Down on the Farm: 8/15/2011

AAA Albuquerque Isotopes burned the Fresno Grizzlies 8-4:

Justin Christian(RF)- 1 for 3, BB, 2 SB(24).

6 Grizzlies got 1 hit each with EdGone and Bill Hall's being 2 baggers.

AA Eastern League was idle.

High A San Jose Giants edged the Lake Elsinore Storm 2-1:

Gary Brown(CF)- 0 for 2, 2 BB, SB(45). BA= .323.
Tommy Joseph(C)- 1 for 4, HR(18). BA= .269.
Chris Heston(RHP)- 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K's, GO/AO= 9/1. ERA= 3.49.

Gary Brown drawing walks is a very good thing. Joseph keeps the HR binge going away from Lancaster. Heston has shown the ability to get both K's and ground balls. He's on the old side but may be a sleeper.

Low A Augusta Greenjackets edged the Greensboro Grasshoppers 3-2:

Devin Harris(LF)- 2 for 4, HR(13). BA= .229.
Taylor Rogers(RHP)- 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 2.96.

Harris has hit a HR in each of his last 3 games. His line over his last 10 games is .351/.442/730.

Short Season Vancouver Canadians came from behind to catch the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the 9'th inning and went on to win 7-6 in 11 innings:

Jesus Galindo(CF)- 2 for 4, HBP, 2 SB(31). BA= .282.
Joe Staley(C)- 2 for 5, HR(7). BA= .294.
Brandon Allen(RHP)- 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 5.43.

Rookie AZL Reds pounded the Giants 12-2:

Really, nothing to see here.

DSL Giants swept a DH from the Yankees1 4-1 and 3-2:

Not much of anything to see here either.

Good news! The Giants sign Andrew Susac, Ricky Oropesa and Josh Osich at the 2011 draft signing deadline. Susac was a first round talent who they got in round 2 and Oropesa was at least a supplemental round talent that fell to the 3'rd round. If he's fully healthy, Osich is also a late-first/supplemental round talent. Love this draft for the Giants!

I work with Ricky Oropesa's mom and have followed him since he was in high school. I dreamed of the Giants drafting him, but figured it would never happen. He just seemed more like the type of player the Red Sox or A's or Milwaukee Brewers would draft. John Barr definitely has had an impact on the type of hitters the Giants draft. Ricky's mom told me that the Giants Scouting Director was in the stands the night Ricky took Gerrit Cole deep and that seems to be what clinched the Giants interest.

I think Ricky is going to surprise a lot of people with how good his bat is. He loves hitting with wood. Look up his sophomore numbers at USC. THAT is the real Ricky! Last year was a bit of a down year, not terrible but not the monster year you would hope for. A couple of reasons for that: 1. The new BBCOR bats did not come in Ricky's preferred size until about 1/3 of the season was already over. He had use a smaller bat that he said felt like swinging a toothhpick. 2. The new coach asked him to ditch the uppercut swing for a more level, line drive producing swing which I don't think Ricky was ever comfortable with. If you look at what the Giants have done with Brandon Belt and Andres Torres, I don't think they will have any problem letting Ricky go back to his more natural swing.

Great draft by the Giants. I'm looking forward to following the progress of these players, especially Ricky Oropesa. The future is bright!!