Down on the Farm: 8/4/2022

 AAA:  Tacoma Rainiers beat the Sacramento River Cats 8-5.

Shane Matheny CF- 1 for 3, HR(1).  BA= .263.

*************************************************************************************

AA:  New Hampshire Fisher Cats outscored the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-6.

Brandon Martorano DH- 4 for 5, 2B.  BA= .227.

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 3 for 5.  BA= .210.

Ricardo Genoves C- 1 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .228.

Matt Frisbee RHP- 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 5.25.

Tyler Fitzgerald has a 7-game hit streak in which he is 10 for 23 with 2 HR.

*************************************************************************************

A+:  Eugene Emeralds pounded the Spokane Indians 8-2.

Vaun Brown RF- 1 for 4, HR(8), BB, SB(13).  BA= .342.

Jairo Pomares LF- 1 for 3, 2 BB. BA= .240.

Jimmy Glowenke 2B- 2 for 4, HR(7), HBP.  BA= .204.

Keaton Winn RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 10 K.  ERA= 2.81.

Evan Gates RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.60.

Keaton Winn seems to be finally healthy and emerging as a serious pitching prospect.

*************************************************************************************

A:  Fresno Grizzlies edged out the San Jose Giants 3-2.

NTSH.

************************************************************************************

Complex Watch:

Marco Luciano DH(ACL, 20 yo)- 1 for 2.  BA= .500. Hey!  A Marco Luciano sighting!  Rehab assignment.

Anthony Rodriguez SS(ACL, 19 yo)- 1 for 2, HR(6), BB, HBP.  BA= .239.

Onil Perez C(ACL, 19 yo)- 3 for 3, 2B.  BA= .271.

Miguel Mora RHP(ACL, 20 yo)- 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K.  ERA= 3.76.

Damon Dues 2B(ACL, 24 yo)- 4 for 4, 3B.  BA= .400.

Zach Morgan C(ACL, 22 yo)- 0 for 2, BB.  BA= .000.  7'th round draft pick 2022.  First pro game.  First Giants 2022 draft pick to appear in a pro game.

Cesar Quintas CF(ACL, 19 yo)- 2 for 4.  BA= .254.

Ramon Peralta DH(DSL, 18 yo)- 2 for 3, 2 BB, SB(6).  BA= .247.

Fabio Villadiego RF(DSL, 18 yo)- 2 for 3, HR(3), BB, 2 SB(5).  BA= .214.

Ricardo Estrada LHP(DSL, 20 yo)- 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 5.40.

Game Wrap 8/4/2022: Dodgers 5 Giants 3

 Another game, another loss to the Hated Ones.  Jakob Junis RHP reached his pitch count limit with 2 outs and 2 runners on base in the fourth inning.  John Brebbia RHP came in a promptly gave up a 3-run HR to Mookie Betts OF.  No shame in giving up a HR to Mookie Betts but Junis was charged with 3 runs allowed instead of one.

New Giant J.D. Davis 3B hit an oppo-field HR to drive in 2 runs in the second inning.  That takes a pretty good poke from a RH batter.  Davis underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left hand over the offseason.  FZ may be calculating he'll be fully healed and ready to break out by next season?

*************************************************************************************

The Giants can stay home while on the road as they start a weekend series against crossbay rivals, the A's.  Carlos Rodon LHP faces Adam Oller RHP in game 1 tomorrow evening.

Down on the Farm: 8/3/2022

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats edged out the Tacoma Rainiers 1-0.

Isan Diaz 2B- 3 for 3.  BA= .282.

Wei-Chi Huang RHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 6.89.

Michael Stryfeler RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Ben Bowden LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.17.

Stryfeler was acquired from the Mariners(who else?) for Matt Boyd LHP and Curt Casali C at the deadline. Bowden is a former 2'nd round draft pick by the Rockies from Vanderbilt.  He has allowed 3 ER in 14 IP since being acquired by the Giants.

*************************************************************************************

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels topped the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3-2.

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .203.

Brett Auerbach 3B- 1 for 3, HR(13), BB.  BA= .207.

Wil Jensen RHP- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.68.

Randy Rodriguez RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.68.

Cole Waites RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save(4).  ERA= 2.25.

*************************************************************************************

A+:  Spokane Indians beat the Eugene Emeralds 8-5.

Vaun Brown CF- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .345.

Jairo Pomares LF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .239.

Casey Schmitt 3B- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .277.

Can we please get Vaun Brown a head start on his 2023 AA season?

*************************************************************************************

A:  San Jose Giants defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 5-2.

Grant McCray CF- 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB(30).  BA= .286.

Jared Dupere RF- 1 for 3, HR(5), BB.  BA= .308.

Trevor McDonald RHP- 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.66.

Hunter Dula RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.18.

Jose Cruz RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's, Save(5).  ERA= 2.86.

McDonald, like many prospects, lost a year of development in 2020, but has 1 more year of protection from the Rule 5 draft.  Ditto Grant McCray.

Game Wrap 8/3/2022: Dodgers 3 Giants 0

 Giants nemesis Julio Urias LHP(Dodgers) retired the first 11 Giants batters to start the game and another baserunning mistake by Luis Gonzalez LF ended the only serious Giants thread of the evening in a loss that was not nearly as close as the score looks.

The Giants started with bottom of the 7'th inning trailing 3-0.  The started their half of the inning with three groundball singles to load the bases.  That chased Urias and gave the fans some hope of getting back in the game.  Dixon Machado SS, the only player on the roster who can play SS, struck out.  Mike Yastrzemski PH/RF hit a shallow flyball to RF that Gonzalez, who was on 2B, read has hit all the way and broke for third which led to an easy doubling up. As sfgiants.com beatwriter Sonja Chen pointed out, that is the second time Gonzalez was doubled off 2B.  A frustrated Kap said they are trying help Gonzalez understand the importance of the out in that situation.  Although it's troubling, I think it's important to realize that Gonzalez has a total of less than half a season of MLB PA's under his belt and Mookie Betts is not playing RF in most minor league games.

Joey Bart C had 3 hits to raise his BA over the Mendoza Line for the first time since early in the season.  I'll say it again.  If the Giants accomplish nothing this year except get Joey Bart established as the starting catcher, the season is a success in my book.

Alex Cobb RHP- 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 8 K, GO/AO= 8/2.  ERA= 4.08.  Another QS for Cobb who wins the Matt Cain Hard Luck Award for 2022 going away.  

*************************************************************************************

Roster Moves overshadowed the play on the field for... well, it's become a somewhat regular occurrence.  Trade acquisition, J.D. Davis was activated and started at 3B.  Bryce Johnson OF got the callup and started in CF mostly for his defensive prowess.  Sam Long LHP and Jason Vosler UT were optioned back to AAA Sacramento to make room for the new guys.  Davis went 1 for 4 and Johnson went 0 for 2 before being lifted for YtY, who is not hitting much himself and went 0 for 2.

*************************************************************************************

The Giants try to stave off their second 4-game sweep against the Dodgers within 2 weeks with Jakob Junis RHP facing Clayton Kershaw LHP.

Down on the Farm: 8/2/2022

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 5-2.

Brandon Crawford SS- 0 for 1, BB.  BA= .000.

Andrew Knapp C- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .259.

Isan Diaz RF- 1 for 4, HR(21).  BA= .259.

Tristan Beck RHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 6.01.

RJ Dabovich RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.60.

Crawford begins his rehab assignment.  You could kind of see the handwriting on the wall for Curt Casali C when they brought in Andrew Knapp.  Curt Casali was a good Giant.  Over his last 3 starts Beck has allowed 4 ER in 17 IP with 12 K's and just 1 BB.  FZ mentioned Dabovich as a pitcher who is almost ready to step in and help at the MLB level.

*************************************************************************************

Richmond Flying Squirrels mauled the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8-1.

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 1 for 4, HR(17).  BA= .199.

Brett Auerbach 3B- 4 for 4, HR(12), BB.  BA= .206.

Carter Aldrete 2B- 2 for 5. HR(1).  BA= .208.

Jake Dahlberg LHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.28.

Taylor Rashi RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.41.

AA was an aggressive placement for a guy signed as an NDFA in 2020.  Auerbach can repeat AA next year or move up to a more hitter-friendly environment in AAA Sacramento next season and still be on track for a MLB career as a useful utility man who can play C.  Not sure what to make of Fitz.  The 17 HR's are impressive but the BA is not going to cut it.  Dahlberg which is probably the Giants biggest need right now at the MLB level.  Rashi is quietly have a a tremendous season.

*************************************************************************************

A+:  Eugene Emeralds crushed the Spokane Indians 11-3.

Vaun Brown RF- 3 for 6, 2 2B.  BA= .330.

Luis Matos CF- 2 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .181.

Jairo Pomares LF- 4 for 5, 2B, HR(11).  BA= .236.

Patrick Bailey C- 2 for 4, HR(9).  BA= .209.

Landon Roupp RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.01.

Ofelky Peralta RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Mat Olsen RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.03.

Ofelky who?  Ofelky Peralta has pitched for 4 teams this season.

*************************************************************************************

A:  Fresno Grizzlies blew out the San Jose Giants 20-5.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 1 for 4, HR(10).  BA= .264.

Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 5.  BA= .239.

Jared Dupere DH- 1 for 5, HR(4).  BA= .306.

Victor Bericoto RF- 2 for 3, HR(9).  BA= .255.

*************************************************************************************

Complex Watch:

Dilan Rosario 2B(ACL, 21 yo)- 2 for 2, HR(2), 2 BB.  BA= .192.

Onil Perez C(ACL, 19 yo)- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB(2).  BA= .252.

Nomar Medina RHP(ACL, 19 yo)- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 1.84.

Luis Bermudez RHP- (DSL, 18 yo)- 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 1.38.

Estanlin Cassiani RHP- 2 for 4, SB(12).  BA= .378.

Game Wrap 8/2/2022: Dodgers 9 Giants 5

The Giants had a really nice 4'th inning, not so much the rest of the game in what was essentially a blowout loss.  

Joey Bart C capped the 5-run 4'th inning with a 2-run blast to CF.  He added a nifty bunt single on what might have been a sacrifice attempt in the 6'th inning.  That created a bases-loaded, no-out situation with a chance for the Giants to take the lead.  Two K's and a pop up left all 3 runners on base with no runs scored.

Bart continues to show just enough of these offensive flashes to keep hope alive for his MLB catching career.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  If Giants can establish Joey Bart as their starting catcher of the future, this season will be a success,  no matter where they finish or what their W-L record is.

*************************************************************************************

The game was really an afterthought to the fireworks of trading deadline day.  I don't have time for an exhaustive review.  I'll try to catch up over the weekend, but here are my hot takes:

Interesting that FZ admitted the regression of the farm system cost the Giants a chance to trade for Juan Soto OF.  At least he was honest about it and now we know the farm system failures has his attention.

Word on the street is Rodon's opt-out scared off potential buyers.  That makes sense, and don't forget FZ can get a draft pick compensation for him.  FZ does not want the pick so much as the extra bonus slot money.  Can't really argue with that since extra slot money in 2020 enabled him to draft Kyle Harrison LHP.

My guess is Joc Pederson OF was all but untradeable due to the concussion.  Concussions have ended more than one MLB career and buying teams were not going to risk a prolonged recovery.

The Darin Ruf IF/OF trade was the big surprise.  I like the haul they got.  J.D. Davis is younger and has 2 more years of contract control.  He was one of the RH bats I thought FZ might want to trade for this past offseason.  It would have been a decent straight up trade for FZ but the Giants got 3 more pitching prospects in the process.  Nice!

Trading Curt Casali C was another surprise. Giants sent him and Matt Boyd LHP to the Mariners(who else?) for pitching and catching prospects. I see this move as a vote of confidence for Joey Bart and getting the two prospects is a bonus.

FZ flipped Trevor Rosenthal RHP for Tristan Peters OF.  That he got anything for Rosenthal at all is a near miracle.  

FZ essentially used Boyd and Rosenthal to buy a couple of prospects, a familiar trick of his.

Take all this together, FZ was essentially a seller and did about as well as he could under the circumstances although his admission that farm system regression cost him a chance to land Juan Soto is troubling.

*************************************************************************************

Alex Cobb RHP tries to give the Giants a chance to split the series with the Dodgers tomorrow evening facing Julio Urias LHP.

Game Wrap 8/1/2022: Dodgers 8 Giants 2

 

Logan Webb RHP and the Giants lineup was no match for the Dodgers juggernaut in another lopsided loss to the Bad Guys.  

Wilmer Flores 2B hit his 16'th HR.  If some team postseason-bound team out there needs a RH bat off the bench, they could do a lot worse than Wilmer Flores.  

*************************************************************************************

The Loss leaves the Giants 4.5 games behind in the race for the final Wild Card playoff spot with 3 more games looming against the Dodgers who the Giants clearly are not physically competitive with.  With less than 24 hours left until the trade deadline, I would think that should be a pretty clear message to sell.

*************************************************************************************

Churn Watch:  

The Giants did make a minor move today trading Jeremy Walker RHP to the Rays for Ford Proctor C/IF and right away you can see from the position designation that Proctor is FZ's kind of player.  In somewhat of a surprise, Kervin Castro RHP was designated for assignment.  Jeremy Walker?  I honestly had no idea the Giants had a player by that name in the organization.

************************************************************************************

Once again, Alex Wood LHP tries to get the Giants back on track facing former Giant Tyler Anderson LHP whose body seems to have suddenly become possessed by the ghost of Cy Young.  As Sergio Romo would say, "what's up with that?"