Thursday, August 10, 2006

FOR ALL YOU DO - THIS BUD'S FOR YOU




Historically, I haven't been the biggest fan of Bud Selig's but I think in hindsight, you have to give the devil his due.

We're in the equivalent of the NFL's 12th week and very few teams are clearly out of the playoff hunt. So much for the competetive balance issue that seemed to be such a major item a few years ago that we were thinking of contracting the Twins, Devil Rays, Marlins, Expos (now the Nationals). Nice that baseball didn't do that to fans in those areas.

Does the salary structure need additional tweaking, maybe. The compensation of lost free agents with first round draft picks seems to be having an effect on teams at the trade deadline. Front-line players in walk-years of contracts (a la Soriano) are being held onto by teams rather than just dumped for low-level prospects. Teams know they will get a late first round pick that they can use on a collegiate player, who in many cases, turn out to be nearly Major League ready. At worst, they are holding out for near Major League ready prospects at the deadline in exchange.

Thus, there is less drop off in talent for some of the lower revenue teams when they do lose these free agents.

The World Baseball Classic, I believe is going to stimulate world wide interest and grow the game not only from a fan standpoint but from a talent pool standpoint. Players in other countries are seeing first-hand that their peers can comptete against Major League talent and have to think "Why not them?". I believe very soon we will see the talent from other countries begin to come stateside to compete is droves. Very much in the way European talent is washing to the NBA shores.

Can they do more from a PR standpoint or helping youth sports more, and not just in areas where kids are running away from the sport, but in neighborhooods where it flourishes as well? Yes. Can they do for softball what the NBA does for women's basketball and cultivate a new fan base? Yes.

We'll see what the future holds, but maybe the sports has been more visionary in some regards than it has been given credit for.
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Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.