Game Wrap 4/8/2025: Reds 1 Giants 0

The Giants were shutout for the second consecutive game wasting their second consecutive well-pitched game.  Brutal!  Key Lines:

 Casey Schmitt 1B/2B- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .222.   All four of the Giants hits came off the bats of the two least likely hitters in the lineup, Schmitt and Sam Huff.  Schmitt also looked more comfortable playing 1B although there was one play where he got lost and barely made it to the bag in time.  He made a couple of big league plays freezing a runner at 3B while getting the putout at first base on a grounder to first then throwing out a lead runner at home on a fielder's choice.

Sam Huff C- 2 for 3.  BA= .154.  Nice job going to the oppo field for his two hits against a pitchers the hitters at the top of the lineup were obviosly struggling with.  He also threw out a runner trying to steal 2B.

Landen Roupp RHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K's, 8/3 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.60.  Roupp commanded 3 solid pitches, FB, curve, change up.  The changeup in particular is an additional weapon from last year which he gives him a full SP arsenal.  If he keeps pitching like this, the Giants will be alright.

Hayden Birdsong RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  A stroll in the park for Birdsong who looked completely comfortable over 3 shutout innings.  Again, if he keeps pitching like that the Giants will be alright.

City Connect Uniforms- OK, I like them.  I grew to like the orange/white, white "creamiscle" uniforms too but these ones look really sharp and the color scheme is a little easier on the eyes. Modern and energetic without being garish or excessive.  I appreciated the commentary of the Giants Director of Marketing explaining the "connection" to the city- the musical history, particularly the "psychedelic" era of the mid-1960's.  

Not sure if it's bad luck or park effects but it looked like the Giants had quite a few hard-hit balls that went right to gloves.  We'll see if that regresses positively in the future but for now the lack of runs over the last two games is a concern, especially since both games wasted excellent pitching performances.

The Giants send Justin Verlander RHP to the mound tomorrow afternoon trying to salvage a win in the series facing Nick Martinez RHP.

Game Wrap 4/7/2025: Reds 2 Giants 0

Logan Webb pitched one of the best games of his excellent career as he matched goose eggs with Hunter Greene for 7 inning.  But he ran out of pitches before Greene did and Camilo Doval did not get the job done out of the pen in the 8'th inning.  Key Lines(I mean that's pretty much the entire game right there but there are a few things we can highlight):

Jung Hoo Lee CF- 1 for 4.  BA= .333.  Jung Hoo made two sliding catches in CF to help out Logan Webb and he hit the hardest ball of the night with a drive that was caught in the deepest part of Triples Alley.  But what I really want to talk about is the Hoo Lee Gans, his own personal boistrous rooting section wearing fire hats and t-shirts with the fan club name on them.  Leave it to Giants fans!  Hopefully this has a better ending than the Melk Men.  

Logan Webb RHP- 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K's, 8/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 1.89.  Just a scintillating pitching performance by Webb.  Too bad he was locked up against one of the most talented young pitchers in the game who was dealing.  Oracle Park's notorious lack of carry definitely robbed the Giants of at least a couple of runs and the home plate ump contributed to the lack of scoring with a ridiculously wide strike zone, the opposite of what the Giants saw over the weekend.

Camilo Doval RHP- 0.1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 1 BB, HBP.  ERA= 5.06.  Doval couldn't find home plate to save his life forcing Bob Melvin to come get him with the bases loaded and one out.  Erik Miller LHP came in and gave up a 2-run double.  That was the ballgame.  At this point it's hard to see how BoMel can use Doval in close games until he proves he can pitch better.  I mean I pretty much knew that was going to happen when he entered the game.

Hunter Greene RHP- 8.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K's, 3/13 GO/AO.  ERA= 1.31.  Some of those flyballs were roasted.  I believe if this game was in Great American Ballpark or a day game in Oracle Park, the Giants woulda won, but as we know, woulda, coulda, shoulda doesn't get you very far.  In this particular game the home ballpark hurt the Giants.

The Giants try to even the series tomorrow evening with Landen Roupp RHP facing Nick Lodolo LHP.  Lodolo's sinker lowered the worm population in Great American Ballpark opening weekend.  Hopefully the Giants hitters have a plan to elevate some of those tomorrow night.

Down on the Farm: 4/6/2025

 AAA:  Las Vegas Aviators bombed the Sacramento River Cats 11-4:

Logan Porter C- 2 for 2, HR(1), 2 BB.  BA= .176.

Hunter Bishop RF- 1 for 3, 3B, BB.  BA= .188.

Sergio Alcantara SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .111.

Nick Kurtz 1B(Aviators)- 1 for 4, HR(4), BB.  BA= .412.  

Nick Kurtz hit his third HR of the series.  Look for him to play for that other team from Sacramento before the season is out.

AA:  Akron Rubber Ducks topped the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-4:

Carter Howell CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .273.

Sabin Ceballos 3B- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .083.

Diego Velasquez 2B- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .400.

Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 4.  BA= .375.

Jack Choate LHP- 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Trent Harris RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

A+:  Hillsboro Hops outscored the Eugene Emeralds 5-4:

James Tibbs III RF- 1 for 4, 2B.  BA= .400.

Shane Rademacher RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.25.

A:  Modesto Nuts defeated the San Jose Giants 6-4:

Dakota Jordan DH- 2 for 4, SB(2).  BA= .300.

Tyler Switalski LHP- 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 6/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.00.

The Giants hope Dakota Jordan can translate his considerable tools into on-field results this season.  He's off to a good start.  Tyler Switalski was drafted in the 16'th round in 2024.

Game Wrap 4/6/2025: Giants 5 Mariners 4

 Camilo Doval blew the Save but Wilmer Flores singled to drive in the run for a walk-off win.  Key Lines:  

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 4, R.  BA= .216.  Adames singled to start the 4-run rally in the 4'th inning and also made his first really eye-popping defensive play in the 5'th ranging to his left at full speed toward CF, turning and throwing almost without looking to nail a very speedy Julio Rodriguez at 1B.  

Jung Hoo Lee CF- 2 for 4, R, 2B.  BA= .344.  Lee went the opposite way for both his hits.  The second, a single in the 4'th inning kept the line moving in the 4-run rally.  He is 5 for 8 with 3 doubles in his last two games.

Heliot Ramos DH- 1 for 4, R, RBI.  BA= .308.  Ramos also went the other way against a very tough pitcher to keep the line moving and drove in the Giants first run of the game.

Mike Yastrzemski RF- 1 for 3, HR(1), BB.  BA= .333.  YtY is off to a good start to the season.  After the game he said his daughter asked him to hit a home run so he promised her he would.  How great is that.  Oh, and 3-run home runs win games!  His blast gave the Giants a 2-run lead they kept until the 9'th inning.  Oh, and he started the 9'th inning rally with a walk.

9'th Inning- After Luis Matos LF grounded into a force out, Patrick Bailey C hit a long fly down the RF line that Victor Robles made a leaping catch on against the netting along the RF line.  Robles came up in severe pain while Matos tagged up and went all the way to 3B.  The Mariners appealed and it was ruled that Robles went out of play when he landed in the netting so Matos had to go back to second base.  Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for Christian Koss 2B and went the other way for a the walk-off hit.

Jordan Hicks RHP- 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K's, 9/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 2.38.  The line doesn't look great but Hicks had to battle a ridiculously pinched and inconsistent strike zone.(Mariners SP Bryan Woo RHP had to deal with the same issues and wasn't any happier with the ump than Hicks).  To his credit, Hicks kept his cool and pitched through it.  His pitch count was starting to get a little long but he came out for the 6'th inning and went HBP, Line Out, GB single.  Randy Rodriguez RHP came in and gave up another GB single to drive in the third run Hicks was charged with.

Camilo Doval RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 1.80.  You had to anticipate torture when Doval came in for the Save Opp with a one run lead.  He didn't disappoint but at least managed to get out of the inning with the game tied giving the lineup a shot at a walk-off win.  In case you are wondering, Ryan Walker RHP was not available due to workload.

Tyler Rogers RHP and Erik Miller LHP pitched a scoreless inning each. Both pitchers are unscored upon in 6 games/6 innings for Rogers and 5 games/4 innings for Miller.

The Giants won their 7'th game in a row and upped their record to 8-1.  They are in first place in the NL West by percentage points.

Logan Webb RHP tries to keep it rolling in his third start tomorrow evening against the Reds and Hunter Greene RHP in a rematch of Opening Day.

Down on the Farm: 4/5/2025

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats blanked the Las Vegas Aviators 2-0:

Grant McCray CF- 2 for 4.  BA= .290.

Brett Wisely SS- 1 for 4, HR(2).  BA= .276.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.69.

Tristan Beck RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.38.

Justin Garza RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Wind was blowing in from CF at 5 MPH campared to blowing out at 4 MPH on Tuesday when the Cats lost 14-2.  Brett Wisely continues to carry the lineup.

AA: Akron Rubber Ducks downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-3:

Diego Velasquez 2B- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .333.

Justin Wishkoski 3B- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .333.

Zach Morgan C- 2 for 4.  BA= .500.

Manuel Mercedes RHP- 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 27.00.

Nick Sinacola RHP- 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.70.

Braxton Roxby RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Nick Morreale RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.50.

Travis Bazzana 2B(Rubber Ducks):  4 for 5, 2B, HR(1).  BA= .750.  

Manuel Mercedes looks the part of a MLB SP but his heavy sinker/contact/GB approach seems to get barreled way too often.  The first inning went LD single, LD triple, BB, HR, line drive double play.  Not much the BABIP gods can do to help with that.  Last year's draft looks like a mother lode of hitters.

A+:  Hillsboro Hops buried the Eugene Emeralds 12-5:

Bo Davidson CF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .333.

James Tibbs III RF- 1 for 4, HR(1), BB.  BA= .500.

Jonah Cox DH- 1 for 4, 3B.  BA= .444.

Scott Bandura LF- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .667.

Onil Perez C- 1 for 3, BB. BA= .143.

Although the Giants are being more cautious with their placement of first round draft pick James Tibbs III, he looks like a future MLB hitter too.

A:  Modesto Nuts edged out the San Jose Giants 3-2:

Dakota Jordan CF- 1 for 3, BB, SB(1).  BA= .167.

Greg Farone LHP- 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.45.

Ubert Mejias RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Evan Gray RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Farone was the Giants 7'th round draft pick in 2024.  Gray was selected in round 15.

Game Wrap 4/5/2025: Giants 4 Mariners 1

Robbie Ray battled through traffic to a quality start while Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman anchored the the lineup to a much cleaner win than yesterday.  Key Lines:

Jung Hoo Lee CF- 3 for 4, 2 2B, SB(3).  BA= .321.  Lee and Chapman hit back-to-back doubles twice, in the fourth and 6'th innings.  While batting third is traditionally a power position, it's been a perfect platform for Lee to set the table for Chapman and Ramos.  He is tied for 5'th in MLB for Runs with 9.  

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .310.  Chapman drove in Lee twice and then scored on singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores to account for all 4 of the Giants runs.

Mike Yastrzemski RF= 1 for 1, 3 BB. BA= .333.  YtY reached base 4 times in 4 PA's.  He drove in a run with the single but was left stranded on the base paths 4 times.

Wilmer Flores DH- 2 for 4.  BA= .250.  Seems like Wilmer is now firmly entrenched as the every day DH.

Robbie Ray LHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.18.  Not the cleanest line you'll ever see but after yesterday's bullpen burner, the Giants needed Ray to get deep into the game.  He somehow managed to ge through 6 IP on 88 pitches, 2 short of the 15 pitch/inning target.  The walks didn't hurt him as the only run he gave up was a solo HR by Dylan Moore.  

Hayden Birdsong RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Birdsong got the game to Closer Ryan Walker RHP for the Save(3) allowing Melvin to give the rest of his bullpen a breather.  Birdsong has pitched 4 very valuable innings in 2 appearances.

The Giants improved their record to 7-1 and have sole possession of second place in the NL West.

Jordan Hicks RHP tries for the swweeep tomorrow afternoon facing Bryan Woo RHP who sported a 2.89 ERA last year in 121 IP and allowed 1 run in 6 IP in his first start this season so Hicks has a challenge.

Down on the Farm: 4/4/2025

 AAA:  Las Vegas Aviators downed the Sacramento River Cats 6-4:

Brett Wisely 2B- 1 for 4, HR(1), BB.  BA= .280.

Hunter Bishop RF- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .192.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K's, 69 Pitches.  ERA= 1.13.

Helcris Olivares LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Nick Kurtz 1B(Aviators)- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .462. 

No offense to Christian Koss who absolutely deserved his promotion to the major leagues but after the spring Brett Wisely had it must be tough to find himself back in AAA. So far, he's been the River Cats best position player.  Kyle Harrison has 11 K's and 4 BB in 8 IP over his first two games.  Nick Kurtz was the 4'th overall draft pick for the A's in 2024. He appears to be too good for AAA.

AA:  Akron Rubber Ducks outscored the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-4.  

Carter Howell CF- 1 for 2, 2 BB, SB(1).  BA= .500.

Jairo Pomares DH- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .667.

Travis Bazzana 2B(Rubber Ducks)- 2 for 3, 2 BB, 2 SB(2).  BA= .667.

Carter Howell had a solid season for the Squirrels last year and is someone I thought should move up to AAA this season.  Travis Bazzana was the #1 overall draft pick for the Guardians in 2024.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops 8-4:

Quinn McDaniel 2B- 1 for 3, SF, HBP.  BA= .333.

James Tibbs III- 2 for 2, 3 BB.  BA= 1.000.

Charlie Szykowny 3B- 2 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .667.

Jonah Cox LF- 3 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .600.

Travis Vogel RHP- 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Here's a bold prediction:  James Tibbs III will be in AA Richmond by midseason.

A:  Modesto Nuts topped the San Jose Giants 6-3:

Robert Hipwell 3B- 0 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .000.

Jose Ortiz RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .500.

Drew Cavanaugh C- 1 for 3, HR(1), BB.  BA= .333.

Drake George RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Drake George was the Giants 13'th round draft pick in 2024.  This was his first pro appearance.