Hot Stove

With so many apparent needs, the Giants management, e.g., Brian Sabean has his work cut out for him.

For years the Giants have concentrated on drafting pitching with their early draft picks or have given up early picks by signing free agents to compliment Barry Bonds. The Bonds era is now part of Giants history and now the Giants have poorly prepared themselves with an adequate replacement. Or have they?

The Giants are clearly a team in transition. The organization is stocked with quality pitching and speed. There very little resembling power in the Giants organization. At least in the near future. Of course the Giants have Nate Schierholtz , Dan Ortmeier and John Bowker. All, really outfielders and all not regarded as more than fourth or fifth outfielders on most major league teams. In the lower minors of course is the heir apparent in Angel Villalona. He, however recently only turned seventeen years old. He did hold his own against older competition, but clearly is three or four years away. The Giants drafted firstbaseman Andrew A D'Alessio in the 19th round of the 2007 draft who demonstrated power in the Arizona Rookie League and a late run at short season Salem-Keiser. He, too, is years away. Beyond these players, there is very little in the Giants organization that resemble power hitters.

Pitching, speed and defense will be the future of the Giants. The Giants are loaded with quality pitching in the lower minors. Pitchers like Clayton Tanner, Adam Cowart, Kevin Pucetas, Benjamin Snyder were the keystones of the Augusta Greenjackets. All starting pitchers, all won twelve games or more. Augusta also had Henry Sosa on the staff. Before his promotion was brilliant at 6-0 with a miniscule 0.73 e.r.a. Cowart has had two consecutive outstanding seasons since being drafted in 2006. The Giants minor league system is literally stacked with pitching from the lower minors to AAA Fresno. The Giants first two draft picks were pitchers in 2007. Tim Alderson was very impressive striking out 12 in the five innings he pitched without giving up a run in the Arizona Rookie League following his signing in the summer and Madison Bumgarner comes highly regarded.

As previously mentioned, the Giants are building a future based on pitching, speed and defense. Giants fans got a glimpse of the future in September. Eugenio Velez appears to be a star in the making and Rajai Davis is the type of player the Giants are seeking for their future plans...speed and defense. Rajai Davis brought back memories of Willie Mays with some of his defensive plays.

The Giants have a cornerstone already in place for the starting rotation. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum bring hopes and memories of duos from the past such as Marichal and Perry. With Barry Zito and the promise of so much potential the Giants pitching in the future is very bright.

Trading Tim Lincecum is not advised. Pitchers of his caliber are a very rare commodity and he will only get better as time goes on.

As the Hot Stove League heats up...look for the Giants to build with team speed and defense. There are certainly glaring holes in the potential Giants line-up at the time of this writing, especially at the corner infield spots and an obvious lack of power. Rumors that the Giants are after Miguel Cabrera are intriguing, yet let patience lead the way.