http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_8780217 Right hander Jesse Foppert was once one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, coming up to the Giants in 2003 and making 21 starts. But after going through Tommy John surgery, he is now just another minor leaguer hoping to get a chance at the major leagues. The velocity is there, but he doesn't have the control yet. Trading him was one of the few good moves Brian Sabean in the past few years, picking up Randy Winn in the deal. Foppert never pitched for the Mariners and was immediatley picked up by the Giants when Seattle released him. He now hopes to make it back as a relief pitcher. The Giants have a lot of good young pitching, but it seems that trading that young pitching may be the only way they can get a real bat in their lineup.
I'm not very familiar with the Giants farm system. How many minor leagures do you think can ammount to being 3rd starters or better? If it's over 8, I say you ship a few out.
I know Tommy John surgury is ver serious but would it keep him from ever being a starter again? When he came up he looked very good. I'd love to see him as the no. 4 guy with Lowry traded and Sanchez in the bullpen
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MyNetsForLife @ Apr 2 2008, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm not very familiar with the Giants farm system. How many minor leagures do you think can ammount to being 3rd starters or better? If it's over 8, I say you ship a few out.</div> Their top pick from the 2007 draft, Madison Bumgarner, is one of their top prospects but just a baby. He hasn't developed anything aside from his fastball. Their second pick from the same draft, Tim Alderson, has a little less upside but still seems destined to be more of a #3 pitcher than an ace, should he pan out. Henry Sosa is another minor league pitcher that they have. He is working in the bullpen and could be up in the big leagues for good in about a year. Who knows whether it will be as a starter or reliever. Cain and Lincecum are givens, and are basically the only thing Giants fans can be proud of. Trading either one of them for a guy like Alex Rios is just crazy talk. Noah Lowry is a nice pitcher to have on your team but nothing to get excited about. Jonathon Sanchez is kind of a tease. He is young and he has a great fastball. But he's been up w/ the Giants as both a starter and a reliever, and he's also spent time in the minors, so he's never had a chance to get comfortable. He's going to get a chance now that Lowry is injured, but if he doesn't prove himself now, he may not get another chance. I really don't expect Foppert to turn into anything, but if he is really getting good velocity on the fastball you can't rule out a comeback. He's still only 27. The biggest problem now is Zito's contract. They can't afford too many high priced players, so they really need to take advantage of guys before they strike it big in free agency. The Giants don't have a lot of big time prospects for any position. But you have to assume that Cain, Lincecum, and Zito will anchor the staff for at least the next six years, if not longer.
I'm jealous of Cain and Lincecum. I can see them being as good if not better than the top two of Joba, Phil, and Ian.
I think Joba and Hughes are going to be good for a long time. I'm not sold on Ian Kennedy yet. Not saying he's going to stink, but I think he's getting a lot of hype after only having three major league starts. And as long as the Yankees have Hawkins and Farnsworth as the other set up men, I don't see them taking Joba out of the pen.
