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Thanks for the update gp. I'll try and check this kid out live down here and see how he looks. If I'm able to see him, I'll report back to you guys.
This kid seems to be having a Sandoval-esque rise through the ranks.
Thanks for the update gp. I'll try and check this kid out live down here and see how he looks. If I'm able to see him, I'll report back to you guys.
This kid seems to be having a Sandoval-esque rise through the ranks.
I was just going to post that you should scout him for us. That would be cool. I guess they've been playing him in leftfield. I wonder what that is about? Getting him prepped for a September 1 call up?
I have no prob with them giving him experience at other positions, but most reports say that he has +++ defense at 1B with a weak(ish) arm. Why move him?
I was just going to post that you should scout him for us. That would be cool. I guess they've been playing him in leftfield. I wonder what that is about? Getting him prepped for a September 1 call up?
I would say it is greater than Panda. Panda had been in the org for a few years and had a decent year the season before his meteoric rise. Belt is doing this in his first year in the org and did not show this kind of potential before hand...
Once again, I can't remember where I read it Cal, but some article was saying something (forgive my memory) about him being a converted pitcher because he wanted to work on his hitting. I think if I recall correctly anyway that it wasn't as much of a case of him being a late bloomer as much as him honing his craft much later than others. I could be wrong though. I can't remember where I read the article.....supposedly the kid is 6'5" though, because he looks like me, a skinny guy.
I have no prob with them giving him experience at other positions, but most reports say that he has +++ defense at 1B with a weak(ish) arm. Why move him?
IIRC, he has such a good arm that he was once considered a pitching prospect. I wonder if his throwing has regressed or if pitching strength just doesn't always translate to positional play?
OK, I found some good stuff...
He was a top pitching prospect out of HS, but was only drafted in the 11th round (by Boston) because of signability issues. At the time, he had a tight CB at about 78 mph. His FB was very inconsistent, ranging on a good game from 88-93 to on a bad game low 80s.
As for now, I saw scouts rating him from ++ defense to simply "above average". I only found one reference to his arm now, and it was described as "above average" as well.
His outfield defense, however, was pretty universally panned, although I would be willing to write that off to little experience. He was described as having bad jumps and horrible routes, which you would think would have the possibility of imporoving with more innings played.
EVERYONE was gushing about his bat and his quick adoption of the new stance. The quick adoption of the new stance really excites me. It tells me that he is willing/able to learn on-the-job. This would help him avoid the kind of troubles that Panda was having this season.
BTW...
I was wrong yet again. He did not hit a HR in his first game in Richmond. He went 0-3 in his first game, but promptly went on a 12-game hitting streak and basically dominating the pitching-rich AA Eastern League.
I have no prob with them giving him experience at other positions, but most reports say that he has +++ defense at 1B with a weak(ish) arm. Why move him?
I think it's a good idea for the Giants to get a read on whether he can play the OF and to keep that under consideration when they are negotiating a new contract with Huff. Because as well as Huff has played the OF this year I'm not sure I'd expect him to continue that and if they think Huff's use to the team going forward is more likely at 1B exclusively then you have to figure out if Belt can play somewhere else. If they're not sold that he can that might limit their interest in Huff to just a 1 year contract.
Also, I don't expect Belt to get more than the occassional PH appearance if he is called up in September but it still wouldn't hurt if he can show the flexibility to play more than one positon, even if it's only in an emergency.
I think it's a good idea for the Giants to get a read on whether he can play the OF and to keep that under consideration when they are negotiating a new contract with Huff. Because as well as Huff has played the OF this year I'm not sure I'd expect him to continue that and if they think Huff's use to the team going forward is more likely at 1B exclusively then you have to figure out if Belt can play somewhere else. If they're not sold that he can that might limit their interest in Huff to just a 1 year contract.
Also, I don't expect Belt to get more than the occassional PH appearance if he is called up in September but it still wouldn't hurt if he can show the flexibility to play more than one positon, even if it's only in an emergency.
I have no prob with them giving him experience at other positions, but most reports say that he has +++ defense at 1B with a weak(ish) arm. Why move him?
I'm sure there's some logic to it, but there's just too many unknowns to do much more than make a note of it.