The Giants wouldn't have won last year's World Series without their formidable rotation, but manager Bruce Bochy said last month that Philadelphia – the team San Francisco defeated in the 2010 NLCS – has "the best staff in baseball." Whether you believe the best starting staff in the game belongs to the Phillies, the Giants or someone else, this much is certain: the last two NL Championship teams have built their rotations in noticeably different ways.
Giants GM Brian Sabean has relied primarily on the draft to build his rotation. He spent big ($126MM over seven years) on Barry Zito, but the rest of the team’s rotation is homegrown. About six months before Sabean signed Zito, he drafted Tim Lincecum tenth overall in the 2006 draft. The next year, the Giants made Madison Bumgarner their first round selection (tenth overall). Lincecum, Bumgarner and Zito join two other Giants draftees, Matt Cain (first round, 2002) and Jonathan Sanchez (27th round, 2004) in Bochy's rotation.
Bochy's counterpart, Charlie Manuel, will trot out an equally impressive rotation in 2011, but his starters arrived in Philadelphia because of GM Ruben Amaro Jr.'s knack for acquiring big-name starters in trades. Pat Gillick traded for Joe Blanton in 2008, before Amaro took over the Phillies and the new GM has picked up where his predecessor left off, acquiring Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt in a series of blockbusters.
The Phillies had to bid for Lee on the open market to lure him back to Philadelphia, but the initial swap was crucial for the Phillies, who signed Lee for less than the Yankees or Rangers were offering. Amaro isn't all about trades, though – Cole Hamels fills out the team's rotation and Kyle Kendrick, another Philadelphia draft pick, provides the club with depth.
I am not suggesting that the Phillies are all about trading or that the Giants are all about drafting. The Phillies used nine of their first 12 draft picks on pitchers last year, so they clearly see the value in drafting arms, even if they often seem to trade them away before long (they have dealt J.A. Happ, Gavin Floyd, Kyle Drabek and others for more established pitchers in recent years). Similarly, the Giants would no doubt consider acquiring starting pitching through trades or free agency. But for one year at least, baseball's two most impressive rotations have wildly different origins.
Giants pitchers are natural grown!
Except zito
Ewwwww..
“So is weed”
-Timmy
Bumgarner was the 10th pick of the 2007 draft
Way was Cain?????????
What was coin
25th pick of 2002 draft
He was a High School Product made his debut at the age of 20
double fail
Brian Sabean didn’t sign Zito. He didn’t want him. The owner at the time made that move.
With Jason Schmidt leaving us for the rival Dodgers we were more desperate in obtaining an “ACE” like starter
I think most teams are going to take the Giant’s approach… look at the Yankees: The Killer B’s, Phillies: Colvin, Cosart, May, Biddle, Braves: Teheran, Delgado, Minor, Hanson as just a few examples. Also, I think in the next 3 years it’s going to become a pitching/defense/speed kind of game vs. sheer power… if it hasn’t already.
Not to discount your post which you made a very good point, but I think you have to credit the Rays instead of the Giants approach to developing prospects in general, they set an example back in 08 and obviously this past season the Giants further cemented that is the way to go.
Also known as.. Don’t Become a Pirate
Pirates are just unlucky. Look at the draftees they missed out on
That is true, but at the same time for YEARS they were being cheap and passed on some really fine players.
Unlucky or really bad talent evaluators (up untilmaybe the last 3 or 4 drafts or so)
i wouldnt call pirates drafts unlucky.. being inept is not a sign of unluckiness
Blanton may be a BIG pitcher but he is hardly a big-name pitcher.
or a big-game pitcher
Anyone take a look at the starting pitching free agents for 2012? That group is bleak! The only name worth mentioning is CC, and he may not even be a free agent. I honestly think Edwin Jackson is the best from that group, based primarily on his age (28).
I think teams may want to look for starters through trade, or preferably honing their own arms in the farm. Free agency does not look good next year.
Free Agency is brutal
Almost every player who makes it to free agency gets over paid in $ and years. The new trend is to draft well, stock up and when a pitcher shows potential in its first few years to sign them to decent contract.. Jon Lester is a prime example, Ricky Romero could be one too.
Point being, the emphasis has been put back on scouting, drafting and player development. .. and I like it
It’s such a simple idea even the Yankees can do it
I’m not gonna sit here and say that I don’t like free agency, but the small market approach of building your own guys through the farm does have an added bonus when they succeed. There’s more of an attachment from a fan’s perspective.
Mark Buerhle and Joel Pineiro will both be FAs next winter. Scott Kazmir and Yu Darvish might be as well. Still, you’re right – Jackson is probably the best of that group unless Darvish is as awesome as advertised, which he just might be.
Oh snap, I forgot about Darvish! He will totally be the prize of next year if he comes over. I need to make some Japanese friends. I’m trying to buy a Darvish jersey but can’t understand the language on websites. The furthest I got was putting into the shopping cart, after that, no idea how to pay and input address.
Go lo a language translation site. Can’ thelp you with the address input thing though.
Bumgarner is going to have a breakout year and think the Giants will have a fine season. Curious to see how the pitching staff reacts from the additional innings brought on from last postseason.
Go Giants!!!
Step 1. Produce a terrible baseball team. Example 2005 Dodgers and Giants
Step 2. Have stupid teams not draft the guy you want. Example – The Giants and Dodgers both got the best pitchers after 5-6 pitchers already came off the board.. Uhh whoops?
Step 3. well I haven’t gotten there yet.