Both Clark and Aardsma wouldn't make their ML debuts until the year after they were drafted. Still impressive, though.

Now all we need is Buster Posey.

Right, but Jeff Robinson had the previous Giants record, as the article mentions, and I'm surprised Will Clark didn't have it.

Article says it's not completely out of the question Posey gets a cameo.

It's only impressive if he actually justifies the speedy call up. Pretty doubtful, since he wasn't exactly tearing through the minors.

This guy was batting 269/352/344 in rookie ball... huh?

As Bhaakon says, this only is impressive if he is good enough right now to make it worthwhile. But if he was doing so well, why was he only at Salem-Keizer? Now the Giants have to keep him on the 40 man roster - if he's not somebody who should be a major call-up next year, that's a waste of a spot. And the service time he uses now before the Giants really need him, and before he's shown that he is ready to be in the majors, makes it more likely he hits arbitration early, and maybe even free agency. Ask the Mariners about early, needless, call-ups of players.

Here's Sabean's line of thinking.

- Brian Bocock was promoted for even less merit than Gillaspie.

- Bocock was only a little bit worse than a player they're paying $5.2 million.

- Gillaspie is better than Bocock.

- Therefore, Gillaspie will save the team at least $5 million in 2009.

- The $5 million that Gillaspie saves the team will enable the Giants to sign Cesar Izturis to a 3-year, $28 million contract.

- The Giants win the 2009 World Series.

This guy was batting 269/352/344 in rookie ball... huh?

Actually, this immediately makes him one of the best hitters the Giants have.

So what's the ZiPS on 269/352/344 in rookie ball?

My guess: 112/141/168

This makes less than no sense. But it's the Giants, so...

This is retahded. OK, the Giants aren't a small market team, but why get a guy's clock started when it's unlikely he'll be able to contribute in the majors for at least another 400-500 PA's?

Maybe it's a publicity stunt? Lord knows that besides Lincecum there is nothing to talk about...unless you are one of those people that enjoys car wrecks and Faces of Death.

Just got home from seeing Posey play in San Jose in Game 1 of the Cal League DS. He had a single in a 4-run eighth inning that pushed the Giants to a 5-3 win over Stockton. He also walked, struck out, and in his first AB hit a fly out near the warning track in right center. It wasn't a particularly powerful looking swing, but still got out there, so I guess that's a good sign.

As far as guys who I've seen go through San Jose, he reminded me of Eddy Martinez-Esteve. Whenever I saw Esteve, he was hitting doubles to right center. Posey hit that fly, and his single was to right. Looked to have the same type of swing and approach as EME.

As for Gillaspie, he seems like a guy who has sort of already developed into the type of player he's gonna be. He may not need much instruction, just experience. So if the Giants want to get him some of it up in the bigs in September, I don't see the harm. It's not like he's going to accrue that much service to likely affect him in any way. Let him see the major leagues to get in his head what it's like. Then he comes to ST next season with a clue what he's up against and if he produces let him stick. If not, send him to AA and go from there.

Gillaspie was rumored to be a tough sign, but ended up agreeing for about slot money. The best I can figure is that this call up was part of the contract negotiations. At least, I hope that's the answer, because the thought that the Giant sincerely believe he's ready is giving me a headache. Also, Evans can spew forth the BS with the best of them, I wonder if he kisses his wife with that mouth.

I think promoting young players is now under rated because everyone is a little too conservative about arbitration dollars. Having a September call up isn't the end of the world for a good prospect. Let's wait and see where the next trend takes the teams.

I think promoting young players is now under rated because everyone is a little too conservative about arbitration dollars.

It being underrated because others don't value it would only work if it were an open market. It is, of course, not. The Giants get no benefit starting this guy's clock early due to other teams' unwillingness to do so with their prospects. This isn't a case of 29 teams undervaluing steals depressing the market below where it should be meaning that the Giants should grab an undervalued speedster. This is a case of "in a vacuum" stupidity, which Sabean seems to be trying to corner the market on.

The service time issue is a red herring. It's 3 weeks. The Giants would have to be morons of stunning magnitude to mis-manage that into costing them anything.

But I will agree a guy hitting 269/352/344 in rookie ball ain't got no business being in the majors.

Unless he's up to sell Salt Peanuts. (it's late, best I could do)

Clearly, this whole "paying-attention-to-our-minor-league-system-and-the-players-in-it (who are called "prospects")" thing is kind of new to Sabean.

- The $5 million that Gillaspie saves the team will enable the Giants to sign Cesar Izturis to a 3-year, $28 million contract.

Do you think I can interest you in a slightly used Julio Lugo model that we can you into for cheaper than that? We have a hedge fund guy who got him as a brand new toy for his kid, but it hasn't really worked out, so he'll unload him for cheap...

Let him see the major leagues to get in his head what it's like. Then he comes to ST next season with a clue what he's up against and if he produces let him stick. If not, send him to AA and go from there.

He isn't ready for AA either. He isn't ready for A+ yet.

Pops: Dan's ZIPS/MLE/Public tool says 254/293/296. I think it's a bit optimistic, too.

Gillaspie was rumored to be a tough sign, but ended up agreeing for about slot money. The best I can figure is that this call up was part of the contract negotiations.

The callup pushes his salary + signing bonus to just over $1M. I was thinking the same thing this morning.

Edit: I think a highly regarded prospect would start with garlic fries with the idea of working him up to something with a salsa verde in the AFL.

I just don't understand why you would want to burn an option year like this. He's a very young college draftee and I see no reason why he needs to be on the 40-man this soon.

Had to part of the original deal to sign him for slot.

If they really think so highly of him, then losing an option year probably isn't such a big deal. Once he's finally called up to San Francisco on merit, he'll likely stick.

I just don't understand why you would want to burn an option year like this. He's a very young college draftee and I see no reason why he needs to be on the 40-man this soon.

Even setting aside the option year issues, they've got lot like what... 10-12 IFs on the 40 man already, not to mention Frandsen on the 60 day?

If they were thin in the IF I suppose maybe you could overlook the fact his numbers say not yet... but it would seem to me that the Giants already have plenty of IFers to look through... I just don't see how this makes sense.

Even accepting that that they lose 2 (Aurilia and Vizquel) -- they're still ALREADY overstuff with middling IFers they need to look at.

I suppose 3B would seem to be the biggest opening, but Frandsen - who looks like the only real keeper from the group - might well need to move across the diamond to 3B... I mean - do you really want a guy coming off a ruptured achilles handling those slides on the DP?

I just don't understand why you would want to burn an option year like this.

You don't burn an option year until he's actually optioned - which won't be until next year anyway.

-- MWE

You don't burn an option year until he's actually optioned - which won't be until next year anyway.

Yes, but now they're committed to keeping him on their 40 man roster next year - which means they won't be able to protect somebody else. It may not matter with their minor league system, but why make it a possible issue so you can promote a guy who won't help your team right now and who doesn't need to be added to the 40 man roster for years anyway? The best realistic scenario is that this move doesn't really hurt the Giants. But if his readiness to be a major leaguer is delayed for any reason (injury, for instance - or maybe he just has trouble adjusting to the better pitching as he moves up from short season ball) it could be a costly move.

Edit: Not that I think you're defending the move in any way.

From the looks of the bench players SF has used this year and still has on the 40 man, freeing roster space doesn't look like a big deal. I'd be more annoyed about Scott McClain losing playing time and not being able to tell if he could be a reasonable placeholder at third for a year or two.

As for Kevin Frandsen, the Redskins had a rash of Achilles injuries in the early '70s and those players seemed to come back ok the next season. Of course, maneuverability and grace weren't exactly big parts of Sonny Jurgensen's game before he hurt his ankle.

but Frandsen - who looks like the only real keeper from the group -

Travis Denker looks interesting.

Hell, why not? Needing to keep him on the roster is no burden for the Giants. And getting a taste of the big leagues can only be a positive for Gillaspies development.

The only real question is why he doesn't spell his last name with 'e'.