Arizona Instructional League Notes

by southcitysteve on Oct 19, 2007 3:36 PM PDT Comment 39 comments

Here's an article from milb.com on the Giants prospects impressing in the Instructional League:

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071018&content_id=311578&vkey=news _milb&fext=.jsp

Couple notes: -Mad Bum is learning a curveball for '08 and will develop a changeup in '09.

-Alderson has been pitching from the windup and appears to be further along in his development than Mad Bum.

-Noonan's been sharing time between short and second.

-The Giants IL team is 14-3-2.

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Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

Nice catch, thanks.

SJ Giants, 2007 Cal League champs! Couldn't have done it without the All-Father.

by EliminateMe on Oct 19, 2007 3:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

Thanks for posting this. Will the instructional league still be going in in November?

Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss: Not fascist: SF Dugout. Not boring nor fascist: CLE winning the World Series.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 19, 2007 3:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

Been trying to find out but can't find a schedule anywhere.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 19, 2007 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

The Googles do nothing.

Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss: Not fascist: SF Dugout. Not boring nor fascist: CLE winning the World Series.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 19, 2007 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

According to the Peoria Sports Complex schedule, home of the Padres, Mariners and Dodgers instructional teams, instructional league games end on Oct. 20. Probably the same for all.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 19, 2007 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

Damnation. I was hoping to get some sort of scoop when I go to AZ next month. Good thinking to check the Peoria Sports Complex schedule.

Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss: Not fascist: SF Dugout. Not boring nor fascist: CLE winning the World Series.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 19, 2007 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

Good thing Google does my thinking for me.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 19, 2007 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

NICE use of the reference!

Dave Righetti: Bomb Ass in the Dugout. Bomb Ass in my heart. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Oct 19, 2007 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noooonan !!

My adopted son Matt Downs. My boy used to be a pitcher. Who knew he could hit and play defense ?

by nvsfg on Oct 19, 2007 3:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

Looks like a young Jack Clark to me. This is the second pic I've seen of Noonan. Is it just me, or does he look like he could have Chase Utley power after all?

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 19, 2007 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

I'll settle for Jeff Kent power. This kid has the forearms of Popeye.

by wilriv21 on Oct 19, 2007 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

And you can tell this by looking at a picture of thim throwing the ball???

Why isn't Sabean held accountable for leading the Giants into many years of mediocrity???

by oldrips on Oct 19, 2007 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

I can't say that it's very scientific, but even I have to admit that his body is quite physically mature for a 18-year old....he won't turn 19 until a month into next season.

That doesn't mean power will develop, though, but he definitely has the body of a power hitter more than, say, Fred Lewis.

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Oct 20, 2007 2:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1!

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 20, 2007 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

Noonan is listed at 6'0" and 180 lbs. doesn't that mean he's really probably 5'10" and 165?

If so, I wouldn't expect a lot of power from him despite this shining example of human male anatomy.

Vote for Grant

by Goofus on Oct 20, 2007 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK, I Give Up!

Does Noonan look like he weighs 165 lbs in that picture? This community is hopelessly jaded and pessimistic. Not without good reason, mind you, but still..........

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 20, 2007 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

that's the beauty of pictures, doc, you can never tell context from them. Do Tom Cruise etc look like they're 5'4" tall and 130 lbs in the movies? Of course not, that would look freakish! Does Leo DiCaprio look like he's 6'6"? No way. Or more to the point, would you guess that over a foot in height separates the two from having seen they're films?

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 20, 2007 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Movies

You're talking about movies. If you look at the pics of Cruise, DiCaprio, etc in those celebrity mags at the checkout stand, they look like the shrimps they are.

Did first pics we saw of Pablo Sandoval looking like a tub-o-lard lie? Did the pics of Angel Villalona looking like a baby monster, but a bit tubby himself lie? I think you can tell quite a bit from pics. We know Noonan's listed size, compare that with his muscular physique in the pictures and I think there is reason for optimism.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 20, 2007 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Movies

Because those pics are shot to make them look smaller. The composition creates the illusion because you're stripped of context. There's no way you can look at an iso shot of someone (i.e., lacking any scale to compare them to) and know their size. You just can't do it. There's no evidence in that picture of Noonan that can clue you in to saying whether he's 6'5" or 5'5". You can tell he's pretty cut, which is good, but Marcus Sanders has arms like that too, I was shocked by how defined his guns were. He's still a tiny guy who probably doesn't tip 160 on the scale.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 21, 2007 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

Wait, since when is Leo 6'6"?

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Oct 21, 2007 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

Might only be 6'4" but yeah, he's a big man, tall and lanky.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 21, 2007 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

imdb says he's 5'10" (and they usually fudge up not down).

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Oct 21, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

The discussion on celebheights (fascinating site) has him somewhere between 5'10" and 6'.

Vote for Grant

by Goofus on Oct 21, 2007 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

Listen, I met Leo in person a few times at the video store and let me tell you he's ten feet tall if he's a foot.

Dave Righetti: Bomb Ass in the Dugout. Bomb Ass in my heart. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Oct 21, 2007 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

Interesting. I've never met him, I was just going by a feature piece on him in the Washington Post last year. But I spose the fact that we really have no idea what's true or not just goes to support my original point.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 22, 2007 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

Roger, this might be the single most awesome post ever. To paraphrase, "The fact that I'm wrong proves my point."

(golf clap)

:-P

Vote for Grant

by Goofus on Oct 22, 2007 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: OK, I Give Up!

It's actually much more difficult than proving your point by being right. Anyone can do that!

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 22, 2007 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops! LOL!

OK, after going away and thinking about it awhile, I think Goofus was making a joke here. Sorry.

This community is hopelessly jaded and pessimistic though.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 20, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Oops! LOL!

Good Doctor,
I'm quite honored to hear that when you walk away from this site, you're still thinking about me.

Quite a coincidence really, as I'm thinking about me too. :-)

Vote for Grant

by Goofus on Oct 20, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

I don't know about Chase Utley power, but he looks like he's definitely more than a slap hitter. He could probably slug in the mid-400s, based on the scouting reports so far. Perhaps a line of .295/.350/.460 is possible.

by Dan from NM on Oct 20, 2007 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

When I saw the picture of Nick Noonan, I was surprised that it was Mike Krukow who jumped out at me. Does anyone have a picture of Mike in that pose? I think it would look as if the two could be brothers.

by sharksrog on Oct 20, 2007 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Noooonan !!

Count me in.

Dave Righetti: Bomb Ass in the Dugout. Bomb Ass in my heart. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Oct 19, 2007 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

The latest organizational report at Baseball America says Angel Villalona is "expected" to move from third to first base. Not a surprise, of course, but still disappointing.

by Dan from NM on Oct 20, 2007 2:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

Arrgh!! Do they really need to do it this soon? I mean, how much of an adjustment is 3B to 1B really? Seems to me you could do it in one offseason once the guy is ready for AAA or even MLB. IMO, they jumped the gun when they moved Nate to RF and they're doing it again here with Big V. What's next? Moving Nick Noonan to the OF?

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 20, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

DrB, just an observation here that I was bit surprised to hear you say that you thought the Giants moved Schierholtz off 3B too early. (That said, I was surprised at the time that they made the change in-season, instead of waiting for the off-season.) I've generally come to the conclusion that those who complain in this forum about Schierholtz being moved from 3B are commenters who never saw him play the hot corner. I don't know if that would include you or not.

There may be an argument about organizational depth, but the difference in the hitting level between RFers and 3Bmen at the major league level is rather minimal.

by steve S on Oct 21, 2007 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Schierholtz

Yes, I attended a San Jose game in which Nate played 3B. He did OK that game, although I can't say he had any difficult chances. If Nate had stayed at 3B and could field it even competently, would there be any question about who our starting 3B would be next season?

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 21, 2007 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schierholtz

I have been told that perhaps Nate didn't have the mentality to play catcher, but he did play there through Little League. When he was signed, I wondered why the Giants didn't move him and his strong arm behind the dish. Catcher is the weakest-hitting position aside from pitcher, and lefthanded hitters there are a real rarity.

I don't know if Nate could have played catcher or not, but wouldn't it have made sense to find out? Certainly catcher is usually thought of as the easiest route to the big leagues.

by sharksrog on Oct 21, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schierholtz

Don't tell that to Justin Knoedler, or you might get a punch in the face.

SJ Giants, 2007 Cal League champs! Couldn't have done it without the All-Father.

by EliminateMe on Oct 22, 2007 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Arizona Instructional League Notes

I'm guessing Giant's management wants Big V to focus on his hitting and not on his defense. Who knows what effect screwing up all those plays had on him?

The good news is that I bet this means he'll start the season in Augusta.

Zealously advocating for Nate the Great since 2007.

by orangeandblackattack on Oct 20, 2007 5:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs