Down on the Farm (2022)

[tzill]

Schmitt hit his first AAA homer tonight (a two run shot). He's now hitting .455 in very limited at bats (9, I think).

Ramos is 2-4 with 2 RBI and a double

Saw a replay of the HR...it was a BOMB.

 

[calsnowskier]

Is there a chance he gets the job on opening day?

I think they pick up Longo with the understanding he is just a stop gap at this point. They hold Schmitt back for Super 2 and Longo gets a casual final season.

 

[tzill]

Is there a chance he gets the job on opening day?

I think they pick up Longo with the understanding he is just a stop gap at this point. They hold Schmitt back for Super 2 and Longo gets a casual final season.

I think Longo makes a good deal of sense at $8M (the $5M is sunk), so he probably is back. There aren't going to be a ton of opportunities for prospects not named Harrison or Luciano to crack the roster. Bad news for guys like Villar, Schmitt, etc.

 

[LHG]

I think Longo makes a good deal of sense at $8M (the $5M is sunk), so he probably is back. There aren't going to be a ton of opportunities for prospects not named Harrison or Luciano to crack the roster. Bad news for guys like Villar, Schmitt, etc.

That is disappointing, considering the current state of this team.

 

[tzill]

That is disappointing, considering the current state of this team.

Sure, but that's the deal when you're a team that isn't in a rebuild mode. You have to win the games you can, trying to make the playoffs. They can't just throw guys out there hoping they hit. Now, injuries will dictate that some guys get chances (see Webb, Logan) and THOSE guys might hit. But, they can't throw out maybes when they're going to spend money for vets. Just the boat we're in. We are not a 100 loss team.

 

[LHG]

Looking over the Giants' minor league free agent list, there are a few names I'm surprised are NOT free agents and one that IS a free agent.

First, I'll mention Jake Dahlberg. He was drafted in 2017 by the Saint Louis Cardinals and came over to the Giants after spending parts of 3 seasons in indy ball. I assumed that he would be eligible for minor league free agency in 2023 like others drafted in 2017 but he is eligible now. Maybe, due to his time in indy ball, he gets free agency early.

Then there is Melvin Adon. Last year, I was puzzled why he was not a minor league free agent. Now, make that 2 years I've been puzzled. Apparently, the Giants somehow still control his rights, despite the fact that he signed and began his professional career in 2015. Makes me wonder, did he sign like a 3 year minor league deal with the Giants prior to his first good around in minor league free agency (when the Giants took him off the 40 man roster in 2021)? I've heard of 2 year deals but 3?!?!

Now, there appears to be other minor league players that the Giants somehow keep rights to when he should be a minor league free agent - Willian Suarez and Ismael Munguia. I wonder if internationally signed players somehow don't get the 2020 season counted toward minor league free agency.

The other 3 I expected to be free agents were acquisitions last year - Jorge Guzman (2/1/22), Trevor Hildenberger (11/28/21) and Wei-Chieh Huang (2/1/22). I assume all 3 signed 2 year minor league deals last year.

 

[tzill]

Just noticing that Baseball Prospectus has catching leaderboards for the minors, and while some of it may not be totally reliable, Patrick Bailey had the highest Catcher Defensive Adjustment (+18.8 CDA) in the minors. CDA compiles framing, blocking, and throwing into one metric.

He earned a MiLB Gold Glove award at catcher last week, so the CDA metric adds some context to the award. Bailey graded out very strong in terms of framing and a positive in terms of blocking/throwing.

 

[calsnowskier]

Just noticing that Baseball Prospectus has catching leaderboards for the minors, and while some of it may not be totally reliable, Patrick Bailey had the highest Catcher Defensive Adjustment (+18.8 CDA) in the minors. CDA compiles framing, blocking, and throwing into one metric.

He earned a MiLB Gold Glove award at catcher last week, so the CDA metric adds some context to the award. Bailey graded out very strong in terms of framing and a positive in terms of blocking/throwing.

Very nice to hear. If his D is that advanced, maybe he will end up being the tandem to Bart.

 

[tzill]

Very nice to hear. If his D is that advanced, maybe he will end up being the tandem to Bart.

That's my hope...almost an expectation.

 

[tzill]

A minor detail this offseason: Luis González retained his MiLB option for 2023. He was optioned multiple times in 2022 but he did not spend 20 days in the minors after his contract was selected in April. He had some positive moments in 2022, so he will still have roster flexibility next year with a MiLB option.

 

[tzill]

The Giants have signed IF Donovan Walton to a MiLB contract.

 

[LHG]

The Giants have signed IF Donovan Walton to a MiLB contract.

Don't really understand the crazy love for middle infielders by this FO. They already have Diaz, Proctor and Welker from last year. They traded for Wisely. And Fitzgerald, Matheny, Schmitt, and Wilson ready for AAA. There is no need for Walton.

 

[tzill]

Giants lose Double-A pitcher Nick Avila to the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft. Giants pass on making a selection.

 

[tzill]

Giants have lost NINE players from Richmond to the Rule 5 draft today.

NINE.

I didn't even think that was possible

 

[calsnowskier]

Giants have lost NINE players from Richmond to the Rule 5 draft today.

NINE.

I didn't even think that was possible

And they didn’t take ANYONE in the minor league phase. I would think that FZ would need multiple changes of pants during this draft, and instead he doesn’t even show up?

I just don’t understand this FO.


As for the players we lost, really only a couple recognizable names, and no one that actually hurts. Frankly Tostado is no longer a Giant…

 

[tzill]

Full rundown R5: Nick Avila > Chi Sox


MiLB portion: RHP Wie-Chieh Huang > Pirates
C Ronaldo Flores > Angels
RHP Taylor Rashi > Dbacks
OF/1b Armani Smith > Twins
1b Frankie Tostado > Mariners
RHP Brooks Crawford > Reds
RHP Yoniel Ramirez > Phillies
RHP Willian Suarez > Angels

 

[LHG]

And they didn’t take ANYONE in the minor league phase. I would think that FZ would need multiple changes of pants during this draft, and instead he doesn’t even show up?

I just don’t understand this FO.


As for the players we lost, really only a couple recognizable names, and no one that actually hurts. Frankly Tostado is no longer a Giant…

This just gives him more room to stock middle infielders throughout the farm. He's like a squirrel, except the nuts are middle infielders.

 

[tzill]

We just traded cash and a PTBNL to the Reds for C/OF Blake Sabol, whom they took for us in the Rule 5 draft. He's gotta stay on the roster all year or we send him back to PIT.

 

[LHG]

We just traded cash and a PTBNL to the Reds for C/OF Blake Sabol, whom they took for us in the Rule 5 draft. He's gotta stay on the roster all year or we send him back to PIT.

He actually looks like a decent pickup, at least offensively. Hey, FZ has his two outfielders!

Blake Sabol Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com

Blake Sabol Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics including batting, fielding, prospect rankings and more on Baseball-Reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

 

[LHG]

I'm not ready to call collusion but it does seem a bit suspicious that after a year of no Rule 5 Draft, the number of players picked is down. Seems weird that no team went into the 2nd round and half the teams passed on picks in the 1st round.