2008 June Draft Thread: SF has Pick #5

opzoneworld · Post #1 » by **opzoneworld** » Wed May 7, 2008 1:15 pm

The draft should be very exciting for the Giants this year. #5 overall pick so should be able to get a potential all-star talent. One of these three guys will be there and I hope the Giants will select one.

* Pedro Alvarez, 3b of Tenn. Good chance to be 1st or 2nd overall pick so probably long gone by the time the Giants pick. Best player in the draft but there is always hope he slips.

* Justin Smoak, 1b of South Carolina. He very well could be there at 5 and would be a great pick for the Giants.

* Yonder Alonso, 1b out of Florida. He very well could be there at 5 and would also be a great pick for the Giants.

I believe it will be either Smoak or Alonso available at 5. I hope the Giants pick whomever it is. Both are college players who could make the club in 2 years. They both play 1b and I hope are capable of switching to 3b because that is need for this organization.

Post #2 » by **Stanford** » Wed May 7, 2008 3:54 pm

I would love to get Smoak

Post #3 » by **Hopper15** » Wed May 7, 2008 10:21 pm

I'd be looking for a corner outfielder if it's a tie for BPA...please no pitching, though.

GswStorm3 · Post #4 » by **GswStorm3** » Wed May 7, 2008 10:54 pm

opzoneworld wrote:The draft should be very exciting for the Giants this year. #5 overall pick so should be able to get a potential all-star talent. One of these three guys will be there and I hope the Giants will select one.

* Pedro Alvarez, 3b of Tenn. Good chance to be 1st or 2nd overall pick so probably long gone by the time the Giants pick. Best player in the draft but there is always hope he slips.

* Justin Smoak, 1b of South Carolina. He very well could be there at 5 and would be a great pick for the Giants.

* Yonder Alonso, 1b out of Florida. He very well could be there at 5 and would also be a great pick for the Giants.

I believe it will be either Smoak or Alonso available at 5. I hope the Giants pick whomever it is. Both are college players who could make the club in 2 years. They both play 1b and I hope are capable of switching to 3b because that is need for this organization.

Isn't Alvarez a Scott Boras client, if so he could slip.

opzoneworld · Post #5 » by **opzoneworld** » Wed May 7, 2008 11:48 pm

The only thing that I don't like about Hosmer is that he is still in HS. Last year we took a lot of HS players early because it was a HS heavy draft. This year that is not the case. There are college players that could easily make it to the bigs in two years. With the state of this franchise, I think the Giants almost have to take a college player at 5.

Another player the Giants should watch is Buster Posey c Florida State. Could be in contention for number one but is also considered a "safe" pick and those picks always scare me. But he has had a great season and has worked his way into the top 5.

As for Alvarez slipping, I think you have to look at who is picking. I don't believe he goes one because TB does not need a 3b. They would do better selecting a pitcher in my opinion such as Matusz. Or they could go with Posey at catcher or even Tim Beckman at SS. I dont see Alverez going one.

Pit goes next and I cant see them passing unless the asking price is too high. They are a small market team and they tend to draft pitchers as well. This is where he could fall but it would surprise me.

KC is next and they are like TB in that they dont need a 3b so he wont go 3.

Then comes BAL and they would take him in one second so I can't really see any way he slips to us. He will go to either PIT or BAL.

If I had to choose right now, I'd say we will pick Justin Smoak 1b South Carolina.

GS Warriors 1 · Post #6 » by **GS Warriors 1** » Thu May 8, 2008 4:08 am

The only thing that I don't like about Hosmer is that he is still in HS. Last year we took a lot of HS players early because it was a HS heavy draft. This year that is not the case. There are college players that could easily make it to the bigs in two years. With the state of this franchise, I think the Giants almost have to take a college player at 5.

You make a valid point but hoping for someone to come up in 2 years is very optimistic. The only guys I see making it in 2 years are probably Alvarez and Smoak but its pretty rare. Buster Posey would be an awful pick for anyone in the top 5. It doesn't seem like he grades on par with Wieters(last year's top C) overall.

As for Alvarez slipping, I think you have to look at who is picking. I don't believe he goes one because TB does not need a 3b. They would do better selecting a pitcher in my opinion such as Matusz. Or they could go with Posey at catcher or even Tim Beckman at SS. I dont see Alverez going one.

I think they take Tim Beckham.

Pit goes next and I cant see them passing unless the asking price is too high. They are a small market team and they tend to draft pitchers as well. This is where he could fall but it would surprise me.

Pittsburgh does have a new front office that could be looking for a splash. Alvarez is a decent possibility here and I've heard that they like Crow from Missouri, so it maybe down to those 2.

KC is next and they are like TB in that they dont need a 3b so he wont go 3.

KC likely won't take Alvarez but I think they consider someone like Smoak, who knows, maybe Posey or Matusz goes here. Baltimore will jump on Alvarez. If this is the case, then I think the Giants take Matusz as he's the best value pick at this point and Hosmer is too expensive. If KC goes Matusz, then I think it will be Smoak.

GS Warriors 1 · Post #7 » by **GS Warriors 1** » Thu May 8, 2008 4:26 am

Night Angel 1 wrote:Isn't Alvarez a Scott Boras client, if so he could slip.

Yes he is and he also hasn't played much because of a broken hand which has hurt his stock a bit. Baltimore are big spenders, they'll take him. I'd be shocked if they didn't. Then again, Tampa Bay taking him would be no surprise either.

Post #8 » by **Hopper15** » Thu May 8, 2008 4:37 am

I'm going to split the Prospect thread and move draft posts here. I don't want them to get lost in the shuffle.

Post #9 » by **Hopper15** » Thu May 8, 2008 5:00 am

Word is Boras will ask for 9.5M for Alvarez. If we didn't have Zito sucking 17M a year, it might be possible. But, I don't think the Giants will bite even if he's available.

There doesn't look to be much in the way of top notch corner OF's. I'm thinking G Beckham might be the pick, with the possibility of him moving to 3B.

GS Warriors 1 · Post #10 » by **GS Warriors 1** » Thu May 8, 2008 5:13 am

Gordon Beckham would be a very cheap pick imo. I don't think thats a good value pick. I think they could take someone that is valued around #5 slot money(Smoak or Matusz), maybe a tad more. I see G. Beckham ending up at 2B, where I think his bat plays above average to good. His build seems similar to Ray Durham but probably not as fast when Durham first came up and probably more pop than he had.

EDIT: His bat would actually be really good for a 2B, I think thats where he ends up because of his size.

Bimbo_Coles · Post #11 » by **Bimbo_Coles** » Thu May 8, 2008 9:23 pm

Personally, I really like Alonso with our pick. He seems to fit in really nicely with what the Giants are developing here. While Smoak has a great bat, he appears to be a bit of a base clogger, and isn't as much of a natural in the field. Alonso can hit for average, get on base, and won't clog up our basepaths. Sounds like a great kid who is a hard worker too.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/con ... _0418.html

Either way, hopefully the Giants organization can move Villalona back to 3rd base. The giants have some nice middle infield prospects in ttheir system with noonan/burris/frandzen/Velez/Bocock so hopefully two of them should blossom under Alfonzo into every day players.

Lewis has proven to be an every day player, and Rowen will be a fixture in the outfeild for quite some time. They need middle of the order type bats at the corner infeild spots. If they can keep Villalona at 3rd, and Draft Alonso, then I like the look of their future lineup

Burriss/Velez
Noonan
Lewis
Villalona
Alonso
Rowand
Shierholtz/Bowker
Holm

GS Warriors 1 · Post #12 » by **GS Warriors 1** » Thu May 8, 2008 9:52 pm

Villalona is a 1B all the way. Have you seen his body? The Giants won't take need into consideration. I'm starting to believe that if Matusz is there, he'll be the pick then take a bat at #37 that could be above slot money. It would be nice if they can take a 1B that could also project in the corner OF but Hosmer seems to be the only one that could project out of the top tier 1B and he'll be expensive.

Also, Alonso seems to scream "AL DH".

opzoneworld · Post #13 » by **opzoneworld** » Fri May 9, 2008 1:05 am

I don't know GS, Posey is hitting .477 in the ACC this year with 14 HR. That is very impressive for a catcher. He also has a .809 slg% and a .554 OB%. Those are impressive numbers and seem worthy of a pick in the top 5.

I agree you go with the BPA but the 2008 draft appears to be rich in college bats for the first time in years. I would happy with Posey, Smoak or Alonso.

It's early, but I think the draft could shape like this.

1 Tim Beckman (TB)
2 Brian Matusz (PIT)
3 Aaron Crow (KC) Could see Buster Posey here.
4 Pedro Alvarez (BLA)
5 Justin Smoak (SF)

GswStorm3 · Post #14 » by **GswStorm3** » Fri May 9, 2008 3:10 am

Stanford wrote:I would love to get Smoak

Sounds like he's one of the closest prospects for being ready for the Major's so he's my pick. However my gut feeling tells me Sabean will take another pitcher.

GswStorm3 · Post #15 » by **GswStorm3** » Fri May 9, 2008 3:14 am

GS Warriors 1 wrote:Villalona is a 1B all the way. Have you seen his body? The Giants won't take need into consideration. I'm starting to believe that if Matusz is there, he'll be the pick then take a bat at #37 that could be above slot money. It would be nice if they can take a 1B that could also project in the corner OF but Hosmer seems to be the only one that could project out of the top tier 1B and he'll be expensive.

Also, Alonso seems to scream "AL DH".

No kidding, Villalona looks like he's one eminem shy of 250 pounds. No way can he play third base at that size.

Post #16 » by **Hopper15** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:16 am

Sabean's on a scouting trip. Guys he's confirmed to have scouted or will be scouting personally so far...

T Beckham
G Bechham
Alvarez

Supposedly, there are seven players they are considering at #5.

opzoneworld · Post #17 » by **opzoneworld** » Thu May 15, 2008 2:12 am

Here is a mock of the first 10 picks. I think this is a fairly crappy mock and has maybe a 5% chance of actually happening but at least it should spark discussion...

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news ... &fext=.jsp

GS Warriors 1 · Post #18 » by **GS Warriors 1** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:07 am

Posey is certainly gaining steam at #1. Tim Beckham is better and thats the route they should go but I wouldn't be surprised if they went Posey. I did say that PIT may look to make a draft splash and this fits the bill. Royals are one of the few org's that work well with Boras, so Hosmer isn't out of left field. I wouldn't call it a crappy mock and I think it has a much better chance than 5%.

GS Warriors 1 · Post #19 » by **GS Warriors 1** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:30 am

Jim Callis of BA during chat, got this off another board:

Q. Odds that either T. Beckham or Alvarez falls to SF at 5?

A. I think Tim Beckham probably goes No. 1 or 2. Pedro Alvarez, it's a matter of who wants to bust slot to get him. Could be the Pirates at 2, the Royals at 3, the Orioles at 4. Hearing a lot of Justin Smoak to the Giants.

GswStorm3 · Post #20 » by **GswStorm3** » Thu May 15, 2008 6:21 am

Alvarez no doubt would be the BPA at 5, it's just sign ability that scares me.