San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean, left, and manager Bruce Bochy ponder questions during a news conference Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/giants/detail?entry_id=49464
As expected, the Giants have extended the contracts of general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. The deals go for two seasons with club options for 2012.
As we all knew, Neukom approached this with a lawyer's mindset of setting and reaching objective benchmarks. That the Giants went from 72 wins last year to 88 this year boded extremely well for Sabean and Bochy to return.
The last line is good enough reason for Bochy to be retained, Sabean just got sucked in by the organizational euphoria. Hopefully, they don't get too giddy and think "we're only a player or two away" and overpay for another lousy free agent.
The organization still has to digest the Renteria-Rowand-Molina deals.
The credit for the turnaround really belongs to the scouting department. Another good year from Linceum, Cain showing signs of being a big time pitcher, a big hit with Sandoval rocketing through the organization, hope for the future with big time prospects like Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner showing signs of being big league ready.
All of these recent developments can be laid on the doorstep of the scouting department and the player development staff.
How about the future? On the major league roster, Jonathan Sanchez needs to have a breakout, plus .500 year and provide a power lefty arm to the starting rotation. The team needs to flesh out the 1B and corner OF positions with some combination of Travis Ishakawa, John Bowker, Nate Schierholz instead of Randy Winn and Freddie Lewis. A healthy, returning Freddie Sanchez helps add some diversity to the lineup, but more power from the traditional power spots in the lineup is a MUST.
From the minors, another good season even after the Angel Villalona debacle. After Posey officially comes off the prospect list (100+ Major League AB's) and Villalona is removed due to his transfer to the Dominican Penal League, who's next?
Michael McBryde comes off the list (25 year olds become suspects) and he really has not hit enough to be much more than a AAAA player. SS Brandon Crawford stalled a bit at AA, but he looks good to be a potential heir apparent once the Renteria contract expires. Conor Gilaspie seemed to regress a bit, but his numbers continue to be second to Posey in the organization. Ehire Adrianza continues to impress at Low-A. He's likely never going to light it up with the bat but he is a defensive wizard. Nick Noonan continues to struggle with plate discipline and that may be his eventual downfall. Of the potential power hitting, corner OF front I think Thomas Neal may have vaulted past Roger Kieschnick as a prospect. Both need to perform at the AA level before any definitive conclusions are drawn, but Neal may be a high riser.
OF prospect Wendell Fairley continues to languish. He has all the tools, it seems he just can't figure out how to use them. Charlie Culbertson may be odd man out at SS, perhaps a move toward 2B is in his future. Hector Sanchez showed promise at the Rookie level as a 19 year old catching prospect who hits. Rafael Rodriguez is only 17 and I am not falling into the "Villalona trap" of ranking teen-agers in the top ten anymore.
On the pitching front, the Bumgarner question need to be settled early. His late season drop in velocity may be a concern. Was it his youth contributing to his lack of durability rather than arm issues? He did pitch well after the drop, bit if he pitches into the 90's, he's a top of the rotation prospect, lower than 90 he may be a Noah Lowry clone. Either way, he should not be counted on for more than 150 innings if he's in the major league rotation. We have to find out what Kevin Pucetas can do as well as Daniel Otero in the bullpen. Both are 25, so we should be seeing about the best we're going to get out of both of these guys. Henry Sosa and Kelvin Pichardo are next on the "let's see what we have" crowd.
Dan Runzler made a meteoric rise through the organization. He is 24 years old so not as great a surprise. Jesse English, another LHP may surprise. There is no shortage of young, left handed prospects in the organization. Craig Clark add his name to the list this year. Ben Snyder LHP showed signs of life, but needs to do it at the AA level or above.
Of the draftees, Third round pick 3B Chris Dominguez showed some power at the short-season level. It will be interesting to see where he is placed next year. Seventh round pick 2B Nick Liles could be a surprise.
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