Down on the Farm: 4/23/2024

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats obliterated the Las Vegas Aviators 14-1:

Luis Matos CF- 2 for 5, BB.  BA= .239.

Brett Wisely 2B- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .353.

Marco Luciano SS- 2 for 5, 2B, BB.  BA= .303.

David Villar DH- 2 for 5, BB. BA= .269.

Casey Schmitt 3B- 3 for 5, 2 2B, 3B.  BA= .313.

Heliot Ramos RF- 3 for 4, HR(6), BB.  BA= .333.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 8.79.

Nick Avila RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. ERA= 0.00.

Randy Rodriguez RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.04.

Obviously a game to pad the ol' stat line but Casey Schmitt is on some kind of tear.  Fourth multi-hit game in a row and 7'th out of last 8 games, 11 game hit streak. Heliot Ramos continues to stat his case to be the first OF call up.  Whisenhunt likely came out due to pitch count issues, 74 in 3.2 IP.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels defeated the Bowie Baysox 6-2:

Grant McCray CF- 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB(2).  BA= .163.

Will Wilson SS- 2 for 3, 2 BB, SB(2).  BA= .180.

Victor Bericoto RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .228.

Luis Toribio 3B- 2 for 4.  BA= .250.

Carson Ragsdale RHP- 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.12.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds came from behind to top the Hillsboro Hops 6-2:

Onil Perez DH- 2 for 3, BB, SB(5).  BA= .382.

Scott Bandura CF- 1 for 3, BB, SB(2).  BA= .139.

Jack Choate LHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.25.

Nick Morreale RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.60.

Ben Madison RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.00.

Ems scored all 6 runs in the bottom of the 8'th inning.  Onil Perez doesn't hit for much power but what a hit tool!  6 BB's against 3 K's.  Really interesting prospect.

A:  Fresno Grizzlies blanked the San Jose Giants 6-0:

Dylan Carmouche LHP- 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.77.

Cole Hillier RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.35.

Game Wrap 4/23/2024: Giants 5 Mets 1

The Giants broke open a pitching duel between Logan Webb and Luis Severino in the 5'th inning and cruised to an easy win.  Key Lines:

Lamonte Wade Jr 1B- 1 for 3, 2B, HBP.  BA= .357.  Double drove in the final Giants run.  #4 MLB 1B in fWAR. 

Michael Conforto LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .281.  Conforto is 5 for 12 over his last 3 games.

Thairo Estrada 2B- 2 for 3, 3B.  BA= .237.  His triple to lead off the 7'th inning started a 2-run rally which made the final 2 innings much easier on the stomach.  Thairo is 4 for 10 over his last 3 games.  .296/.333/.519 over his last 15.

Mike Yastrzemski RF- 2 for 3.  BA= .208.  YtY accounted for 4 of the Giants 5 runs driving in 3 and scoring 1.  Giants were patient and his bat came to life:  .316/.381/.474 over his last 7 games.

Logan Webb RHP- 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's, GO/AO= 15/4.  ERA= 2.33.  Another masterful performance by The Ace.  Webb has now allowed just 3 runs in 29 IP over his last 4 starts.  That's a 0.93 ERA.  Webb's low K rate will probably hurt him in WAR calculations but his walk and GB rates are something else.

The Win enables the Giants to stay 2 games behind the Dodgers and even with the D'Backs in 3'rd place in the NL West.  The Padres lost so they are just 0.5 games ahead in second place.

Interesting matchup tomorrow afternoon as the Giants go for the swweeeeep!  Blake Snell LHP vs Sean Manaea LHP.

Game Wrap 4/22/2024: Giants 5 Mets 2

Keaton Winn turned in another brilliant pitching performance and some key hits got the Giants back on the winning side of the ledger.  Key Lines:

Jung Hoo Lee- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .284.  Lee has reached base in 13 consecutive games.  He has reached base at least twice in his last 5 games.  His slash line over his last 7 games is .385/.467/.538.  

Jorge Soler DH- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .250.  Soler's slash line over his last 7 games is .292/.346/.417 and .275/.373/.431 over his last 15.

Matt Chapman 3B- 1 for 4, 2B, SB(3).  BA= .226.  The double in the 3'rd inning drove in 2 runs to extend the Giants lead to 4-0

Michael Conforto LF- 2 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .271.  Conforto extended the lead to 5-1 in the 6'th with a solo HR.

Nick Ahmed SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .296.  After Tom Murphy took strike 3 looking with the bases loaded and 1 out in the second inning, Ahmed picked him up with a 2-run single and where would this team be without Nick Ahmed?

Keaton Winn RHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K's, GO/AO= 7/0.  ERA= 3.54.  The lone run Winn allowed was a solo HR to Pete Alonso.  When Bob Melvin allowed him to start the 7'th inning, he put the first two batters on but Ryan Walker picked him up.  Second excellent Start in as many games.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 3.46.  Walker came in with runners at first and 2'nd and no outs.  He promptly got Alonso to reach for a sweeper for a shallow pop fly out.  He then got lefty hitter Brett Baty to line out to Jung Hoo Lee in CF followed by the ground out to end the threat.  Walker has not allowed a run in his last 3 appearances since giving up 3 in 0.2 IP on 4/16 in Miami.

Tyler Rogers RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 2.61.  Rogers has not allowed a run in his last 5 appearances.

Camilo Doval RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 3.86.  It was a non-Save situation and as usual Doval sunk to the occasion with 2 walks, an error and wild pitch.  The TV camera panned over to the Giants dugout and Bob Melvin looked none too comfortable.  I texted my buddy and said maybe someone should make sure there was a defibrillator close by.  Doval said "No worries, Papi.  I got this!" and got D. J. Stewart to ground out to end the game.

The Win got the Giants 0.5 games closer to the idle Dodgers at 2 games back. The D'backs lost so they are tied with the Giants for 3'rd place in the NL West.  The Padres won so remain in second place 0.5 games behind the Dodgers.

Logan Webb RHP tries to secure a series win tomorrow facing Luis Severino RHP

Churn Watch:  Luke Jackson RHP was activated from the IL and Nick Avila RHP was optioned to AAA Sacramento.

Down on the Farm: 4/21/2024

AAA:  Oklahoma City Baseball Club(Dodgers) outscored the Sacramento River Cats 5-4:

David Villar 3B- 3f or 5.  BA= .260.

Blake Sabol 1B-C- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .273.

Donovan Walton 2B- 4 for 4.  BA= .273.

Clay Helvey RHP- 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Cody Stashak RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.86.

Justin Garza RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.69.

Since April 10, David Villar is 10 for 32(.312) with 4 2B, HR.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels defeated the Harrisburg Senators 7-4:

Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 3, SF.  BA= .294.

Brett Auerbach 2B- 2 for 4.  BA= .258.

John Bertrand LHP- 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.75.

Jose Cruz RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 1.93.

Eric Silva RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.  ERA= 6.14.

Nick Garcia RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, Save(1).  ERA= 2.00.

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

Quinn McDaniel 2B- 2 for 4, 2 2B, BA= .370.

Diego Velasquez SS- 3 for 4.  BA= .333.

Dylan Cumming RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, GO/AO= 3/0.  ERA= 0.64.

Nick Sinacola RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 0.75.

Julio Rodriguez RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K's, GO/AO= 2/0.  ERA= 1.42.

Seth Corry LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Cumming, Sinacola and Corry are the trio who posted a combined no-hitter on 4/17.

A:  Modesto Nuts topped the San Jose Giants 5-3:

Cole Foster SS- 3 for 4, 2B.  BA= .327.

Ty Hanchey C- 2 for 4.  BA= .333.

Ubert Mejias RHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 7.94.

Tommy Kane LHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.35.

Game Wrap 4/21/2024: D'Backs 5 Giants 3

Jordan Hicks labored mightily for 5 innings and somehow left the game with the lead and a chance to record a Win.  Alas, the bullpen failed to hold amid at least two questionable umpiring calls.  Key Lines:

Thairo Estrada 2B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .230.  Thairo has been scuffling.  Regression to career averages would help the offense significantly. 

Mike Yastrzemski RF- 1 for 3, HR(1), BB.  BA= .182.  Another scuffler.  With 2 outs in the 5'th inning, the only Giants baserunner off Slade Cecconi RHP was a HBP to Jung Hoo Lee.  Estrada singled and YtY homered onto the RF arcade to give the Giants a 2-1 lead and take Hicks off the hook for a Loss.  

Jordan Hicks RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, Balk, GO/AO= 7/3.  ERA- 1.61.  The line is ugly and it's a near miracle he didn't give up more than the 1 run.  96 pitches in 5 innings.  I think the secret sauce was getting a groundball when he had to, but hopefully Hicks and the coaches will figure out how to command the strike zone better.

Sean Hjelle RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, GO/AO= 5/1.  ERA= 0.00.  Bob Melvin is an avowed Sean Hjelle fan and he had to like what he saw out of Tall One today.

Umpires- there were two very questionable calls that may have been the difference the game:

6'th inning:  Runners at first and second with no outs.  Christian Walker hits a flyball to Jung Hoo Lee.  The runners tag, the throw is cut off and the trailing runner is called safe at 2B.  Available video was possibly not conclusive but it sure looked like the tag was applied to the runner's chest at least 6 inches before his foot hit the bag.  Giants asked for replay but the call was not overturned.  Was other video available to the replay umps?  We'll never know for sure.  The trailing runner scored so there was one questionable run.

9'th inning:  Runners on first and third, no outs.  Kevin Newman appears to strike out but the ump ruled foul tip keeping the AB alive.  He doubles in a run on the next pitch and puts another runner at 3B who scored on a Sac Fly.  Second questionable run.  

Bob Melvin and Matt Williams were both ejected after Corbin Carroll struck out which should have been the third out of the inning.

Slade Cecconi RHP- 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K, ERA= 3.00.  The Giants were expecting to face Merrill Kelly RHP who was a late scratch.  They did not make Cecconi work very hard as he threw just 64 pitches in his 6 IP.  How important is mental preparation for hitters to face a certain pitcher pitcher?  Does a last minute scratch put them at a disadvantage?  To be clear, Cecconi looked like he had good stuff that the Giants have a recent history of looking terrible against rookie pitchers.

The Loss drops the Giants 2.5 games behind the NL West leading Dodgers, 1.5 games behind the Padres and 1 game behind the D'Backs.

Keaton Winn RHP gets the ball for the first game of a 3-game series against the Mets with Forever Giant Jose Quintana LHP on the mound for the Mets.

Down on the Farm: 4/20/2024

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Oklahoma City Baseball Club(Dodgers):

Luis Matos LF- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .226.

Marco Luciano SS- 1 for 4, 2B.  BA= .303.

Casey Schmitt 3B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .295.

Spencer Howard RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, GO/AO= 7/2.  ERA= 4.86.

Juan Sanchez LHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.  ERA= 0.73.

Casey stays hot.  Hopefully the start of better days for Luis Matos.  Howard is depth for the MLB rotation.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Harrisburg Senators 6-1:

Grant McCray DH- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .171.

Carter Howell CF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .211.

Brett Auerbach 2B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .222.

Hayden Birdsong RHP- 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K.  ERA= 2.38.

Reggie Crawford LHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, GO/AO= 3/0.  ERA= 0.00.

Big news here is probably Crawford's electric outing.  Reportedly hit 98 MPH on the radar guns.  Like Matos in AAA, hopefully this is the start of some good things for Grant McCray.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds topped the Vancouver Canadians 3-1( 7 innings, Game 1 of doubleheader):

Quinn McDaniel 2B- 2 for 3, BB, SB(7).  BA= .342.

Tanner O'Tremba RF- 1 for 3, HR(1).  BA= .182.

Manuel Mercedes RHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 6.52.

Matt Mikulski LHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K.  ERA= 0.00.

A+:  Vancouver Canadians outscored the Eugene Emeralds 7-5(7 innings, Game 2 of doubleheader):

Turner Hill RF- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .281.

Quinn McDaniel CF- 2 for 4, 3 SB(10).  BA= .357.

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

Quinn McDaniel looks like quite the dynamic player.  Mostly plays 2B but appears to have plenty of speed to cover CF.

A:  Modesto Nuts buried the San Jose Giants 8-3:

Jean Carlos Sio 2B- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .150.

Joe Whitman LHP- 3 IP, 2 H 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 6.52. 

Luke Jackson RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Joe Whitman reportedly looked great for 3 innings hitting 96 MPH on the radar gun, but then lost control of the strike zone in the 4'th and reliever Michael Rodriguez LHP allowed 3 inherited runners to score.

Game Wrap 4/20/2024: Giants 7 D'Backs 3

 Patrick Bailey celebrated his bobblehead day with one of the best offensive days by any Giants hitter in recent memory.  Jung Hoo Lee had a game of his own and the bullpen picked up Kyle Harrison with 5 innings of scoreless ball.  This was also one of the more entertaining Giants wins in recent memory.  Key Lines:

Jung Hoo Lee CF- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .289.  After Kyle Harrison allowed a run in the first inning, Lee got it back in a hurry with a leadoff HR.  He also drove in an insurance run in the 8'th with an oppo-field double and later scored the final Giants run.

Lamonte Wade Jr 1B- 2 for 3.  BA= .388.  LMWJ is locked in.  It looks to me like he's taken the next step from the plate discipline we saw last season to being more aggressive on hittable pitches.  Then again a BABIP of over .500 is not sustainable.

Patrick Bailey C- 4 for 4, 2 2B, HR(2).  BA= .340.  Have a day, Patrick Bailey!  He was well on his way to a triple to complete a cycle when the ball skipped into the stands in L-CF for a ground rule double.  Oh!  And the HR as a splash hit, the first since YtY on June 19 of last season.

Kyle Harrison LHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.00.  Not a great start by any stretch but there was some bad BABIP luck involved as evidenced by the K/BB.  He was able to complete the 4'th inning and limit the damage.  

Bullpen- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K.  Now THIS is what we are looking for!  Ryan Walker RHP, Erik Miller LHP, Taylor Rogers LHP, Tyler Rogers RHP and Camilo Doval RHP were all sensational.  The only baserunner was a bloop single off Tyler Rogers to lead off the 8'th inning but he promptly erased that runner with a GIDP so it looks like as a group they faced the minimum number of batters over the final 5 innings.

The Dodgers and Padres both lost so the Giants finish the day tied with the D'Backs for 3'rd place in the NL West just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers and 0.5 games behind the Padres.

Jordan Hicks RHP tries for a series win tomorrow afternoon against Merrill Kelly RHP.

Churn Watch:

Kai-Wei Teng RHP was optioned to AAA Sacramento and Sean Hjelle RHP was activated off the IL.  The Giants also acquired Mitch White RHP from the Blue Jays for cash considerations.  Alex Cobb RHP was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for White. White was once a highly touted prospect for the Dodgers and pitched fairly well for them at the MLB level but his career fell on hard times after a trade to the Blue Jays.  The Giants pitching gurus will try to help him find the old magic.