Game Wrap 6/4/2023: Orioles 8 Giants 3

 This game was over early after Tony D's very bad, no good third inning.  Key Lines:

Blake Sabol LF- 1 for 4, HR(7).  BA= .254.  I was planning to write a post making fun of Blake Sabol hitting cleanup but then he hit a bomb to drive in 2 of the Giants 3 runs.....which is exactly what a cleanup hitter is supposed to do.  

Mitch Haniger RF- 0 for 4.  BA= .226.  I've watched a few of Haniger's recent AB's.  I am no hitting coach but to my eye he's a hair late starting his swing.  By the time he gets his bat moving, the ball is by him.  That might be fixable.

Patrick Bailey C/Casey Schmitt SS- 0 for 8.  BA= .280/.295.  Hate to say it, but the kids are not looking alright.  No matter what you did in the minors or how hot you start, the league is going to get a book on you and you better be ready to adjust.  The 5, 6 and 7 spots in the lineup went a combined 0 for 12.  That will kill rallies dead in their tracks every time.

Anthony DeSclafani RHP- 3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.97.  There was some bad BABIP luck here but Tony D actually had a fairly generous strike zone from the home plate ump.  He just didn't pitch great.  

The bullpen allowed just 2 R over the last 6 innings but the damage was done.  Once the O's put up that 6-spot, you knew the Giants weren't coming back.

Churn Watch:  Alex Wood LHP to IL with lower back strain.  Tristan Beck RHP recalled.  I'd like to see him get some looks in non-mop-up situations.

Giants have a travel day before starting 3-game series against the Rockies in Coors Field.  Looks like a bullpen/opener game with TBD listed as the SP against Dinelson Lamet RHP.

Down on the Farm: 6/3/2023

 AAA:  Tacoma Rainiers buried the Sacramento River Cats 11-7.  

Luis Matos CF- 3 for 5.  BA= .405.

Tyer Fitzgerald 2B- 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB(11).  BA= .302.

David Villar 1B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .313.

Shane Matheny LF- 0 for 2, 3 BB.  BA= .226.

Michael Gigliotti RF- 1 for 3, 3B, BB.  BA= .244.

Tanner Andrews RHP- 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. ERA= 5.08.

Jorge Guzman RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.04.

Matos could draw a few more walks and hit for a bit more power.  His GO/AO is already under 1 so I don't think he needs to change his launch angle.  The dilemma with walks is guys who are hitting .400 tend to not feel the need to be more selective at the plate.  I guess he'll just have to wait for an opening on the active roster for the next challenge.  Could we see a reprise of last season for David Villar where he gets sent down after struggling to make contact then comes back looking like a different hitter?

AA: Erie Seawolves shut out the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-0.

Spencer Bivens RHP- 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K.  ERA= 3.60.

Evan Gates RHP- 2 IP, 1 H 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.66.

Blake Rivera RHP- 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.95.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds defeated the Vancouver Canadians 5-3.

Carter Howell LF- 2 for 4, BB, SB(1).  BA= .429.

Victor Bericoto RF- 2 for 4, HR(8), BB.  BA= .290.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 1 for 3, HR(6), BB.  BA= .208.

Edison Mora DH- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .130.

Nick Sinacola RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.21.

A:  Fresno Grizzlies topped the San Jose Giants 5-4.

Turner Hill CF- 2 for 5, SB(1).  BA= .308.

Diego Velasquez 2B- 2 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .331.

Jose Ramos SS- 1 for 2, 2 BB, SB(10).  BA= .216.

Manuel Mercedes RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's, GO/AO= 6/2.  ERA= 2.25.

Tyler Vogel RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.57.

Who is Turner Hill, you ask?  Graduate of Div II college ball and signed out of a development league a few days ago.  OF with a hit tool and some speed.

Game Wrap 6/3/2023: Giants 4 Orioles 0

 Alex Cobb dominated his former team to lead the Giants to the shutout win.  Key Lines:

Lamonte Wade Jr 1B- 2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .277.  Wow!  Is LMWJ having a season or what?  We're now into June and he's still sporting an OBP >.400 and is currently riding a hot streak and really hasn't had a slump so far.  Very Vottoesque!

Austin Slater PH/CF/LF- 1 for 2.  BA= .367.  Slater was Gabe Kapler's secret weapon as the O's brought in the LHP to face YtY with runners on first and second with one out.  Kap countered with Slater who hacked a single to LF scoring Crawford from 2B to extend the lead to 4-0.

Wilmer Flores DH- 3 for 4, 2B.  BA= .248.   Wilmer's 2-run single in the third inning was the biggest hit of the game driving in 2 runs to for a 3-run inning.  

The Kids- Blake Sabol LF, Patrick Bailey C and Casey Schmitt 2B went a combined 2 for 12 in the game.  Sabol looked lost against LHP's and kept trying to bunt his way one.  Bailey is definitely not as good from the R side of the plate so the Giants may want him and Bart to form a straight L-R platoon when Bart comes off the IL.  It seems like the league has noted that Casey Schmitt swings at everything so they don't have to throw him strikes.  He'll have to make that adjustment.

Alex Cobb RHP- 7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K's, GO/AO= 10/1.  ERA= 2.71.  Cobb made sure he didn't get Cained today totally shutting down the Orioles lineup into the 8'th inning.  Scott Alexander LHP got the final out of the 8'th and Camilo Doval RHP pitched a scoreless 9'th in non-save situation.

Anthony DeSclafani RHP tries for a series win tomorrow afternoon facing Tyler Wells, a 6' 8" RHP.

Down on the Farm: 6/2/2023

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats outscored the Tacoma Rainiers 10-6.

Luis Matos LF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .391.

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 4 for 5, SB(10).  BA= .313.

David Villar 3B- 3 for 5, 2B, HR(4).  BA= .295.

Joey Bart C- 1 for 4.  BA= .364.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.55.  

Matos continues to find the PCL not so challenging.  Kyle Harrison threw 76 pitches in 3.2 innings.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels topped the Erie Seawolves 6-5.

Vaun Brown CF- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .389.

Marco Luciano SS- 0 for 3, BB, SF.  BA= .170.

Andy Thomas DH- 2 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .213.

Jimmy Glowenke 2B- 2 for 3, BB. BA= .214.

Carter Williams LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .242.

Mason Black RHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.

Vaun Brown does not seem to be having much of a challenge at AA but the EL tends to grind hitters down over time so we'll see.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds edged out the Vancouver Canadians 2-1.

Carter Howell RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .412.

Logan Wyatt 1B- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .260.

Edison Mora 3B- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA- .095.

John Bertrand LHP- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.86.

Tyler Myrick RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(6).  ERA= 1.02.

A: San Jose Giants tamed the Fresno Grizzlies 2-1.

Diego Velasquez 2B- 1 for 1, 2 BB, HBP.  BA= .325.

Gerelmi Maldonado RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's, GO/AO= 7/0.  ERA= 4.22.

Esmerlin Vinicio LHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.62.

Luis Moreno RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.79.

Gerelmi Maldonado is a 19 yo RHP with a big fastball.  His line for his last two starts:  1-0, 0.00, 8 IP, 1 BB, 11 K's.  

Game Wrap 6/2/2023: Orioles 3 Giants 2

 The O's were a run better than the Giants in a crisp game kicking off a 3-game weekend series in Oracle Park.  Key Lines:

Lamonte Wade Jr 1B- 1 for 4, HR(8).  BA= .271.  LMWJ gets the 100'th Splash Hit since Pac Bell Park opened next to McCovey Cove.  Just to show what an accomplishment a Splash Hit is, it's taken 23 years to get to 100.  Barry Bonds has 35.  #2 is Brandon Belt at 10.  Opposing team players have reached the water just 55 times(just to be clear, opposing team HR's that reach McCovey Cove are not counted as Splash Hits).  What made this one unique is LMWJ got it while leading off the Giants half of the first inning.

Logan Webb RHP- 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K's, GO/AO= 9/3.  ERA= 2.85.  9'th consecutive QS for Webb.  His ERA is lower than his season ERA for 2021 or 2022 yet it seems like he has not pitched as well due to Cainesque run support.  I guess when you are the ace, you tend to go H2H with the opposing team's ace.

The Loss was the Giants third in a row and drops them back below .500 and 1.5 games off the Wild Card pace.

Alex Cobb RHP tries to stop the losing streak tonight facing Kyle Bradish RHP.

Down on the Farm: 6/1/2023

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 7-3.

Luis Matos RF- 4 for 6, 2B, HR(1).  BA= .391.

Jacob Nottingham C- 4 for 5, HR(5).  BA= .289.

Shane Matheny CF- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .232.

Drew Strotman RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 6.46.

Seems like it's only a matter of time and an injury or two before Matos breaks down the door to a major league gig. Does Jacob Nottingham provide enough catching depth to create trade opportunities involving a certain former first round draft pick?

AA:  Erie Seawolves crushed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-1.

Jimmy Glowenke 2B- 1 for 4.  BA= .125.

Parker Dunshee RHP- 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 6.52.

Randy Rodriguez RHP- 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.45.

Glowenke makes his AA debut.  Carson Whisenhunt LHP and Jose Cruz RHP reportedly also promoted.   Hmmm....didn't we say something about that in yesterday's Down on the Farm?  Hey!  Doesn't this seem like a good time to promote Randy Rodriguez to AAA seeing as how he's on the 40-man roster and all? 

A+:  Vancouver Canadians blanked the Eugene Emeralds 8-0.

Nothing to see here.

A:  San Jose Giants pounded the Fresno Grizzlies 10-1.

Diego Velasquez 2B- 2 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .321.

Thomas Gavello DH- 2 for 4.  BA= .280.

Tanner O'Tremba LF- 4 for 5, 2B.  BA= .291.

Anthony Rodriguez 3B- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .625.

Zach Morgan 1B- 3 for 5, HR(3).  BA= .236.

Alexander Suarez CF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .270.

Reggie Crawford LHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Jack Choate LHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.31.

Daniel Blair RHP- 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.63.

Wow!  Too much good stuff!  3 20 yo and under international players at 3B, SS, 2B.  Speaking of promotions....I would like to see Diego Velasquez up to A+ Eugene before the end of the season if nothing else to give him try to avoid the adjustments Luis Matos and Aeverson Arteaga and to a lesser extent Grant McCray had to make. when they were assigned there after a full season in San Jose.  Other big news here is Crawford with another strong performance as he verrry slowly builds up his innings.  Post on Twitter reports his FB was 94-98 MPH.

Down on the Farm: 5/31/2023

 AAA:  Tacoma Rainiers outlasted the Sacramento River Cats 7-6(10 innings).

Luis Matos CF- 3 for 5, BB, 2 SB(4).  BA= .362.

David Villar 3B- 3 for 6, HR(3).  BA= .294.

Jacob Nottingham C- 2 for 3, BB, SB(1).  BA= .254.

Michael Gigliotti LF- 2 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .242.

Sean Hjelle RHP- 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's, GO/AO= 8/3.  ERA= 3.00.

Villar's HR was the Cats only XBH out of 11 hits.  They drew 13 walks.  Whether intentional or not, there seems to be a shift in organization emphasis from power to contact while maintaining high walk rates.

AA:  Erie Seawolves poured it on in extra innings to crush the Richmond Flying Squirrels 10-3.

Vaun Brown RF- 3 for 5, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .355.

Marco Luciano SS- 2 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .185.

Carter Aldrete LF- 2 for 4, 2B, SB(1).  BA= .268.

Landon Roupp RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 2.31.

Carson Seymour RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.11.

Juan Sanchez LHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.28.

10 of Marco Luciano's 15 hits have been XBH's with 5 2B and 5 HR.  Twitter reports his HR in this game left the yard at 

A+:  Eugene Emeralds buried the Vancouver Canadians 8-1.

Grant McCray CF- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .235.

Carter Howell LF- 4 for 5, 2B, 3B.  BA= .556.

Victor Bericoto RF- 2 for 3, BB, SF.  BA= .297.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 2 for 5.  BA= .214.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 1.42.

Jose Cruz RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 1.45.

Tyler Myrick RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.08.

Carter Howell is off to huge start after promotion to A+.  Carson Whisenhunt seems destined to at least reach AA this season.  Jose Cruz is on the 40-man roster so would seem to be a candidate for aggressive promotion.

A:  San Jose Giants defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 8-5.

Andrew Kachel 2B- 2 for 5.  BA= .305.

Onil Perez DH- 2 for 4.  BA= .313.

Anthony Rodriguez SS- 3 for 3, 2 2B, 3B, 2 E.  BA= 1.000.

Hayden Birdsong RHP- 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.67.

Miguel Mora RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 13.29.

Anthony Rodriguez makes his full season debut.  Jose Ramos SS/2B and Diego Velasquez SS/2B are still listed on the SJ Giants roster with no IL moves.  Situation worth watching.