San Francisco Giants Have Worst Rated Farm System in Baseball

[sf1giantfan]

I’m stunned.

San Francisco Giants Have Worst Rated Farm System in Baseball

It has been a disappointing season for the San Francisco Giants, as they missed the playoffs this season and their future is a bit uncertain. This year, the Gi

www.si.com

 

[calsnowskier]

MSN

Just one guy’s ranking, but it comes from BR…

Tell me again why FZ deserves to keep his job?

 

[sf1giantfan]

Ohhh, I didn’t realize

 

[calsnowskier]

Ohhh, I didn’t realize

Meh. Probably deserves it’s own thread.

 

[Hangman]

I have been saying this for years. We have been really bad the past 8 or so years at drafting.

 

[LHG]

I am not familiar with Bleacher Reports' prospect rankings so I don't know how accurate or helpful their tiers are, but looking again at the Cubs' acquisition of Kyle Tucker, their prospect, Cam Smith, was ranked as the 6th best prospect in the Cubs' system - which, numerically, is equal to the Giants' pitcher Joe Whitman. However, they rank the Cubs' farm as the 4th best group of prospects. Smith was in their tier 1 category. Eldridge is the only Giants' prospect to fall within that tier. James Tibbs is the Giants' 2nd best prospect but is in their tier 2 category.

 

[calsnowskier]

I am not familiar with Bleacher Reports' prospect rankings so I don't know how accurate or helpful their tiers are, but looking again at the Cubs' acquisition of Kyle Tucker, their prospect, Cam Smith, was ranked as the 6th best prospect in the Cubs' system - which, numerically, is equal to the Giants' pitcher Joe Whitman. However, they rank the Cubs' farm as the 4th best group of prospects. Smith was in their tier 1 category. Eldridge is the only Giants' prospect to fall within that tier. James Tibbs is the Giants' 2nd best prospect but is in their tier 2 category.

Precisely why I scoff at people when they say “They got so-‘n-so for their 12th ranked prospect. Our 12th ranked prospect is who’s-‘n-which. Why couldn’t we have sent them who’s-n’which? I would have done that deal”

For as long as I have been following the Giants farm (20 years?), we have never had more than 4 prospects in the top 100 at one time (Alderson/Villalona/Bum/Posey). Random draw says each team should always have 3+. This org has consistently been piss-poor at “the farm thing”.

 

[sf1giantfan]

I was hoping one of the first things Posey recommended was revamping our scouting. New scouts would be a good first step.

I’m still waiting on Villalona to pull through

 

[SF11704]

Not being an owner or holding any position within the SF Giant organization ... it's very difficult (at best) for me to understand exactly what direction and/or options they wish to follow. Strictly from my perceptions of what a farm system is to professional sports .... I only really see two major purposes for cultivating a good farm system ... ONE... you have a STRONG commitment (not just a desire) to build your team from within .... TWO .... you have decided that you would rather TRADE for needed pieces of your team RATHER than use the Free Agent and purchase your needed team pieces from the free agent pool.

From what I read and understand here ... we have done next to nothing to build and feed our farm system. For quite a few years now. For me, this means no team pieces will be coming from within and we are not going to be able to trade prospects for any pieces either. That leaves us with the FA pool and process to acquire needed team pieces ..... the past 8 years clearly defines how successful we have been using this approach. From what I have seen over these 8 years ... money hasn't really been the issue. I think we have matched offers on almost all of the Tier One FA signings but didn't sign any of them. We have also had losing seasons in almost all of these years.

With money being an even commodity I have too think that most of these FAs view us as not being a 'winning' culture. Having a team like the Dodgers in our division doesn't help either. Very difficult to chase high tier FAs with teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and other division leaders chasing the same players.

I think the Chapman and Adames signings are move in the right direction but where we go from here is questionable. If we continue to ignore our own farm system our only real option will be the FA market and that hasn't been a treasure trove for us

 

[LHG]

Not being an owner or holding any position within the SF Giant organization ... it's very difficult (at best) for me to understand exactly what direction and/or options they wish to follow. Strictly from my perceptions of what a farm system is to professional sports .... I only really see two major purposes for cultivating a good farm system ... ONE... you have a STRONG commitment (not just a desire) to build your team from within .... TWO .... you have decided that you would rather TRADE for needed pieces of your team RATHER than use the Free Agent and purchase your needed team pieces from the free agent pool.

From what I read and understand here ... we have done next to nothing to build and feed our farm system. For quite a few years now. For me, this means no team pieces will be coming from within and we are not going to be able to trade prospects for any pieces either. That leaves us with the FA pool and process to acquire needed team pieces ..... the past 8 years clearly defines how successful we have been using this approach. From what I have seen over these 8 years ... money hasn't really been the issue. I think we have matched offers on almost all of the Tier One FA signings but didn't sign any of them. We have also had losing seasons in almost all of these years.

With money being an even commodity I have too think that most of these FAs view us as not being a 'winning' culture. Having a team like the Dodgers in our division doesn't help either. Very difficult to chase high tier FAs with teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and other division leaders chasing the same players.

I think the Chapman and Adames signings are move in the right direction but where we go from here is questionable. If we continue to ignore our own farm system our only real option will be the FA market and that hasn't been a treasure trove for us

Another reason to try to build a team through a farm is a much more intangible reason - chemistry. There is no way for it to be measured, so stats cannot be analyzed with any real measure of success to determine it, and it is not a guarantee that bringing guys up together will make it happen. There has to be more than just bringing up a bunch of players who developed at the same time. The org has to build a culture that makes it fun to play and learn together and players have to get along, buying into the team mentality (instead of playing for myself thought process). A team built on free agents does not mean that chemistry won't happen in the clubhouse. Guys can still gel. And, of course, chemistry doesn't guarantee a World Series championship, let alone a playoff berth. But a good farm system, developing a lot of good, young prospects, can greatly help this intangible aspect of a sustained playoff contender.

 

[calsnowskier]

Not being an owner or holding any position within the SF Giant organization ... it's very difficult (at best) for me to understand exactly what direction and/or options they wish to follow. Strictly from my perceptions of what a farm system is to professional sports .... I only really see two major purposes for cultivating a good farm system ... ONE... you have a STRONG commitment (not just a desire) to build your team from within .... TWO .... you have decided that you would rather TRADE for needed pieces of your team RATHER than use the Free Agent and purchase your needed team pieces from the free agent pool.

From what I read and understand here ... we have done next to nothing to build and feed our farm system. For quite a few years now. For me, this means no team pieces will be coming from within and we are not going to be able to trade prospects for any pieces either. That leaves us with the FA pool and process to acquire needed team pieces ..... the past 8 years clearly defines how successful we have been using this approach. From what I have seen over these 8 years ... money hasn't really been the issue. I think we have matched offers on almost all of the Tier One FA signings but didn't sign any of them. We have also had losing seasons in almost all of these years.

With money being an even commodity I have too think that most of these FAs view us as not being a 'winning' culture. Having a team like the Dodgers in our division doesn't help either. Very difficult to chase high tier FAs with teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and other division leaders chasing the same players.

I think the Chapman and Adames signings are move in the right direction but where we go from here is questionable. If we continue to ignore our own farm system our only real option will be the FA market and that hasn't been a treasure trove for us

The 5 WS seasons of my lifetime (and the SF years)…

1989 - primarily built from within, with trades being the primary method of filling the holes
2002 - almost no homegrown flavor (Russ, and that’s about it). Primarily put together through FA.
’10-‘14 - homegrown. Posey, Craw, Belt, Panda, Bum, Timmeh, Cain, Romo, Wilson, Sanchez, Panik…

 

[LHG]

The 5 WS seasons of my lifetime (and the SF years)…

1989 - primarily built from within, with trades being the primary method of filling the holes
2002 - almost no homegrown flavor (Russ, and that’s about it). Primarily put together through FA.
’10-‘14 - homegrown. Posey, Craw, Belt, Panda, Bum, Timmeh, Cain, Romo, Wilson, Sanchez, Panik…

Looking at the Giants, 2002 is the best argument for building through free agency. And the team had a window of about 5 years where it lurked as playoff/potentially playoff team. But some of those guys were also acquired via trade. Jeff Kent is the obvious one that comes to mind. But that trade was primarily a veteran shipped for some younger players who were also established big leaguers. I do believe that Rich Aurilia was acquired via trade as a minor leaguer. It would be interesting to look at that team and break down the acquisitions.

 

[calsnowskier]

Looking at the Giants, 2002 is the best argument for building through free agency. And the team had a window of about 5 years where it lurked as playoff/potentially playoff team. But some of those guys were also acquired via trade. Jeff Kent is the obvious one that comes to mind. But that trade was primarily a veteran shipped for some younger players who were also established big leaguers. I do believe that Rich Aurilia was acquired via trade as a minor leaguer. It would be interesting to look at that team and break down the acquisitions.

And BB is one of those FAs we acquired. When you get an Alpha FA, the rules don’t really apply. Harper, Judge, Shohei, Rodriguez, Bonds…