Giants draft RHP Phil Bickford in 1st Round | mlb.com

I guess with Nikorak and Donny Everett still on the board (whither Donny Everett) this is a bit of a surprise, but this is being touted as Tyler Beede 2.0 for the way he went from an early Toronto draft pick to Gigante-land in a couple of years.

It looks like he could give you Bronson Arroyo like appearance on the hill, I'm just hoping he brings Bronson Arroyo stuff and Bronson Arroyo results as well.  I like the reports about command of the fastball and the hard sink. Keep the ball in the strike zone and in the yard as much as possible and you can succeed in AT&T Park, I like the pick also in that we should see the fruits of this pick relatively soon, although he is only 19 years old, so some patience will be in order.

From a value standpoint, he was #27 on BA's list, picked in the #18 spot. I'm not going to crush them too much on that. I do notice that on the MLB Network broadcast they do feature that value comparison (pick versus list) as well as a Wisdom of Crowds approach.

Hmmmm...I wonder where they got that draft analysis approach from......Hmmmmmmm......

I've only been doing it that way for years.

Hey while I'm taking a few bows, even though I can't seem to get in line with the organization I follow the most, who nailed the Rays pick of Garret Whitley in the #13 spot? C'mon, you know who. I believe the actual quote was that he has Rays written all over him. I can find it, if you don't believe me. It's on the Interent, so it has to be true. .

Anyway, good luck to Phil Bickford and note to Giants. Keep him away from Tim Lincecum, please. No real reason, just a precaution.

from mlb.com
http://wap.mlb.com/draft/#/js/draft/?y=2015&f=round&o=1&pid=1982

Phil Bickford

Pick: 18th Overall (1st Round) Pick By: SF Position: RHP Born: July 10, 1995 School: College of Southern Nevada Class: J2 Height: 6'5"    Weight: 205 Bats: R    Throws: R Comments: As a California high school senior in 2013, Bickford took off late in the spring and vaulted not only into the first round, but all the way to the 10th overall pick. He declined to sign with the Blue Jays for reasons that never have been fully explained and made his way to Cal State Fullerton, where his stuff was more pedestrian during his freshman season. It kicked back up again in the Cape Cod League, where scouts voted him the summer circuit's best prospect, prompting him to abruptly transfer to Southern Nevada so he'd be eligible for the 2015 Draft. After showing an explosive 90-96-mph fastball in 2013, Bickford pitched more at 88-92 last spring. The velocity and life on his heater returned when he pitched in relief in the Cape, as he worked from 93-98 mph and struck out 42 hitters in 27 2/3 innings. Bickford's slider also improved in the Cape, showing signs of becoming a plus pitch, but he'll have to learn to improve and trust his changeup. He has an athletic delivery and fills the strike zone, so there's no reason not to project him as a starter, especially after he showed an ability to maintain the stuff he displayed in the Cape while pitching in a junior college rotation this spring.

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