SF@COL: Shaw crushes 468-ft. homer for 1st MLB hit

There is hope for the future. The power is legit here, the only question is the consistency, cutting down the K's a bit and how he adjusts to the spinners. All related. But this one pulled me out of my seat.

SF@COL: Shaw crushes 468-ft. homer for 1st MLB hit

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Chris Shaw | Baseball America: The Top 100 for 2018

The second best hitting prospect on the Giants board. The organization will give him long look based on the power potential and not willing to repeat the Adam Duvall experience. The lefty bat would be a plus in AT&T Park.  The defense locks him into LF and a potential future battle-royale with Mac Williamson. We hope.

from Baseball America.com
The Top 100 for 2018:

99

Chris Shaw

 GiantsOF

Notes:

Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Speed: 40 | Fielding: 40 | Arm: 50
Scouting Report: The Giants drafted Shaw 31st overall in 2015 because of his power potential, and he has lived up to those expectations. His 24 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2017 were seven more than anyone else in the Giants system. Shaw's plus power is his carrying tool, with scouts predicting he can hit 25-30 home runs a year in the majors. He has all-fields power with the strength to clear AT&T Park's high right field wall and power balls into McCovey Cove. Shaw doesn't sell out to get to his power and his swing is relatively short for a power hitter, allowing scouts to project him as a future .250-.260 hitter although like most power hitters, it will come with plenty of strikeouts. Shaw is going to have to hit because he's a below-average defender at first base and in left field. He is better-suited for the outfield because he is a better runner underway, although still below-average, and lacks short-area quickness. His average arm plays at both spots. Shaw's power is desperately needed by the Giants. He has a chance to be an everyday slugger, but his lack of range will be noticeable in AT&T Park's expansive outfield.

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Giants 2018 Prospects: Hitters Edition

to 

Last week I posted my analysis of the Giants pitching prospects as I view them today.   https://slavieboy.blogspot.com/2017/12/giants-2018-prospects-pitchers-edition.html

Today, we'll look at the hitting prospects.

Currently, LF looks like SOSDD. If it's not Jarrett Parker v. Mac Williamson 2.0 (Yuck), the best hitting prospect I see is Heath Quinn and I'm not sure he would rise to perhaps the Andrew Susac level as a hitter. Not bad, but not enough. The light should have gone on for Parker and Williamson for that matter. It hasn't.

Of the two CF prospects, I like Duggar's approach over Brian Reynolds. The power potential for Reynolds, is not quite like Parker/Williamson, etc. but one of them has to take command of the position soon.

Aramis Garcia looks the part of a solid backup catcher, but I thought he would hit better than he has to date. He is 25+, so you have to see what you have there, or he moves from prospect to suspect.

On the infield, I like C.J. Hinojosa's hitting approach better than his overall results, which means utility IF at best. The same for Kelvin Beltre at 3B, and it's even harder to be a utility IF at 3B. Jacob Gonzalez flashes the same signals as Beltre, with a smaller sample size. It is good to see a young HS hitter display an advanced, patient approach.

I saved the best for last.

Chris Shaw has a chance to be an elite power hitter. Not quite an advanced hitting approach like Brandon Belt and not quite the same production as Adam Duvall, but maybe a crazy, lower case cross between Belt and Duvall, if that makes any sense. He's a keeper. DO NOT TRADE!!

Heliot Ramos has as good a chance of being the 5-tool type super-star player the Giants have been looking for out of their farm system for many, many years. Also a keeper. DO NOT TRADE!!

It seems as if either Duggar or Reynolds could be included as filler in a trade with Beede / Stratton for either McCutchen or Billy Hamilton. If that's the case, I'd prefer they kept Duggar, but not so much that I would walk away from McCutchen.

It seems like the Giants are leaning towards adding a FA and trading for a piece. DON'T lose the 2nd round pick in this years draft, it appears to be loaded with pitching. Plan A is trade for McCutchen and sign Jay Bruce. Plan B is sign CarGo and trade for Billy Hamilton. See the drop-off? One is a Plan to Contend, the other is a Roadmap to Oblivion.

Anyway, to review the hitter:

+ Propsects:  Chris Shaw, Steven Duggar, Heath Quinn and Heliot Ramos 

                      

?? Prospects:  Aramis Garcia, C.J. Hinojosa , Brian Reynolds, Kelvin Beltre and Jacob                                         Gonzalez 

I don't have any negative prospects here since none of these guys really came with great expectations. WYSIWYG's

Giants seek Andrew McCutchen, outfield help | San Francisco Giants

This is the best fit for the Giants, short and long term, IMO. I liked him over Giancarlo.



Now, as far as the price goes: Shaw = NO, Ramos = HELL NO!! and Beede is what he is, which is Stratton. We already have Stratton, so Beede is a YES!! 


The Giants would regret trading Ramos or Shaw for a long time.  


You only get one of the top three, that "at least" garbage can walk out the door. Move on to Bruce.  


One from column A and one from column B for 'Cutch.



Giants seek Andrew McCutchen, outfield help | San Francisco Giants:

Meanwhile, the Giants are reluctant to part with top prospects for McCutchen, after giving up highly regarded infielder Christian Arroyo in last month's trade with the Rays for Evan Longoria.

Outfielder/first baseman Chris Shaw, right-hander Tyler Beede and outfielder Heliot Ramos are the Giants' top three prospects, per MLB Pipeline. One source said the Pirates are asking for at least one of those three in any McCutchen trade with San Francisco.

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An Updated Giants Prospect List ( what so soon? )

HOLD ON THERE BOYS!!! LET'S TAKE A STEP OR TWO BACK, PLEASE!!!

Don't you think it might be a little soon to be placing guys like Bickford and Shaw on the prospect list at all, much less the Top 10? Heck they aren't even signed yet, but I guess that is what the Internet is all about. Be out there first, be the most provocative. Accuracy and any sense of logic be damned.

Let these guys throw some pitches or hit some balls is anger in Low-A ball or something before you place them over guys who have, that's all I ask.

Seriously, Chris Shaw right now over Mac Williamson?!? I'll be damned. That's a tad bit disrespectful to a guy in AAA ball, don't you think Chief?

from Bleacher Report
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2490930-ranking-all-30-mlb-farm-systems-post-2015-mlb-draft/page/13

Top 10 Prospects

Name	Level	ETA
1. RHP Kyle Crick	Double-A	2016
2. RHP Tyler Beede	High-A	2017
3. RHP Keury Mella	High-A	2017
4. IF Christian Arroyo	High-A	2017
5. RHP Phil Bickford	Draft	2019
6. RHP Clayton Blackburn	Triple-A	2016
7. 1B Chris Shaw	Draft	2018
8. LHP Adalberto Mejia	Double-A	2016
9. LHP Steven Okert	Triple-A	2015
10. LHP Ty Blach	Triple-A	2016

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Giants draft Boston College 1B Chris Shaw with Comp Pick

I guess if this is the way the Giants have to get power is to draft it rather than sign expensive free-agents, I'm OK with it. I feel a little better about the pick than when it was announced. The club has had good luck with college hitters, maybe that string continues. I was still pissed at Baltimore for taking Florida State OF D.J. Stewart.

from mlb.com
http://wap.mlb.com/draft/#/js/draft/?y=2015&f=round&o=1&pid=8505

Chris Shaw

Pick: 31st Overall (1st Round) Pick By: SF Position: 1B Born: October 20, 1993 School: Boston College Class: JR Height: 6'3"    Weight: 235 Bats: L    Throws: R Comments: A 26th-round pick by the Mets from a Massachusetts high school in 2012, Shaw struggled as a Boston College freshman before breaking out in 2014. He led the Cape Cod League with eight home runs and established himself as the best power hitter in the 2015 college crop. He carried it over into his junior season before a broken hamate bone shelved him for a while. Shaw packs a lot of strength in his 6-foot-3, 248-pound frame and his well above-average pop extends to all fields. He can get too aggressive at times, though he does a nice job of shortening and controlling his left-handed swing. While he has arm strength and has played right field as a sophomore and junior, Shaw likely faces a move back to his freshman position of first base in pro ball. He's a well below-average runner but has the hands and enough athleticism to be a capable defender at first. A hamate injury won't deflate Shaw's stock and he still has the chance to join Chris Lambert (2004) and Tony Sanchez (2009) as the only BC first-rounders ever.

MLB.comBoys and Girls Club of America

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If this guys hits, it will be right around the time that a permanent decision will need to be made about Brandon Belt, To some in the blogosphere, Shaw will be an immediate favorite and every minor league HR will be more than chronicled, there will be a countdown attached to it. And in some minds a ticket out of town for Brandon Belt. I'm not sure I see the logic behind the rush to run Belt out SF, but WDIK?

Good luck to Chris Shaw.

P.S. - It probably didn't help that it seemed like some of the Giants main competitors were having a really, really good day. The Dodgers adding both Walker Buehler and Kyle Funkhouser, both top of the draft talents, was mind-boggling. They are stringing some seriously good drafts together and building an embarrassment of riches throughout their farm system. The Rockies pick of Nikorak was icing on the cake after scoring the consensus top talent in SS Brendan Rodgers. The Cardinals scored nicely as well by picking up OF Nick Plummer in the #23 spot. He was a top 10-15 talent, so good value there.

The head scratchers were the Cubs pick of Ian Happ at #9. A solid bat, yes. But they have some of those lying around. How about some pitching? I don't know why the Angels were congratulating themselves over picking Taylor Ward when they did, he might have been there a round or two later. If that's the guy you really wanted, OK, but he's reportedly a glove only C, albeit a very good one, and that's a little high to be reaching for that, The Phillies reached a bit for a young HS SS when they need immediate help. Did I say IMMEDIATE!!! Don't worry, the Philadelphia media and fans will tell them. Miami went dumpster diving to save money as usual and I'm not sure what the Tigers were thinking with their picks.

P.S. - P.S. - The Astros haul of SS Alex Bregman, OF Kyle Tucker and OF Daz Cameron was off the charts good  as well. Bregman will give them some IF depth while they wait for the HS OF's to develop,