Down on the Farm: 6/18//2011

Hey, what happened to Optioned to Fresno? No posts since June 6, after Day 1 of the Draft.

AAA Fresno Grizzlies blanked the Sacramento River Cats 3-0:

Edgar Gonzalez(2B)- 2 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .298.
Thomas Neal(LF)- 2 for 4. BA= .328.
Hector Sanchez(C)- 1 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .310.
Andrew Kown(RHP)- 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 3.61.
Waldis Joaquin(RHP)- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 1.76.
Dan Otero(RHP)- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's, Save(2). ERA= 0.00.

Andrew Kown pitched 6 no-hit innings. Ran his pitch count up with the 4 walks. After the game, he gave credit to Hector Sanchez for "calling a great game." It may have been just a platitude, but the Giants and their pitching staff seem to put a lot more stock in "calling a great game" than other organizations. Kown is an interesting guy. 6'7" tall, 28 years old, he has pitched pretty well for the last 3 years in the minors. Pitching in the PCL is about as good a test as you are going to get in the minors. The Giants are about to have a problem with too many SP's at the major league level, but it seems like this guy deserves a chance with somebody. As Bacci pointed out in a previous comment, it looks like Otero has taken over the closer role in Fresno.

I have to say, I'm getting very close to wanting to see a housecleaning of position players when Belt comes off the DL. Bring up Belt, Neal, Sanchez, maybe even Gillaspie, let 'em play and see what we've got for next year. Can't do much worse than the offense is doing now.

AA Bowie Baysox topped the Richmond Flying Squirrels 3-1:

Johnny Monell(DH)- 1 for 3, HR(7). BA= .228.
Clayton Tanner(LHP)- 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K's, GO/AO= 6/1. ERA= 4.65.
Hector Correa(RHP)- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00.

This may have been Tanners most dominant start from the standpoint of secondary stats. It was a QS on ERA, but the Squirrels managed just 3 hits. Correa's first AA appearance is a success.

A+ Modesto Nuts edged the San Jose Giants 2-1:

Gary Brown(CF)- 0 for 2, BB, S. BA= .332.
Chris Heston(RHP)- 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K's, GO/AO= 8/2. ERA= 3.48.
Ari Ronick(LHP)- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 1.27.

The Giants managed just 2 hits as a team. Heston had a dominant start from a K/BB standpoint, but gave up 2 solo dingers. On the season, Heston has a decent K/9 of 7.5 with an excellent BB/9 of 1.9 and a K/BB of 3.6 with a GO/AO= 1.92 all of which would seem to bode well for the future.

Low A Augusta Greenjackets vs Asheville Tourists game was suspended after 4 innings with the Jackets leading 6-0.

Short Season Spokane Indians parlayed a 6 run 4'th inning into a 7-2 victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes:

Joe Panik(SS)- 3 for 4, BB, SB(1). BA= .556.
Chuckie Jones(LF)- 1 for 4, BB, SB(1). BA= .571.
Brett Krill(RF)- 2 for 4, SB(1). BA= .375.
Kaohi Downing(DH)- 2 for 3, BB. BA= .667.
Brandon Allen(RHP)- 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 K. ERA= 7.36.
Matt Graham(RHP)- 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K. ERA= 20.25.
Steven (Jack) Snodgrass(LHP)- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 0.00.

The Volcanoes stole 4 bases in this one. Allen was drafted out of HS last year and Graham the year before. Gotta be patient with both these kids. Snodgrass is interesting for his size(6'6") He had a decent record at Austin Peay State. Looks like Downing has given up pitching to try hitting. That is generally a tougher transition than hitting to pitching.

DSL Giants downed the Mets 6-4:

Shurendell Mujica(2B, 20 yo)- 2 for 4, 3B, HR(1), BB. BA= .286.
Rando Moreno(SS, 19 yo)- 1 for 3, BB, SB(2). BA= .303.
Julio Pena(RF, 18 yo)- 2 for 4, 2B, BB. BA= .244.
Renzo Freite(RHP, 18 yo)- 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 K's. ERA= 1.08.

Pena is hitting .275/.356/.550 over his last 10 games.