Saturday, July 24, 2010

Down on the Farm: 07-23-2010

AAA Reno Aces defeated the Fresno Giants 9-5:

Brock Bond- 0 for 3, 2 BB. BA= .287. OBP= .405.
John Bowker- 3 for 4. BA= .327.
Jesus Guzman- 1 for 2, HR(13), 2 BB. BA= .309.

The GIants don't appear to need either Bowk or Guzman right now. They need to bide their time and be ready the next time an opportunity arises. Bond's OBP skills may be too one dimensional for an MLB gig. The Giants could use those skills at the top of their order though.

AA Richmond Flying Squirrels pounded the Bowie Baysox 14-4:

Darren Ford- 1 for 2, 3B(7), 3 BB, HBP. BA= .243.
Thomas Neal- 3 for 5, HR(9), HBP. BA= .286.
Brandon Belt- 3 for 5, 2 2B. BA= .371.
Brad Boyer- 3 for 4, HR(1), BB. BA= .265.
Sharlon Schoop- 2 for 5, 2B. BA= .275.
Craig Westcott- 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 2.63.
Andy Sisco- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 4.29.

Neal and Belt get it going again. Is Sharlon Schoop closer to the majors than Brandon Crawford right now? Nice line by the big fella, Sisco. Ford seems to be putting up better looking lines since his arrest. Maybe he was carrying a mental load that was lifted? I support the Giants supporting him and letting him play. Hopefully he gets probation or something and learned a hard lesson in life.

High A High Desert topped the San Jose Giants 5-3:

Francisco Peguero- 3 for 4, 3B(14), SB(36). BA= .317.
Johnny Monell- 1 for 4, HR(10). BA= .257.
Charlie Culberson- 2 for 4. BA= .328.
Wendell Fairley- 1 for 3, BB, SB(7), Assist(at home). BA= .295.
Ryan Verdugo- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 2.02.
Craig Whitaker- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 1.86.

Peguero has 4 games in a row with at least 3 hits. His performance of late landed him at #7 on BA's Prospect Hot Sheet. In the Q/A, Matt Eddy made the comparison with Giants first round draft pick Gary Brown, noting that he and Peguero are very similar players. Should make for some interesting discussions down the road. Culberson was back in the lineup for those of you who were concerned. Verdugo started the game. Are the Giants going to try him at starter now? Whitaker has shuttled between 3 levels in a strange season for him.

Low A Augusta Greenjackets beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 6-1:

Nick Liles- 3 for 4, BB, SB(20). BA= .321.
Ryan Cavan- 2 for 5, 2B. BA= .278.
Chris Dominguez- 2 for 4, SB(10). BA= .261.
Ryan Lollis- 2 for 4, HR(2). BA= .289.
Jorge Bucardo- 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's, GO/AO= 15/2. ERA= 2.21.
Zack Wheeler- 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K's. ERA= 4.88.

Another dominant start for Bucardo. I like seeing multi-hit games for Chris Dominguez. It looks like Wheeler is being confined to 1 inning appearances for the time being. Hope it's just a precaution and not a permanent move.

Short Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes topped the Everett Aquasox 6-4:

Chris Lofton- 2 for 4, BB. BA= .293.
Dan Brock- 1 for 3, BB, SB(3). BA= .281.
Ryan Scoma- 2 for 2, 2B, 3B, 2 BB. BA= .328.
Jake Dunning- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 2.28.
Stephen Harrold- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's, Save(2). ERA= 7.11.

Greg Brock's kid has some speed? Dunning has 31 K's in 23.2 IP.

Rookie AZL Giants bested the Cubs 5-1:

Carlos Willoughby- 2 for 4, 3B. BA= .308.
Brice Cutspec- 2 for 4. BA= .309.
Charlie Jones- 1 for 3, BB, SB(1). BA= .306.
Rafael Rodriguez- 2 for 3, BB, SB(1). BA= .250.
Reiner Roibal- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00.

The Giants used 7 pitchers with none going more than 2 innings. Roibal seems like the top prospect of the bunch, so I posted his line.

DSL The entire DSL was, once again, postponed, presumably due to weather.

2 comments:

  1. Hey Dr B,
    I have enjoyed reading your 'down on the farm' blogs and went to the Richmond-Bowie last night, so I thought I'd offer a first-hand impression of our AA team.

    Ford > looked like he had a plan at the plate. at least two of his walks were on 3-2 counts where he had fouled off a couple pitches and drawn 8-10 pitches. Although he was on base all night, he never even attempted a SB, not sure if that was by design, but I was a little disappointed he didn't look to push the envelope.

    Neal > his line doesn't really do justice to his night. his two singles were absolutely scorched. the next two AB's he GiDP swinging at the first pitch (pablo-esque). it was his last AB that he hit the HR and I'd be only slightly exaggerating to say it was still rising when it clear the R-CF fence. he crushed it and got one of the "oooh"s from the crowd when it left his bat.

    Belt > he looks comfortable in the batter's box (although he did chase a couple high FB's) and made 2-3 good scoops with the glove at 1B. he tweaked something in his last AB and didn't finish it (couldn't tell where I was sitting, but looked like his wrist) - hopefully its nothing major.

    Cisco > the guy is a monster (listed at 6'10 & 270lbs), but he never threw over 90-flat. his two BB's were back to back in the 8th, so his control fluttered for about 10 pitches.

    Schoop > looked really smooth with the glove and, with noonan, turned a couple nice DP's. I haven't seen Crawford play in person, so don't want to compare them, but he did look comfortable both in the field and at the plate.

    Thanks again for the posts and cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the props and for the eyewitness account. Those are always welcome!

    ReplyDelete