I am so inspired to see a President in the white house that wants to bring politics into the Internet age. I hope they let him keep the blackberry and get a laptop for the oval office.
I can't say how frustrated I am that it takes government agencies so long to do anything paperwork related. In my company, we can open and process a claim in an hour. Try filing a claim with the Post Office after a mail truck hits your parked car. Or try waiting 30 days for a police report from Oakland, despite the fact officers drive around with cars with computers inside.
I have not been inspired by politics ever. As a kid I like Clinton, but it was more because he had so much swagger, and things were going well when he was around. But Barack is progressive. and I hate to use that word for obvious reasons, but it's a quality I look for in people, and especially LEADERS.
And my progressive, I mean he has his plans on the Internet, by keeping the public informed. He sees what is going on - TV and print are slowly dying, and the Internet is the future of communication. His entire agenda is laid out on whitehouse.gov - no secrets, nothing to hide.
There are still plenty of people out there that have their minds made up, and wont give him a chance. I can't wait to see what he has in store next for us - even though the doubters will probably be unhappy with any move he makes, I'll be watching with plenty of hope.
AGE - 19 Madison Bumgarner (LHP) San Francisco Giants - TOP '08 LEVEL: A (Augusta) A year ago, Bumgarner was a live arm, a projectable body, and a name to file away for the future. He only started throwing breaking balls late in his high school career, and the rudimentary secondary stuff plus his low arm slot had scouts -- including me -- assuming he was a long way away from the majors. His slider made enormous strides in his first full year in pro ball, and his changeup is now solid-average, no small feat for a pitcher who throws from a low 3/4 slot. He's unusual for pitchers of his ilk in that his arm action is fairly short and compact; many pitchers who throw from below 3/4 get long in the back, almost slinging the ball, and have trouble turning over a changeup or staying on top of breaking balls as a result. His command and control are both above-average, and he was aggressive in going after South Atlantic League hitters, who stood little chance against him. The Giants were careful with Bumgarner in 2008, but there's a good chance he finishes this year in Double-A and shows up in the majors at some point in 2010.
RANK #8
AGE - 22
Buster Posey, (C) TOP '08 LEVEL: A- (Salem-Keizer)
Posey presents a very balanced set of tools that, given his position, make him among the most valuable properties in the minor leagues. A recent convert from shortstop who also pitched a little in college, Posey is a plus defensive catcher with a plus arm (he pitched in the low 90s), soft hands, and a lot of energy at a position that demands it. At the plate, he has a compact stroke, excellent bat control, and a good eye, so while he doesn't project to hit for more than average power, he should make plenty of hard contact and end up a doubles hitter with 15-20 home runs per year. The combination of a projected plus hit tool and currently plus defense make him a very high-probability prospect -- he plays in the big leagues no matter what, be it as a quality backup if he never improves at all or as a star everyday catcher if he reaches his offensive ceiling.
RANK - #26
AGE: 20 Tim Alderson (RHP) TOP '08 LEVEL: A (San Jose) Alderson was one of only two high school pitchers from the 2007 draft to start the year in high-A -- Rick Porcello was the other -- and he had the added challenge of pitching in the hitter-friendly California League, although San Jose is itself a pitcher's park within that circuit. He spent the entire year there at age 19 and was outstanding, ending the season on a six-start run where he walked one batter over 37 innings while fanning 28. He sits with a solid-average fastball at 90-94 mph with the promise of more velocity in the future, and his hard curveball is already plus, with tight rotation and a late two-plane break. With Bumgarner making so much progress with his secondary stuff, he's passed Alderson for a couple of reasons. One is Alderson's funky delivery; he lands on a slightly stiff front leg, and to get the ball to his glove side, he ends up throwing across his body due to a low arm slot. His changeup really hasn't progressed through one year in pro ball, leaving him vulnerable to lefties. The delivery works, so the Giants aren't likely to alter it; if the changeup improves at all with use, his plus-plus command and out-pitch breaking ball give him the upside of a No. 2 or 3 starter.
RANK #34 AGE: 18
Angel Villalona (1B) TOP '08 LEVEL: A (Augusta) It may be unfair to drop Villalona this far, given his youth, but we do have more insight now into just how raw of a prospect he is. Villalona played almost all of 2008 at age 17, and was the youngest player in the full-season Sally League, where he showed plenty of power but also demonstrated problems with pitch recognition that aren't going to go away if he's just pushed up the ladder. Villalona can murder a fastball or any mistake in his hitting zone, but he struggles with anything soft and away and with better off-speed stuff. Once he's behind in the count, he's not coming back. He drew just 15 unintentional walks this year in exactly 500 plate appearances (but was walked intentionally three times, so he was clearly feared). He's not all-or-nothing, as he has a pretty wide hitting zone and can adjust a little bit to some breaking balls. The Giants have already moved him to first base -- no small task -- and conditioning will always be a concern, as he's thick-bodied already and was not in great shape for spring training in 2008. He would just now be entering his senior spring if he had been born in the U.S., and yet already has a year and a half under his belt in pro ball, so we can't evaluate him by the same standards we might use for other hitters. The upside is still there and is tremendous -- four- or five-hole hitter, lots of power, probably never a good OBP -- but it's going to take some time.
It is a nice change of pace to have some Giants Minor Leaguers actually be PROSPECTS, not just young baseball players....
UPDATE: Law has posted the top prospects by teams - here are hte Giants and A's top players: San Francisco Giants 1. Madison Bumgarner, LHP 2. Buster Posey, C 3. Tim Alderson, RHP 4. Angel Villalona, 1B 5. Conor Gillaspie, 3B 6. Henry Sosa, RHP 7. Nick Noonan, 2B 8. Roger Kieschnick,RF 9. Rafael Rodriguez, RF 10. Edwin Quirarte, RHP
Oakland Athletics 1. Brett Anderson, LHP 2. Trevor Cahill, RHP 3. Michel Inoa, RHP 4. Vin Mazzaro, RHP 5. Chris Carter, 1B 6. Sean Doolittle, 1B 7. Gio Gonzalez, LHP 8. Adrian Cardenas, 2B 9. Aaron Cunningham, OF 10. Josh Donaldson, C
Not only that, but the most accomplished OC we've interview besides Linehan is also in the mix for the TB job
Great day to be a Niner's Fan!
But don't worry - we'll be interviewing more candidates - none of which are from the teams that just exited the PLAYOFFS according to Barrows: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/018709.html
Also, I wanted to say a little something about AnquanBolden's actions Sunday:
Boldin, who had four catches for 34 yards while All-Pro teammate Larry Fitzgerald caught nine balls for 152 yards and three touchdowns, sprinted out the back door of Arizona's locker room before some of his elated teammates had made it off the confetti-strewn field from the Halas Trophy presentation.
If this is true, then just add Anquan to the list of players I would never take on my team.
If you can't pumped up about going to the Super Bowl - what exactly is your motivation?
If you are arguing with the offensive coordinator because he's letting Larry the Legend run wild against the Eagles and holding YOU, who has been banged up all playoffs, out, and you can't be happy you just won the biggest game of your life - then you are just selfish. Even TO was happy to play in the Super Bowl and he at least waited to be an ass until they LOST.
It's almost like other athletes don't watch their peers make asses out of themselves and make the necessary adjustments. This is almost worse than Owens - while TO might be the biggest whiner in the game, ultimately he wants what most athletes wants - to win.
Bolden has shown he doesn't care about that - so I say the Cardinals ship him to the Browns, or the Raiders, or the Chiefs, or some other rundown, trifflin' franchise who has no opportunity of competing. THEN, Anquan will be happy with his extra millions, extra catches, and extra losses.
He acts like Luca Brasi MADE him sign that 4 year extension two years ago.
You would think after I saw him lay motionless on the ground against the Jets (for what seemed like a week), to be told not only will you come back from this gruesome injury, but will play in the Super Bowl, that it would be more than enough to ask. Apparently not. So get on with your bad self Anquan - loser. Because thats what a loser attitude sounds like to me.
"I was not given any explanation why I was taken out," Boldin said Monday, during an interview on ESPN's NFL Live, when asked what led to the sideline confrontation. "Like any competitor I wanted to know why." "I didn't leave through a back door. I tried to get in and out as quickly as possible to beat the media," he said. "I didn't want the story line to be me and Todd getting into it." BUT, like Kurt Warner's heated exchange with the Cardinals OC, it wouldn't have been as big a deal had Anquan actually stuck around to celebrate with his teammates - but that isn't something a bad teammate would think of.
I'll admit - I tend not to watch until playoffs, but this years Sharks team is a treat, and I wonder if people outside San Jose are paying attention.
Sure, hockey nuts know they have been rolling, but check this out: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290115018 The Sharks lost in regulation at home for the first time since Feb. 14, 2007, in which they went 28-0-3 at home.
Daaaaaaamn Gina! That's almost an entire season's worth of games without losing at home!
I know this much - I will be keeping a much sharper eye out for the Sharks than I do the Warriors...
Come on Bay Area - it's time to embrace this team - they are an NHL powerhouse with a serious chance to win Lord Stanley's Cup this year. Compare that to the Warriors, Giants, A's, 49ers and Raiders. the best team after San Jose in this area is PROBABLY Saint Mary's hoops - scary thought.
It was just brought to my attention, thanks to my personal Internet hall monitor (Mess), that Patty Mills is getting some national attention.
Right now his picture is on the front of ESPN.com's College Hoops page is a picture of a Saint Mary's Gael right next to UCLA's Darren Collison?
Word?
Anywho, this is what Jay Bilas had to say about Mills, giving him third team mid-season All-American spot:
Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's: Mills is incredibly quick and fast, and he has been tearing it up in the West Coast Conference. Mills is averaging 20 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting 41 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the line. Mills is playing in near-blackout conditions, and when he gets on television against Gonzaga, the masses will be able to see why he has merited a third-team position.
As a sports fan, I have always concluded the best time of the year for sports was September, more specifically the Sundays where you can flip from a baseball game in the middle of a pennant race over to an NFL game – is there anything sweeter?
Well, now, having become such a GM geek that I enjoy the offseason almost as much as the games themselves, I am finding myself enjoying these winter months even more since it has the MLB and NFL off seasons overlap. But while baseball is shifting gears just making the finishing touches on their teams, the NFL is gearing up for a huge offseason.
This has been one of the best free agent classes in recent memory. Just look at a list of some of the elite players out there:
Albert Haynesworth: Possibly the best player on the market, a DT who can stuff the run, occupy blockers, rush the passer, and anchor a defense.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh – The only #1 receiver on the open market (unless Owens or Plaxico become cap casualties), distancing himself from Chad Johnson as more of a receiver and less of a distraction.
NnamdiAsomugha – He has become a truly dominant cover corner, an All-Pro corner stuck in the Black Hole, He’d be ecstatic to leave (he was one of the more outspoken Raiders when Deangelo Hall was let go), but will likely be stuck there another year under the dreaded franchise tag.
Julius Peppers: He appears as dangerous as ever, posting a career high with 14.5 sacks last year. He is an ideal add for any team trying to generate a pass rush – people have been trying to focus on stopping him since he entered the league.
Terrell Suggs: An excellent “fall back” options for teams searching for a pass rush (HellooooooNiners!), he can play either OLB or DE, and can align in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. The same cannot necessarily be said for Peppers or Haynesworth.
Ray Lewis: The Ravens heart and soul is a free agent, and while most couldn’t ever see a team like them letting him go, they also have three starting linebackers who are free agents, and Lewis is the oldest of the three. That being said, if he has the gas in the tank, I doubt guru Ozzie Newsome lets the team’s leader depart.
Bart Scott: Scott has also been a force in the Ravens defense, and he is looking for a pay raise. I imagine he will be on the open market, while the team will opt to keep Lewis.
Darren Sproles: Sproles made himself a ton of money during the Charger’s 08 playoff run. I personally think the team should franchise him, then go into ’09 with Sproles, LT, and Jacob Hester, and evaluate if LT is past his prime and if you can run the rock with Sproles and Hester sharing the duties in the future.
Brandon Jacobs: It seems like the Giants would be foolish to let this guy go. He can run against any defense and is a touchdown machine. Unlike other running backs, Jacobs doesn’t have a lot of miles on him, thanks to New York’s perfection of the shared back system. I would bet on Jacobs returning, but if the team doesn’t slap him with the Franchise tag, he should get some interesting offers.
OshiomoghoAtogwe – I have kept an eye on this guy for three reasons – Mr. G’s agency reps him, the 49ers desperately need a good free safety, and when they play the Rams, Atogwe always seems to be making plays against them. Here is OJ making a play that Mark Roman CANNOT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-dEMWJs8h8
Antonio Bryant: He had a breakout year for the Buccs. They have been searching for Joey Galloway’s replacement, and they found him here. Odds are they won’t let him get away.
ChanningCrowder: Interesting MLB – had a productive year for the Dolphins, but doesn’t seem to garner a lot of interest. Maybe Joey Porter steals his thunder.
Jordan Gross: A sturdy LT, could solidify ANYONE’S offensive line. The Panthers tagged him last year, but could let him reach the open market in ’09.
DeAngelo Hall: Deemed expendable by Al Davis, Hall went the Redskins and became one of the better cornerbacks on the team. The team could look to keep him, but Hall may look for another big deal.
Dunta Robinson: A very solid cornerback battled injuries. He could be poised for a big return – if he can stay on the field.
And those are just the gems of free agency-and I didn’t include a two time Super Bowl quarterback who is playing this weekend in the NFC championship game, and the starting quarterback for the team with the NFL’s best record...
It will be interesting to see where the dominoes fall. I’ll be talking QB possibilities in another post.
My 49ersOffseason Every year, when images of free agents dance in my head, I like to overlook the market and project who we should go after. I would say it’s a prediction, but I have no knowledge on what the team thinks, just who I think is A. Attainable and B. fits the team’s needs.
Current roster:
The team will need to be tell some players goodbye. The team should allow Ronald Fields walk as a UFA to make room for KentwanBalmer on the field, and open a roster spot to draft a REAL NT prospect.
Mark Roman has been the weakest link in the secondary for two years, and with his complete lack of ball skills, should be let go.
Other cap casualties include Jonas Jennings (If you are going to pay someone big money to play right tackle, then he should actually play).
Alex Smith (I would keep him around for a cheaper deal – much cheaper) It appears he could stick around, especially if Scott Linehan becomes the new OC.
J.T. O’Sullivan showed some potential to move the ball – unfortunately, too often he moved it to the other team. He’s probably hoping Martz lands somewhere that needs QB.
Bryant Johnson has some skills, but doesn’t belong higher than 2nd on the depth chart, 3rd if you have a solid core of receivers. He probably walks due to the development of Josh Morgan and Jason Hill.
DeShaun Fosterdoesn’t fit the team’s secondary back needs and will likely leave.
One year of Barry Sims was enough for me, back up or not.
Last, seeing as he couldn’t keep active, Tully Banta-Cain should probably get cut unless he agrees to lower his salary.
Now seeing as we cut some of the dead weight, I think the team needs to focus on keeping Takeo Spikes around. He did a much better job than any of the other MLB candidates last year, plus helped create turnovers, something this team is starved for. He wants to stay, and I don’t see any reason for the 49ers not to return the favor.
Now – lets take a look at those FREE AGENTS!
Now while there a lot of sexy names out there, I think the team should go after players to solidify them on one side of the ball.
The defense was very solid at the end of the year, and with a few tweaks, the unit could be a dominant force next year. Two players could help them make that jump:
Suggs: The team is in desperate need of pass rushers. The problem was less glaring this year, with ParysHaralson putting on some pressure and Justin Smith helping fill the hole BY left. A guy like Suggs just puts more pressure on an offensive line, and could be the force this team needs to get the defense off the field.
Atogwe: You can tell from my analysis those were two of my favorite free agents, since I went to the lengths of posting highlight films of theirs. FS has been a hole for the 49ers since Merton Hanks left the team. There has been a number of players to rotate there, and while Mark Roman was a nice player while the team was rebuilding, the talent level has passed him by. Atogwe adds another dimension to the secondary (Most notably someone who doesn’t get easily burnt on deep routes and has enough ball skills NOT to knock the ball away from his own teammates).
Some lesser known players I think would help Singletary make this team relevant in 2009.
FBLeonard Weaver: Hopefully Singletarydoesn’t hold any grudges against Weaver for his 114 yards receiving and two scores. If he doesn’t, Weaver can come in an fill a hole the team has had at fullback since Fred Beasley’s play fell off.
RB CorrellBuckhalter: Buckhalter would be a nice compliment to Frank Gore. While he is 30 years old, he doesn’t have a lot of miles on him and he can take some of the secondary back duties along with Michael Robinson. This is a position I would like to see the team draft a back in the later rounds with some potential.
RETJustin Miller: Allen Rossum would be fine to keep around, but he’s getting older. Miller was a dynamic return man for the Raiders, and maybe the 49ers can steal him from across the bay.
I think a RT is needed, but there aren’t any names out there that scream to fill the hole. Probably the best fit would be Dolphins RT Vernon Carey.
TJHoush is very tempting, but I wonder if he'd want to come to a team like the 49ers if a playoff team offered anything close to the same contract.
This type of offseason allows the team to truly draft BPA once the NFL draft rolls around. I think that with the tenth pick, the team will obviously get a talented player, and I think there will be plenty of difference makers to choose from. It would be a shame to overvalue a guy based on need, when that’s the type of thinking that typically gets a team in trouble on draft day (see Alex Smith, Vernon Davis).
