Down on the Farm: 7/23/2011

First a couple of notes:

1. Be sure and check out Splashing Pumpkins for a great interview of Catcher Mike Murray, a Giants farmhand in short season ball. The link to the site is over on the left.

2. There's an intriguing not on MLBTR to the effect that Brian Sabean does have an "untouchables" list, but it's not the same list everybody assumes it is. 3 possibilities: 1. It could be all BS. 2. Sabes could really have a different evaluation of some of the prospects in the system than BA and other observers. 3. It's a "leak" designed to soften us up for losing Brown or Wheeler in a Beltran trade. I generally don't like mortgaging the future for a rental because there is no guarantee the rental will put you over the top and then you are left with nothing. In this case, the Giants badly need the bat and have a deep farm system, so I think it's a close call. Between Wheeler and Brown, I'd be more OK with losing Brown, not because I don't like him, but because Peguero is a similar player and the Giants are thinner in pitching prospects.

On with the rundown:

AAA Colorado Springs Skysox defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 5-2:

Justin Christian(RF)- 0 for 2, 2 BB, SB(13). BA= .298.
Brett Pill(1B)- 2 for 4, 2B. BA= .319.
Dan Runzler(LHP)- 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K's. ERA= 5.16.

Pill has been playing exclusively 1B since Belt's callup and DeRosa's arrival. Runzler gave up 4 of his runs in the 5'th inning. His K and BB's looked great and he was lights out for the first 4 innings. A guy who works for the Grizzlies said there was a scout from another team watching Runzler, but did not seem to know which team.

AA Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Harrisburg Senators in game 1 of a DH 5-1. Game 2 was postponed.

Wendell Fairley(LF)- 2 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .304.
Charlie Culberson(2B)- 2 for 3, 2B. BA= .278.
Chuck Lofgren(LHP)- 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 1.59.

Fairley hit leadoff in this one. Good to see him off to a good start in AA. Culby is hitting .400 over his last 10 games. Lofgren got one start for Fresno and got hit around pretty good. This was his first start for Richmond.

High A San Jose Giants edged the Visalia Rawhide 6-5:

Jose Flores(DH)- 4 for 4, 2B. BA= .277.
Michael Main(RHP)- 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 4.28.
Jacob Dunnington(RHP)-2.2 iP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 0.00.

Dunnington has now pitched 12.2 innings in the Cal League with 2 BB and 16 K's. Impressive! He had a similar K rate in Augusta but walked more batters.

Low A Augusta Greenjackets downed the Lakewood Blueclaws 4-1:

Chris Lofton(CF)- 3 for 5. BA= .262.
Ryan Lollis(RF)- 3 for 5, 2B. BA= .303.
Mazzola, Scoma and Haney had 2 hits each.
Shawn Sanford(RHP)- 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 2.53.
Edward Concepcion(RHP)- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 3.41.
Seth Rosin(RHP)- 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 3.71.

Lofton is hitting .316 over his last 10 games. He hit .179 in the month of May, but has hit .292, .281 and .281 in May, June and July. Rosin's line over his last 10 games is 0-0, 2.79, 19.1 IP, 6 BB, 30 K's!

Short Season Everett Aquasox smacked the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes around 14-3:

Jeff Honeycutt(PH-RF)- 2 for 2, HR(1). BA= .196.
Leonardo Ochoa(LF)- 2 for 4, SB(1). BA= .277.
Dan Burkhart(C)- 1 for 4, HR(3). BA= .270.
Garrett Buechele(3B)- 2 for 4. BA= .281.
Wilber Bucardo(RHP0- 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 3.09.

Rookie AZL Giants edged the Dodgers 2-1;

Leonardo Fuentes(RF)- 2 for 3, HR(2), BB. BA= .283.
Joan Gregorio(RHP)- 4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K's. ERA= 2.05.
Kyle Crick(RHP)- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00.

Excited about all 3 of these kids. Fuentes is hitting .333/.372/.564 over his last 10 games.

DSL No games scheduled.