Kevin Frandsen, SS, San Francisco Giants: Looks healthy which is the important thing after missing the season due to a torn achilles. Line drive bat, hits to the opposite field, hustles, won't have much home run power. Played shortstop down here and looked fine, can handle second base no problem defensively.

Good to hear Frannie's making a strong comeback.  I'd say he would have to be the frontrunner for the regular 2B job.  So the early returns for the infield would show 1B:  TI, 2B:  Frannie, SS:   EB, 3B:  Pablito, C:  B Money.

Perhaps many of you know this already, but I just saw it posted on MLB.com on the Giants team site.

Buster has been sent back to Arizona so he can get more regular playing time in the instructional league.  He had been playing only every third day or so since there is a rotation of three starting catchers in the Hawaiian Winter Ball league.

Also in Arizona are Villalona and 16 year old Dominican signee Rafael Rodriguez.

Knowing Buster is not busted is a huge relief.  And it also shows the Giants are serious about his development, preferring he gets regular playing time and instruction rather than a more limited, though more "prestigious" gig in Hawaii.

at least the first that this cheapskate could find on a site where I did not have to pay.

It is on some site called draftinfo.wordpress.com and the first 10 picks are:

1. Washington Nationals- Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State

2. Seattle Mariners- Grant Green, SS, USC

3. San Diego Padres- Alex White, RHP, UNC

4. Pittsburgh Pirates- Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri

5. Baltimore Orioles- Dustin Ackley, OF, UNC

6. San Francisco Giants- Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, Georgia

7. Atlanta Braves- Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS, Texas

8. Cincinnati Reds- Ryan Jackson, SS, Miami

9. Colorado Rockies- Andy Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State

9a. Washington Nationals (For failing to sign 2008 1st rounder Aaron Crow)- Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, California

10. Detroit Tigers- Robbie Shields, SS, Florida Southern

This order seems pretty reasonable to me. 

I love the pick of Tate by the Giants.  And I'm sure it will drive the Braves nuts since he is likely #1 on their board.  It is the kind of pick that could turn out really well if the player reaches his potential (e.g.  Bruce with Cincy). But I fear the SF management might consider the pick of Tate to be too big of a risk for the following reasons:

He has leverage in that he could choose to attend college and play football (and baseball).

He has tools galore, but can he translate them into performance as a pro?

They may be more inclined to choose a college hitter

There are some pretty good pitching prospects likely to be available at #6, possibly Crow (#11 in this mock), Purke, Givens (may be chosen as a pitcher, went #15), Turner (polished HS arm who can crank it up to 97, #13), and a hopefully healthy Scheppers (went #21).

Even though the season is not yet over, I don't see the Giants finishing with a worse record than the Nats, Mariners, Padres or Pirates.  If the season ended right now,  they would have the #7 pick since the Orioles would win the tiebreaker, having had a worse record last season.  In any case it is likely the Giants will "earn" a top 10 pick for 2009.

For the past two drafts I have been hoping the Giants would use their highest draft picks to address the shortage of position prospects in their farm system.  In 2007 they did not do that, but I don't think anyone can vehemently complain about the picks of MadBum and Timmy2.  This season they did a fine job of drafting high-upside hitters.

Now with the 2009 draft in mind I am beginning to have a change of heart.  It is still early and several hitting prospects might burst on the scene, but right now none of the choices is overwhelmingly compelling.  It would be nice to have a great defensive shortstop who can hit for power, but Grant Green could be off the board at #2 (right after Strasburg).  Donovan Tate is incredibly talented and could be the second coming of Bo Jackson but he is thought to want to play both football and baseball in college.  Mychal Givens, a SS/P, is compared to this year's #1Tim Beckham, but he may actually be a better pick as a pitcher.  Dustin Ackley is someone I would want the Giants to draft if he could ever show more power hitting potential, since he doesn't fit the prototypical slugging corner OF/1B mode.

So if the Giants pick a pitcher I would not be terribly disappointed for two reasons.

First, there seem to be more pitching prospects than hitting prospects at this early juncture.  Off the top of my head I can think of Alex White, Kyle Gibson, Aaron Crow, Matt Purke,  the aforementioned Givens, and if he is healthy, Tanner Scheppers.

Second, the performances of Cain and Sanchez this year have caused me some concern that neither will ever develop into a solid and reliable #2 or #3 starter.  With MB and T2 being unproven, albeit promising, it would not hurt for the Giants to add another strong pitching prospect to the fold.

Does anyone else have any early wish lists for the 2009 draft?

Madison Bumgarner was officially named Minor League Baseball's Most Spectacular Pitcher today, making it two years in a row that a Giant farmhand has won the award after Kevin Pucetas won it last year.  Go to www.minorleaguebaseball.com. 

The award, which is somewhat of a misnomer, is solely based on the best ERA in the minor leagues.  But it could justifiably have been given to Bumgarner if it was based on truly the "most spectacular performance" by a minor league pitcher.   Enough has been discussed about MadBum's performance this year that I don't need to rehash his stats for all you McCoven.  Let's just revel in the promise of the future that the young arms in the Giants system holds.  

This has literally been bugging me for years.

My earliest baseball memory, and possibly my first exposure to baseball ever,  was a game I saw on TV when I was very young.  It was probably in the late 60's or early 70's (yeah, probably before most of you young whippersnappers were born!). 

For some reason I think it took place during a pennant chase or even in the post-season since I got the impression it was a very important game.   My memory is fuzzy but I vividly recall some details.

The game ended when the centerfielder (?) climbed the outfield wall, reached over the fence, and robbed the hitter of a homerun, then threw the ball back to the infield to double up the baserunner who was either tagging up to 3rd or trying to get back to 2nd.  Now here are some other details... I didn't realize it until I learned baseball better, but I now believe the runner who was thrown out was a pitcher because he was wearing a warmup jacket on the bases.  And he must have been a pitcher who was in the game, as opposed to a pinchrunner, precisely because he was wearing the jacket.  The color of the jacket leads me to believe the team at bat was the Orioles.  I am not so certain about the team in the field, although I do recall lighter colored uniforms and for some reason I seem to think it could be the Yankees or Tigers.   I cannot picture the details of the stadium but I do recall that the wall must have been at least 8 ft high, since in making the catch, the outfielder ran back and jumped onto the wall with his right leg and simultaneouly grabbed the top of the wall and propelled himself way over the wall to make the catch.

In the days before the internet, I actually wrote to some sports publications hoping they could help me identify the details of the game, but to no avail.  So now I will try again.  Does anyone out there know which game I am describing?

I am not going to undergo regression hypnosis or seek out a oracle, and I am definitely not going to buy farmland in the central valley in order to mow it down to build a ballpark so they will come and replay the game.  But it would be nice to know since it really made an impression on me... much to the chagrin of my parents I  spent many afternoons reenacting that final play using the walls of our house as the outfield fence... and I have become a lifelong baseball fan.

Twas the night before Draft Day, when all through Mays Field
Not a creature was stirring, not even Lou Seal.
The draft boards were hung by the 'puters with care,
In hopes that a big hitter soon would be there.

Giants fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of walk-off homers danced in their heads.
And Brian in his jersey, and Dick in his cap,
Had just settled their brains for a brief  pre-draft nap.

When out on the grass there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their seats to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen dew
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the field all anew.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a scoundrel in a sleigh, and some baseball play-ers.

With that little old driver, so greasy and fast,
They knew in a moment it must be Scott Boras.
More rapid than eagles his "advisees" they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Pedro! now, Eric! now, Alex and Nick!
On, Toolsy! On, Greedy! on, Overhyped, come quick!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the Big Glove the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of bats, and St Boras too.

And then, in a twinkling, they heard nice and neat
The prancing and pawing of each little cleat.
As they drew in their heads, and were turning around,
Down the chimney St Boras came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all garnished with jewelry and loot.
A bundle of cash he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as green as his dough.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right smarmy old elf,
And they cringed when they saw him, and cowered themselves!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave them to know they had so much to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And laid out all his contracts, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But they heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove right away,
"If you want to deal with St. Boras, get ready to PAY"

Twas the night before Draft Day, when all through Mays Field
Not a creature was stirring, not even Lou Seal.
The draft boards were hung by the 'puters with care,
In hopes that a big hitter soon would be there.

Giants fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of walk-off homers danced in their heads.
And Brian in his jersey, and Dick in his cap,
Had just settled their brains for a brief  pre-draft nap.

When out on the grass there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their seats to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen dew
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the field all anew.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a scoundrel in a sleigh, and some baseball play-ers.

With that little old driver, so greasy and fast,
I knew in a moment it must be Scott Boras.
More rapid than eagles his "advisees" they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Pedro! now, Eric! now, Alex and Nick!
On, Toolsy! On, Greedy! on, Overhyped, come quick!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the Big Glove the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of bats, and St Boras too.

And then, in a twinkling, they heard nice and neat
The prancing and pawing of each little cleat.
As they drew in their heads, and were turning around,
Down the chimney St Boras came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all garnished with jewelry and loot.
A bundle of cash he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as green as his dough.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right smarmy old elf,
And they cringed when they saw him, and cowered themselves!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave them to know they had so much to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And laid out all his contracts, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But they heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove right away,
"If you want to deal with St. Boras, get ready to PAY"

Hidden blessings:

A Bengie Molina ground rule double -  as Bengie laboriously lumbers out of the batters box he smiles thankfully as the ump waves him all the way to second base.

Old Guys On the DL -  Or O GOD Please... Roberts, Durham, Aurilia and company out, Lewis, Velez, Bowker and gang in.

Worst Record in Baseball in 2008 -  "With the first pick of the 2009 Amatuer Draft the Giants select... Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State University " (or someone else really good).

For those of us that would like to see the Giants draft a premium hitter, things are starting to look more likely.  Crow's late season struggles have dropped his stock slightly.  Schepper's injury likely drops him out of consideration for the Giants.  That only leaves Matusz as a possible pick at #5, and he could very well be gone by the time the Giants pick.

I see the best hitting prospects as falling into three tiers:  Excellent (Tim B, Alvarez, Smoak), Very Good (Hosmer, Skipworth), and Good (Posey, Gordon B, a few others).  At the very least, the Giants are guaranteed a Very Good hitter even if all four teams ahead of them draft hitters.  If Matusz and Posey are picked before their turn, they are guaranteed an Excellent hitter.

So, I feel really good about the draft, except for these nagging nightmares:

- on draft day the Giants can't agree on who to draft and yell, "Pass!" when their turn comes.

-the guy in charge of bringing the lists accidentally brings the 2007 list.

-as a favor to the new MGP, the Giants draft little Skipper Neukom, nephew of Bill, who hit .237 with 0 HR and 6 RBI as a third string catcher in high school.

So what do you see the Giants doing now?  Any nightmare scenarios?