Twas the Night Before the 2008 Amateur Draft

I saw some interesting news about the Giants strategy and thinking about their #5 draft pick. Seems like they can be happy in a number of different ways. Baseball America reported here the following:

The Giants and first-year scouting director John Barr could have a pleasant surprise at five. They’re said to have Hosmer at the top of their board but he may not get that far. However, Beckham or Posey might, which would give the Giants the chance to draft a premium middle-of-the-diamond player.

This is the first I've heard anywhere that the Giants have a player on the top of their board. Of course, the Giants typically play such information close to their vest, so for this to leak out, I wonder if it is a smoke screen to get the Royals to select Hosmer for sure, as rumored and reported in a variety of places.

Basically, there are three position players considered to be the cream of this years crop: Pedro Alvarez, Tim Beckham, and Buster Posey. For one of them to fall to the Giants, at least two of the four teams ahead of them will need to draft someone other than one of these three. Most mock drafts have Kansas City Royals selecting Hosmer 3rd and the Baltimore Orioles selecting LHP Brian Matusz (though one just changed it to the other premier pitcher in the draft, Aaron Crow). The roll of the dice is in who the Rays select.

They are considered to have narrowed it down to T.Beckham and Posey, with Beckham the name most prognosticators have selected as the Rays pick. That would leave Alvarez, who was the concensus top pick for a while now, in the hands of the Pirates, who want to make a big splash this year in a break from the previous regime.

Draft a Posey

And that would leave Posey in the hands of the Giants. He would be a good fit with the Giants. He plays good enough defense that most think that he will be able to stay at the catching position in the majors. But he was good enough to play SS his first season in college, so he could always move up the middle of the diamond positionally if necessary. And his offense is good enough to be plus at any of the middle of the diamond positions. He also relieved a little successfully too.

Here is the MiLB's draft profile for Posey. Pluses include "advanced hitting skills," and "good knowledge of the strike zone". He has the potential for 10-15 homers per season. "He's a highly sought-after package, a catcher who'll be able to stay behind the plate and has a chance to hit."

Weaknesses is the big one, his inexperience behind the plate (he was a shortstop his first season of college before converting to catcher full-time). He lacks the nuances of the position but the cure is easy: he just needs to catch more. Shifting behind the plate is one area of weakness.

Here is the summary:

College catchers who can stay at the position and can hit are always a hot commodity and Posey will be no exception. He's got a great approach with the bat and has a little power. As a converted shortstop, he's still a little raw behind the plate, but all the tools are there for him to be just fine and help ensure he gets drafted fairly early.

Not as good as Wieters, who was selected 5th last season, in my opinion, but he is probably the best catcher in this year's crop and among the top hitters. Perhaps they could partner him up with Jackson Williams and have Williams help mentor him. And, of course, the catcher doctor, Steve Decker is the manager in San Jose, so Posey could end up there next season and learn.

I would be very happy to get him, even the 5th pick is fraught with question marks typically. So selecting an athletic, versatile (he played all 9 positions in a game recently) hitter would help reduce the risk that he might not pan out at C. And if he can stick at C, all the better, Molina could be gone by the end of 2009 and who knows if Pablo Sandoval can continue to impress as he moves up. Better to have an alternative plan.

Giants Eye Isaac?

For the Giants supplemental first round pick, the name I see has been Isaac Galloway, a toolsy CF that fits the mode of the athletic prospects the Giants tend to like.

Here is the draft profile for Galloway.

Wow, he sounds great:

• Galloway is a solid contact hitter who can drive the ball to all fields.
• He has plus power to the pull side and has the potential to hit 20-plus homers annually.
• He's a plus runner now, though he may settle in as a tick above average as he matures.
  He's not a pure basestealer, but he could be a 15-20 steals per year kind of runner.
• He has a plus arm that has more than enough carry to work from right field.
• He can go get the ball well, though left field may eventually be his best spot.
• Strengths: His all-around tools. Galloway has all five of them and is already showing some aptitude toward using them in games.
• Weaknesses: There isn't much looseness to his body, which could mean he'll lose a step speed-wise as he matures.

Summary:

It's a good year for toolsy high school outfielders in California and Galloway is right near the top of that list. He's got more now skills -- and less projection -- than fellow outfielders Aaron Hicks and Anthony Gose. But he can do everything well and should develop into a guy who will hit for average and power as well as steal some bases. The ceiling may not be as through the roof as with the others, but he's the type who could hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases annually in the future."

Sounds kind of like another Fred Lewis, a toolsy outfielder, only right-handed. He could be ready in 3-4 years to reach the majors given the assessment that he's a bit more developed than others but is lacking in projection. Still, a 20-20 hitter is nothing to sneeze at and would be a great contributor or trade bait.

Plus someone posted in the comments section that the Giants are eyeing Tyler Landendorf SS.
Here is a report on him. Apparently the Giants drafted him last season so they could do it again. He might not stick at SS though, might get too big, in which case probably means the outfield for him. He sounds like a pretty good pick as well, so I could live with him as well.

Happy Picking, Giants!