2019 Top Prospects

[SFGRTB]

Why the $&*@ would they send Shaw to Richmond? Because Anthony Garcia shows a lot of potential? Mike Yastrezemski is the grandson of a HOF? Henry Ramos' little brother is a top prospect?




**Currently rocking a corner, muttering to self that SFGRTB is just messing with our heads and the new regime isn't really that stupid**

I won't say that you're overreacting, because it's certainly shocking, but the guy really needs to figure out the strikezone. He shouldn't (hopefully) have much problem with AA pitching, and he won't be under the pressure of being on the doorstep to the majors. This seems more like a strategical move rather than a castaway type of move.

 

[LHG]

I won't say that you're overreacting, because it's certainly shocking, but the guy really needs to figure out the strikezone. He shouldn't (hopefully) have much problem with AA pitching, and he won't be under the pressure of being on the doorstep to the majors. This seems more like a strategical move rather than a castaway type of move.

But I could see this backfiring just as easily as easing the pressure. It could mess with his head that he went all the way from the big leagues last September to AA the following April. Not many players do that and are successful. More often than not (in a very subjective, un-researched statement), this is a last ditch move before the player is dropped completely.

 

[calsnowskier]

Where Hjelle?

 

[tzill]

But I could see this backfiring just as easily as easing the pressure. It could mess with his head that he went all the way from the big leagues last September to AA the following April. Not many players do that and are successful. More often than not (in a very subjective, un-researched statement), this is a last ditch move before the player is dropped completely.

I agree, and I think that's where FZ is with Shaw.

Figure it out kid, or yer gone.

 

[LHG]

I agree, and I think that's where FZ is with Shaw.

Figure it out kid, or yer gone.

Did he really struggle that badly in spring training? Compared to how the vets performed last September, I thought the Giants were way too harsh on Shaw.
I think it could be argued that Shaw would be the new moneyball player. Leftfield/1st base sluggers with low on base percentages are way unfavored in MLB right now. The team that gives them a legitimate shot may find an unorthodox way of winning.

 

[calsnowskier]

Did he really struggle that badly in spring training? Compared to how the vets performed last September, I thought the Giants were way too harsh on Shaw.
I think it could be argued that Shaw would be the new moneyball player. Leftfield/1st base sluggers with low on base percentages are way unfavored in MLB right now. The team that gives them a legitimate shot may find an unorthodox way of winning.

Bad fielding, bad hitting players are undervalued in the majors?

THE GIANTS ARE GOING ALL THE WAY THIS YEAR!!!!

 

[LHG]

Bad fielding, bad hitting players are undervalued in the majors?

THE GIANTS ARE GOING ALL THE WAY THIS YEAR!!!!

That is not what I said. Limited positional flexibility does not mean bad fielding. The market has so moved away from guys who are limited to 1st base and/or left field that I've even seen talk of Brandon Belt not necessarily being in high demand on the trade market. And some would argue that he is a poor hitter, simply due to batting average.
It seems that teams, now, demand guys who play multiple positions and put more emphasis on guys with high on base and poor slugging. What I think that does is ignore guys like Belt, who can take a walk, hit a home run and play his position well.
Going back to Shaw, I think if he can continue to put up good numbers in slugging percentage and play at least passable defense, his value would be a lot higher than what the current market would place on his production. A team like the A's, who came up with Moneyball, could see that market lag and take advantage of it.

 

[SFGRTB]

Did he really struggle that badly in spring training? Compared to how the vets performed last September, I thought the Giants were way too harsh on Shaw.
I think it could be argued that Shaw would be the new moneyball player. Leftfield/1st base sluggers with low on base percentages are way unfavored in MLB right now. The team that gives them a legitimate shot may find an unorthodox way of winning.

We don't really see much in ST besides the numbers on paper. Maybe he was swinging at literally everything, it certainly wouldn't be far removed from his tendencies since reaching AAA. A 5% walk rate and 30% strikeout rate just isn't going to cut it.

 

[tzill]

Did he really struggle that badly in spring training? Compared to how the vets performed last September, I thought the Giants were way too harsh on Shaw.
I think it could be argued that Shaw would be the new moneyball player. Leftfield/1st base sluggers with low on base percentages are way unfavored in MLB right now. The team that gives them a legitimate shot may find an unorthodox way of winning.

Except that FZ isn't interested in low OBP. He didn't draft Shaw and is not beholden to him at all. If Shaw can up his OBP while maintaining some power and positional flexibility, then he's got a shot.

 

[SFGRTB]

It was a small sample, but Shaw's 2017 stint in AA was the best stretch of his career. He was seeing the ball great and obliterating pitches in a pitcher's ballpark. Hopefully he can find that groove again and his time in Richmond is quite short, at one of the few OFers on the 40-man, he definitely has a leg up.

 

[SFGRTB]

It's opening day in the minor league sphere today

 

[SFGRTB]

 

[SFGRTB]

 

[calsnowskier]

Meh. Decent, but just an extended SF bench.

Ouch. Talk about empty...

Ok, now THIS looks fun. 3 potential future starters in SF (Ramos, Bart, Villar)

This looks dull. No super exciting lottery tickets here this year. Too bad. This is usually an exciting team...

 

[1phlapdown]

Good lookin’ out!!

 

[SFGRTB]

Meh. Decent, but just an extended SF bench.


Ouch. Talk about empty...


Ok, now THIS looks fun. 3 potential future starters in SF (Ramos, Bart, Villar)


This looks dull. No super exciting lottery tickets here this year. Too bad. This is usually an exciting team...

Sac: Yeah, Basically.

Rich: Not sure why Shaw wasn't in the lineup for Richmond. I'm interested to see what Quinn, Howard, Miller and Heyward can do. None of them will be ML starters, but all have enough talent to be major leaguers I think (plus Shaw). I'm not excited about this lineup, but I'll be paying attention if one or more of them can make that jump.

Jose: Agreed. Gerardo and Johnson both have good chances to become MLers too.

Aug: The 1-5 in that lineup are all very interesting to me, and Canario may join them later in the season. Pitching is the name of the game in Augusta this year though.

 

[SFGRTB]

 

[Stokes1931]

Check out the new thread for the minors: Down on the Farm (2019)

SFG, I will take the remainder of this week. Would you like to take next week?

 

[SFGRTB]

Here's an article from a scout at extended spring training. Some big Giants' prospects there, including Luciano and Pomares:

Notes From Extended Spring Training - 4/15-4/22

"Marco Luciano (SS) San Francisco Giants – At the plate has looked overmatched vs offspeed and spin, with many swings over the top. Timing is off. Bat speed still very evident, but he looks to be pressing. On Monday took a fastball down the middle for strike three and took several half swings where he looked to be stuck guessing in between pitches. - It reminded me of something a scout said about Austin Riley during AFL 2017; the scout remarked Riley was stuck between pitches because he had plus bat speed but was also often late on fastballs. - Smooth defender at short, looks like a guy who will stick in the MIF; nice feed/toss to second baseman on double play turned in Friday’s contest. The body language: flustered and pressing. Keep in mind Luciano is only 17. Even in extended spring training he is well below the average age, which is probably around 20. Many teams do not send their first-year J2 signings to extended spring training. Consider this an adjustment period; the raw tools that make him a highly-touted prospect are still there"

"Jairo Pomares (OF) San Francisco Giants – Exciting bat-first OF with excellent bat speed and barrel control. A bit raw defensively but not bad: mixed early returns in right field, some indirect routes, will probably settle around average. Love the swing: plus bat speed with hands slotting high. Decent-sized leg kick, times it well, and it adds “umpf” to the swing. Uppercut swing plane with some length; geared for loft, but have seen a surprising amount of contact on the ground. Unsure if this is small sample noise or a harbinger of a high ground ball rate – have not seen anything mechanically that suggests it is a concern, but worth keeping tabs on in later viewings. 4.23 down the line on 6-3 groundout, not max effort time, meaning Pomares is probably closer to a 55-60 runner. One could make the case he is the best hitter on Giants Black, and that roster also includes Alexander Canario and Marco Luciano."

 

[LHG]

Here's an article from a scout at extended spring training. Some big Giants' prospects there, including Luciano and Pomares:

Notes From Extended Spring Training - 4/15-4/22

"Marco Luciano (SS) San Francisco Giants – At the plate has looked overmatched vs offspeed and spin, with many swings over the top. Timing is off. Bat speed still very evident, but he looks to be pressing. On Monday took a fastball down the middle for strike three and took several half swings where he looked to be stuck guessing in between pitches. - It reminded me of something a scout said about Austin Riley during AFL 2017; the scout remarked Riley was stuck between pitches because he had plus bat speed but was also often late on fastballs. - Smooth defender at short, looks like a guy who will stick in the MIF; nice feed/toss to second baseman on double play turned in Friday’s contest. The body language: flustered and pressing. Keep in mind Luciano is only 17. Even in extended spring training he is well below the average age, which is probably around 20. Many teams do not send their first-year J2 signings to extended spring training. Consider this an adjustment period; the raw tools that make him a highly-touted prospect are still there"

"Jairo Pomares (OF) San Francisco Giants – Exciting bat-first OF with excellent bat speed and barrel control. A bit raw defensively but not bad: mixed early returns in right field, some indirect routes, will probably settle around average. Love the swing: plus bat speed with hands slotting high. Decent-sized leg kick, times it well, and it adds “umpf” to the swing. Uppercut swing plane with some length; geared for loft, but have seen a surprising amount of contact on the ground. Unsure if this is small sample noise or a harbinger of a high ground ball rate – have not seen anything mechanically that suggests it is a concern, but worth keeping tabs on in later viewings. 4.23 down the line on 6-3 groundout, not max effort time, meaning Pomares is probably closer to a 55-60 runner. One could make the case he is the best hitter on Giants Black, and that roster also includes Alexander Canario and Marco Luciano."

I wonder, if Luciano continues to press and look overmatched, if the Giants stick with an AZL Black assignment or if they ship him overseas to start in the DSL.