts a lot of power into it.

His swing mechanics are a little funky and he can be overaggressive, but he's got "5-tools" that could all develop well for him. Can run a little, hit for power, and has a strong enough arm to say in RF. Great pick with nice upside in my opinion.

Crawford had the potential to be a top collegiate middle infielder but had a poor Cape Cod showing and struggled this year in college, dropping his value. He's shown the ability to drive the ball in the past, and had 2 pretty good years at UCLA before this year. He's got "plus raw power to the pull side.".

Defensively he should be able to stay at short. It's a good pick because his value was so low but he could turn out to be a first or second round talent. Great buy-low move by the Giants, hopefully he signs, they might have to go over slot. BA had him ranked 134th overall.

[June 6, 2008 4:52 PM]  |  link  |  reply
FelipeForever said

Lefty,
I'm glad you honed in on the Sabean comment on Molina's "winding down". I guess he may have been caught up in the future yesterday, but, to me, that choice of language is inexcusable.
I mean, Bengie has virtually saved Sabean's (admittedly still shaky) reputation this year; before the season began, when it was announced that Molina would be the cleanup hitter, the Giants were the laughingstock of the league. Lately, even the supremely self-assured jokers over at rotoworld have had to eat crow: Bengie has actually hit like a cleanup hitter.
Lot of thanks he gets.

[June 7, 2008 3:05 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

I don't see it that way. I don't see it as disrespectful. I think people generally acknowledged when great players were 'winding down.' They did it with Mays, McCovey, Bonds, and hundreds of others. Especially with Molina's legs, his career is not going to go on too much longer, altho he may be a backup/pinch hitter with a contender in a couple of years. He may hope to catch forever, but I would imagine he knows his days as the everyday guy are numbered. I'm sure he doesn't like that, but I don't think it is desrespectful to point it out.

[June 7, 2008 3:45 AM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

Sabean could also been referring to his time with the Giants as well as his career.

I think Bengie's a big boy and has been hearing this for years now. I don't think it would bother him, though it might motivate him, which would be good for us.

[June 7, 2008 11:33 AM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive replied to obsessivegiantscompulsive

Well, I guess we are both right, but I bow to your insightful reading of our catcher's psyche. Are you Freudian or Jungian? :^)

Looks like the Giants brass are in full CYA mode and hoping to placate Molina. But really, the threat is always there for any player who is under contract, it is just never spoken about so explicitly in public.

And with Molina looking so good offensively, that opens up the delicious possibility of him having a great 2009 season, making him an A free agent, and netting us some contender's late first round pick plus a supplemental first rounder in 2010's draft.