Volcanoes awards

by squirrel on Aug 29, 2007 11:07 AM PDT Comment 18 comments

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/SPORTS/708290435/1018

Didn't see this in steve's minor lines so I thought I'd throw it up here.

Salem-Keizer won two NWL awards. Matt Downs tied Eugene's Luis Durango for the MVP and manager Steve Decker won manager of the year with Eugene's Greg Riddoch. Downs is the first Volcano to win the MVP. This year he's hitting .333/.404/.538 with a league-leading 30 doubles.

Downs, Garrett Baker and pitchers T.J. Brewer and Daniel Otero made the NWL all-star team as well.

The Volcanoes are an old team for the NWL, but they've had a great season at 51-17 so far.

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Interesting

Is Matt Downs a legit 3B prospect?

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by hairball on Aug 29, 2007 11:11 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Interesting

Most of what I can find on Matt Downs is from the University of Alabama's Jacked up web page, and baseballcube (scroll down)

He was a JC transfer in 2004. Came on as a relief pitcher, he sucked with a 5.50 ERA.

Shifted to an infielder during his senior year, played 64 games and did well.

Has hit well in AFL and now in S-K.

Late starter, maybe he turns out to be a surprise.

Ben Copeland, because the Giants can't have enough OF prospects

by nvsfg on Aug 29, 2007 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Interesting

Downs is solid. I've attended all the Volcanoes home games and he's only played a couple at third, mostly 1st base but he's a strong defender and moves quickly with a good arm. Definitely one to watch.

by RichH on Aug 29, 2007 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Interesting

Good to hear.

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Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Aug 29, 2007 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Interesting

I like his numbers, but 23 is kind of old for an A player. Maybe they can bump him up past Augusta next year.

Randy Messenger: "I'll be back soon and we'll be rid of Scott Atchison"

by rxmeister on Aug 29, 2007 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Matt Downs

On the RealGM.com site (which I discovered just now (and gawd, it looks cheesy)) ...

... there's a Giants discussion board moderated by a guy who says he's a beat writer covering the Volcanoes. Here's what he says, dated Aug. 18 (scroll way down):

"Power-wise, [Downs] has all you need and then some, and I have no doubts he can hit in a Major League park. It's his defense, though, that's gonna get him into the majors and stick. He started his college career as a relief pitcher and permanently moved to 3B his senior year at Alabama, and the Volcanoes played him at 2B for a while. Nowadays he plays 3B and 1B when the organization called up Brock Bond. His range is great; he can cover each line with relative ease and always looks calm and together making his throws. The fact that he's got a gun for an arm only makes him more attractive."

The guy provides some good info, but he's no steve S.

by wedge on Aug 29, 2007 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions

So, he's a tad old for his level

But is otherwise at least a 3-tool player (power, glove, arm) who is a corner infielder? Considering that we've got the other tools (hit for average, speed) represented well in the outfield, this guy should be given special treatment, n'est-ce pas?

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by hairball on Aug 30, 2007 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

well, if he's 23, he's more than a tad old.

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

by jponry on Aug 30, 2007 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

How does age projection account for late starts? He hasn't been hitting that long is my understanding. Is there some kind of adjustment, or is he still just old?

Dave Righetti: You don't know him.

by howtheyscored on Aug 30, 2007 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

I don't know and it's pretty unfair, but if he's 23 and in ssA ball, the odds are likely against him.

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

by jponry on Aug 30, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

Yeah, I guess he is a bit on the extreme end of starting late.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him.

by howtheyscored on Aug 30, 2007 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

Interestingly, BA suggested in last year's Prospect Handbook that he might be the best hitter of our 2006 draft, but they left him in the AZL all summer (extreme for a 22 year old) and then left him in extended ST this year. Not exactly signals of great organizational confidence.

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

by Roger on Aug 30, 2007 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

The odds are what Giants management makes them. I don't care if a hot rookie is 25, or even 28 years old. Look at Jack Cust. If a 32 year-old can demonstrate that he belongs in the majors, promote him. On another note, frankly, I'm kind of wondering why they haven't given Die Hard his cup o'coffee yet.

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Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Aug 30, 2007 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

Because this ain't Starbucks.

Proud adoptive father of the All-Father, currently sandbagging in Augusta.

by EliminateMe on Aug 30, 2007 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

He asked for a tall hazelnut latte with extra foam so give him the goddamn tall hazelnut latte with extra foam!

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not facist: THE RETURN OF SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 31, 2007 6:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: So, he's a tad old for his level

Word to your barista!

Or whatever the kids are saying these days.

The SF Giants: agressively promoting young talent since 2008.

by Lyle on Aug 31, 2007 7:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Volcanoes awards

i wonder if decker is gonna get a promotion this year

i think a smart move would be to send kelly to norwich and decker to augusta

by bacci40 on Aug 29, 2007 11:57 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Volcanoes awards

I know Decker is from Oregon and I get the feeling he wants to stay there. It won't do much for his career to not be willing to move up but that is my feeling with him. Maybe as his kids get older he maybe more willing to at that point.

Father of Adopted son Clay Timpner

by Andy In Fresno on Aug 29, 2007 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions