2010 MLB Draft - The Final Day - Rounds 30+

The 2010 MLB Draftt concludes today with round 30-50. The "follow and filler" stage. Most of those drafted today fall under the categories of "draft and follow" or "roster filler". Which is not to say that anyone drafted in these rounds, given the opportunity cannot make it to the bigs. And mlb.com has a ready list of guys that have made it to give everyone hope. The roster filler or organizational guys, are simply a reality which recognizes the fact that the guys drafted the last two days -- who will get the heavy bonuses and the most opportunity to succeed or fail -- need somebody or some bodies, to play against.

The Nats celebrated Stephen Strasburg's coming out party last night. In addition to landing Bryce Harper in the first round, the Nats add former University of San Diego LHP Sammy Solis and prep RHP A.J. Cole in the fourth round. That's quite a haul.

The Cubs rebounded from their first round selection to land OF Reggie Golden, a raw potential, five-tooler and LSU C Micah Gibbs in the third round. Nice save, Cubbies.

The Pirates did well with back to back prep RHP's Jameson Taillion and Stetson Allie.

The Mariners added LHP James Paxson in the 4th round to save an otherwise lackluster draft.

I like the Dodgers pick of prep RHP Kevin Gausman in the 4th round to go with RHP Zach Lee. If they sign both this is a good draft for them. I suspect Gausman fell due to signability concerns.

The largest fall from grace has to go to prep OF Austin Wilson, a toolsy 6-4,210 power hitter with a commit to Stanford. It seems if year to year Stanford commits seem to have the highest signability issues. The Cardinals finally selected Wilson, a consensus 1st rounder, in the 12th round. If they can sign him, an already very good draft goes off the charts for the Cardinals.

The Giants followed up on their first selection with another college CF from Virgina, Jarrett Parker. Strange how all the OF prospects the Giants drafted were listed on MLB.com as CF specifically. Are the G-men trying to tell Aaron Rowand something? I hope so.

After Parker, the Gigantes drafted a boat load of college prospects with no bio attached, possibly indicating they were off most peoples radar. This shapes up as a lackluster draft for the Gigantes.

I did like their selection of University of South Florida LHP Andrew Barbosa. Barbosa is a 6-7, 245 LHP who I believe just started pitching recently but showed considerable promise this year. A project to be sure, but one with enormous upside.


FROM ESPN.CHICAGO:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5265747

Several other notable names were called on the second day, including Cory Vaughn (New York Mets), son of Greg Vaughn; Dickie Thon Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays), son of Dickie Thon; Garrett Buechele (Texas Rangers), son of Steve Buechele; Kellen Sweeney (Toronto), brother of Ryan Sweeney; Mel Rojas Jr. (Pittsburgh Pirates), son of Mel Rojas; Benjamin Gamel (New York Yankees), brother of Mat Gamel; Connor Narron (Baltimore Orioles), son of Jerry Narron; and Drew Cisco (Cincinnati), grandson of Galen Cisco.

The Nationals, who watched Stephen Strasburg strike out 14 in his big league debut against Pittsburgh on Tuesday after being taken No. 1 almost exactly a year ago, took San Diego left-hander Sammy Solis to start the second round.

After taking touted right-hander Jameson Taillon second overall, the Pirates got another impressive high school righty in the second round with Stetson Allie. Projected as a first-rounder, the 6-4, 225-pound Allie has a fastball that sits in the mid- to upper-90s.

Former Kentucky left-hander James Paxton went in the fourth round to the Seattle Mariners after being the 37th overall pick by Toronto last year. He didn't sign, left Kentucky after a legal battle over whether his adviser negotiated with the Blue Jays -- a violation of NCAA rules -- and then opted to play for Grand Prairie of the independent American Association.

Rounds 31-50 of the draft were scheduled to be conducted Wednesday.

2010 MLB Draft - 1st Day Review

The picks are in and now is time for the knee-jerk reaction / report card style analysis.

The Winners:

Cardinals - The Cardinals did about as well as anyone out there scooping up Arkansas 3B Zack Cox with the 25th pick. Nobody would bat an eye to see him listed on a top ten list. RHP Seth Blair was picked with the 46th compensation pick for losing Mark DeRosa. Again a good value, Blair was a borderline 1st rounder. RHP Tyrell Jenkins was picked with the 50th compensation pick for losing Joel Pinero, a good deal for the Cards, as Jenkins was maybe a touch under the 1st round.

Red Sox - The Sox picked up 2B Kolbrin Vitek in the 20th spot, a virtual wash from a value standpoint. Later they picked up OF Bryce Brentz with the 36th compensation pick for losing Billy Wagner. Brentz was rated higher going in maybe a mid first-rounder. They also scooped up LSU RHP Anthony Renaudo with the 39th compensation pick for losing Jason Bay. If he's healthy this is a huge bargain. Renaduo was rated somewhere around the 20th slot. A good pick on value that could really swing in the Sox favor.

Blue Jays - Picked Georgia Tech RHP Deck McGuire with their 11th pick. McGuire may have been the top collegiate RHP available and a top five talent. Later they selected Citadel RHP Asher Wojciechowski with the 41st compensation pick. Most had Wojo in the first round pretty solidly. The Jays should see quick return on these two collegiate pitchers.

Tigers - Recovered from the loss of their 1st round pick, compensation to Astros for signing Jose Valverde, by selecting prep SS Nick Castellanos with the 44th compensation pick for losing Brandon Lyon. Castellanos was a borderline top ten value, so he may be a signability problem. Also picked Texas RHP Chance Ruffinf with the #48 compensation pick for losing Fernando Rodney, a decent pick here, good bloodlines as Ruffin is the son of former big leaguer Bruce Ruffin.

Rays - Continue to stockpile young talent. Picked prep OF Josh Sale in the 17th slot, a borderline top ten talent. Select prep C/SS Justin O'Connor in the 31st slot, O'Connor looked to be a top twenty selection. They followed with OF Drew Vettleson in the 42nd slot, a wash as a value selection.

I also like the Reds pick of Yasmani Grandal in the 12th slot, a top ten talent. The White Sox get good value out of their 13th selection LHP Chris Sale.

The Rays, Red Sox and Tigers situation highlight some of the problems I see with the draft as currently constructed. MLB has set up this "unofficial", gentlemen's agreement slotting system whereby there is an informal agreement on what to pay in bonus to a player based on where he is selected. The Rays receive compensation for not signing their last years 1st rounder, LeVon Washington and the Rangers also received a compensatory 1st rounder for failing to sign last years first rounder Matt Purke.

I would think part of the rationale for having these compensatory picks in place is to provide incentive for teams to toe the party line on the bonus slotting system. You lose one years worth of player development if you don't sign a player. But there is no penalty in place for teams that violate the slot and overpay (Yankees, Tigers come to mind). This allows the agents to shop their guys to the large-revenue clubs by holding fast to their inflated bonus demands, even if it is above slot to the team that selects. This allows talent to slide down the ladder from the teams that most need it, to the teams that do not and circumvents the slot system. If you approve an above slot contract you should lose a corresponding future draft pick, similar to the compensation for losing signing. Otherwise, there is no penalty for these teams that continue to violate and go over slot.

The other problem is the free-agent compensation, which was first put in to help the small revenue teams who lost marquee players. In the first day, the Red Sox had three picks, the Angels had four picks, the Rangers had four picks, the Cardinals had three picks. This game of renting high-priced players at the end of their contracts to receive compensation is another deck stacked in favor of the large revenue teams versus the small revenue teams.

When talk turns to "fixing" the draft, these two items should be near the top of the list as well.

Anyway, on to the losers from yesterday:

Cubs - Did anyone cause more jaws to drop and eyeballs to roll than the beloved Cubs with their selection of RHP Hayden Simpson with the 16th pick? I think it is safe to say that no team had him in their top 100. Maybe Top 200. The Cubs clearly must have turned to their tenth round selection page instead of the 1st round and went with who was on the top of that list. Or they know something about this kid that nobody else on the planet did before yesterday. This one needs to work out for the Cubs pretty quick.

Diamondbacks - I thought the Diamondbacks looked like they were going to lead the list with RHP Barret Loux with the 6th pick. Not sure if he was on many 1st round lists and it would have been towards the bottom if that.

Rangers - The Rangers did the Cubs times four. Four picks that they seem to know something that nobody else knew. OF Jake Skole in the 15 spot I thought was a big time reach. Canadian C Kellin Deglin with the 22nd pick was an OK pick, he was getting late buzz as a possible surprise first rounder, but probably not a huge value here. RHP Luke Jackson at #45 and college 3B Mike Olt at #48 were head scratchers here. Two players from cold weather climates going down to the Texas heat?? They have a couple of minor league seasons to get acclimated, I suppose.

Angels - The Angels went quantity over quality it looks like. RHP/3B Kaleb Cowart was OK at #18.
RHP Cameron Bedrosian at #29 seemed like a reach, but the bloodlines are good. SS Taylor Lindsey was a head scratcher as was CF Ryan Bolden in the 40th spot. Both could have been had later it seems and there was better talent available.

Most interesting picks:

Astros - I thought the Astros could have picked OF DeLino DeShields with their 19th pick rather than their 8th pick, I think he still would have been there. But if that's the guy you really felt strongly about and you didn't think he would be there at 19, I can't fault the team too much for that. They followed with IL RHP Micahel Foytenowicz at #19 (my #1 rated area prospect). Again, he may have been a late first-rounder, sandwich pick type but if he's the guy you really wanted....The Astros ended their day by drafting collegiate OF Michael Kvasnicka as a C prospect, I believe. Kvasnicka did get a lot of late buzzas one who could crash the first round.

Best talent still on the board:

RHP Brandon Workman
RHP A.J. Cole
RHP Stetson Allie
OF Austin Wilson
RHP/OF Brett Eibner
RHP Jesse Hahn
RHP Chad Bettis
SS Yordy Cabrera
LHP James Paxson
RHP Kevin Gausman
LHP Sammy Solis
OF Ryan LaMarre
OF LeVon Washington
C Micah Gibbs
SB/SS Jedd Gyorko
OF Jarrett Parker
1B Hunter Morris
OF Reggie Golden
OF Austin Wates
OF Todd Cunningham
OF Kyle Parker
RHP Ryne Stanek
3B Kris Bryant
RHP Jacob Petricka
RHP Tyler Thornburg

If the Giants can pick up one or two of these guys today, I will be pretty happy with this draft. I like the 1st pick a lot. Could be a potential successor to Aaron Rowand in CF.

The most hated song in Nashville, Vancouver, San Jose and now Philly.....

HE'S BAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!! WELCOME BACK BUFF!!! TWO GOALS, TWO ASSISTS, NINE HITS!!!!



CHELSEA DAGGER - THE FRATELLIS

Now that Dustin Byfuglein has been found it seems like the choice for the Flyers is simple - either go quietly in front of the faithful or come back to Chicago and listen to this song until their ears bleed.

YOUR CHOICE PHILLY!!!

Giants select OF Gary Brown in First Round

The only two picks I selected in the correct spot were Bryce Harper to the Nats and the Giants Gary Brown. An omen perhaps?

SO HAPPY TOGETHER??? GOSH, I HOPE SO!!!




GIANTS SELECT GARY BROWN IN FIRST ROUND

With the 24th pick of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, the San Francisco Giants selected center fielder Gary Brown of Cal State Fullerton. Brown, who attended Diamond Bar, Calif., High School, hit .438 this season in 48 games. He scored 62 runs and stole 31 bases in 36 attempts.


MLB.COM REPORT AND VIDEO ON GARY BROWN

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=8080130&content_id=7189183

Gary Brown - OF
Cal State Fullerton, Jr.
Birthdate: 8/27/1988
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Scout's report filed: 3/2/10
Game(s): San Diego
Scouting Report
Hitting ability: Brown consistently gets the barrel on the ball. It's not pretty, his feet are moving, but the bat is always in the right place, particularly against fastballs.

Power: He doesn't look like he should, but he's got some surprising pop.

Running speed: He's got plus, plus speed.

Base running: He wreaks havoc on the basepaths, though he's still raw and needs to learn the nuances of baserunning.

Arm strength: His arm is not quite average and isn't really a part of his game.

Fielding: When he first started playing center, he did not look good out there. But he's improved quickly in his routes and reading the ball off the bat.

Range: With his speed, he's got more than enough range for center.

Physical Description: Brown is an athletic, though not overly big, speedster. He's got a Reggie Willits body type.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: Plus, plus speed. Better hitting skills than expected.

Weaknesses: He's still raw in many facets of the game.

Summary: There may not have been another hitter in the 2010 Draft class who got off to a hotter start than Brown. Speed is his best tool, and he can wreak havoc on the basepaths. He's got more strength and power than it would seem, and while his approach is unorthodox, he's got good overall hitting skills. Relatively new to the outfield, he's come a long way in terms of his defensive skills in center. Pure speed guys who can hit don't grow on trees, and if Brown keeps hitting the way he started out the year, he's going to hear his name called sooner rather than later on Draft Day.

The 2010 MLB Draft

THE BRYCE HARPER COMING OUT PARTY BEGINS MONDAY!!

The 2010 MLB Draft takes place Monday and while we will try to project the first round picks for each team, I will note that this exercise is in many ways different from doing the same exercise for the NFL or NBA drafts.

Due to the economic differential between the small market/large market teams and the fact that teams draft HS players who could go to college instead of playing pro ball there is a signability consideration that doesn't exist as much in the other two sports. Therefore, in theory the teams are not drafting entirely based on who the best player is talent wise as much as who the best player they can afford. The NFL and NBA drafts are based primarily on evaluation of the player’s talent; with organizational needs a second consideration. In baseball, organizational need is a minor factor because even college players may be a year or two away from helping the big club and HS players generally require 4-5 years of development.

Some teams focus on collegiate players who have less negotiating leverage (more signable) and can help the team now (or in the near future) but are more WYSIWYG-type players (What you see is what you get). Other clubs lean more towards the younger HS players, who are more projectable, have a "higher ceiling" or higher developmental potential. The feeling is these are potentially the superstars of the future and you have to lock them up and get them in your organization before they go to college. They are higher-risk, higher reward type players.

Add in the pre-draft agreements and the day of the draft last-minute calls to prospects to determine if they will sign for a certain figure if the team calls their name five minutes later and the draft can become a bit of a crap shoot. "Hey future Mickey Mantle, we're on the clock and we'd like to pick you with the 15th pick, how's $750,000 sound for a signing bonus?" If the kid laughs hang up, you just proceed to the next guy on your board. The kid sits on his signing number and hopes a better-heeled team will match his ticket price later. Even if the number doesn't meet the MLB imposed bonus number for that slot in the draft. A high-stakes game of poker goes on behind the scenes before the pick is delivered to MLB.

For these reasons, there may not be a Mel Kiper type equivalent in the MLB draft who can project the teams picks in advance with a high degree of accuracy. The way the system is set up doesn't allow for it. But we will try anyway, knowing in advance that theoretically, if you position enough monkeys in front of keyboards, eventually one of them will type out all 32 teams draft picks in correct order. The question then becomes, would you sign that monkey to your clubs farm director of the future? Heck, the Giants might.

HOW MANY MONKEYS WOULD IT TAKE BEFORE ONE OF THEM WOULD REPLICATE THIS BLOG POST??? HMMM......

Anyway, this draft seems laden with sandwich picks and RHP's. A little lighter on LHP's than prior years especially at the top if the draft. Maybe a little lighter on talent than the average year, so there will be a real premium placed on making your first pick count.

The Giants pick 24th in the first round and then not again until the 74th pick due to all the sandwiches. The Rays select 17th, WHAT!!! and the Cubs 16th. Doesn't seem to have much of a connection with reality does it. The White Sox pick 13th, which restores some semblance of reality to the picture.

Some other things I'll keep and eye on:

- IL RHP Michael Foltyniewicz may elevate past the sandwich picks and into the lower first round, although sandwich-early second round seems most likely.

- The usually highly regarded proving grounds for prepsters in Tampa Bay FL may not have a HS players name called until round 5. Perhaps LHP Daniel Gibson goes early or C Shame Rowand.

- The high pedigree players led by RHP Cameron Bedrosian, OF Delino DeShields Jr., RHP Mel Rojas, Jr. and INF Dickie Thon, Jr.

- The Giants first pick. Most of the early buzz centered on HS OF Austin Wilson, Jermaine Dye type corner OF with power. HS SS Yordy Cabrera's name has surfaced along with Nick Castellanos and Christian Colon, but neither prep SS nor Colon may be available when the Giants select. Cal-Fullerton OF Gary Brown could be a pick here, opinions vary on him but he could provide the most help immediately. I wouldn't argue with either Wilson or Brown, but would probably prefer Brown at this point.

It's where the pack of 12-15 RHP's sort themselves out that will make or break each prognosticators score. Add to that the occasional surprise and the seemingly annual tradition where the Twins surprise everybody with their first-rounder and you have the makings of a downright watch-able Major League baseball Draft.

------

Here it goes:

1. Nationals - Bryce Harper, C 6-3 205 Southern Nevada CC – Will team up with Stephen Strasburg to give marquee value for the DC crowd. The LeBron James of baseball hype has faded a bit and his rep took a few dings, but the kid has future star written all over him.

2. Pirates - Manny Machado, SS 6-2,180 Miami Brito HS - A Scott Boras client with a plus arm, advance hitter with power potential, enough range to stay at SS. Committed to FIU.

3. Orioles - Jameson Taillion RHP 6-6,230 The Woodlands HS (TX) - High 90's FB, major league frame. Old school delivery. What's not to like?

4. Royals - Drew Pomeranz LHP 6-5, 235 Mississippi - Plus FB and CB. 12-6 type delivery.

5. Indians – Chris Sale LHP 6-5,175 Florida Gulf Coast - Next best LHP after Pomeranz. Could also go for a bat here, Michael Choice is a fit, but Sale may be too tempting to pass up here.

6. Diamondbacks - Deck McGuire RHP 6-6,220 Georgia Tech - Could be a workhorse top of the rotation starter. Three good pitches.

7. Mets - Zach Cox 3B 6-1,215 Arkansas - Safest pick for the Mets right now, fills need for a bat, good defensive player. Mets figure out the gloves later.

8. Astros – Michael Choice OF 6-1,215 Texas-Arlington - Will sweat it out but won't take long to grab this athletic, power prospect with good patience and discipline. NCAA leader in BB's.

9. Padres – Kolbrin Vitek 2B 6-3,195 Ball State – Good tools, productive bat. Can steal bases.

10. A's - Bryce Brentz OF 6-1,185 - Middle Tennessee State - Seems best fit for their budget and organizational philosophy. Advanced hitter with power potential.

11. Blue Jays - Christian Colon SS 6-1,190 Cal-State Fullerton - Top glove, average athlete. line drive, high contact, gap type hitter.

12. Reds - Alex Wimmers RHP 6-2,195 Ohio State - Could be Renaudo too. Wimmers may have home-field advantage. Polished pitcher, good control, advanced breaking stuff.

13. White Sox - Brandon Workman RHP 6-5 220 Texas - Talented and durable, four pitch pitcher. Good FB with workable change.

14. Brewers - Josh Sale OF 6-0, 200 - Strong and athletic, power potential. Signed with Gonzaga.

15. Rangers - Karsten Whitson RHP 6-4,190 Chipley HS - Good mechanics and commands the FB well. Solid mechanics, workable slider. Project for Nolan Ryan to work with and could begin the run on HS RHP's.

16. Cubs - Andrew Cole RHP Oviedo HS 6-5,190 - U. Miami signee. Strong-armed, three-pitches with low 90's FB and plus CB leading the way.

17. Rays - Nick Castellanos SS 6-4,210 Archbishop McCarthy HS - U. Miami signee. High ceiling type the Rays love. Might be the best pure hitter in the draft with some pop. Strong arm could move from SS-3B.

18. Angels - Dylan Covey RHP 6-2,200 Maranatha HS - San Diego signee. Good curveball, solid FB. Safe pick here.

19. Astros - Matt Harvey RHP 6-4, 225 North Carolina - FB can get to mid 90's. Cruises low 90's and gets ground balls.

20. Red Sox – Yasmali Grandal, C 6-2,210 U. of Miami - Switch-hitting C, good power, strong arm.

21. Twins - Asher Wojciechowski RHP 6-4,205 Citadel - His stuff turns heads, but opinions vary on where he'll go. High ceiling.

22. Rangers - Kaleb Cowart 3B/RHP 6-3,190 Cook HS (GA) - Two-way player has good power, plus hitter with minus speed limits him defensively and may move him to the bump.

23. Marlins - Austin Wilson OF 6-4,200 Harvard Westlake HS - Stanford commit. Big time power bat, strong hitter. Athletic corner OF.

24. Giants - Gary Brown OF 6-1,180 Cal State Fullerton - Good speed, could play well at top of the order. Plus speed with some pop. Defense may be an issue, weak arm.

25. Cardinals - Stetson Allie INF/P 6-1,180 St. Edward HS (OH) - Power arm, FB 93-95, with plus breaking ball.

26. Rockies - Kevin Gausman RHP 6-4,180 Grandview HS (CO) - Another power arm with clean mechanics. Breaking stuff needs work. Local product that Rocks may not be able to pass on.

27. Phillies - Yordy Cabrera SS 6-4, 190 Lakeland HS (FL) - Miami commit. Power potential. Smooth at SS. Too good to pass on here.

28. Dodgers - Aaron Sanchez RHP 6-3,170 Barshow HS (CA) - Oregon commit. Good upside potential here. Dodgers looking for an easy sign due to budget.

29. Angels - Justin O'Connor C/INF 5-10,170 Cowan HS (IN) - Versatile, solid hitter with power potential. Plus arm.

30. Angels - Brett Eibner P/INF 6-4,210 Arkansas - Two-way prospect, Pitching candidate. FB hits 95 with sink, plus slider.

31. Rays - Jesse Hahn RHP 6-5,190 Virginia Tech - Power arm with some injury concerns. Too good to pass on here. Solid three pitches.

32. Yankees - Zach Lee RHP 6-4,195 McKinney HS (TX) - LSU commit. Great arm, QB prospect for LSU with signability concerns. Not a problem for the Yankees.

Missing Persons Alert: Blackhawks LW Dustin Byfuglein

MISSING PERSONS ALERT!!!

LOST: Chicago LW Dustin Byfuglein

LOCATION: Chicago, IL

MISSING SINCE: The San Jose Series

AGE: 25

MISSING FROM: The Blackhawks Offense

SEX: Male

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 245

BIRTH DATE: 3/27/1985

CLOTHING DESCRIPTION: Blackhawks Jersey #33

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: see if he knows where Toews and Kane are.

PLEASE CALL: The Chicago Blackhawks if you have any information about the whereabouts of DUSTIN BYFUGLEIN

LAST SEEN: In front of the net, creating havoc in the San Jose series. Unconfirmed reports of sporadic appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals being checked into submission by Chris Pronger.

IF FOUND: Please return to the United Center, Chicago in time for Game 5 vs. the Flyers, No questions asked.

IF CONTACTED: Please tell Dustin we love him, we miss him and we need him back.

GO BLACKHAWKS!!!

Giants bring up Pat the Bat

GOOD NEWS FOR THE LADIES!!! AND GOOD NEWS FOR AARON ROWAND !!

REUNITED AND YES!!! IT DOES FEEL GOOD





But I digress. OK, so the Giants just called up Pat Burrell. After first acquiring Pat Burrell from the Rays for a bag of balls or something. Hat tip to my son Erik -- a Rays fan who seemed to be happy to see Burrell leave BTW -- for letting me know about the Gigantes most recent acquisition. I couldn't see that coming BTW. Jermaine Dye must not have been by the phone or didn't want to be reunited with Aaron Rowand.

This move fits right in line with the Sabean philosophy, a sort of reverse-Moneyball or perverse-Moneyball philosophy, whereby we overpay for overvalued assets that nobody wants. Seems like an oxymoron or something.

Anyway, using the Sabean "AAA pitching is horse-shit, batting average conversion", Burrell's robust .313 average in limited time should translate into just the .220 Mendoza-line power surge we need inserted into the middle of our lineup.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20100605_Giants_call_up_Pat_the_Bat_from_minors.html#axzz0pzTRs559

Giants call up Pat the Bat from minors

Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - The San Francisco Giants have purchased Pat Burrell's contract from Triple A Fresno, 3 weeks after the longtime Phillies leftfielder was released by Tampa Bay.

Burrell, 33, hit .313 (5-for-16) with one homer and six RBI in five Fresno games. He went hitless in two at-bats at Las Vegas on Thursday before joining the Giants in time for last night's game in Pittsburgh.

Burrell was in the second year of a 2-year, $16 million contract with Tampa Bay when he was released May 15. He hit .202 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 24 games for the Rays. Last season, he batted .221 with 14 homers and 64 RBI in 412 at-bats. Burrell has 267 home runs and 904 RBI with the Phillies (2000-08) and Tampa Bay (2009-10). *

BTW:
Buster Posey is hitting .478 and last game batted fifth in the lineup, behind clean-up hitter Juan Uribe, yes Juan Uribe!!

This Burrell for Posey shadow-deal is right in the Sabean wheelhouse as well.

"I don't care if you're hitting .478 here, you're embarrassing the organizational brain trust. Besides, everyone knows that the best pitching isn't here at the major league level, it's......it's......it's......it's in the Hall of Fame, dang it. Now get back to Fresno where you belong." - Brian Sabean

And yes, dang it, any blog post where you can reference Peaches and Herb is a good blog post.

UPDATE: I would urge all readers of this post to read it again with the song "Reunited" playing in the background. It really seems to enhance the blog reading experience, if I do say so myself. Enhanced - for your blog reading pleasure.

UPDATE II: It's John Bowker who gets sent down to make room for Burrell. Posey may have to wait until DeRosa comes off the DL or his average slips under .300 whichever comes first. Giants are not on the hook for many $$'s for Burrell, but he didn't hit late in Philly or in TBay. Two hitters ballparks and two strong well-balanced lineups.

RIP: John Wooden (1910-2010)

We lost one of the greatest sport coaches of all-time, maybe the best ever. The Wooden Pyramid should be on or near every coaches desktop. This link shows how much the great minds do think alike. Some wisdom from Wooden, Lombardi and Ben Franklin to boot.


http://www.squidoo.com/coachjohnwooden

Contemporaries

Lombardi and Wooden

I hesitate to include this, but Lombardi quarterback Bart Starr has written that the philosophies of these coaches of different sports were "very much the same." (A Perspective on Victory, Follett Publishing Co., 1972). Wooden did not give pre-game motivational speeches; professional football coaches may need to; reportedly, at the close of the following speech, inebriated middle-aged businessmen in the 1960s were ready to take the field or run through a brick wall.

From When Pride Still Mattered by David Maraniss (Simon & Schuster, 1999) (pp. 397-406)


February 8, 1967
New York
Speech to American Management Association
Vince Lombardi

Block One
The Meaning of Football


Football is a game very much like life, a game which gives 100 per cent elation, 100 per cent fun, when you win, yet demands and extracts a 100 per cent resolution, 100 per cent determination when you lose, a violent game and to play it any other way but violently would be imbecilic, a game played by millions of Americans, yet completely uninhibited by racial or social barriers, a game that demands the Spartan qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication and fearlessness.

I have been in football all my life, and although I sometimes wonder why I stay in an occupation as precarious as football coaching, I do not feel particularly qualified to be part of anything else.

Block Two
The American Zeal


Over the years I have grown increasingly worried about the lack of interest in competition, particularly athletic competition among our young people. Men need the test of competition to find their better selves, whether it is in sports, politics or business.

I need no greater authority than the great General MacArthur, and I would like to quote some of the things he said to me. Namely: "Competitive sports keeps alive in all of us a spirit of vitality and enterprise. It teaches the strong to know when they are weak and the brave to face themselves when they are afraid. To be proud and unbending in defeat, yet humble and gentle in victory. To master ourselves before we attempt to master others. To learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep, and it gives a predominance of courage over timidity.

Block Three
A Man's Personal Commitment to Excellence and Victory


While complete victory can never be won, it must be pursued, it must be wooed with all of one's might. Each week there is a new encounter, each year there is a new challenge. But all of the display, all of the noise, all of the glamour, and all of the color and excitement, they exist only in the memory. But the spirit, the will to excel, the will to win, they endure, they last forever. These are the qualities, I think, that are larger and more important than any of the events that occasion them.

Block Four
Abuse of Liberty


For most of the twentieth century, we as individuals have struggled to liberate ourselves from ancient traditions, congealed creeds and despotic states. Therefore, freedom was necessarily idealized against order, the new against the old, and genius against discipline. Everything was done to strengthen the rights of the individual and weaken the state, and weaken the church, and weaken all authority. I think we all shared in this rebellion, but maybe the battle was too completely won, maybe we have too much freedom. Maybe we have so long ridiculed authority in the family, discipline in education, and decency in conduct and law that our freedom has brought us close to chaos.

I am sure you are disturbed like I am by what seems to be a complete breakdown of law and order and the moral code which is almost beyond belief. Unhappily, our youth, the most gifted segment of our population, the heirs to scientific advances and freedom's breath, the beneficiaries of their elders' sacrifices and achievements, seem, in too large numbers, to have disregard for the law's authority, for its meaning, for its indispensability to their enjoyment of the fullness of life, and have conjoined with certain of their elders, who should know better, to seek a development of a new right, the right to violate the law with impunity. The prevailing sentiment seems to be if you don't like the rule, break it.

Block Five
Discipline


It could be that our leaders no longer understand the relationship between themselves and the people they lead.

That is, while most shout to be independent, they at the same time wish to be dependent, and while most shout to assert themselves, they at the same time wish to be told what to do.

Block Six
What Makes a Great Leader?


Leaders are made, not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.

A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing his superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. If this feeling prevails, production, discipline and morale will be high, and in return he can demand the cooperation to promote the goals of the company. He must believe in teamwork through participation. As a result, the contact must be close and informal. He must be sensitive to the emotional needs and expectations of others. In return, the attitude toward him should be one of confidence and, possibly, affection. The leader, in spite of what was said above, can never close the gap between himself and the group. If he does, he is no longer what he must be. He must walk, as it were, a tightrope between the consent he must win and the control that he must exert.

Block Seven
Character and Will


The character, rather than education, is man's greatest need and man's greatest safeguard, because character is higher than intellect. While it is true the difference between men is in energy, in the strong will, in the settled purpose and in the invincible determination, the new leadership is in sacrifice, it is in self-denial, it is in love and loyalty, it is in fearlessness, it is in humility, and it is in the perfectly disciplined will. This, gentlemen, is the distinction between great and little men.

The love I'm speaking of is loyalty, which is the greatest of loves. Teamwork, the love that one man has for another and that he respects the dignity of another. The love that I am speaking of is charity. I am not speaking of detraction. You show me a man who belittles another and I will show you a man who is not a leader; or one who is not charitable, who has no respect for the dignity of another, is not loyal, and I will show you a man who is not a leader. I am not advocating that love is the answer to everything. I am not speaking of a love which forces everyone to love everybody else, that you must love the white man because he is white or the black man because he is your enemy, but rather of a love that one man has for another human being. Heart power is the strength of your company. Heart power is the strength of the Green Bay Packers. Heart power is the strength of America and hate power is the weakness of the world.

A Precursor

Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

Legendary coach Pete Newell quoted Ben Franklin to explain his own philosophy, "Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge. For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for want of care about a horseshoe nail." It sums up John Wooden's philosophy as well.

From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin:

1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.

11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Umpires worst nightmare

Umpire Jim Joyce emphatically called Cleveland's Jason Donald safe - AND THE REST IS HISTORY!!!

THE VARIOUS ANNOUNCERS CALLS OF THE PLAY & THE POST-MORTEM FROM MLB.COM
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8629733

"It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the (stuff) out of it," Joyce said, looking and sounding distraught as he paced in the umpires' locker room. "I just cost that kid a perfect game."

This has got to be an umpire's worst nightmare. Influencing the outcome of a GAME on the basis of a bad call would be bad enough. Jim Joyce cost the Tigers Armando Gallaraga a chance at history and a place in the Hall of Fame. WOW!!!

I don't understand how in that situation, with two outs and a perfect game going, that ANY close play at first would not be SOLD as an out as emphatically as the umpire in Don Larsen's World Series perfect game sold strike three to end that one. Has anyone questioned that call? Anyone calling for instant replay based on that call? SELL THE CALL!!! It didn't even need selling, it looked like a clear out.

Maybe instant replay is the answer here. And in the white-hot crucible of the World Series.

But this isn't the answer to the recent twin Joe West debacles. Lately, Major League umpires are violating that age-old adage that the best thing anyone can say about umpires or referees after the game is that they didn't really notice them.

Now, in Joe West's defense, I will say that if anyone of us had a job supervisor or quasi-quality control inspector on our own jobs that had the personality of an Ozzie Guillen, Lou Piniella or Joe Girardi, we might act like the southern end of a north-bound horse, but Joe West brought a lot of this on himself by being a publicity whore. That's what he was fined for, more than the perception of bad calls, Hawk Harrelson's opinion aside. West doesn't seem as if he enjoys being out there anymore.

I know with Joe West, it's "The Show" and all, but when I do games during the season, the hardest problem I have is making the adjustment from having to deal with testosterone fueled 15-18 year-old young men and their equally daffy baseball coaches one night and 10 and under girls the next night, who are trying to influence the outcome of the game by singing songs with lyrics that end with something along the lines of "Oosh-ka, ash-ka. Oosh-oosh-kah, ash-ka".

On second thought, maybe that's just what a Joe West needs right now, more games on his schedule where the players are trying to influence the outcome of the game by singing "Oosh-ka, ash-ka. Oosh-oosh-kah, ash-ka". Its worth a try. The ball's in your court Commissioner Selig.



"Oosh-ka, ash-ka. Oosh-oosh-kah, ash-ka, indeed!!"

Finally a Brian Sabean trade I can embrace....

HELLO BRIAN?, I'LL TAKE YOUR JOB, YOU CAN HAVE MINE. NOW GET OUT!!

During his own local radio show, Giants GM Brian Sabean made what would have gone down as his best trade ever as Giants GM. He offered to trade jobs with the local radio jock!! AND THE GUY DIDN'T TAKE HIM UP ON THE OFFER!! This is every fantasy leaguer's wet dream come true.

"I know that I can't do your job," Sabean told Barbieri on the air Thursday, "but, you apparently think you can do my job. So, why don't we both take sabbaticals and I'll try to do your job and you can come over and (fix things) doing my job!"

from The Brian Sabean Show - KNBR 680/1050 The Sports Leader - The Razor and Mr. T. Show

http://knbr.com/OnKNBR680/RazorandMrT/tabid/595/Default.aspx

And in this case the guy would have gone down as some sort of local folk hero. Plus, he couldn't do much worse than Sabean has done recently. The conversation actually started with the jock steering the conversation in the direction of "when are we going to see some results, Brian?" Not an unreasonable question by the way.

After the Zito debacle, and Rowand and Renteria. And now DeRosa (the DL guy) and Huff and like they say in government, "a billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about some real money".

That's been the legacy of Brian Sabean recently. A bad contract here, a bad contract there, pretty soon you're talking about a real legacy of failure.

Please someone make this deal if it's offered again, before Sabean tries to revitalize the offense by signing Jermaine Dye to a three-year, $25 million dollar deal or trades a couple of uber-prospects to the Rays for Pat "The Bat" Burrell.

It just seems as if this guy is becoming a bit unhinged. Unfortunately, armed with a fresh two-year deal, he has just enough time to ruin this team before the window of opportunity of the Lincecum-Cain dominance runs it's course.

Where would this team be without it's dominant pitching? Less than .500 and keeping the D-Backs company in the basement?