Question of the week

[Bear]

If you could take any position player in the game today to build the Giants around who would it be, and why?

[McCovey]

Are you talking about long term or short term. Long term, probably someone like David Wright. For a more short term, Albert Pujols.

[Bear]

Are you talking about long term or short term. Long term, probably someone like David Wright. For a more short term, Albert Pujols.

Long term! You would take David Wright over Chase Utley? I like Wright alot but not as much as Utley. :rolleyes:

[McCovey]

Long term! You would take David Wright over Chase Utley? I like Wright alot but not as much as Utley. :rolleyes:
Yes, I would take Wright. He's four years younger than Utley and that is huge for me. Wright has more upside than Utley. Utley debuted in the majors at age 24. By age 24 Wright has already played 383 major league games, and had 67 HRs, 258 RBI, 236 runs, and 434 hits.

[Bear]

To each his own. I would take Chase every time over David and I like David alot!:rolleyes:

[McCovey]

To each his own. I would take Chase every time over David and I like David alot!:rolleyes:
Well yes, Utley is the better player RIGHT NOW, but it's close. However, I think what Utley is doing now is the best he has to offer. I don't see him getting any better. But that's ok because he's a dominant player as it is now. If he can keep doing what he's doing now for the next 8-9 years he'll be one of the greatest second basemen ever. However, two caveats. Utley is very streaky. He's have stretches of several weeks where he is just pounding the ball then go stretches of weeks were he just disappears. This season is a classic example. Here are his monthly breakdowns:

April: .360/.436/.766
May: .259/.354/.537
June: .266/.364/.511
July: .255/.296/.411

What happened between April and July? It's like it's not the same player. :o

Wright is only 25 years old. He's had three All-Star caliber seasons already and I fully expect him to step up his game when he enters his prime. I took the question in the OP to mean what player would you like from today forward? I picked David Wright because he is very likely to have a better career from today moving forward than Utley.

[Bear]

Wright is a great pick. There is no right or wrong answer. I would love to have Wright play for the Giants. Maybe Zito for Wright?:pound:

[McCovey]

Wright is a great pick. There is no right or wrong answer. I would love to have Wright play for the Giants. Maybe Zito for Wright?:pound:
We can dream, can't we?! :D Oh and the Giants passed on Wright in the 2001 draft TWICE. :mad:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2001&round=1

[Bear]

We can dream, can't we?! :D Oh and the Giants passed on Wright in the 2001 draft TWICE. :mad:


Now that hurts!:gripe::tantrum:

[SF Kid]

More great front office magic.

[McCovey]

More great front office magic.
The Giants had two 1st round picks in '01 and chose Hennessey and Lowry with those picks so it wasn't a total waste. The draft is such a crap shoot. Wright was the #38 overall pick. He was obviously a top high school talent but not quite the elite of the elite. Teams can scout players, breakdown video, have the prospects take physiological tests, etc. but in the end no one knows how a young prospect will develop. Frank Thomas went undrafted out of high school in 1986 if you can believe that. There were at least 700 players picked in the 1986 draft and no one though that Thomas could have at least be a minor league scrub? It's the same story with Mike Piazza, picked in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft only as a favor by Tommy Lasorda to Piazza's dad.

[SF Kid]

It's true that the draft is the Mother of all Crap Shoots. That goes for all sports. Look at the NBA -- if you don't get one of the top three players it's a crap shoot. The NFL is a little better but still there are a lot of can't miss players who bust out fairly early. At least the Giants got Linecum. :D

[McCovey]

It's true that the draft is the Mother of all Crap Shoots. That goes for all sports. Look at the NBA -- if you don't get one of the top three players it's a crap shoot. The NFL is a little better but still there are a lot of can't miss players who bust out fairly early. At least the Giants got Linecum. :D
And don't forget Matt Cain! :beerbang:

Nine teams passed on Lincecum because:

1) He's short and skinny
2) He pitched a ton of innings at Washington State
3) The scouts hated his delivery

The Mariners passed on Lincecum even though he played his college ball just five miles from Safeco Field! :pound:

The Giants to their credit didn't agree with the majority of the scouting community's view of Lincecum and drafted him. :awesomework.gif

[SF Kid]

He attended Washington not WSU...dummy.

[McCovey]

He attended Washington not WSU...dummy.
Same difference. :D

[Bear]

Same difference. :D

I guess you have never been to Pullman!:nono:

[SF Kid]

Pullman. :banghead:

[McCovey]

Pullman. :banghead:
So what is Pullman like?

[McCovey]

Here's Lincecum at the University of Washington.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok0-_RjVM7E

[SF Kid]

So what is Pullman like?It's in the Eastern Washingotn. Desert like and hot as hell in Summer; cold as hell in Winter and noting to do unless you go to school and you're a "Coug". :rolleyes:

[SF Kid]

Here's Lincecum at the University of Washington.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok0-_RjVM7ESome big ass crowds at the UW. :bugeye:

[Bear]

It's in the Eastern Washingotn. Desert like and hot as hell in Summer; cold as hell in Winter and noting to do unless you go to school and you're a "Coug". :rolleyes:

What's your problem can't spell Cougars? :eek:

[SF Kid]

What's your problem can't spell Cougars? :eek:YOU are as dumb as a fence post. The WSU student body and everybody else refers to them as the "Cougs"... duh.

[giants rule]

id go with arod...

[Bear]

id go with arod...


Yes. That's well, and good, and why would you make that choice. At this point in his career, and at his age do you feel he is the best player in the game, and will be when the team is ready to contend? :confused:

[McCovey]

One can argue A-Rod is still the best or 2nd best player in baseball. He's rushing towards 800 HRs really fast! :beerbang:

[Bear]

One can argue A-Rod is still the best or 2nd best player in baseball. He's rushing towards 800 HRs really fast! :beerbang:

I do not disagree, but would you build a team around him at this point in his career? With all the other young players the other younger players to choose from. I am not so sure.:shrug:

[Swede]

Let's just try and get someone that can hit more than 20 homeruns from the corner positions, and then build around speed. Carl Crawford

[SF Kid]

Let's just try and get someone that can hit more than 20 homeruns from the corner positions, and then build around speed. Carl CrawfordThere's a concept. Our Giants are so weak in the power department it's depressing. The lineup just has no pop whatsoever.

How 'ya doing Swede? Haven't seen you around lately.

[Bear]

Let's just try and get someone that can hit more than 20 homeruns from the corner positions, and then build around speed. Carl Crawford

It would be nice to have a few 20-30 HR guys on the team. Does anyone think Bowker could be one of those types? Also does anyone know of a list of possible free agents available for next year? Crawford would be great, but I don't think he will be available.

[McCovey]

I do not disagree, but would you build a team around him at this point in his career? With all the other young players the other younger players to choose from. I am not so sure.:shrug:
It's tough question. Players can age overnight sometimes. But A-Rod's skill set is similar to that of Hank Aaron and Bad Henry played into his 40s. I guess the questions is how many HoF seasons A-Rod has left? I suspect it's at least five more. But if I'm building for the next decade I wouldn't take A-Rod. I'd take David Wright or Grady Sizemore. A dark horse would be John Hamilton. Everyone I talked to and the scouting reports I've read all say he same thing. This kid has talent on par with Mickey Mantle! :eek: I can't image what he could have accomplished by now if he didn't almost kill himself with drugs and booze. :rolleyes:

[McCovey]

This article came out today.


The best players choose the best player
By Jeff Passan
Yahoo! Sports

07/18/08


Already the room teemed with the best of the best. So the idea of going around to baseball’s All-Stars and asking them to take things to the third degree – ask the best of the best to name their choice for the best player in baseball – seemed perfect.

Who better to ask than the best players in the game? They ought to know. They see each other daily. Pitchers laud their peers, hitters the same. One league props its players, the other answering likewise. They ponder tools vs. talent and now vs. then and innumerable other arguments bisected by the word versus. The debate, inexorable, begins forthwith.

In fact, sometimes it becomes an internal one, players arguing with themselves over a choice. Of the 26 players surveyed during the All-Star interview session this week, a baker’s dozen from each league, with a simple question – “Who is the best player in baseball today?” – more than half bandied about multiple names before settling on a final answer.

And the winner, in somewhat of a runaway, was New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

This, really, comes as no surprise, even with the three-time MVP’s season pocked by injuries and falling a distant second, in headlines garnered, to his alleged dalliances with Madonna. A-Rod, who turns 33 in nine days, stands just 225 home runs shy of Barry Bonds’ career record, could well break the records for runs and RBIs, and benefited from a group of his peers more inclined to go on history than present production.

Rodriguez received nine votes. Next was Josh Hamilton, the Texas Rangers outfielder in only his second full season, who got six votes. And the poll was taken around noon on Monday, hours before the Home Run Derby, where Hamilton smashed three balls more than 500 feet and won legions of admirers.

“It’s really hard to argue with what Alex has accomplished over his career,” said Michael Young, the Rangers shortstop and only All-Star who has teamed with Rodriguez and Hamilton. “When you talk about the best player in the game, you have to talk about some longevity as well. I play with Josh. I know how special he is. I know how talented of a guy he is. Alex has been doing it for 13 years.”

The case between the two is interesting. Hamilton leads this year in counting statistics, his 95 RBIs best in baseball and his 21 home runs third in the American League. Rodriguez’s rate stats are better, with higher on-base and slugging percentages, and slightly better numbers defensively, although third base is considered a little easier to man than center field.

It’s the spectacle of Hamilton – the back story of his recovery from crack addiction, the tattoos that cover his body, the fluidity with which he carries his 220 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame – pitted against the learned brilliance of Rodriguez.

“The player now most guys want to watch is Hamilton because of everything he can do,” Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau said. “But it’s hard to argue with 500-something home runs and everything Alex has done for how long he’s done it.”

Actually, it’s not that tough. Nearly two-thirds of the surveyed players opted elsewhere. Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin took a full minute before making his pick. He thought about Albert Pujols for his natural hitting ability and Derek Jeter for his perceived propensity at clutch hitting and Ichiro Suzuki for how good he gets when he’s hot before attempting to settle.

“It’s like asking me what my favorite movie is or my favorite song,” Quentin said. “I could cut it down to position players – I’m not trying to do any injustice to pitchers. Geez. Tools-wise, talent-wise, it’s hard to pick against Josh Hamilton.

“You just look at his ability to do everything. His talent level is unbelievable. His potential is through the roof.”

Potential won Hanley Ramirez third place with three votes. Were the initial question phrased with a slight twist – “If you were starting a franchise today, who would be the player? – Ramirez, Florida’s 24-year-old shortstop with the whole kit and caboodle of skills, may have been the overwhelming choice.

“I’m from the old school,” Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook said. “I liked to play shortstop when I was in Little League, and I think you build your team around either your shortstop or center fielder. And I’d have to go with Hanley Ramirez.

“He basically does it all. He can hit anywhere from No. 1 to No. 5 in the lineup and be comfortable.”

Ramirez blanched when told he’d been named by three peers. He said he’d pick second baseman Dan Uggla, his Marlins teammate who, 36 hours later, would play the single worst All-Star Game since Atlee Hammaker 25 years ago. He made three errors, struck out three times, grounded into a double play – truly put the ug in Uggla – and didn’t quite acquit Ramirez’s pick.

Yet it was commonplace among the most confused to pick someone familiar. Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore named his former teammate, pitcher CC Sabathia. Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto went with his ace, Carlos Zambrano. San Francisco closer Brian Wilson chose Tim Lincecum, who recently turned 24 and was the youngest player to receive a vote.

“A hitter’s not necessarily going to win every game,” Wilson said. “But every five games, if you have a 90 percent chance of winning a game, you go with that.”

Players tended to vote along league lines, with Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley and Pujols – “The best hitter in the game,” Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets said, “and he won the Gold Glove last year” – nabbing a vote apiece.

Which leaves us with one remaining nominee, and it was the shocker of the day. The player named Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ervin Santana, whose 11-3 record and 3.34 earned-run average certainly is respectable, though he’s not even baseball’s best Santana. That would be Johan.

Given a chance to backtrack, the player declined. Dammit, he loved Ervin Santana, and no one would convince him otherwise.

“The best player? Me,” said Ervin Santana, the man who voted for Ervin Santana. “I’m not giving credit to nobody.”

[McCovey]

Here's a good article comparing A-Rod to John Hamilton.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApuXtD6ztVLtmnwKUDDmrVIRvLYF?slug=ys-arodhamilton071808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns