While second base is a relatively deep position in the Giants minor league system, the top appears to be locked down for at least the next 6 seasons or so as Joe Panik came up and took charge late in the 2014 season and carried it all the way to a championship.
MLB Starter: Joe Panik- .305/.343/.368, 1 HR, 5.6 BB%, 11.5 K%. BABIP= .343, 287 PA. The BABIP might give you pause and I'm not going to say he can sustain it. I would instead point to Panik's 2012 season with the San Jose Giants: .297/.368/.402, 7 HR, 9.6 BB%, 8.9 K%, BABIP= .317. 2015 may be a bit of a bumpy ride as opposing pitchers adjust to him and he has to readjust back, but I expect his walk rate to eventually go up into the 8-10% range and his power to increase a bit as he matures. A BABIP of .317 does not look quite a daunting in terms of sustainability as .343. I think we would all be happy if his SJ line was his ceiling and he maintained it for several years.
MLB Reserve: Ehire Adrianza- .237/.279/.299, 106 PA. Panik may have not gotten his big chance had Adrianza not gone down with a bad hammy. Adrianza appeared to be taking control of the 2B position by hitting .333 in June and .318 in July. If I'm an opposing GM, I'm asking about Adrianza in trade talks. If he is not traded, I expect him to be the primary reserve IF as he can also play a dazzling SS.
Matt Duffy- .267/.302/.300, 64 PA. Duffy's line is impressive when you consider he was used mainly as a PH. It will be interesting to see what happens in the spring. If Pablo is re-signed and Adrianza not traded, Duffy might be sent down to Sacramento. If Pablo is not re-signed, all kinds of possibilities open up. On the other hand, Duffy had so many big hits for the Giants down the stretch, it seems hard to believe they would not want to find a way to keep him up with the big club. Maybe Arias goes somewhere else?
AAA: Empty. Panik vacated this mid-season and he ain't going back!
AA: Blake Miller- .304/.373/.402, 8.8 BB%, 20.6 K%, 102 PA. Miller was drafted in 2013 out of Western Oregon U and was aggressively promoted to San Jose to start this season where he hit a robust .299/.354/.453 with 8 HR's in 409 PA's. He did not miss a beat after being promoted to AA Richmond to replace Matt Duffy. Someone to watch closely in 2015.
Kelby Tomlinson- .268/.340/.323, 49 SB, 8.9 BB%, 16.6 K% in 494 PA. While his numbers are not as exciting as what Duffy and Miller put up in Richmond, these are quite good for that environment. The K/BB is not quite up to par with Panik, but still solid. Is he a SS or a 2B? Started the season at 2B while Duffy played SS, but then moved to SS with Miller playing 2B after Duffy's callup.
High A: Brandon Bednar- .241/.297/.354, 5 HR, 5.7 BB%, 17.7 K%, 212 PA. Bednar, a 2013 draftee was called up from Augusta with so-so results. He's played all IF positions but 2B seems to be his primary residence on the field. I expect he will be back in San Jose to start the 2015 season.
Alberto Robles- .224/.270/.299, 2 HR, 10 SB, 234 PA. Disappointing season for Robles after hitting .304 for Augusta in 2013.
Low A: Ryan Jones- .242/.361/.320, 1 HR, 5 SB, 15.6 BB%, 18.8 K%, 186 PA. Pretty good numbers if you ignore the BA.
Jeremy Sy- .216/.324/.393, 13 HR, 16 SB, 12.6 BB%, 23.4 K%, 397 PA. Again, you have to look past the BA. Those are close to 20/20 numbers projected to 600 PA. Seems to be able to play some SS too.
Short Season: Travious Relaford- .283/. 380/.372, 3 HR, 9 SB, 12 BB%, 12.6 K%, 309 PA. Relaford finally got to spend an entire season in one place at an appropriate level and really seemed to find some traction. He's always been considered a raw toolsy type. Is all the hard work finally starting to pay off in some skills?
Rookie AZL: Kevin Rivera- .228/.281/.296, 6.7 BB%, 21.1 K%, 180 PA. 2014 HS draftee. Those numbers are not too impressive, but I seem to remember several multi-hit games in the boxscores. With some patience, I think this kid may develop into something.
DSL: Nobody. The position was manned by a couple of DSL veterans who don't appear to be going anywhere.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
All I know is, Duffy and Panik both showed some serious baseball IQ on a big stage, and there were times it felt like Fresno had saved the season. Infield depth looks crowded all of a sudden, and that's without figuring Scutaro and a miracle recovery into the equation.
ReplyDeleteI like giving Duffy AB's in AAA, and having Ehire as premium insurance up the middle.
ReplyDeleteEhire Adrianza is out of options, right?
ReplyDeleteGoing to be a lot of repeats when we get to SS depth chart.
Yep, Adrianza, Duffy and Tomlinson will be on the SS depth chart just off the top of my head.
DeleteHas anybody here ever heard Crawford's name being thrown around to replace Panda? I'm not necessarily advocating for it or suggesting he'd be any good there, but if Ehire can hit close to .300 and play "dazzling" defense at SS...maybe B-Craw sliding over to 3B isn't such a bad idea...especially if they can get a nice bat for LF to replace Pablo's production (Thomas, anyone?).
ReplyDeleteLucky
Lucky,
ReplyDeleteI think ideally you get more production out of a corner IF than Crawford can provide... Also seriously doubt Adrianza can hit .300 for a season, especially considering that literally ZERO full-time SS hit .300 this season. Starlin Castro was closest at .292. That being said, I think Crawford sticks at SS and the loss of Panda (if it happens) should be made up in LF, Panik at second for a full season and the development of Brandon Belt... There will not be a 3B on the market that can replace Pablo, might as well find a good D guy who is all or nothing or has some slap and dash capability?
Andy in SD
Yeah, I'm not convinced it's something to consider. However, it seems like you agree that Pablo won't be easily replaced and his production made up in LF. You also suggest finding a good D guy to man 3B since replacement options are bare. All seems to make the Crawford argument stick, yeah?
DeleteLucky
Lucky
I think Adrianza could also play 3B(I tend to think Duffy does not have the arm for it). As long as Crawford and Adrianza are playing at the same time, it doesn't really matter which one plays 3B or SS.
DeleteI think there may be some trade options for 3B that open up depending on where Pablo signs(if you believe the rumors, he's going to Boston). For instance, I like Garin Checchini a lot and his K/BB ratios fit into the Giants current philosophy. I think he might come available in a trade if Boston signs Pablo to a longterm contract.
Bet you Wil Middlebrooks becomes available in event of Pablo signing and wouldn't that be exciting.
DeleteSomebody threw out the name Wilson Betemit for 3B. That could be the Casey McGehee of 2015.
As for Miller & Tomlinson, not looking so hot in the desert. Probably looking at AAA ceiling guys.
AFL stats don't mean anything. Look up Buster Posey's AFL stats. No thanks on Wilson Betemit. Middlebrooks is an extreme 3 TTO guy. Giants generally stay away from those types.
DeleteSpeaking of not-meaning-much, but still-interesting (something to keep the mind going until spring training or some free agent signing news) AFL stats, I would still be interested to know if anyone can post Carbonell's numbers. Thanks.
Deletehave you seen Miller or Tomlinson, Doc?
DeleteI've seen Miller at Visalia and saw both on televised AFL game. The numbers look nice, but physically Miller doesn't jump out at you whether it's bat speed, lateral movement, arm, etc. He's not real young either.
In one or two looks, I don't think anything about Panik or Duffy jump out at you either. Look, Miller was a low round draft pick out of a program I had never heard of before. He's a longshot. Tomlinson is D first SS who had a surprisingly good season in a tough place to hit. He's a longshot too. Longshots sometimes make it. Most of the time they don't. It will be interesting to see what both of them do this coming year.
DeleteHi Doc,
ReplyDeleteI am not a huge Joe Panik fan and I was disappointed that he did not even seem to be on the radar for ROY. I don't think he deserved to win over DeGrom or Hamilton, but I think his value to this team should put him up in the top 5 or so. I noticed that you did not mention Marco Scutaro in your depth chart. He is under contract for this coming year. Is there any hope of him contributing anything this year?
Never say never and never say always, but I will be surprised if Scutaro ever plays again.
DeleteScoots can do two things, a) NOT bean Belt with a baseball and b) mentor Panik.
DeleteEdit: I AM a Huge Joe Panik Fan. Forget the NOT.
ReplyDelete