Commentary

Daily Futures: Giant step back

The struggles get worse for a hyped southpaw prospect

Updated: April 15, 2010, 12:31 PM ET

By Kevin Goldstein | Baseball Prospectus

Something Is Wrong Here

Madison Bumgarner, lhp, San Francisco Giants (Triple-A Fresno)
Wednesday's stats: 4 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 0 BB, 4 K
It wasn't so long ago that Bumgarner was the top left-handed pitching prospect in the game. Last year was marked by a slow yet steady velocity dip, but the Giants blamed it on bad throwing problems, insisting that it wasn't a long-term concern. Going into the spring, Bumgarner was expected to win the No. 5 starter job for the Giants but didn't pitch well enough to earn it, and after two Triple-A starts, he's given up a whopping 21 hits in seven innings, as what used to be a plus-plus fastball no longer cracks 90 mph. Be concerned, be very concerned.

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NO.	PLAYER
1	Stephen Strasburg, RHP, WAS
2	Carlos Santana, C, CLE
3	Buster Posey, C, SFO
4	Mike Stanton, OF, FLA
5	Desmond Jennings, OF, TAM
6	Martin Perez, LHP, TEX
7	Domonic Brown, RF, PHI
8	Dustin Ackley, CF, SEA
9	Jesus Montero, C, NYY
10	Aroldis Chapman, LHP, CIN
11	Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, TAM
12	Casey Kelly, RHP, BOS
13	Aaron Hicks, RHP, MIN
14	Mike Trout, OF, LAA
15	Brett Wallace, 1B, TOR
16	Logan Morrison, 1B, FLA
17	Zach Britton, LHP, BAL
18	Tyler Matzek, LHP, COL
19	Michael Taylor, OF, OAK
20	Kyle Gibson, RHP, MIN
21	Shelly Miller, RHP, STL
22	Josh Vitters, 3B, CHC
23	Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC
24	Lars Anderson,1B, BOS
25	Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC

NO.

PLAYER

Stephen Strasburg, RHP, WAS

Carlos Santana, C, CLE

Buster Posey, C, SFO

Mike Stanton, OF, FLA

Desmond Jennings, OF, TAM

Martin Perez, LHP, TEX

Domonic Brown, RF, PHI

Dustin Ackley, CF, SEA

Jesus Montero, C, NYY

Aroldis Chapman, LHP, CIN