FanHouse Buster Posey

The focus of most Major League Baseball fans is directed towards the playoffs right now as teams fight for their chance to play for a World Series title. But the astute fantasy baseball GM should be looking in the desert as the Arizona Fall League has just started.

Why tune in and watch young baseball players with little or no major league experience? Well, in the Arizona Fall League last year, hitters like Drew Sutton, Gordon Beckham and Nolan Reimold tore up the competition -- showing that they could make contributions at the major league level.

You also should not forget about a pitcher by the name of Tommy Hanson. In seven AFL starts last year Hanson struck out 49 batters while only throwing 28.2 innings. He also had a 5-0 record with a 0.63 ERA. We all know what Hanson did for the Braves in 2008 -- and for fantasy GM's who knew his name on draft day.

Who will be this year's Tommy Hanson?

For much of the season, it appeared the Giants were willing to leave Buster Posey in the minors for the duration of the 2009 season. After all, they have Bengie Molina on the major league roster and Posey is only 22 years-old. It would appear there has been a change of plans, possibly motivated by Molina's quadriceps issues of late.

As reported earlier today by Jim Henry of FanHouse, Posey has been beckoned and will suit up for Wednesday's game against the Phillies. Molina has been unable to start since August 24. The uninspiring Eli Whiteside has been getting the starts in the meantime, but Posey's presence is added insurance.

Buster Posey is headed to The Show after all.

Two weeks after San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean indicated they had no plans to promote last year's first-round draft pick, the club did an about-face and summoned Posey Tuesday night, FanHouse confirmed. Posey is scheduled to be in uniform Wednesday night in Philadelphia when the Giants meet the Phillies.

The Giants lost Tuesday's series opener by a 1-0 score and couldn't figure out Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, who stifled San Francisco's lineup with a two-hit shutout and nine strikeouts. The Giants fell one game behind Colorado for the top spot in the NL Wild Card race. San Francisco entered this series fresh off a three-game sweep of the Rockies.

---

---

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

Troy Tulowitzki was the runner-up for the 2007 Rookie of the Year, but he followed it up with a rough 2008. And a rough beginning to 2009. All of a sudden, though, the kid has caught fire. Not coincidentally, the Rockies have as well.

After trouncing the Angels Monday night, the Rockies have now won 15 of their last 16 games. After going 0-2 in the first game of the streak, Tulowitzki has gone 20-for-48 (.417) with 5 home runs, 11 RBI, 15 runs, 4 doubles and 5 stolen bases. Again, that's in 15 games.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Catcher Buster Posey, who signed for a record $6.2 million bonus less than a year ago, is about to be promoted from the Giants' Single-A affiliate.

"I don't know if it's going to be Double-A or Triple-A, but that discussion is ongoing," San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean told FanHouse on Monday.

Posey, the No. 4 pick in last year's draft, is one of the top hitting prospects in baseball. He is hitting .328/.425/.545 with 11 homers in 66 games at San Jose. Posey was in big league camp for most of the spring. The fact that the Giants are considering moving him as high as Triple-A less than a year into his pro career indicates that he's on the fast track.

Giants catcher Bengie Molina is signed only through the end of this season, so Posey's development will no doubt play a role in the Giants' decision-making on Molina.

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

There I am. Bottom of the 10th inning. Promenade section of Citi Field.

With my hands swollen from furious applause throughout the night and my legs bobbing to stay warm, Fernando Martinez laced a hit to right field. We came alive once more, while the old man sitting next to me grumbled: "Another friggin single? Pelfrey's the only one who drove somethin'."

Sixteen hits and pitcher Mike Pelfrey was the Met with pop.

Buster Posey thought California's spring weather would be warmer.

The chilly nights are the lone complaint -- make that a polite observation -- from Posey, who has only further strengthened his reputation as the San Francisco Giants' prized catching prospect during the opening month of the minor-league baseball season.

Brian Sabean, ever tactful, made an error in judgment following this year's MLB draft by pointing out that Bengie Molina, enjoying one of his best offensive seasons for the surprisingly not terrible San Francisco Giants, was on his way out. Or at least he used a statement about sunsets that reflected on Molina's contract status and made the catcher upset.

Sabean said that [Buster] Posey 'is on the fast track and Bengie's clock is winding down.' On Friday, Sabean clarified he was referring to the end of Bengie Molina's contract after 2009 and the uncertainty of the free-agent market, not on Molina's career. Still, Molina did not like to hear that.

'I respect whoever they pick,' said Molina, who turns 34 next month. 'I understand they don't have too much catching down in the system. I'm not upset or anything like that. The only thing that really hurt my feelings was when he said my clock was running down.

'It hurt my feelings because I came here to work hard every single day. I give them everything I have. I've got to talk to him first and see what he meant before I say anything else. I'd like to know, because if I'm not in their plans for the future, then what am I doing here?'

To say that something like this out of Giants camp, and stemming from Sabean's mouth, is surprising would be a lie. Particularly when you consider his obsession/affinity with veterans and how poorly Posey really fits into his long term gameplan for the Giants organization.

You know, because of his upside and potential and everything.

Now that the exciting action of MLB's amateur draft has completed it's first round, it's time to take a look at our country's next millionaires. Find out which team drafted the son of the former offensive lineman pictured here and peruse our quick glance at the NL West first round selections.

San Francisco Giants (5) Gerald "Buster" Posey, Catcher, Florida State: Posey was supposed to go number one to Tampa Bay, but a little matter of money nudged the Rays off the scent, and Buster Posey went to the other side of the country to join the San Francisco Giants. Posey's asking price of $12 million wasn't enough to scare the Giants off ... although $12 million has to be nothing to a team who's paying Barry Zito a gazillion dollars to go 1-9 for them. Posey has only been a catcher for two seasons after converting from shortstop, but has been a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's best collegiate catcher.

Los Angeles Dodgers (15) Ethan Martin, RHP, Stephens County School, (GA): Scouts took note of Martin after his performance in the LaGrange Invitational, where he struck out 12 hitters and gave up four hits in a 6-4 Stephens County win over American Heritage ... a game where Martin hit 99 on the gun four times. Martin can also get hitters out with a power breaking ball and a splitter. Here's your Ethan Martin oddity: Remember that incident where the pitcher and catcher conspired to hit the home plate umpire in the face with the pitch? The pitcher was Cody Martin ... Ethan's brother. Ethan played in that game at shortstop, and had vehemently argued with that umpire after striking out, which came just before the incident.

Already larded up with young talent, the Rays added one more name to the rolls with what they hope is their last lofty draft position for a while. They've decided to select Griffin, Georgia high-schooler Tim Beckham with the first overall pick in the MLB draft, which officially begins at 2 P.M.

Beckham's a shortstop who has committed to USC but seems likely to forgo co-eds for long bus rides in the low minors. Baseball America's Jim Callis said that Beckham"has the best combination of five-tool ability and baseball aptitude in the draft" and Baseball Prospectus's Kevin Goldstein writes that in a perfect world Beckham becomes "an All-Star shortstop who hits 20 home runs, steals 40 bases, and plays above-average defense."

It's the fourth time the Rays have picked first overall. They selected Josh Hamilton, Delmon Young and, just last year, David Price.

The choice of Beckham may have been dictated, in part, by the pocketbook. Beckham is toolsy and young, which doesn't always work out, while Florida State catcher Buster Posey could fill an actual team need much sooner. Reports are that Posey is asking for $12 million which may have been the final push the Rays needed to go in Beckham's direction. Beckham's upside is tremendous but it seems likely that, if all things were equal, Posey could have been their first choice.