Down on the Farm (2019)

[LHG]

I really do hope that they move him to Richmond by early August.

 

[calsnowskier]

The good thing about those 5 HRs in 51 ABs is that it hardly qualifies as SSS since there was a IL stint in the middle of it. 2 separate “grooves” produces those numbers.

Gotta figure he will end the year in Richmond, and maybe get a cuppo by next year...

 

[Stokes1931]

Conner Menez has moved up to AAA after crushing AA this year. He had a 2.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and was averaging 10.56 K's per 9 innings.

Menez switched something up between 2017 and 2018. He was a low strikeout, low groundball guy (a worrisome combination) in his first two pro seasons, but then in 2018 he became a K machine. His 14.1% Swinging Strike% is the 4th highest in AA.

Now he's on the doorstep of the big leagues, and you have to think that he could get a few starts this year.

He started today in New Orleans. 5 innings, 4 hits, 2 ER (both solo homers), 1 walk, 9 K's. Yeah, he's figured something out with the K's.

He had a couple of starts in AAA last year, and did reasonably well as an emergency starter, had a 3.27 ERA with 9 K in 11 innings.

 

[LHG]

He started today in New Orleans. 5 innings, 4 hits, 2 ER (both solo homers), 1 walk, 9 K's. Yeah, he's figured something out with the K's.

He had a couple of starts in AAA last year, and did reasonably well as an emergency starter, had a 3.27 ERA with 9 K in 11 innings.

All the bouncing around he did last year, I was beginning to think he would become an organizational filler.

 

[Stokes1931]

Heliot Ramos hit his 8th homer of the season tonight vs Stockton.

Hjelle pitched 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 ER, 1 walk, 6 k's.

He was in line for the win, but the SJ bullpen coughed up a late lead and the Giants fell, 4-3.

Bart was 0-3 with a run scored, he also had a passed ball.

 

[tzill]

 

[Stokes1931]

The Flying Squirrels have been no hit through 9 innings tonight. Fortunately, they have shut out their opponent with only two hits. tzill approved!

Scratch that, Miller with the RBI double in the bottom of the 10th scores the runner from 2nd. Richmond wins, 1-0. Three hits the entire game by both teams.

 

[LHG]

I had looked at their roster a few days ago and they had 15 pitchers active. I figured something was going to give soon (although it should be noted that Sacramento and San Jose have been carrying 13 pitchers for most of the season and have had anywhere from 1 to 4 additional pitchers shuttling on and off the roster on a regular basis).

 

[LHG]

I looked at their roster to see what other moves they made and they are keeping the 15 pitching rotation. They also jettiosoned Connor Overton and promoted both Frank Rubio and Caleb Simpson.

Rubio, I understand. In 21 relief appearances with San Jose, he had a minute 0.29 ERA, going 31.3 innings, allowing 20 hits & 10 walks (0.96 WHIP), only one home run allowed and struck out 36 batters. He deserved that promotion. Simpson, however, doesn't make sense. In 11 games with SJ, he posted a 4.26 ERA, allowed just 6 hits and but 12 walks in 12.7 innings (1.42 WHIP) but did strike out 15 batters. He is really old for advanced A ball (turns 28 in September) but was effectively wild in Richmond last year. Not sure why he started the year with SJ and, now, why he is getting promoted.

The Flying Squirrels also recently put two of their three light hitting catchers on the IL. They had called up John Riley from SJ (another light hitting catcher) and were going with just two guys but one of their outfielders, CJ McElroy (who was purchased from indy ball a month ago), went on the IL too. So, instead of maybe calling up Heliot Ramos to see how he'd handle AA, they went out and got another light hitting catcher from indy ball in Brett Austin. I guess the Giants' philosophy is, the lighter the catchers hit, the more of them you need.

All this keeps the roster at 26 players. I've noticed that, on most nights, two of the four active affiliates (not counting short season clubs) have 26 players listed as active. I wonder if that is a new rule for MiLB, allowing half of the full season clubs to carry 26 and the other half to carry 25.

 

[calsnowskier]

I looked at their roster to see what other moves they made and they are keeping the 15 pitching rotation. They also jettiosoned Connor Overton and promoted both Frank Rubio and Caleb Simpson.

Rubio, I understand. In 21 relief appearances with San Jose, he had a minute 0.29 ERA, going 31.3 innings, allowing 20 hits & 10 walks (0.96 WHIP), only one home run allowed and struck out 36 batters. He deserved that promotion. Simpson, however, doesn't make sense. In 11 games with SJ, he posted a 4.26 ERA, allowed just 6 hits and but 12 walks in 12.7 innings (1.42 WHIP) but did strike out 15 batters. He is really old for advanced A ball (turns 28 in September) but was effectively wild in Richmond last year. Not sure why he started the year with SJ and, now, why he is getting promoted.

The Flying Squirrels also recently put two of their three light hitting catchers on the IL. They had called up John Riley from SJ (another light hitting catcher) and were going with just two guys but one of their outfielders, CJ McElroy (who was purchased from indy ball a month ago), went on the IL too. So, instead of maybe calling up Heliot Ramos to see how he'd handle AA, they went out and got another light hitting catcher from indy ball in Brett Austin. I guess the Giants' philosophy is, the lighter the catchers hit, the more of them you need.

All this keeps the roster at 26 players. I've noticed that, on most nights, two of the four active affiliates (not counting short season clubs) have 26 players listed as active. I wonder if that is a new rule for MiLB, allowing half of the full season clubs to carry 26 and the other half to carry 25.

Ramos will not be called up to fill a roster need in AA. He will dictate his own promotions.

You don’t shuffle top prospects like you do fillers. Ramos and Bart are at the top of that list for the Giants.

 

[LHG]

Ramos will not be called up to fill a roster need in AA. He will dictate his own promotions.

You don’t shuffle top prospects like you do fillers. Ramos and Bart are at the top of that list for the Giants.

I do understand that, my thought is that Ramos could use a promotion. The only really concerning thing about his numbers with SJ is that his K rate is a bit high (32.4%). That, and maybe the shortened season due to injury. But I like the idea of being a bit aggressive with the higher prospects (Bart and Ramos, right now), to see how they do. The Giants did that with most of their pitching prospects that started the season in Augusta, why not with the hitters who started with SJ?

 

[calsnowskier]

I do understand that, my thought is that Ramos could use a promotion. The only really concerning thing about his numbers with SJ is that his K rate is a bit high (32.4%). That, and maybe the shortened season due to injury. But I like the idea of being a bit aggressive with the higher prospects (Bart and Ramos, right now), to see how they do. The Giants did that with most of their pitching prospects that started the season in Augusta, why not with the hitters who started with SJ?

I can see them being more aggressive. I will give you that. But Ramos is still super young and coming off an extended injury. He won’t be going anywhere for at least a few weeks/months. I can see him, along with Bart, getting to Richmond before the end of the year though. Maybe all-star game time??

 

[LHG]

I can see them being more aggressive. I will give you that. But Ramos is still super young and coming off an extended injury. He won’t be going anywhere for at least a few weeks/months. I can see him, along with Bart, getting to Richmond before the end of the year though. Maybe all-star game time??

Cal League All-Star game is June 18th (that's a lot sooner than I thought it would be!). Eastern League All-Star game is July 10th.

 

[calsnowskier]

Cal League All-Star game is June 18th (that's a lot sooner than I thought it would be!). Eastern League All-Star game is July 10th.

That is soon. Ok... maybe end of the month? After Eastern ASB?

 

[LHG]

Salem-Keizer starts their season this evening and their roster just got released (I assume the lack of hitters is indicative of how many 2019 picks we'll see here in the coming weeks).

Pitchers (18) - Abel Adames, Deiyerbert Bolivar, Cooper Casad, Kervin Castro, Israel Cruz, Alex DuBord, Clay Helvey, Trevor Horn, Jacob Lopez, Mack Meyer, Luis Moreno, Travis Perry, Chris Roberts, Andy Rohloff, Tyler Schimpf, Ben Strahm, Bryce Tucker, Yoel Veras
Catchers (2) - Ricardo Genoves, Keyberth Mejias
Infielders (4) - Marcos Campos, Beicker Mendoza, Sean Roby, Yorlis Rodriguez
Outfielders (4) - Kwan Adkins, George Bell, Tyler Flores, Franklin Labour

Adames is an interesting promotion. He got knocked around pretty good last year in Rookie ball but is 23 years old. The Giants must want to see what he can do.
Bolivar is 22 years old but was injured most of last season, before pitching in 6 games in rookie ball at the end of the year.
Casad was an NDFA last year who got in a couple of appearances with SJ in April. He was decent in the AZL in 2018.
Castro is a very interesting promotion as he only threw in one game in the DSL last year and is 20 years old.
Cruz was a decent started in the AZL last year and also got an early season appearance with SJ this year.
DuBord was the 10th round pick last year and got knocked around with Salem last year. First guy to repeat on this list.
Helvey and Horn are two more early season SJ appearances. Helvey was the 22nd round pick and Horn the 39th round pick from last year. While Helvey was awful last year in the AZL, Horn pitched well in both AZL and Salem in 2018. He could have cracked Augusta's roster if not for it being so packed already.
Lopez, the 2019 26th round pick, looked really good in limited action last year in the AZL.
Meyer is another Salem repeat. He got knocked around pretty badly last year.
Moreno was another deserving promotion from the AZL
Perry & Roberts, both low 2019 picks (28th & 35th), had solid to good seasons in 2018 with the AZL.
Rohloff, a 2018 pick, also pitched well in the AZL but it moving slowly through the org.
Schimpf's career is sputtering and sees himself getting demoted from Augusta.
Strahm, who's brother pitches for the Padres, is yet another 2019 pick (23rd), who was decent but not great in 2018 with the AZL.
Tucker, also a 2019 pick (14th), is making his professional debut, presumably he was injured last year.
Veras did not pitch that well in the AZL but still gets promoted.
Genoves is the 3rd Salem repeat, having hit poorly in 2018, first as the starter and then as Bart's backup.
Mejias is another curious promotion. He had decent (but not good) numbers in the DSL last year, but leapfrogged Angel Guzman to Salem.
Campos (29th), Roby (12th), Adkins (30th), Bell (13th) & Flores (ndfa) are all 2019 signees. Roby and Flores earned their promotions through strong 2018 seasons. Bell is there for his draft status (and decent 2018). Campos and Adkins are both head scratchers. Neither hit well last year and neither are anything close to high draft picks. Surprised they are starting in the AZL again.
Mendoza, Rodriguez & Labour are international players who had good 2018 seasons in the AZL and deserve the chance to be in Salem.

A few names I am surprised to not see on this roster: Pitchers - Logan Harasta, Jasier Herrera, Connor Nurse, Francis Pena, Julio Rodriguez, Doug Still; Catchers - Angel Guzman; Infielders - Abdiel Layer; Outfielders - Austin Edgette. I think a few of these pitchers did better in the AZL than a few guys who made the roster. Guzman (Mejias), Layer (Campos) and Edgette (Adkins) all hit better than the names in parenthesis in 2018. Some of these guys may be injured.

 

[LHG]

The AZL Rosters were announced today. Highlight names for Black & Orange
Black: Dylan Davis, rp, Sonny Vargas, sp; Cesar Gonzalez, c; Garrett Frechette, 1b; Dilan Rosario, ss; Ghordy Santos, ss (merely for the name); Sandro Fabian, rf; Grant McCray cf; Jairo Pomares, cf
Orange: Angel Guzman, c; Connor Cannon, 1b; Marco Luciano, ss; Luis Toribio, 3b; Alex Canario, cf

Both teams have 3 players on rehab. They are:
Black: Mac Marshall, sp; Nolan Riggs, rp; Sandro, Fabian, rf
Orange: Jamie Callahan, rp; Rodolfo Martinez, rp; Heath Quinn, rf

Also, a lot of the recently signed 2019 picks dominate the rosters:
Black: McCray (3rd); Frechette (5th); Rosario (6th); Wright (12th); Freed (13th); Aldrete (15th); Lumbert (24th); Crawford (29th); Dempsey (33rd); Malkin (ndfa)
Orange: Morreale (14th); Cannon (17th); Pagan (19th); Gaskins (20th); Williams (22nd); Avila (26th); Crump (30th); Wyatt (31st)

 

[SFGRTB]

The AZL Rosters were announced today. Highlight names for Black & Orange
Black: Dylan Davis, rp, Sonny Vargas, sp; Cesar Gonzalez, c; Garrett Frechette, 1b; Dilan Rosario, ss; Ghordy Santos, ss (merely for the name); Sandro Fabian, rf; Grant McCray cf; Jairo Pomares, cf
Orange: Angel Guzman, c; Connor Cannon, 1b; Marco Luciano, ss; Luis Toribio, 3b; Alex Canario, cf

Both teams have 3 players on rehab. They are:
Black: Mac Marshall, sp; Nolan Riggs, rp; Sandro, Fabian, rf
Orange: Jamie Callahan, rp; Rodolfo Martinez, rp; Heath Quinn, rf

Also, a lot of the recently signed 2019 picks dominate the rosters:
Black: McCray (3rd); Frechette (5th); Rosario (6th); Wright (12th); Freed (13th); Aldrete (15th); Lumbert (24th); Crawford (29th); Dempsey (33rd); Malkin (ndfa)
Orange: Morreale (14th); Cannon (17th); Pagan (19th); Gaskins (20th); Williams (22nd); Avila (26th); Crump (30th); Wyatt (31st)

Hello, I'm back. I know you all missed me dearly and was wondering where I went.

The Dylan Davis on the Black team is indeed the Dylan Davis that has been with the org for a few years now. And yes he is converting to a pitcher.

The AZL has some real exciting players this year. They fill up two teams and there's still a log jam.

 

[LHG]

Hello, I'm back. I know you all missed me dearly and was wondering where I went.

The Dylan Davis on the Black team is indeed the Dylan Davis that has been with the org for a few years now. And yes he is converting to a pitcher.

The AZL has some real exciting players this year. They fill up two teams and there's still a log jam.

I had a feeling that when Dylan disappeared off the Richmond roster in early May, but not released, that he was going to extended spring training to stretch out as a pitcher. Hope he does well. The last few times the Giants tried that, the player didn't last more than a year or so in the org (Tona excepted).

As I was looking at that roster, there were some guys that stuck out to me that deserve to start somewhere but won't. I would guess that if some of these guys excel, they may get moved up quickly.

Wait . . . you were gone? Just kidding! Where have you been? There's been a lot less of cal, MSG and you recently.

 

[SFGRTB]

I had a feeling that when Dylan disappeared off the Richmond roster in early May, but not released, that he was going to extended spring training to stretch out as a pitcher. Hope he does well. The last few times the Giants tried that, the player didn't last more than a year or so in the org (Tona excepted).

As I was looking at that roster, there were some guys that stuck out to me that deserve to start somewhere but won't. I would guess that if some of these guys excel, they may get moved up quickly.

Wait . . . you were gone? Just kidding! Where have you been? There's been a lot less of cal, MSG and you recently.

I was on a tropical vacation

 

[calsnowskier]

I had a feeling that when Dylan disappeared off the Richmond roster in early May, but not released, that he was going to extended spring training to stretch out as a pitcher. Hope he does well. The last few times the Giants tried that, the player didn't last more than a year or so in the org (Tona excepted).

As I was looking at that roster, there were some guys that stuck out to me that deserve to start somewhere but won't. I would guess that if some of these guys excel, they may get moved up quickly.

Wait . . . you were gone? Just kidding! Where have you been? There's been a lot less of cal, MSG and you recently.

I been here, just not a lot to comment on.