Game Wrap 8/14/2024: Braves 13 Giants 2

Robbie Ray LHP hit the first two batters he faced, walked in a run and gave up a grand slam HR in a disaster start that lasted 0.2 IP.  By that time it was all over but the shouting.  Key Lines:

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 2 for 4, HR(14).  BA= .315.  Fitzgerald continues his ROY surge.  At this point finding a core for the future may be the only measure of a successful season left.  Fitz appears to have established himself as part of that core.

Sean Hjelle RHP- 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.67.  Hjelle shows his versatility going more than 3 IP.  Is he a future SP?

Robbie Ray LHP- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP.  ERA= 6.00.  The odds of him opting out of next year's contract just went down.  If he doesn't he's a Giant through 2026, barring a trade, of course.

With the Loss, the Giants fall 4.5 games behind in the Wild Card Playoff race.

Logan Webb RHP tries to prevent the 4-game sweep tomorrow afternoon facing Max Fried LHP.

Churn Watch:

Grant McCray OF was added to the 40-man roster and activated to the 26-man roster.  Marco Luciano IF was optioned back to AAA Sacramento.  I am not sure McCray is ready for this, but he had to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason anyway.  If Luciano was not going to get PA's with the Giants he needed to be sent down.  The Jorge Soler trade is looking more and more like a huge mistake, possibly costing the Giants a playoff spot.  That trade might be grounds for FZ to be replaced all by itself.

Down on the Farm: 8/13/2024

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats tamed the Salt Lake City Bees 11-7:

Thairo Estrada 2B- 1 for 3, HBP . BA= .333.

Wade Meckler LF- 3 for 6, 2 3B.  BA= .327.

Trenton Brooks 1B-2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .310.

Grant McCray CF- 1 for 2, 3 BB, SB(8).  BA= .272.

Tristan Beck RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.50.

Tyler Myrick RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save(5).  ERA= 3.66.

Great!  Thairo Estrada begins his rehab assignment with an HBP.  A night for the Wade Meckler fans to get excited.  Tristan Beck seems to be coming along nicely in his rehab assignment.  Tyler Myrick is a sleeper bullpen prospect.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels blasted the Harrisburg Senators 11-3:

Ismael Munguia LF- 2 for 6.  BA= .297.

Carter Howell CF- 1 for 2, 3 BB, SB(14).  BA= .275.

Victor Bericoto 1B- 3 for 5, 2B, 2 SB(4).  BA= .262.

Diego Velasquez SS- 2 for 5, SB(1).  BA= .267.

Zach Morgan C- 1 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .316.

Vaun Brown RF- 2 for 5, 2B, SB(5).  BA= .132.

Nick Sinacola RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 3.13.

Ben Madison RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 6.62.

Nick Swiney LHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.78.

Reminder that Diego Velasquez is just 20 yo and has another year of development before he turns Rule 5 Draft eligible.

A+:  Hillsboro Hops buried the Eugene Emeralds 7-1:

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 2 for 3, HR(4), BB.  BA= .325.

Bad news:  The Ems got just 2 hits in the game.  Good news:  Bryce Eldridge had both of them including a HR.

A:  San Jose Giants blanked the Stockton Ports 5-0:

Bo Davidson CF- 1 for 3, HR(7), BB.  BA- .313.

Walker Martin SS- 1 for 4, 2B.  BA= .087.

James Tibbs III RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .318.

Jack Payton DH- 2 for 4.  BA= .247.

Lisbel Diaz LF- 3 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .225.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Cale Lansville LHP- 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 5.27.

Reminder Lisbel Diaz just turned 19 yo and next year will be his age 19 season.  Great looking young ballplayer!

DSL:  Giants Orange edged out the Tigers 1 1-0(7 innings):

Frainer Mejias RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.86.

Jose Rojas RHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.94.

DSL:  Giants Black defeated Arizona Red 8-5:

Jhonny Level SS- 1 for 4, HR(9), BB.  BA= .275.

Jesus Alexander DH- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .377.

Evan Estevez 1B- 2 for 5.  BA= .288.

Juan Colorado 3B- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .250.

Anyelo Gonzalez C- 2 for 5.  BA= .190.

Anthony Marquez 2B- 1 for 4, HR(1), BB.  BA= .268.

Ricardo Estrada LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 1.28.

Jan Caraballo RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's, Save(4).  ERA= 2.27.

How many more DSL games are there?  I don't think I've seen a Giants DSL prospect hit double-digit HR's.  Does Jhonny Level have a chance?

Game Wrap 8/13/2024: Braves 4 Giants 3

The Giants came back from early deficits to tie at 3 in the 8'th inning but lost in extra innings for the second game in a row.  Ouch!  Key Lines:

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 1 for 5, HR(13).  BA= .305.  The HR got the Giants within run in the 3'rd inning but he failed to execute a bunt in the 10'th which cost the Giants a chance to get back the tie. 

Heliot Ramos CF- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .282.  Every time I am about to give up on Heliot, he seems to have a good game.

Patrick Bailey C- 1 for 4.  BA= .238.  Bailey hit one about as hard as possible to lead off the 9'th but the Braves CF made a twisting catch at the CF wall for an out.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 4.14.  Credit to the kid for hanging in there for 5 IP but another rough start.

Sean Hjelle RHP= 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.72.  I wonder if Hjelle could be a SP next season or has he found his career role as a reliever?  Melvin definitely likes him and has done a great job of bringing him along this season.  I continue to obsess over his unique talent.

Landon Roupp RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.87. Roupp was showing off his + curveball tonight.  Maybe ++?

Jordan Hicks RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.92.  Hicks FB is back up to triple digits.  He will probably have a better and longer career as a reliever.

The Loss drops the Giants 3.5 games behind the Braves in the Wild Card playoff race.

Robbie Ray LHP tries to keep the Giants in the Wild Card race tomorrow evening facing Grant Holmes RHP

Down on the Farm: 8/12/2024

DSL:  Giants Orange defeated the Marlins 8-1(7 innings):

Luis Frias CF- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .227.

Miguel Blanco LF- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .273.

Jorge Ramirez C- 2 for 3, BB, SB(1).  BA= .290.

Dilan Fernandez RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.20.

Omar Calcurian RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.04.

DSL:  Marlins beat Giants Orange 4-1(7 innings, makeup of August 1 game):

Albert Jimenez 3B- 1 for 3, 2B.  BA= .267.

Elkyns Villareal RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.18.

Edwin Guerra RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. ERA- 3.81.

DSL:  Giants Black blanked the Mariners 6-0:

Jhonny Level SS- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .276.

Alessandro Duran C- 3 for 4, BB.  BA= .279.

Argenis Cayama RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 1.93.

Marlon Franco RHP- 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 1.69.

Game Wrap 8/12/2024: Braves 1 Giants 0(10 innings)

Blake Snell and Chris Sale hooked up in one of the better pitching duels you will ever see.  So much so that if weren't for something called the Wild Card, the final score would be almost irrelevant.  Key Lines:

Blake Snell LHP- 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 11 K's.  ERA= 3.91.  Snell took a no-hitter into the 7'th inning but wasn't able to hold his pitch count down.  He appeared to fatigue a bit in the 7'th but still only gave up one semi-hard hit ball in the game.  His stuff was once again sensational with a high-90's FB and an unhittable curveball.  

Chris Sale LHP- 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K's.  ERA= 2.61.  I am not sure how anyone could have better stuff than Snell had but Sale might have. The slider in particular was ridiculous diving below the Giants bats.  I will say the home plate ump had a generous strike zone for both pitchers.

I read an X post that said the 23 combined K's set an Oracle Park record.  It was the first time since 2010 that two pitchers had double digit K's in a game at Oracle when Tim Lincecum and Cole Hamels combined for 21.  

The Loss dropped the Giants to 2.5 games behind the Braves in the Wild Card race.

Kyle Harrison LHP tries to even the series tomorrow evening facing Charlie Morton RHP.

Down on the Farm: 8/11/2024

 AAA:  Albuquerque Isotopes outscored the Sacramento River Cats 17-10:

Luis Matos RF- 2 for 4, HR(10), BB.  BA= .252.

Grant McCray CF- 1 for 5, HR(6),  BA= .270.

Hunter Bishop DH- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(7).  BA= .219.

Jakson Reetz C- 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .255.

Donovan Walton SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .298.

Camilo Doval RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 18.00.

I couldn't resist putting Doval's line in there.

AA:  Hartford Yard Goats defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 6-1:

 

Justin Wishkoski 3B- 0 for 1, 3 BB.  BA= .200.

Nick Garcia RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.14.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds buried the Vancouver Canadians 15-4:

Scott Bandura RF- 3 for 5, 2B, BB, 2 SB(14).  BA= .248.

Sabin Ceballos 3B- 2 for 5, SF.  BA= .343.

Bryce Eldridge DH- 1 for 2, 3 BB, SF.  BA= .315.

Onil Perez C- 2 for 4, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .235.

Charlie Szykowny 1B- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .297.

Quinn McDaniel 2B- 2 for 5, BB.  BA=.235.

Jonah Cox CF- 1 for 2, 3 BB, SB(17).  BA= .227.

Joe Whitman LHP- 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.88.

Cody Tucker RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 5.72.

A:  San Jose Giants topped the Inland Empire 66'ers 6-4:

Bo Davidson CF- 4 for 5, 2B, HR(6).  BA= .312.

James Tibbs III RF- 2 for 5.  BA= .278.

Elian Rayo 3B- 2 for 4.  BA= .262.

Josh Bostick RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.78.

I attended this game.  Bo Davidson appears to have major league size and athleticism and an ability to square up pitches.  Josh Bostick has a major league frame.  He sat 92 MPH but command was inconsistent.  Walker Martin looks like an athlete but maybe hasn't faced this level of pitching before?  He seemed overmatched.

I've been going to minor league games in the Inland Empire for 20 years now.  I took my family to see Matt Cain pitch in Rancho Cucamonga in 2004. We got his autograph.  One thing that struck me tonight is every pitcher rolled out of bed throwing at least 92 MPH except for one sidearmer for the 66'ers.  20 years ago it wasn't that common to see a pitcher over 90 MPH and the Cal League was A+ level then.  Now these kids in low A ball are all bringing it at 92-96 MPH.  

Game Wrap 8/11/2024: Tigers 5 Giants 4

Hayden Birdsong had his second rough start in a row and a pair of baserunning blunders cut short a comeback opportunity in the 8'th inning.  Key Lines:

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .315.  Fitz and Chapman had 5 of the Giants 7 hits on the day.

Matt Chapman 3B- 3 for 4, 3B.  BA= .249.  The triple led off the 8'th inning but he broke for home too soon on a Mark Canha grounder to 3B and was out in a rundown.  Canha took 2B during the rundown but then got hung up himself on a grounder by Patrick Bailey so in 2 batters the Giants went from a runner at 3B with no outs to a runner at first with 2 outs.  

Hayden Birdsong RHP- 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.40.  Birdsong made some beautiful pitches but also made mistakes.  Big league hitters will make you pay for those no matter where their team is in the standings.  Reminder that Matt Cain's ERA his first full season in the majors was 4.1, Tim Lincecum's call up season was 4.00 and Logan Webb's call up season was 4.00.  There is usually an early learning curve. The talent and stuff is there for Birdsong.

Despite the Loss, the Giants remained 1.5 games behind in the Wild Card Playoff race.

The Giants now start a 4-game series against the team that sits in the final Wild Card spot.  Blake Snell LHP starts game 1 tomorrow evening facing Chris Sale LHP.