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?
Hi Roger, thanks as always for taking these questions. One unaddressed hole on the Giants 40-man is a security blanket for shortstop in case the Luciano experiment goes sideways. We are now just weeks from spring training, and no apparent movement. What do you think of signing Brandon Crawford to take on that role? He apparently wants more time, and it seems like he brings more to the table than most names being floated. What are the pros and cons of that as opposed to maybe going all in on youth and tapping Fitzgerald instead?
Baseball America recently did a Giants top 10 prospects list. Josh Norris said our depth of our farm system is not the deepest, especially after Harrison and Luciano graduate. Specifically, he said player development has gone sideways. Some of our picks have been fine. We have some talent but we don’t develop well. Do you agree with his assessment? How many years has this been an issue? Thx! Love the podcast and KRoG shows.
Hello Roger. Just listened to the Mason Black conversation (great convo), and he certainly has a shot to make his MLB debut in 2024. Since Zaidi has apparently decided not to add any proven MLB starters to the staff, please share your opinion of which MiLB pitchers have the best shot of making it to SF this year. Please list in order of "best chance", in your opinion. Thanks in advance.
Roger, thank you for all the work you do keeping us informed about the Giants prospects. I do appreciate all the details you go in to. I have a question. I hope you can answer everyone’s always looking at war, and I understand that means wins above replacement. My question is in theory if you had major league team compose only of replacement player what would the theoretical one loss record be for such a team. Thank you for your response and have a wonderful 2024.
Roger, As I sit up here in Vermont wearing my "Let Pablo Pitch" sweatshirt, it occurred to me that it would be fun to know who you think are the best bad ball hitters in our system and who are the candidates for hilarious but surprisingly effective relief pitching in blowouts.
Happy 2024, Roger! I’m hoping to sneak in a late but timely free agency question. Signing Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger and/or Matt Chapman would trigger a penalty for the Giants because those players declined the qualifying offer. I believe the Giants would lose their second pick in the 2024 draft (No. 51) and $500k of their international bonus pool next year. What’s your read on whether/how the QO penalty might impact the front office’s free agent pursuits? It sure seems like Farhan Zaidi would place a premium on that draft pick, in particular. But I suspect he’d be more likely to incur the penalty than in years past, perhaps even for a good-but-not-great player (which is how I see those three). Your thoughts?
How much do major league struggles hurt prospect status versus show long term limitations or hinder development? For example would we be talking about guys like matos, meckler, or even Schmitt differently if they never got to the big leagues and thus we never saw them struggle?
I read the Fangraphs piece on Reggie Crawford. He didnt seem quite as into numbers and the pitch lab as ive read from other SF pitching prospects. Is Crawfords approach to these things more common than i thought? Not suggesting its a bad thing. Just caught me by surprise is all.
One constant for the cutting edge front offices is that they seem to always be adding in outside voices so that they aren't losing track of what other teams are doing or getting stuck in their ways, such as Chris Archer joining the Dodgers out of no where or the Rays hiring the Angels assistant pitching coach who was fired for his familiarity with iPads. The Giants have hired from the outside for notable positions (manager, GM), but is that also true of the less public positions? In short, do you think they're falling behind/at risk of it?
I'm a Giants fan who has been waiting 40 years for another outfielder as good as Chili Davis to come through our system. Is there any outfield prospect in the system currently that should give me hope?
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?
In your opinion, Roger, which player currently in the Seattle system is most likely to be in the Giants organization on Opening Day?
Hope it’s Berroa. 🤣
Hi Roger, thanks as always for taking these questions. One unaddressed hole on the Giants 40-man is a security blanket for shortstop in case the Luciano experiment goes sideways. We are now just weeks from spring training, and no apparent movement. What do you think of signing Brandon Crawford to take on that role? He apparently wants more time, and it seems like he brings more to the table than most names being floated. What are the pros and cons of that as opposed to maybe going all in on youth and tapping Fitzgerald instead?
https://x.com/ghostbayareabob/status/1747449209970954656?s=46&t=9dCxywf9YSkfBecdZQhiUg
Baseball America recently did a Giants top 10 prospects list. Josh Norris said our depth of our farm system is not the deepest, especially after Harrison and Luciano graduate. Specifically, he said player development has gone sideways. Some of our picks have been fine. We have some talent but we don’t develop well. Do you agree with his assessment? How many years has this been an issue? Thx! Love the podcast and KRoG shows.
Hello Roger. Just listened to the Mason Black conversation (great convo), and he certainly has a shot to make his MLB debut in 2024. Since Zaidi has apparently decided not to add any proven MLB starters to the staff, please share your opinion of which MiLB pitchers have the best shot of making it to SF this year. Please list in order of "best chance", in your opinion. Thanks in advance.
Roger, thank you for all the work you do keeping us informed about the Giants prospects. I do appreciate all the details you go in to. I have a question. I hope you can answer everyone’s always looking at war, and I understand that means wins above replacement. My question is in theory if you had major league team compose only of replacement player what would the theoretical one loss record be for such a team. Thank you for your response and have a wonderful 2024.
Roger, As I sit up here in Vermont wearing my "Let Pablo Pitch" sweatshirt, it occurred to me that it would be fun to know who you think are the best bad ball hitters in our system and who are the candidates for hilarious but surprisingly effective relief pitching in blowouts.
Thank you, Roger, for answering my question so thoughtfully! Sorry to mangle Josh’s words. OOF. Next time you talk to Josh, apologize for me.
Oh no worries. Kyle really did frame the question in the way you suggested. Just wanted to clarify. I do think it’s a key question for the coming year
Happy 2024, Roger! I’m hoping to sneak in a late but timely free agency question. Signing Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger and/or Matt Chapman would trigger a penalty for the Giants because those players declined the qualifying offer. I believe the Giants would lose their second pick in the 2024 draft (No. 51) and $500k of their international bonus pool next year. What’s your read on whether/how the QO penalty might impact the front office’s free agent pursuits? It sure seems like Farhan Zaidi would place a premium on that draft pick, in particular. But I suspect he’d be more likely to incur the penalty than in years past, perhaps even for a good-but-not-great player (which is how I see those three). Your thoughts?
How much do major league struggles hurt prospect status versus show long term limitations or hinder development? For example would we be talking about guys like matos, meckler, or even Schmitt differently if they never got to the big leagues and thus we never saw them struggle?
Winterball update: old friend Francisco Peguero hit a go-ahead 9th inning Grand Slam in the Nicaraguan League Final Series(!), video here:
https://x.com/INTLBaseball24/status/1746732225998336346?s=20
"¡el Peggy time!"
Did Munguia play down there this winter?
Munguia's name doesn't appear in the statistics on the league's website so I don't believe he did.
I read the Fangraphs piece on Reggie Crawford. He didnt seem quite as into numbers and the pitch lab as ive read from other SF pitching prospects. Is Crawfords approach to these things more common than i thought? Not suggesting its a bad thing. Just caught me by surprise is all.
One constant for the cutting edge front offices is that they seem to always be adding in outside voices so that they aren't losing track of what other teams are doing or getting stuck in their ways, such as Chris Archer joining the Dodgers out of no where or the Rays hiring the Angels assistant pitching coach who was fired for his familiarity with iPads. The Giants have hired from the outside for notable positions (manager, GM), but is that also true of the less public positions? In short, do you think they're falling behind/at risk of it?
I'm a Giants fan who has been waiting 40 years for another outfielder as good as Chili Davis to come through our system. Is there any outfield prospect in the system currently that should give me hope?
Hi Roger. What do you think of the proposed prospect league in ST, and what would your ideal line up be (assuming those on 40-man are excluded?)
Quick query - do the Giants get a compensation draft pick for Manea signing with the Mets, akin to Rodon last year?
Giants did not extend a qualifying offer (around $20m) to Manaea so no draft pick compensation.
Thank you - couldn't remember what we did with Rodon and if it was the same position.