On a post-deadline KNBR hit explaining the decision to keep Blake Snell, Farhan Zaidi mentioned that the team wasn't too enticed by packages of B-level prospects (my term, not his), and specifically noted that they already had a lot of players like that, with the implication being that there wasn't a lot of value in accruing more. Has the shrinking domestic reserve list impacted how the Giants (or baseball in general) value non-elite prospects in trades? For lack of a more humane term, a lottery ticket becomes a lot less valuable when you have to get rid of another lottery ticket to make room for the new one.
There’s no hiding that the big league club has been mediocre at best for three straight years after the 107-win miracle. But has real progress been made under the hood? Where do you feel the org stands in terms of developing/ producing assets compared to the last two middling years? The just-passed trade deadline seems like a good juncture for that assessment. If there had been, say, a Vlad Guerrero Jr. sweepstakes, do the Giants now have the assets to have assembled a much more competitive offer than they could 2 years ago when Juan Soto was on the block? Or than they could have in a hypothetical offer for a star a year ago? Can you quantify that in some way? Maybe a good measure would be to compare the org’s young talent each year—prospects and players who haven’t accrued 2 years of service time. Or if you have a better analysis, I’m eager to read it. All this is getting at: Is the all-important PD engine in a markedly better spot?
Catch people up on injured and rehabbing players ...I think your readers might be interested in what is going on with players in the organization who have been shut down from injuries and how they are coming along
Hey there, Roger, my question is regarding the sort of bats the Giants focused on in the 2024 draft, breaking the FZ Model. (Big raw power, and lower hit tool). Given the new 165 rule, which of our current prospects are in jeopardy? Barring Tibbs III and Jordan, which bats are you most interested in and why?
Hi Roger, I'm sure you'll touch on this once the new rankings for farm systems and prospects are published. I have two questions in relation to player and system rankings 1) How are prospects evaluated and thus ranked? Who ranks them? It seems like different outlets seem to have different yard sticks for evaluating players and their tools--Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, Fangraphs etc. 2) How are farm systems ranked? I would assume that player rankings and their future values play a huge role, but it doesn't seem that simple. I'd love to hear your insight on this and whether or not these rankings ought to be taken as a holy grail, with a grain of salt, or somewhere in between. Thanks!!! Love your content!
Hi Roger. Don't know if this is a question you can answer but just seen Tanner O'Tremba and Justin Bench have been released from their respective affiliates. Are these most likely the 165-man squeeze or, perhaps more with Bench who I think was only drafted in 2023, player requests to allow them to pursue alternatives?
Hi Roger - wondering about the process the org will be going through when they must add the drafted players to the 165 list? For opening slots, some combination of performance, potential, positional need, etc? You've spoken a little bit about this but can you expand on the challenges? Thanks much!
Is there as clear a presence of newly sanctioned sports bookie types trawling the minors as in MLB? What's the consensus opinion on betting amongst the veteran baseball folks you encounter? No congressional committees to be convened to assess the sanctity of the national game ? Never thought when Barnum & Bailey folded their tent the center pole would be erected over the entire country. Curmudgeonlyours, over n out.
I've noticed that McCray hasn't been stealing as many bags as he previously has. Would you happen to know the reason? Does it have something to do with him or has the org asked him to focus on some other aspect of his game and SBs aren't currently a focus? If he were to get called up in, say, September, I'd really love to see him steal some bases.
On a post-deadline KNBR hit explaining the decision to keep Blake Snell, Farhan Zaidi mentioned that the team wasn't too enticed by packages of B-level prospects (my term, not his), and specifically noted that they already had a lot of players like that, with the implication being that there wasn't a lot of value in accruing more. Has the shrinking domestic reserve list impacted how the Giants (or baseball in general) value non-elite prospects in trades? For lack of a more humane term, a lottery ticket becomes a lot less valuable when you have to get rid of another lottery ticket to make room for the new one.
There’s no hiding that the big league club has been mediocre at best for three straight years after the 107-win miracle. But has real progress been made under the hood? Where do you feel the org stands in terms of developing/ producing assets compared to the last two middling years? The just-passed trade deadline seems like a good juncture for that assessment. If there had been, say, a Vlad Guerrero Jr. sweepstakes, do the Giants now have the assets to have assembled a much more competitive offer than they could 2 years ago when Juan Soto was on the block? Or than they could have in a hypothetical offer for a star a year ago? Can you quantify that in some way? Maybe a good measure would be to compare the org’s young talent each year—prospects and players who haven’t accrued 2 years of service time. Or if you have a better analysis, I’m eager to read it. All this is getting at: Is the all-important PD engine in a markedly better spot?
Catch people up on injured and rehabbing players ...I think your readers might be interested in what is going on with players in the organization who have been shut down from injuries and how they are coming along
Are you Ryan’s dad?
Hey there, Roger, my question is regarding the sort of bats the Giants focused on in the 2024 draft, breaking the FZ Model. (Big raw power, and lower hit tool). Given the new 165 rule, which of our current prospects are in jeopardy? Barring Tibbs III and Jordan, which bats are you most interested in and why?
Hi Roger, I'm sure you'll touch on this once the new rankings for farm systems and prospects are published. I have two questions in relation to player and system rankings 1) How are prospects evaluated and thus ranked? Who ranks them? It seems like different outlets seem to have different yard sticks for evaluating players and their tools--Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, Fangraphs etc. 2) How are farm systems ranked? I would assume that player rankings and their future values play a huge role, but it doesn't seem that simple. I'd love to hear your insight on this and whether or not these rankings ought to be taken as a holy grail, with a grain of salt, or somewhere in between. Thanks!!! Love your content!
Hi Roger. Don't know if this is a question you can answer but just seen Tanner O'Tremba and Justin Bench have been released from their respective affiliates. Are these most likely the 165-man squeeze or, perhaps more with Bench who I think was only drafted in 2023, player requests to allow them to pursue alternatives?
McCray still isn’t running much. Why?
Also, any chance we see Meckler at Oracle this year?
Hi Roger - wondering about the process the org will be going through when they must add the drafted players to the 165 list? For opening slots, some combination of performance, potential, positional need, etc? You've spoken a little bit about this but can you expand on the challenges? Thanks much!
Is there as clear a presence of newly sanctioned sports bookie types trawling the minors as in MLB? What's the consensus opinion on betting amongst the veteran baseball folks you encounter? No congressional committees to be convened to assess the sanctity of the national game ? Never thought when Barnum & Bailey folded their tent the center pole would be erected over the entire country. Curmudgeonlyours, over n out.
I've noticed that McCray hasn't been stealing as many bags as he previously has. Would you happen to know the reason? Does it have something to do with him or has the org asked him to focus on some other aspect of his game and SBs aren't currently a focus? If he were to get called up in, say, September, I'd really love to see him steal some bases.
Hi Ariel, check out the last mailbag. I answered almost exactly this question in that one: https://rogermunter.substack.com/p/lets-get-the-second-half-started
Ah! I missed that! Thank you and I’ll check it out right now