For the second year in a row, the San Francisco Giants used their first-round pick on a pitcher that had previously been a first-round pick that the Toronto Blue Jays had failed to sign.Phil Bickford is a 19-year righthander that spent a year with Cal-State Fullerton before transferring to a Nevada JUCO in order to be eligible for this year's draft.
Bickford is reported to sit in the mid-'90s and touch as high as 98 according to the scouting reports that I have read.
Bickford is 6'4 and weighs 215 and with the lanky build and long hair, resembles Bronson Arroyo to me in look, if not pitching windup.
Phil Bickford has been rated by some reports ( I don't really scout guys until they hit the minors) as a potential ace with his fastball and top-notch potential slider, while others look at his lack of true off pitch and sometimes missing command that makes you feel a bit uneasy and see him as a reliever that has closer potential with some refinement.
The Giants do a better job than almost anyone in developing pitchers and some of the same things were being said last summer about Tyler Beede, who has impressed many in his first year in the Giants system.
I'll trust the Giants' pitching track record and go on board as a believer in Bickford.
The Giants also had the 31st pick in the first round as compensation for losing Pablo Sandoval and tried to address their constant issues with hitters with the selection of Boston College first baseman Chris Shaw.
Shaw comes with one question-can he make contact enough to make his plus plus lefthanded power play in the bigs?
Shaw is a risk as most college bats are because of the aluminum bat question, but considering the Giants lack of power on both the big league roster and no top-notch power hitter close in the minors, the gamble on Shaw is a worthwhile one-especially with a compensation pick.
Two down, one to go as I hope to look at the Pirates' first-rounder in Kevin Newman and their compensation first-rounder for losing Edinson Volquez.
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