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Bored at work today so I did some research. I went to baseballamerica.com (maybe the most respected baseball site there is) and looked at their Top 100 Prospects report from 2000-2007. During this 8 eight year span, the Giants have had 14 prospects ranked in the top 100. That is less than 2 per year. I am going to say not too good but that is a different story. What is very alarming is this fact. Of those 14, only 4 made the opening day roster this year. 4! And only 2 are going to really contribute!

So where is the problem? The Giants, at one time or another, have high prospects but they never seem to develop. Why? Are we not putting enough money into our farm system? Not teaching these guys the right way to play ball? What? I look at systems like the A's, Marlins, Braves and see they cycles players through on a near yearly basis and are always in the hunt. What are we doing wrong?

Why did Tony Torcato never develop? Todd Linden Lance Niekro look like career backups at best? Kurt Ainsworth? Fred Lewis?

Should we be worried about Marcus Sanders who is on the list and Emmanuel Burris who should be on the list next year?

This is not a good trend.

I don't think you'll find any Giants fan who can reasonably defend the farm system under Sabean's watch.

This is true of basically all prospects.

Although, having only 14 in 8 years is truly horrible. But that's what happens when Brian Sabean gives away the first draft pick every year by signing crappy, old players.

Things look to be turning around, though. Tim Lincecum might be the best pitcher in the minors, Sanchez is going to be a great reliever/mid-rotation starter, Villalona has limitless potential, Eddy Martinez-Esteve has lots of potential, Marcus Sanders I like a little.

Not a good system by any measure, but this last draft was good along with Villalona as an international sign. Plus you have this upcoming draft to get really excited about.

2000:
Boof Bonser should have a pretty good career as a mid-rotation starter.
2001:
Noah Lowry. Same as Bonser basically, but I like Lowry a little bit more.
2002:
Matt Cain. Ace.
Kevin Correia. Good reliever.
Clay Hensley. Decent mid-rotation starter.
Travis Ishikawa. Has shown promise and he's still pretty young.
2003:
Nate Schierholtz. Promising OF. Should be a good 4th OF at worst, I think.
Marcus Sanders. Good backup probably, but good value for the 17th round.
2004:
Eddy Martinez-Esteve. I like this kid a lot.
Kevin Frandsen. Can play all over the field. Decent player.
Jonathan Sanchez. Could be an ace reliever or a mid-rotation starter.
2005: Wow, this looks like an awful draft. I don't recognize a single name and they didn't have a pick until the 4th round!

Too early to say anything about the 2006 draft except that Lincecum is godly. I also don't know anything about the international signings over the last 7 years, but what about Francisco Liriano?

I don't think the Giants are great at developing talent or especially bad. They just haven't had high draft picks to capitalize on the draft.

Martinez-Esteve reminds me a lot of Turcato in that they can hit, but have no position. I notice them DHing him a lot over the years. How the hell is that supposed to develop him for an NL team?

K-Fran deserved a shot somewhere this year. The Feliz signing was horrible. Durham I can live with. I was actually surprised they brought him back. Niekro just has had so many nagging injuries over his career. I think they were a little unlucky there with that pick.

I'm not high on Sanders. He kind of busted last year. They really like Manny Burris. I'm going to get a chance to check him out in A-ball this year. Hopefully, he'll be a quick call up to AA and be able to take over for Omar next year.

I can't believe Lincecum lasted long enough to be picked in that spot. That was just sheer luck. If it weren't for Cain and Lincecum, the system would be a total bust.