Friday, July 31, 2026

Down on the Farm: 7/30/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 6-4.

Jonah Cox DH- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .250.
Scott Bandura LF- 2 for 3, HR(5), BB, SF, SB(13).  BA= .303.
Turner Hill CF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .343.
Nate Furman 2B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .284.
Cesar Perdomo LHP- 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 8.62.
Tristan Beck RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.74.
Carson Seymour RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's, Save(4).  ERA= 3.79.

Scott Bandura filling up the stat line.  

AA:  Somerset Patriots downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-2.

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .300.  
Jancel Villaroel C- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB(1).  BA= .167.
Yunior Marte RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 4.47.
Will Bednar RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.96.

Trevor Cohen's 4'th 2-hit game in a row.  

A+:  Eugene Emeralds smothered the Tri-City Dust Devils 13-2.

Jose Astudillo RF- 3 for 5, 2B, SB(6).  BA= .386.
Zander Darby 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(12), BB.  BA= .270.
Walker Martin 3B- 2 for 3, HR(15), 2 BB.  BA= .232.
Lisbel Diaz CF- 3 for 5, HR(15).  BA= .275.
Jacob Bresnahan LHP- 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 2.93.

Jacob Bresnahan is developing nicely.  He is not Rule 5 Draft eligible until December 2027.  By that time he should be close to MLB ready and an easy decision to add to the 40-man roster.

A:  Rancho Cucamonga Quakes outscored the San Jose Giants 9-7.

Josuar Gonzalez DH- 3 for 4, HR(1), BB.  BA= .385.
Luis Hernandez SS- 1 for 4, BB.  BA= .150.
Dario Reynoso 3B- 1 for 5, HR(12).  BA= .284.
Junior Barajas C- 2 for 5.  BA= .250.
Oliver Tejada CF- 1 for 3, HR(3), BB.  BA= .217.
Angel Guzman LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .175.
Ricardo Estrada LHP- 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K's, 7/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.67.

I attended this game.  Josuar Gonzalez HR was batting RH against rehabbing MLB'er Yusei Kikuchi LHP.  It was a rocket that cleared the apex of the Quakes sign above the LF scoreboard.  So far, Josuar has been more of a slap and dash hitter but this kid has almost unlimited power potential.  Luis Hernandez has struggled at the plate so far in A ball but he played SS in this game and looked like a major leaguer out there.  He bobbled one easy roller but ranged about halfway into LF to make an over-the-shoulder catch of a shallow fly ball.  He also made a strong throw from the hole and made it look easy.  Dario Reynoso is deceptively big with enormous wiry strength in his upper legs.  Ricardo Estrada is a smallish soft-tossing lefty who will have to depend on pitchability and keeping the ball on the ground.  Max velocity on stadium radar gun was 91 MPH.

DSL:  Giants Orange topped the NYY Yankees 7-6(7 innings).

Yoxander Benitez CF- 2 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .299.
Jose Vasquez RF- 1 for 3, HR(1), BB.  BA= .306.
Leonardo Vargas 2B- 2 for 3, HR(1).  BA= .136.

DSL:  Arizona Red beat Giants Black 8-5.

Franco Willias LF- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .383.
Keiberg Camacaro SS- 1 for 3, 2B, SB(24).  BA= .349.

Game Wrap 7/30/2026: Giants 4 Padres 1

Daniel Susac's third home run in 2 games keyed the Giants lineup in support of Robbie Ray's Quality Start in what might be the last game of this year's Giants team as we know it.  Key Lines:

Heliot Ramos LF- 1 for 4, BB, SB(3), R.  BA= .267.  After many years of a different LF every season, Ramos stabilized LF and has been Mr. Consistent.  He is arbitration eligible for 2027 but should remain affordable until he hits free agency before the 2030 season.  He would seem to align with the Mariners need for a RH batter to bring back a mid-rotation SP, Emerson Hancock, whose contract is controlled until 2031.  Do the Giants have enough OF help coming up in the minors to make that trade?

Bryce Eldridge DH- 2 for 5.  BA= .253.  Eldridge is batting just .154 over his last 7 games, .200 over his last 15 and .209 over his last 30, although he hit 3, 6 and 10 HR's over those same splits respectively.  

Rafael Devers 1B- 3 for 4, SF, R, RBI.  BA= .248.  Devers is batting .346 over his last 7 games but only .214 over his last 15.

Daniel Susac C- 1 for 3, HR(3), SF, R, 3 RBI.  BA= .258.  Second consecutive big game for Susac who drives in 3 of the Giants 4 runs.  Not sure where I can find a game-by-game WAR tracker but Susac's is up to 1.1 and I am sure much of that accumulated in the last 2 games.

Robbie Ray LHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.08.  Most likely Ray's last game in Giants uniform.  There is no reason for the Giants to not trade him for whatever they can get back before Monday's trade deadline.  He should be worth a fringe top 100 prospect.  

Luis Arraez went 0 for 4 and acted like he thought this was probably his last game as a Giant as he had hugs for Ron Washington after the game.

Caleb Kilian RHP(4.36), Dylan Smith RHP(2.50) and Erik Miller LHP(2.78) pitched a scoreless inning each to finish out the game with Miller collecting his 4'th Save and it seems like Tony Vitello has finally found a trio of relievers to protect leads after 6 innings.  

Carson Whisenhunt LHP faces Bradgley Rodriguez RHP who comes in with a ERA of 2.33 tonight in a game broadcast on Apple TV.  Ugh!

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Down on the Farm: 7/29/2026

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats topped the Tacoma Rainiers 5-4.

Parks Harber 3B- 2 for 5.  BA= .380.
Will Brennan 1B/LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .336.
Turner Hill LF/CF- 3 for 3, BB.  BA= .341.
Nate Furman 2B- 2 for 4, SB(18).  BA= .282.
Michael Fulmer RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, Save(10).  ERA= 3.05.

All of the Cats 10 hits were singles.

AA:  Somerset Patriots defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-4(Game 1 of doubleheader, 7 innings).

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 4, 2B, SB(1).  BA= .268.
Gavin Kilen SS- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .361.
Charlie Szykowny RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .246.
Maui Ahuna 3B- 2 for 2, 2B, HR(6), BB.  BA= .217.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels turned the tables on the Somerset Patriots 6-2(Game 2 of doubleheader, 7 innings).

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 4, 4 SB(5).  BA= .289.
Sabin Ceballos 3B- 2 for 3, SB(7).  BA= .220.
Jean Carlos Sio RF- 1 for 2, HR(11), BB, SB(1).  BA= .218.
Diego Velasquez 2B- 2 for 3, 3 SB(21).  BA= .305.
Greg Farone LHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 6.08.
Mitch White RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.79. 

Quite a day for Trevor Cohen.  He now has 5 consecutive 2-hit games.  After going 0 for 10 in his first two AA games, he is batting .371 over his last 9.  Squirrels stole a total of 11 bases in game 2.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds shut out the Tri-Cities Dust Devils 4-0.

Jose Astudillo RF- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .359.
Carlos Gutierrez DH- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .279.
Jose Ramos LF- 2 for 2, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .286.
Hunter Dryden RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 5.26.
Alix Hernandez RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

A:  Rancho Cucamonga Quakes edged out the San Jose Giants 3-2.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 4, HBP.  BA- .222.
Luis Hernandez 3B- 0 for 5, 5 K.  BA= .125.
Dario Reynoso 2B- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .285.
Fernando Gonzalez C- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .286.
Oliver Tejada LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .212.
Samir Chires RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.84.
Hayden Wynja LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

I attended this game with a friend.  Rough game for Young Luis Hernandez.  In addition to the 5 K's he got eaten up by a hot smash to his left at 3B.  Before the game I noticed a fan over in Section CB3 wearing an orange Wynja shirsey and wondered about it.  Then Hayden Wynja showed up in the 6'th inning to start a rehab assignment.  He looked sharp despite the 2 walks.  I assume the fan in CB3 was a family member?  If you are out there and reading, Go Hayden Wynja!  As I like to say, 6' 9" lefties don't grow on trees.

DSL:  Both Giants DSL teams were idle.

Game Wrap 7/29/2026: Giants 16 Brewers 3

The Giants broke open a close game in the 6'th inning when they kept the line moving....and moving....and moving for a runaway win.  Key Lines:

Luis Arraez 2B- 4 for 5, SB(10), R, 2 RBI.  BA= .331.  Ha!  Remember when we dubbed Arraez "Luis 2-hits"?  After his second hit in this game, Kruk called him "2-hit Luis".  And look who now sits at the top of the NL and MLB batting races leading Otto Lopez of the Marlins by .002.  Arraez still trails Lopez as the Hits leader by 3 hits 138 to 135.  

Heliot Ramos LF- 4 for 5, BB, SB(2), 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .267.  Ramos put on a clinic of how to keep the line moving in the pivotal 6'th inning.  He came up right after Bryce Eldridge struck out with the bases loaded.  A lot of hitters with Ramos power would have been up there looking for the grand slam but Heliot apparently noticed that the lefty pitcher was throwing 99 MPH cheese at the knees.  So on the first pitch, he went the other way and lined a single to RF deep enough to drive in 2 runs to run up the score to 7-2 and turn the game into a route.

Jung Hoo Lee RF- 2 for 6, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .302.  Lee has been slumping a bit but greeted a new pitcher in the 6'th with a lined double down the RF line at 104.2 MPH to drive in two more runs making the score 10-2.

Daniel Susac C- 2 for 4, 2 HR(2), BB, 3 R, 4 RBI.  BA= .256.  Big day for Susac who struggled after returning from the IL which has some sites calling for a redo on the Patrick Bailey trade.  His first home run was totally legit off a pitcher who was dealing and to straightaway CF.  It drove in 3 runs which were the only runs for the Giants through 5 innings.  I texted my friend, "3-run home runs win games!" .  The second blast was in the 9'th inning against a position player who was pitching due to the blowout rule.  

Christian Koss 3B- 2 for 5, 3 R, RBI.  BA= .161.  Koss has spent a of time on the bench but is for now the starting 3B with both Matt Chapman and Casey Schmitt on the IL.  In the past, Koss has done OK once he started getting regular playing time.  

Logan Webb RHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K's, 8/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.93.  Your average Logan Webb Quality Start helped out by Susac's 3-run homer giving him an early lead.

The Giants go south to start a 4-game series against the Padres tonight with TBD facing JP Sears LHP.  

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Down on the Farm: 7/28/2026

 AAA:  Tacoma Rainiers doubled up the Sacramento River Cats 8-4.

Turner Hill DH- 2 for 4, HR(7), SB(22).  BA= .333.
Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 4, HR(2).  BA= .375.
Aeverson Arteaga SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .235.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels at Somerset Patriots postponed due to inclement weather.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds smashed the Tri-Cities Dust Devils 10-5.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 2 for 5.  BA= .385.
Lisbel Diaz CF- 3 for 5.  BA= .270.
Daniel Rogers C- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .250.
Walker Martin 3B- 1 for 3, HR(14), BB, HBP.  BA= .230.
Zane Zielinski SS- 2 for 4, SB(6).  BA= .305.
Robert Hipwell DH- 2 for 4, 2B, HBP.  BA= .183.
Carlos Gutierrez LF- 1 for 4, 3B, BB.  BA= .275.
Carlos De La Torre LHP- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.15.
Gerelmi Maldonado RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.65.

Lisbel Diaz is slashing .319/.333/.637 with 7 HR in July. Carlos Gutierrez is batting .377 in July.

A:  San Jose Giants blasted the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 12-4.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 0 for 4, 2 BB.  BA= .200.
Luis Hernandez 3B-1 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .182.
Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .250.
Junior Barajas C- 2 for 5, HR(10).  BA= .247.
Cam Maldonado RF- 2 for 5, HR(12).  BA= .264.
Andy Polanco CF- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .258.

I'm going to try to see what the fuss is all about for Young Josuar and Luis tonight in Rancho Cucamonga with a friend.  I'll be wearing my trusty Matt Cain #43 shirt if anyone spots me and wants to stop by and chat.

DSL:  Giants Orange crushed the Marlins 11-4(7 innings).

Jose Valdez CF(17 yo)- 3 for 3, BB, SB(8).  BA= .263.
Jonathan Valle SS(18 yo)- 1 for 1, 2B, BB.  BA= .167.
Angelo Ugueto LF(17 yo)- 2 for 3, 3B, BB.  BA= .256.

While understanding that this year's best international prospect, Luis Hernandez, is in A ball, this year's Giants DSL teams have been less than compelling as most of the top players are at least age 19 which is way old for the level.  There are a few younger players doing well enough to make next year's Dominican Dandies list.

DSL:  Giants Black topped Tigers 1 7-6(8 innings).

Franco Willias LF- 2 for 4, 3B, BB.  BA= .375.
Djean Macares CF(18 yo)- 2 for 4.  BA= .290.
Keiberg Camacaro SS- 3 for 4.  BA= .350.
Luis Padron C(16 yo)- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .333.
Diego Alambarrio DH(18 yo)- 1 for 4, 2 SB(2).  BA= .262.
Alexander Camacaro 2B(18 yo)- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .286.

Game Wrap 7/28/2026: Brewers 8 Giants 2

Bryce Eldridge's 2-run home run in the 8'th inning was far too little, too late to save a subpar start by Landen Roupp and anemic production from the lineup.  Key Lines:

Bryce Eldridge DH- 1 for 4, HR(11), R, 2 RBI.  BA= .256.  Eldridge once again beat a jam attempt by pulling in his arms and rotating his torso sending the ball into the arcade just inside the foul pole.  The HR drove in Luis Arraez 2B who singled ahead Eldridge.  Prior to the, the Giants lineup managed just 3 singles.  They added two more in a scoreless 9'th. 

Landen Roupp RHP- 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 7/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.12.  Roupp gave up a run in the third inning and 3 in the 4'th.  Both rallies started with walks.  Multiple frustrations mounted in the 4'th inning starting with a 2-out walk.  Then when J. T. Brubaker RHP came in with the bases loaded and still two outs, he promptly gave up a 2-run single.  Once again we see the transition from SP to RP not stop the damage.  The most likely explanation for this is the Giants lack of strikeout pitchers, particularly in the bullpen.  Their 845 K's ranks #25 out of 30 MLB teams(although surprisingly the the Dodgers are #26 with 844.

Logan Webb RHP tries for a series win this afternoon facing Shane Drohan LHB who comes in with an ERA of 3.51.

Multiple injury updates:   

Casey Schmitt has a torn meniscus.  Will likely miss significant time.

Trevor McDonald will undergo Tommy John Surgery which puts him out not only for the rest of this season but most or all of next season too.

Memba Harrison Bader?  He's been out like forever with plantar fasciitis.  He apparently was involved in scooter accident on his way to a medical appointment for the fasciitis so the appointment turned into a trauma evaluation.  No deets available but Bader joins Hall of Famer Jeff Kent and 3-time World Series Champion Madison Bumgarner on a list of Giants suffered questionable off-field injuries.  Didn't Ron Bryant LHP ruin a promising pitching career falling off a swimming pool slide?  I think Bader is on a 2-year contract so will take up 40-man roster space in the offseason.  

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Down on the Farm: July 27, 2026

 Full season leagues were idle as usual on Mondays.  ACL is done.

DSL:  Blue Jays Red crushed Giants Orange 9-1(7 innings).

Nothing to see here.

DSL:  Giants Black obliterated the Twins 10-0(7 innings).

Vinicius Dos Santos RF- 2 for 4, SB(18).  BA= .217.
Diego Alambarrio C- 2 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .263.
Alexander Camacaro 2B- 1 for 3, HR(2), BB.  BA= .275.
Keiberg Camacaro SS- 1 for 2, BB, SF.  BA= .336.
Randry De Leon RHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 6.29.
Edwin Reynoso LHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.27.