According to SF Giants beat writer Andy Baggarly the Giants may assign the following prospects to San Jose to start the season:
Madison Bumgerner, LHP
Tim Alderson, RHP
Buster Posey, C
Angel Villalona, 1B
Nick Noonan, 2B
Conor Gilaspie, 3B
Are you kidding me? That's six of the Giants top ten prospects!! This would make me more interested in the fortunes of the San Jose Giants than the San Francisco Giants, at least for the first month of the year. After that, Alderson, Posey and Gilaspie may be moved up to AA Connecticut.
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RHP Kelvin Pichardo may have committed career suicide with his 50 game suspension. Kelvin was a borderline prospect to begin with so this does not help in any way.
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The Giants acquired RHP Hector Correa from the Marlins for catcher Ronny Paulino who had previously been acquired from the Phillies for LHP Jack Taschner. Good move, Taschner was not going to be on the early roster and there are plenty of lefties especially if Lowry is as sound as he appears so far.
Correa, 21, was the 3rd-best prospect in the New York Penn League in 2007. Originally a 4th round pick in the 2006 Draft by Florida. He is 6-3, 165 and is considered a legitimate prospect, although he has been bothered by some arm injuries in the past.
Baseball America had this to say about Correa, who they ranked as Marlin's 22nd best prospect:
Correa ranked right behind Mike Stanton and Gaby Sanchez at No. 13 on this list a year ago, but he mistakenly tried to extend that momentum by pitching through a shoulder problem that wound up costing him four months of mound time in 2008. His rehab path was bumpy at times, though for the most part he showed the necessary discipline. Team officials believe he learned his lesson after trying to conceal an injury. Correa manged to return for a fall minicamp and showed only slightly diminished velocity. Intead of humming fastballs at 91-94 MPH and touching 95 MPH like he had in 2007, he worked mostly at 90-92. He has a low-80's slider that shows good bite, but he remains more comfortable using a changeup that shows excellent action. The shoulder problems came as a surprise because he has a loose arm and smooth, easily repeatable delivery, which allows him to throw strikes. his frame is lean and projectable. He's a good athlete with plus makeup. Correa will open his third straight season in low Class A, with hopes of finally advancing in 2009.
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Back to the big club. The remaining issues to be ironed out seem to be centered around 2B and the corner positions. Travis Ishakawa seems to have made the most of his opportunity at 1B and Pablo Sandoval continues to hit wherever he goes. Rule 5 3B Jesus Guzman is pushing for a spot on the roster as well with his bat. Manny Burris may be pushing ahead of Kevin Frandsen at 2B. More versatile. This would leave Eugenio Velez's chances of sticking relatively low. Maybe a fifth OF?
Former White Sox 3B-SS Juan Uribe is making a late push and if he does you wonder if that leaves room for Rich Aurilia.
The pitching staff seems set.
Starting Pitchers:
Lincecum
Randy Johnson
Matt Cain
Barry Zito
Sanchez or Lowry
This order would be a plus as well and if that's the case, advantage Sanchez over Lowry. Zito - Lowry back to back is too much of the same kind. Two lefthanded "finesse" pitchers back to back may give the fans whiplash watching all the bombs flying out of the yard.
Finesse is one of the terms for a pitcher where it could be a compliment or a curse.
A compliment is the Jamie Moyer - Greg Maddux examples. A curse when it's a polite way of saying the dude just throws oozing pus.
Here's how the bullpen appears to shake out:
Brian Wilson, Closer
Bobby Howry, RH Set up
Jeremy Affeldt, LH Set Up
Merken Valdez
Alex Hinshaw
Luis Perdomo
Billy Sadler ??? May be odd man out.
Still shapes up as a weak offensive team with potentially solid pitching. A team that may struggle to keep its head above .500 and worst case sinks to the bottom of the division to keep the Padres company.
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