Would you rank Tanner over Sosa?

Sanchez is putting up his second-straight year with pretty good numbers with the bat in the DSL. I had hoped he’d move up, and so have assumed he was flawed since he didn’t. Still, unlike most Giants hitting prospects not named Villalona, he’s not old for his level despite repeating it, still only 18.

I like your list and I’m interested that Martinez made your top-10. I like his year in AA, he’s fringey but his GB% is a nice bonus that makes me think he could be for real.

You’re right that our system needs hitting and most our hitting prospects are high risk / high reward types. Villalona, Rodriguez, and Fairley are all HRHR-types, Posey is considered less of a risk, so he adds some stability to the system that can’t be downplayed.

Not a fan of Sosa? Good name drop on Hector Sanchez, I’ve never heard of him until now.

My ten:
1. Posey. He’s “signed” enough for me, he’ll hit albeit not at superstar level, he’ll play good defense at a premium position and he is advanced enough overall soundly to beat out..
2. Villalona. Yes, he Ks too much. But at his age with his power.. whew. Quite some risk, but the upside with the bat is superior. Of course, I dream of a move back to third, but I suppose it is not to be.
3. Bumgarner. Doing everything but getting ground balls. If everything goes right, he’ll be Matt Cain, but lefty, and without the walks. Or his arm falls off. Pitchers, pitchers..
4. Gillaspie. Upside: the next Bill Mueller. Downside: below-average middle infield type. Yes, watching Castillo has been painful, but that’s a pretty good downside.
5. Sandoval. Proved his summer-2007 breakout was for real. Tempted to move him to #4, but there are worries: the walk rate, mostly
6. Alderson. I like him lots, but he’s a young pitcher deep in the arm-fall-off years. I can’t see slotting him higher, especially with that home/road split.
7. Rodriguez. I believe the scouts. Probably overrated, but this is a weak system and he has potential.
8. Schierholtz. Good enough to play an average right field right now.
9. Noonan. He’ll hit some, but I don’t think he’ll have the glove really to make that matter.
10. Joseph Martinez. Well, maybe not (in the real world, probably Tanner), but he’s had a nice season and word is he’s a really nice guy.

Who-is-this-guy honorable mention: Hector Sanchez, DSL. Nice numbers, catcher, pretty young, but nobody cares. I assume he’s flawed.

Thanks for the kudos.

What worries me the most about Zito’s lack of aggressiveness was when he walked the pitcher. If there was one guy he could have challenged, it was Wolf, but he just couldn’t throw strikes. I have no idea if he has a physical problem throwing a baseball. Maybe it’s mental. Maybe it’s both.

It boggles the mind.

I think only in our wildest dreams…

I haven’t looked at when Zito melts down but my thinking is that it’s happening at any time this year.

@Delorean

Gillaspie: Dude hits doubles! But he can also hit as well.

I’m not overly concerned with Alderson’s velo right now, he’s K’ing guys decently and he’s done extremely well at his level and at his age. He’s probably performing as good as anyone could have hoped. I was slightly worried when he was drafted that he might end up in the bullpen — because of his delivery and makeup some thought he could be “fast-tracked” (I hate that term) — but I think he’s shown this year that he’s definitely cut out to start. Most reports I’ve seen say that he can break 90mph. Hopefully you either saw him on a low day or the stadium gun was a little off.

Excellent analysis on the prospects, Chris; I don’t see anything wrong with your list at all. You know my concerns about Alderson already.

The Crawford pick and signing could turn into a major coup if he regains his form of a year ago. I really, really like that pick!

BTW, is it just me, or have other people noticed that Zito tends to melt down right after he is given a lead? I don’t have the stats to prove/ disprove it so I thought I’d throw it out there….