Game Wrap 7/17/2022: Giants 9 Brewers 5

 The Giants built a 9-1 lead behind another solid start from Logan Webb RHP and coasted to a win in a game that was not as close as the final score would indicate.

A mammoth splash hit 3-run HR from Lamonte Wade Jr 1B in the third inning was the big blow that put this one away.

Brandon Belt PH/DH added 2-run shot in the 6'th that landed in the RF arcade to an earlier RBI single.  I saw a report that Belt went to have his knee drained immediately after the game and his hoping to heal over the All-Star Break so we may be seeing a lot more of Wade Jr at 1B.  And yeah, the knee thing does not sound good.

Austin Slater CF stayed hot going 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB out of the leadoff spot to raise his BA to .303.  

Logan Webb RHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K's, GO/AO= 9/1.  ERA= 2.83.  Webb gave up a first inning run then a leadoff walk to Andrew McCutchen LF in the 7'th.  'Cutch scored on a HR given up by Jake Junis RHP.  Seems a little ridiculous that Webb is not an All-Star but probably better for everybody to get some R&R over the break.  This was Junis' first appearance after an IL layoff and he clearly did not have hit best slider going.  The Giants expect him to step into Anthony DeSclafani RHP's rotation slot after the break.

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The Giants finish the official first half of the season on a high note.  The start the second half Thursday with a big 4-game series in LA.  Woo Hoo!  Go Giants!

Scouting the 2022 Draft: Rounds 1 and 2

 Kumar Rocker RHP was drafted #3 overall by the Rangers but all of the college hitters I listed as potential targets at #30 were still available.  Kudos to Prospects Live, linked to the left for nailing the Giants first round pick, Reggie Crawford LHP/1B who was announced as a 2-way player by Rob Manfred.  Part of my analysis came true in that Crawford missed all of the 2022 season with Tommy John surgery which is likely the only reason he was still available at #30.  They also grabbed a highly rated college pitcher who fell due to a PED suspension.  So the Giants cut across the grain of a college hitter heavy draft to take pitchers and they continue a run on pitching that started with last year's draft.  Here is what I have on the top 2 picks.

Round 1:  Reggie Crawford LHP/1B.  DOB:  12/4/2000.  B-L, T-L.  6'4", 235lbs.

2021(hitting):  .295/.349/.543, 13 HR, 2 SB, 17 BB, 58 K, 210 AB. 

2021(pitching):  1-1, 2.35, 7.2 IP, 3 BB, 17 K.  

Despite more college experience as a hitter, Crawford scouts better as a pitcher.  Reportedly hit 100 MPH in a summer league game in 2021 before injuring his UCL in the fall.  LHP's who can hit triple digits don't grow on trees, so it seems like that's what the Giants will and should try to develop first with 1B and hitting as the fallback plan.  This is a case of the Giants philosophy of thumbing their nose at pitcher injury risk and going for upside/ceiling and it's real for Crawford.

Round 2:  Carson Whisenhunt LHP.  DOB:  10/20/2000.  6'3", 209 lbs.  

2021:  6-2, 3.77, 62 IP, 22 BB, 79 K.  

One of the higher rated college pitching prospects preseason but got slapped with a full year PED suspension.  Scouting reports have him with a mid-90's FB, exceptional changeup and a curveball.  Pitched this summer in the Cape Cod League and showed same stuff despite layoff.

Scouting the 2022 Draft

 I haven't posted anything about this year's MLB draft partly due to time constraints and partly because it's so hard to project who might drafted at #30 which is where the Giants are selecting after compiling the best regular season record in MLB last year.  I have been following several draft-oriented sites and let them do the heavy lifting of initial scouting reports and rankings.  Having said that, aside from Druw Jones OF(son of Andruw) being the consensus top draft prospect and fairly stable top 10, the rest of the rankings are highly variable from site-to-site.

This draft shapes up as far stronger on the position side and one of the weakest pitching crops in years.  The usual high ceiling prep positional talent dominated the top of the rankings but this draft is incredibly deep in college hitters, particularly OF's.  College hitters tend to be selected higher than their pre-draft rankings but the Giants should have their choice of several players worthy of a late first round pick at #30 and even with their second pick at #66.  

After balancing the organization with a pitching-heavy draft last year the Giants can afford to just go with the flow and take the best players available which would seem to lean more toward college hitting.  Here some quick profiles of several college hitters with a good chance of being on the board at #30.

Peyton Graham SS, Oklahoma.  DOB:  1/26/2001.  B-R, T-R.  6'3", 185 lbs.  .335/.414/.658, 20 HR, 32 SB, 24 BB, 62 K, 260 AB.  Nice power/speed combo.  Handled SS this year but probably projects more as 3B.  Improved approach to breaking balls as season progressed.  Could go pretty high if an organization thinks he can handle SS defensively as a pro.

Dylan Beavers OF, California.  DOB:  8/11/2001.  B-L, T-R.  6'4", 206 lbs.  .291/.426/.634, 17 HR, 7 SB, 51 BB, 54 K, 213 AB.  Local kid who does not turn 21 until next month.  Has tools with speed to cover CF and arm to play RF....or he could be a tweener and not be great at either.  Long levers project for power but also contribute to holes in swing.  Most mock drafts have him going to the A's earlier in the first round.

Sterlin Thompson OF, Florida.  DOB:  6/26/2001.  B-L, T-R.  6'4", 200 lbs.  .354/.443/.563, 11 HR, 10 SB, 37 BB, 47 K, 254 AB.  Highly rated prep prospect in 2020.  Has performed well in college in the toughest conference in the country.  Currently has more gap than HR power but frame projects for more in the future.  Most scouts project him as a corner OF but the bat may play there.

Cayden Wallace 3B, Arkansas.  DOB 8/7/2001.  B-R, T-R.  6'1", 205 lbs.  .298/.387/.553, 16 HR, 12 SB, 275 AB.  Another highly rated prep prospect in 2020 who excelled in college.  Performances in summer leagues a plus.  Projects as 3B or RF in pros.

Drew Gilbert OF, Tennessee.  DOB:  9/27/2000.  B-L, T-L.  5'9", 185 lbs.  .362/.455/.673, 11 HR, 4 SB, 33 BB, 32 K, 199 AB.  Two way player whose FB hits 93 on the mound.  Shorter stature favors him as a hitter.  Can play CF.  Adequate power but size may limit him to more gap power.  High intensity performer.

Brock Jones OF, Stanford.  DOB:  3/28/2001.  B-L, T-L.  6'0", 197 lbs.  .324/.451/.664, 21 HR, 16 SB, 55 BB, 78 K, 253 AB.  Tremendous athlete who played safety on the Stanford football team his freshman year before opting to concentrate on baseball.  Has speed to play CF but arm is reported as fringy.  Near maxed out physically but good current power.

Jacob Melton OF, Oregon St.  DOB:  9/7/2000.  B-L, T-L.  6'3", 208 lbs.  .360/.424/.670, 17 HR, 21 SB, 26 BB, 51 K, 261 AB.  Excellent athlete, ideal size.  Speed to play CF and power to play in corner.  

My personal rankings in order of preference, obviously depending on if they are still on the board at #30: Graham, Melton, Gilbert.  I see the Jones boys, Brock and Spencer of Vanderbilt as possible options in Round 2 if they fall to #66.

There are quite a few pitchers, both college and prep, who underwent TJ surgery this season.  I could see FZ and staff not being afraid of the injury history and thinking they can take advantage of a buy-low opportunity.  One intriguing name that probably won't be available but at least one mock draft has going to the Giants is Kumar Rocker RHP.  The ceiling is sky-high, but comes with a frightful injury risk.  That might be a smart chance to take at #30.

Down on the Farm: 7/16/2022

AAA:  Albuquerque Isotopes defeated the Sacramento River Cats 5-1.

Raynel Espinal RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 4.90.

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AA:  Altoona Curve blanked the Richmond Flying Squirrels 1-0.

Wil Jensen RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's.  BA= 0.00.

Jensen has a successful AA debut.

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A+:  Eugene Emeralds topped the Spokane Indians 6-2.

Vaun Brown RF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .343.

Luis Matos CF- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(5).   BA= .178.

Luis Toribio 1B- 2 for 4, HR(14).  BA= .215.

Landon Roupp RHP- 6.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K's, GO/AO= 7/1.  ERA- 2.51.

Juan Sanchez LHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.29.

Luis Matos is hitting just .156 in July but has hit 3 HR's in his last 4 games. 

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A:  San Jose Giants outlasted the Visalia Rawhide 4-3(10 innings).

Jared Dupere DH- 3 for 4, 2B, HR(1).  BA= .455.

Nick Sinacola RHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.07.

Spencer Bivens RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.66.

Dupere was drafted last year in round 13.  Bivens is 28 yo but has never played affiliated ball before.  Giants signed him as a FA out of indy ball.

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Complex Watch:

Carson Ragsdale RHP(Rehab)- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Mikell Manzano RHP(ACL, 19 yo)- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 3.86.

Mauricio Estrella RHP(DSL, 18 yo)- 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.58.

Game Wrap 7/16/2022: Giants 2 Brewers 1

A solo HR by Darin Ruf 1B and a balked in run in the 8'th inning were enough to support a dominant start by Alex Cobb RHP. 

This was a true pitcher's duel between Cobb and Eric Lauer LHP with the first run of the game not scoring until Ruf went deep in the 6'th inning.

Cobb's line:  7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K's, GO/AO= 12/2.  ERA= 4.09.  Cobb has had terrible BABIP luck all year but the gods went mostly his way in this one.  The one unearned run was due to a misplayed ball in CF by Austin Slater followed by a bobble by YtY which allowed the runner to advance to 3B.

Ruf's HR was his 9'th of the season and second in two games.  Ruf seems to be settling into doing what he does best:  crushing LHP's.  

The balk call was a bit unusual in that it came before Jandel Gustave RHP came although I can't say for sure if he was pitching out of the stretch with the bases loaded.  The explanation I am going with is he raised up before he stepped off which indicated he was starting his motion.  Kinda ticky-tack if you ask me but I am no expert in the fine points of balk rules.  It did not appear to me that Gustave was trying to trick anyone which I think is the spirit of the law.  As a Giants fan, I'll take it and be happy it wasn't a Giants pitcher on the receiving end of that call.

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The Win clinches at least a split in the 4-game series with Logan Webb RHP trying to end the official first half on an high note tomorrow afternoon facing Aaron Ashby LHP.

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Prior to the game, Brandon Crawford SS went back on the IL with knee soreness and Evan Longoria 3B was activated off the IL and started the game at 3B.  David Villar started the game at 2B, so apparently he is going to get a longer look.  Speaking of which, Villar drew 3 walks in 3 PA's today so in his last 4 games, he's 0 for 6 with 6 BB's, HBP and SF.

Down on the Farm: 7/15/2022

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats outscored the Albuquerque Isotopes 7-6.

Heliot Ramos RF- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .228.

Evan Longoria 3B- 2 for 3, 2B. BA= .333.

Willie Calhoun LF- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .255.

Jason Krizan 1B- 3 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .288.

Ka'ai Tom CF- 3 for 4, 2B.  BA= .262.

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AA:  Altoona Curve defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-2.

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 2 for 3, 2 HR(14).  BA= .202.

After struggling for the first 3 months of the AA season, Fitz is slashing .325/.413/.725 since the first of July.  He has a 5-game hit streak.

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A+: Eugene Emeralds beat the Spokane Indians 8-1.

Luis Toribio 3B- 2 for 4, HR(13).  BA= .210.

Riley Mahan 1B- 1 for 3, HR(1).  BA= .143.

Jake Wong RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 4.81.

Brooks Crawford RHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.29.

Luis Toribio is another guy who heated up with the July weather:  .256/.328/.558 with 3 HR's.

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A: Visalia Rawhide flogged the San Jose Giants 13-1.

Grant McCray CF- 1 for 2, HR(14), 2 BB.  BA= .281.

Eric Silva RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, GO/AO= 5/1.  ERA= 5.58.

Melvin Adon RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Adon reportedly hit 96 MPH on the radar gun.  He is on the comeback trail from a series of injuries including a shoulder surgery.

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Complex Watch:

Elian Rayo 3B(ACL, 19 yo)- 3 for 4, HR(5).  Slash= .253/.382/.473.  DSL graduate who flew under my radar last season.

Roberto Monegro RHP(ACL, 20 yo)- 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 2.70.  Converted SS worth keeping an eye on.

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Former Giants farmhand, Garrett Broshuis RHP just became a superstar in the legal field by leading the team of lawyers in a class-action suit against MLB alleging labor law violations.  They just announced a $185 M settlement in the case as well as an agreement that MLB would no longer forbid organizations from paying players for off-season activities.  Congratulations to Garrett Broshuis on a well-conceived well-executed legal case.

Game Wrap 7/15/2022: Giants 8 Brewers 5

 Joey Bart C led off the bottom of the 9'th inning by turning on a Josh Hader LHP fastball and lining if over the left field wall to cut the BrewCrew's lead to 5-3.  Six batters later, Mike Yastrzemski RF hit a walk-off grand slam HR for a dramatic and crucial win.

This game looked like it was headed the same way as so many frustrating losses this season.  The Giants used bad fielding on top of terrible BAPIP luck to hand a 5-spot to the Brewers in the 5'th inning to squander an early 2-0 lead.  I'll spare you the painful details but it was BAD!  

In the end, though, there were a couple of very good things that happened in this game aside from the obvious come-from-behind heroics in the 9'th inning.

Joey Bart had a single and scored in front of Lamonte Wade Jr. 1B's triple in the second inning.  Don't look now but Bart is slashing .333/429/.722 with 2 HR's over his last 7 games, .318/.400/.682 in 9 games since he was recalled on July 6.  It's hard to know where to start with all of the good stuff here.  If the Giants are going to make a run for a postseason berth and go deep in the postseason, they must have better production from the catcher position.  If Bart can prove between now and the trading deadline he is the guy who can supply it, that frees up resources to concentrate on other trade deadline needs like a Closer.  On top of that, no matter what happens to the rest of this season, the Giants need Joey Bart to be a cornerstone of the rebuild, worthy of a 1-2 draft pick.  If he can establish himself as that guy, this season is a success.  No pressure, Joey!  Now just go out and do it!

The Giants also need YtY to step up if they are going to make a second half run.  He also had a hit in addition to the grand slam walk-off and he is hitting .320 over his last 7 games.  That the HR went to CF off a LHP is another really good sign.

David Villar 3B had a rough evening on D which is too bad because he has made a lot of really good defensive plays since getting called up including some in this game.  He also had another adventurous night at the plate with a line of 0 for 1, 2 BB, HBP.   In his last 3 games he's gone 0 for 6, but with 3 BB, HBP and SF for an OBP of .400 with a run and RBI.  He'll probably get sent back down when Longo comes off the IL but he's shown enough to get another shot down the road especially since this is likely Longo's last season with the team.

And what about Austin Slater CF?  He got the start against a tough RHP and delivered a 4-hit night as he continues somewhat of a breakout season.

Let's not forget Darin Ruf PH who also hit a HR in the 9'th inning to cut the Brewers' lead to 5-4.  Again, if the Giants are going to make a run, they need Ruf to be kryptonite for good LHP's like Hader( Hader came into the game with a 2.73 ERA and ended up at 4.50 after giving up 3 HR's and 6 ER in the 9'th).

Alex Wood LHP- 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 4.20.  Wood pitched very well in this game and got badly BABIP'd in the 5'th inning with all of the damage coming after he started the inning with 2 K's.  

Kudos to Mauricio Llovera RHP, Yunior Marte RHP and Sam Long LHP for allowing 0 runs over the final 4 innings to set up the improbable 9'th inning comeback.

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Alex Cobb RHP tries to turn his BABIP luck around in a late-afternoon game tomorrow facing Eric Lauer LHP.