Linda Ronstadt was a country-pop-rock start in the 1970's who sang a memorable rendition of the National Anthem in Dodger Stadium for the All Star Game. One of her biggest hit songs was a remake of Heatwave. We are in the middle of a heatwave in Southern California this week and baseballs were jumping out of Dodger Stadium like popcorn on asphalt....oh! Hi there! A little free association there. David Villar hit two HR's today to give him 3 and the Giants 9 in three games. The Dodgers hit 7 but had more runners on base for theirs so completed a 2-1 series win despite Villar's heroics.
David Villar 1B- 2 for 3, 2 HR(4), BB. BA= .218. Villar went 6 for 8 with 3 HR's and a BB. He appears to have taken the lessons of his first MLB stint to heart and come back ready to rake. Completely different guy, different attitude. This is the guy we've seen tear through AA and AAA over the past two seasons. That this came against the Dodgers does nothing to hurt his cause. If this series accomplished nothing but announcing Villar's arrival as an offensive force it will be memorable.
This game was lost in yet another bullpen failure. This time Zack Littell RHP gave up 4 runs in the 8'th inning. I am honestly not sure what more we need to see of Littell when we have Luis Ortiz RHP on the active roster, Cole Waites RHP throwing triple digits in AAA and Shelby Miller RHP looking for a shot at redemption.
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Churn Watch:
Luis Ortiz RHP contract selected from AAA Sacramento. Bryce Johnson OF optioned back to AAA Sacramento. Ortiz must be taking Andrew Knapp's spot on the 40 man roster after Knapp was DFA'd yesterday to make room on the active roster for Joey Bart coming off the concussion IL.
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The Giants fly to Milwaukee where they have to play a doubleheader tomorrow. Scott Alexander LHP is listed as the SP for game 1 with TBD listed for game 2. That should be fun!
David Villar isn't a highly rated prospect but he hit 275 BA with 27' homers and had a 1.021 OPS. in AAA, so he was productive and an interesting prospect to follow. Could be in their 2023 plans?
ReplyDeleteI agree unheralded but the stat lines are convincing. Hard to believe the Giants left him off the 40 man roster last offseason and could have lost him in the Rule 5 draft which was cancelled at the last minute due to the agreement to end the lockout.
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