Friday, August 23, 2013

Down on the Farm: 8/22/2013

Las Vegas 51's shut out the Fresno Grizzlies 5-0:

Jake Dunning- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.38.

AA  Richmond Flying Squirrels out hit the Altoona Curve 9-6:

Ryan Lollis(CF)- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .267.
Javier Herrera(LF)- 3 for 3, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .293.
Adam Duvall(3B)- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .259.
Jack Snodgrass(LHP)- 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 3.49.
Phil McCormick(LHP)- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.25.

Herrera has had a very steady season.  I wonder if the Giants are as curious as we are to see what he might do at higher levels?  Duvall is hitting .344/.432/.531 over his last 10 games and .375/.444/.661 for the month of August(16 games) after hitting just .225 in June and .188 in July.

High A  San Jose Giants smacked the Stockton Ports 8-1:

Mac Williamson(RF)- 2 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .283.
Devin Harris(LF)- 3 for 5, 2 2B, HR(22).  BA= .261.
Jeff Arnold(C)- 2 for 4, HR(13).  BA= .255.
Myles Schroder(3B)- 2 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .270.
Ty Blach(LHP)- 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.79.

Mac is hitting .350/.422/625 over his last 10 games.  Schroder is 9 for 16 over his last 4 games with 2 triples and a dinger.  Don't forget about Ty Blach when counting Giants pitching prospects who have had great seasons.

Low A  Augusta Greenjackets defeated the Lexington Legends 6-3 in 12 innings:

Joey Rapp(1B)- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .256.
Ben Turner(C-1B)- 2 for 5, HR(2).  BA= .248.
Andrew Cain(CF)- 1 for 5, HR(9).  BA= .237.
Travious Relaford(SS)- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .200.
Chris Stratton(RHP)- 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.16.

Short Season  Boise Hawks outslugged the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 16-11:

Brandon Bednar(2B)- 3 for 6, 2 SB(10).  BA= .270.
Brian Ragira(RF-LF)- 1 for 6, HR(2).  BA= .270.
Tyler Horan(DH)- 3 for 5, BB.  BA= .304.
Blake Miller(1B)- 3 for 5, 2B, BB, SB(1).  BA= .381.
Eugene Escalante(C)- 3 for 6, 2B.  BA= .287.
Ryan Tuntland(3B)- 3 for 5, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .233.
John Polonius(SS)- 4 for 5, 2B.  BA= .272.

Lots of good stuff on the offensive side.  Blake Miller continues to be an interesting story after being drafted out of a tiny college program in Oregon where he put up video game numbers.

Rookie AZL  Giants defeated the Rangers 4-3:

Will Callaway(2B)- 3 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .305.
Keury Mella(RHP)- 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.53.

Good to see Mella bounce back after a shortened start on 8/16.  His overall season line is 3-2, 2.53, 32 IP, 11 BB, 36 K, GO/AO= 2.18.  Strong ratios and a dominant groundball tendency.

DSL  Giants topped the Orioles1 4-3:

Carlos Valdez(RF-LF)- 1 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .271.
Jonathan Loaisiga(RHP)- 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.75.

23 comments:

  1. Ty Blach - just another day at the office. It's encouraging to see so many pitchers flash plus control. Also good to see Mella out there again.

    Is Mac Williamson the corner outfield guy in our future? 5-tool talent if you squint a bit, definitely holding up as great value drafting - considered a reach at the time but looking like one if the few bonafide prospects in that 3rd round.

    It'd be nice to end the massive drought on home grown OFs at some point in the next five years.

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    1. It's lengthy more than massive, I think.

      You have outfielders like Belt and Schierholtz now, but you have to go back a decade to find other homegrown ones like Benard and Rios, with a Fred Lewis in between.

      Maybe it's massive AND lengthy.

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    2. Higher standards than that. I'm talking Jack Clark and Chili Davis. I'm talking 200 plus home runs. I'm talking about a serious ballplayer.

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    3. It wasn't easy for me to mention Rios and Benard.

      I had to think hard to come up with those two easily forgetten names.

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    4. To be fair, Rios was good. If he hadn't blown out his hammy (??) shortly after the trade, he would have been a decent player.

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    5. Bic Mac has serious power. Last year at S-K, he hit the top row of lights of the CF light pole in pre-game bp. Almost went completely over the top. And the sound... crack!

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    6. Oops, I mean, 'Big' Mac. :)

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    7. It sounds like Big Mac has the serious power to become next Jack Clark. I remember watching Jack Clark play in an AAA game here in Hawaii hit a ball off the CF fence here 420 ft away for a standup triple. I was very excited to see a Giants farmhand hit a ball that far..

      Do you guys think Angel V will be ready for Fresno next year? I know Drb is high on him.

      LG

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    8. Remember that Mac suffered an injury while diving to make a catch about 2 weeks into the season. He immediately went into a prolonged slump that lasted about 6 weeks. I am going to make an assumption that he bruised some ribs or suffered an intercostal strain which must make it painful to swing a bat. He has hit well over .300 in June, July and August which is now a 74 game span. In 58 games since the All-Star break he has put up a line of .317/.393/.558. In addition, he has shown a small, but perceptible improvement in his K/BB's. His overall ratios are not terrible with a 24% K rate and an 8.7% BB rate, but that has improved to 23% K's and 10% BB's in the second half.

      He may struggle at first in Richmond, but I think he has it in him to come through that. With his height, and long arms and legs, he's going to have to control the inner half of the plate and find ways to keep his swing short. A RH hitter with power would be welcome in the SF OF of the future.

      Angel V: Love his swing and very loud contact. He has made great strides this year. I say put him in Fresno to start next season and give him the better part of a year there with a possible late-season callup. Not sure what his option status is. Next year would be this third, but maybe the Giants get a waiver for an extra option year because he was unable to come to the states? That would be perfect as a full season in Fresno followed by anther half season in 2015 and he should be ready to rake in the majors.

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  2. Is Dunning not up in SF because of some technicality or rule regarding rosters? He sure should be in the majors....Hopefully SURKAMP's next start (with injuries to Gaudin, Cain, and Zito's incompetence) is in SF...Glad to see Frankie Pegs up...Give him some ABS...

    BLACH definitely has great control, anybody know his speed and secondary pitches??

    And what's the deal with recent draftee Will Callaway? has been hitting the snot out of the ball lately...

    SteveVA

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    1. Looking forward to seeing Surkamp.

      Not sure what Kickham's working on, maybe stage fright, bad luck, lack of talent or not knowing the art of pitching, but the results have not been impressive and there are things he can work on, except in the case of bad luck. In that case, hopefully, it will go away and not haunt him for any length of time.

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    2. I would say Kickham needs repetitions to get better command. Learn pitch sequencing to get hitters out. General refinement of his pitches. The stuff is good. He doesn't need better stuff. He has progressed rather rapidly over the last 2 seasons, so another half year or so of AAA might do him a world of good.

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    3. Pitching sequencing.

      Is that all him or is that something he and his catcher (and maybe the pitching coach or coaches) work out beforehand?

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    4. Well, catchers call the pitches but the pitcher is ultimately responsible and also has to be on board with what's being called. The catcher can call the right pitch, but if the pitcher does not believe in it, he's not going to make a good pitch.

      I think it's there are intangibles to pitching. Kickham has been lights out at times in Fresno and for 1-2 innings at a time in SF, but he has not been doing it consistently or long enough to have the kind of confidence you need at the MLB level. He needs to be able to throw all of his pitches with complete confidence and he needs to pitch out of trouble enough times that it becomes second nature to him. He doesn't have to stop and think about it anymore.

      I was concerned that they were rushing him the first callup and the back and forth has not helped that. It's kind of like his development was interrupted when that started. At this point, he just needs one role in one place and the organizaton needs to have the patience to let him work through it. Whether it be starting in SF through the end of this season or working out of the bullpen in long/middle relief, that's OK with me. I think sending him to the AFL and then at least another half season in Fresno could do wonders for him, though.

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  3. Good point about Herrera. I can't believe that they brought him in and, with him doing well, at least take him out for a drive and see what happens. They do have a 40-man roster spot open, maybe a September call-up?

    Though if Brown continues to do well, they might bring him up to reward him for finally listening to the coaches and changing his batting mechanics, plus to give him a taste of the good life to motivate him further, and lastly to give him more mentoring on how to steal bases more successfully.

    It would be nice to have another Mac Attack in our lineup and a successor to our long history of outfield prowess - Conner (first Giants career leader in homers), Ott (took over lead), Mays (took over lead), Bonds (both; Barry again holds lead), Jack the Ripper, others.

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    1. Honestly, I think it would be better NOT to give BROWN a call up..He doesn't deserve it and perhaps not getting called up will sting him even more persoanlly and push him harder for next year...OTOH, some players are motivated by the Carrot, others by the stick....

      OTOH, Hererra has done everything to deserve a call up..And it's not like he's a kid...but he still has alot lieft....I think it's worth a shot along with Pegs, Domiguez and already up Kieschnick..

      SteveVA

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    2. It's a matter of carrots and sticks, VA. Giving a guy like a Brown a September call-up might be the perfect motivation for him to turn his career around, which is what everyone associated with the Giants wants to see happen. They've already given him the stick by calling up every other OF on the Grizzlies at one point or another but him. It just might be time to try the carrot.

      On another note, now that Pegs is with the Giants, Fresno only has 2 OFs on the roster. Do the Grizzlies put Tanaka or Mingo in LF or does the organization promote someone from the lower minors?

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    3. I have noticed a pattern that whenever there is a significant promotion of an OF from his team, Brown immediately goes into a tailspin. He's gotta have thicker skin than that if he is going to survive in the majors, so might as well start growing some in the minors.

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    4. As stated before, everyone responds differently. If getting a September call-up motivates him turn his game around, it would seem worth the effort. If he doesn't respond, you keep him in Fresno until he does or until he's worn out his welcome with the organization.

      A September call up seems like a small price to pay to potentially help turn around the first-round investment they have in Brown.

      AP

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  4. I saw a decent BR report on call ups. They had Surkamp, Pegs, Hembree and Dunning on the list. The last two have to get a shot, since we very well may need them. I would also put Runzler on that list if he's healthy (can't recall seeing him) given Lopez is gone, Affeldt another year older and Mijares has faltered a bit. Even if Mijares is back, we wold be well served to have three solid lefties. The right side definitely needs some new arms.

    On starters, I still have no idea where we go. Timmy will be on staff and I have to guess he starts at starter. While we could just merely pick up Chaudin and Vogey, I think the next 6 weeks tells us a lot. The former now has a medical asterisk. The latter had a tough year before he went on DL and is also one year older. I really liked Surkamp and while maybe he doesn't through hard, he gets guys out (or at least did before his injury). Escobar to me is also a wild card. If I was betting, I'd say it is Cain, MadBum, Timmy, and Surkamp for the first 4. I can't see paying both Vogey and Chaudin, so I think it comes down to who they like more (unless they get Chaudin on a 1 year deal and put him back in the logn position as insurance, which I wouldn't mind). Escobar goes to AAA (although I would love to see him as the 4th starter and Surkamp as the long guy)

    Love Dominguez, Pegs and Noonan as cheap utility guys. Good defense. So-so offense.

    PiLamBear

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  5. Giants sightings on BA hot prospect sheet!
    Kyle Crick - in the team photo
    Kendry Florea - Helium

    J

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    1. Glad they gave Flores some helium. That's almost better than being at the top of the main list.

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    2. Jim Shonerd from BA just said that's how they introduce new players who've been outstanding to the sheet

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