It’s time for another of our monthly off-season Free For All Mailbags before I dive into the Top 50. So let me know what’s on your mind as we inch within a month of pitchers and catchers reporting!
I hope all of the Free subscribers take advantage of the mailbags. This really is my opportunity to engage with you on an in-depth level, so please feel free to deluge me with questions.
Hey since its international signing season (formerly known as J2), I was wondering, why do teams like the Padres and Yankees seem to always be in on the top dudes? Larger scouting network? More investment in relationships with trainers?
Hello. In your previous mailbag, I was taken aback by the following passage about the struggles of Giants hitting prospects:
“… I’ve had people inside the org point at some hitters whose success really stalled and simply shake their head in wonder at what went wrong.”
This is…troubling. I understand that player development is non-linear, often entailing pitfalls over a many years. However, the Giants inability to develop hitters is hardly a new phenomenon. The above quote suggests that the Giants player development staff is confident in its process and approach, but is genuinely confused by the lack of results.
How common is this? Is there a reason for these shortcomings that the Giants are either unable or unwilling to recognize?
On a related question, I am curious as to how Kyle Haines still has a job. Again, I understand that building a good farm system can take many years. In fact, I think Farhan and crew have done a pretty good job improving the farm system the last five years. However, I suppose that’s more of an indictment of the state of the farm system when Farhan first ok over the team.
That being said, Kyle Haines had been with the Giants for years before Farhan took over. In fact, I don’t think he’s ever worked for another Major league team. During that entire timespan (before Farhan and after), the Giants track record of developing prospects into Major League players hasn’t been good. The farm system had done such a poor job that it contributed to the firing of Farhan’s predecessor, Bobby Evan’s.
How has Haines managed to keep his job? How is he regarded in the industry? Is his job in danger if the Giants young prospects don’t take a step forward in 2024? Was the hiring of Pete Putila last year an early signal of some more changes ahead for the Giants player develop staff?