Post by sharksrog on Jan 31, 2013 13:28:49 GMT -5
Each winter we see many prospect lists. Not surprisingly, they express differences of opinion when ranking the prospects.
I didn't purchase it this year, but I tend to like the annual prospect book put out by Baseball America. The Giants ranking has been performed by Andrew Baggarly, who I thought was the best Giants beat writer before he became the Giants Insider for CSN Bay Area.
Baggs did his evaluations primarily after talking to Giants executives and scouts, so I perhaps put a little more stock in it than the other prospect rankings of Giants players.
Again, I haven't purchased the book, but I did come across some of the rankings at the San Jose Giants website. The website spoke about Baseball America's pointing to the Little Giants' 2013 rotation as being "one of the minors' most talented rotations."
Hard-throwing Kyle Crick will pitch for San Jose, and is ranked the Giants' #1 prospect. Giants' 2012 1st round pick Chris Stratton is ranked #3 and expected to pitch in San Jose.
Clayton Blackburn is ranked the #6 prospect, and he too is believed to know the way to San Jose. Adelberto Mejias is ranked #10 and also expected to perform in the San Jose Giants stadium, which is located next door to and shares a parking lot with the practice facility of the San Jose Sharks. That quartet should anchor the San Jose rotation.
I know I am looking forward to seeing the San Jose team play this summer, hoping to see some future rotation members -- one or more possibly joining the Giants' rotation as soon as the 2014 season.
I found it intriguing that the second baseman Joe Panik was ranked the #2 prospect, while center fielder Gary Brown dropped to #4. Both players had early struggles this past season -- Panik in San Jose, and Brown at AA Richmond -- before coming on strongly at the end.
I have preferred Panik based on his very fine K/BB ratio. Brown has usually been ranked higher due to his combination of good pop for a leadoff hitter, blazing speed, and a very good glove and arm.
Panik is two years younger than Brown, and a level lower. Brown should patrol center field for Fresno this season, while Panik likely will move up to Richmond.
Virtually every season is important for high prospects, and for both Brown and Panik, this season should be no exception. It is possible either or both players will make an appearance in San Francisco this season, particularly in the case of Brown.
The Giants' weakest position is left field, which means a strong AAA start from Brown could potentially put him in the lineup before season's end. On the other hand, the Giants have been cautious with Gary, leaving him at San Jose two summers ago when it appeared they might move him up to AA mid-season.
Brown's early struggles in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League indicated the Giants were likely better off by being patient.
Panik won MVP honors in the short-season Northwest League immediately after he was the Giants' #1 pick in the 2011 draft. He leveled off at San Jose last season, although a late-season push left him just three points shy of .300. Based on how Panik handles the Eastern League compared to Brown's 2012 performance should give us a glimpse into whether he or Brown is the better prospect.
Position-wise, the Giants' minor league system is very weak, so it is important that both Brown and Panik provide significant help at the big league level by 2014 or 2015. The farm system has reached something of a position player Brown-out. Let's hope it doesn't reach the point of Panik.
Sorry for that.
I didn't purchase it this year, but I tend to like the annual prospect book put out by Baseball America. The Giants ranking has been performed by Andrew Baggarly, who I thought was the best Giants beat writer before he became the Giants Insider for CSN Bay Area.
Baggs did his evaluations primarily after talking to Giants executives and scouts, so I perhaps put a little more stock in it than the other prospect rankings of Giants players.
Again, I haven't purchased the book, but I did come across some of the rankings at the San Jose Giants website. The website spoke about Baseball America's pointing to the Little Giants' 2013 rotation as being "one of the minors' most talented rotations."
Hard-throwing Kyle Crick will pitch for San Jose, and is ranked the Giants' #1 prospect. Giants' 2012 1st round pick Chris Stratton is ranked #3 and expected to pitch in San Jose.
Clayton Blackburn is ranked the #6 prospect, and he too is believed to know the way to San Jose. Adelberto Mejias is ranked #10 and also expected to perform in the San Jose Giants stadium, which is located next door to and shares a parking lot with the practice facility of the San Jose Sharks. That quartet should anchor the San Jose rotation.
I know I am looking forward to seeing the San Jose team play this summer, hoping to see some future rotation members -- one or more possibly joining the Giants' rotation as soon as the 2014 season.
I found it intriguing that the second baseman Joe Panik was ranked the #2 prospect, while center fielder Gary Brown dropped to #4. Both players had early struggles this past season -- Panik in San Jose, and Brown at AA Richmond -- before coming on strongly at the end.
I have preferred Panik based on his very fine K/BB ratio. Brown has usually been ranked higher due to his combination of good pop for a leadoff hitter, blazing speed, and a very good glove and arm.
Panik is two years younger than Brown, and a level lower. Brown should patrol center field for Fresno this season, while Panik likely will move up to Richmond.
Virtually every season is important for high prospects, and for both Brown and Panik, this season should be no exception. It is possible either or both players will make an appearance in San Francisco this season, particularly in the case of Brown.
The Giants' weakest position is left field, which means a strong AAA start from Brown could potentially put him in the lineup before season's end. On the other hand, the Giants have been cautious with Gary, leaving him at San Jose two summers ago when it appeared they might move him up to AA mid-season.
Brown's early struggles in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League indicated the Giants were likely better off by being patient.
Panik won MVP honors in the short-season Northwest League immediately after he was the Giants' #1 pick in the 2011 draft. He leveled off at San Jose last season, although a late-season push left him just three points shy of .300. Based on how Panik handles the Eastern League compared to Brown's 2012 performance should give us a glimpse into whether he or Brown is the better prospect.
Position-wise, the Giants' minor league system is very weak, so it is important that both Brown and Panik provide significant help at the big league level by 2014 or 2015. The farm system has reached something of a position player Brown-out. Let's hope it doesn't reach the point of Panik.
Sorry for that.