Oh Scott, I somehow didn't get around to answering your first question! Sorry about that! Let me just quickly say that I think the draft did an excellent job of plugging two real weaknesses in the system that I had noted last winter: left-handed power and left-handed pitching.
This is definitely a question that should have been asked before the mailbag, so take it more as me musing out loud after hearing you talk about the two-way futures of Crawford and Eldridge. But if Bryce Eldridge is thought to be more likely a hitter rather than a pitcher in the long term, why was he considered worth a first-round pick by the Giants? A high school 1B has to be near the highest risk/lowest reward phylum you could go for in the 1st. High school RHP is about the same or perhaps even riskier, but those guys come with a much greater payoff if you actually hit on the pick as opposed to a first baseman. Does Eldridge already have special enough power projection and feel to hit that you can overlook that he’s already at the bottom of the defensive spectrum? I’d been under the impression that what really elevated him up into first round discourse *was* how evenly matched his hitting and pitching was and how that seemingly gave him a slight chance to continue developing both. Thanks for the great work, Roger!
I don't know that he's necessarily a 1b, I think that's been more an outcome of preserving his arm to pitch. There could be an OF profile conceivably. But, I guess there are two things driving it; huge left-handed power is always a value in this game (and a real need in the system) and they like his athleticism and hit tool. Aside from that, it's also clear that the numbers of everybody came together in a way that alllowed them to add Martin as well, who it seems they were high on for very similar reasons
On a completely unrelated note: Roger, will you be attending Saturday’s Giants/Nats game? My daughter will be visiting friends in Baltimore and they are all going to the game. She follows you on Twitter; I’ll encourage her to find you and say hello if you’re there.
Good stuff as usual. Highly off-topic question: Do you know why announcers call Luis Matos "Mantos?" I assume that's the way he pronounces it, but I've never heard an implied "n" in Spanish.
Oh Scott, I somehow didn't get around to answering your first question! Sorry about that! Let me just quickly say that I think the draft did an excellent job of plugging two real weaknesses in the system that I had noted last winter: left-handed power and left-handed pitching.
This is definitely a question that should have been asked before the mailbag, so take it more as me musing out loud after hearing you talk about the two-way futures of Crawford and Eldridge. But if Bryce Eldridge is thought to be more likely a hitter rather than a pitcher in the long term, why was he considered worth a first-round pick by the Giants? A high school 1B has to be near the highest risk/lowest reward phylum you could go for in the 1st. High school RHP is about the same or perhaps even riskier, but those guys come with a much greater payoff if you actually hit on the pick as opposed to a first baseman. Does Eldridge already have special enough power projection and feel to hit that you can overlook that he’s already at the bottom of the defensive spectrum? I’d been under the impression that what really elevated him up into first round discourse *was* how evenly matched his hitting and pitching was and how that seemingly gave him a slight chance to continue developing both. Thanks for the great work, Roger!
I don't know that he's necessarily a 1b, I think that's been more an outcome of preserving his arm to pitch. There could be an OF profile conceivably. But, I guess there are two things driving it; huge left-handed power is always a value in this game (and a real need in the system) and they like his athleticism and hit tool. Aside from that, it's also clear that the numbers of everybody came together in a way that alllowed them to add Martin as well, who it seems they were high on for very similar reasons
Fwiw, I thought this was such a good question I passed it on to jim Callis so you can hear his answer to it tomorrow
On a completely unrelated note: Roger, will you be attending Saturday’s Giants/Nats game? My daughter will be visiting friends in Baltimore and they are all going to the game. She follows you on Twitter; I’ll encourage her to find you and say hello if you’re there.
I believe so but I'll admit I haven't bought my ticket yet. Gotta jump on that
Good stuff as usual. Highly off-topic question: Do you know why announcers call Luis Matos "Mantos?" I assume that's the way he pronounces it, but I've never heard an implied "n" in Spanish.
I am absolutely flabbergasted at how many different versions of his name I've heard this year. I wouldn't think MAH-tos is that difficult
I figured he was such a hot prospect that they agreed to suspend the rules of Spanish for him:)