Will Sandoval be promoted to CT or.....

by greg8370 on May 1, 2008 9:06 AM PDT Comment 40 comments

will he go straight to Triple-A Fresno under the heading of a "baseball descision" thereby confirming the feelings of the good folks out here in CT. that the Giants really do not care about their Double A team. It is obvious that he doesn't have much to prove anymore in San Jose. Subtopic : has anyone anyone heard about the Giants 'moving" their Double A team elsewhere after the 2008 season ends? Please discuss, thanks.

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I hope he doesn't skip a level

People who know more than me (that is to say, most people) say that the difference b/t hitting at A and AA is the most pronounced jump in the minors. If that’s true, it would be a disservice to have Pablo skip AA.

Also, I did read something somewhere that said the Giants may not re-up with the Defenders after this year, but I can’t recall the particulars.

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on May 1, 2008 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It’d be nice to get a Texas League AA affiliate again, if only for time zone difference and shorter travel times when someone gets called up…but a lot of the TL teams seem like pretty natural fits with their current organizations.

2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.

by EliminateMe on May 1, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Greg

Would would your feelings be if Pablo were promoted around May 15th? I’ve never been to CT, but my guess is that the weather warms up reasonably by then; and perhaps the Giants want to keep Pablo in warm weather as long as possible. Would the good folks of Norwich be offended by such a wait?

I think it would be bad to have Sandoval skip AA and go directly to AAA. There are more than weather concerns here. Even if he struggles in CT, he needs to see those pitchers throwing AA breaking balls.

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on May 1, 2008 9:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That makes sense

I’m all for fast-tracking him, but that may just mean put him in AA for at least a few months. At any rate, he needs to move up, somehow.

¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!

by hairball on May 1, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weather in CT

The weather is fine right now. It was in the high 70s here last week. Right now its around 60.

by SBcaptain2 on May 1, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no bad feelings here....

if he shows up May 15!

http://gregsconnecticutdefenders.blogspot.com

by greg8370 on May 1, 2008 9:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Witter

What do think of Witter, Greg? His sunken AVG hurts the team AVG, but then his secondary averages are pretty dang good. Pablo seems to be jumping between a lot of positions at the moment, how do you see him impacting the C situation in Connecticut?

Adopted papa of a bouncing new waiver wire 27 year old. Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 1, 2008 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

and then there is Richardson and his AVG versus OBP… team AVG in Connecticut was bound to be even worse this year.

Adopted papa of a bouncing new waiver wire 27 year old. Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 1, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad

I’m certainly glad I didn’t stand up for Antoan as a prospect last winter. His season in AA has been somewhat similar to that of Brian Bocock with the Giants. Good field/no hit/tons of strike outs and walks.

by sharksrog on May 2, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Witter

Compared to everyone else on the team, Witter’s average is pretty good. Plus, he is hitting for a lot of power, so he is definitely an asset right now. We could definitely use Sandoval, because this team is terrible offensively. Witter and Sandoval could rotate between catcher and DH.

by SBcaptain2 on May 1, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Witter.........

OK hitter; he’s hit most of his 6 HRs at home but defensively very shakey (6 PBs and 2 E’s)

http://gregsconnecticutdefenders.blogspot.com

by greg8370 on May 1, 2008 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Postition

Where will Pablo wind up as a position player? We could definitely use a catcher of the future. I read that he was working with Decker on his catching and that may be why he will stay in San Jose even though he is tearing the cover off the ball. It would be interesting if anyone in the San Jose area has any insight into his work with Decker. It seems that Witter is one of the few bright spots (if you can call him that) in the Defenders lineup.

I say free Pablo unless there really is benefit to having him work with Decker. A trip to AA would be revealing as to his true prospect status.

by APGiantsFan on May 1, 2008 11:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point

To the extent your point here is true, it indicates the Giants are far more concerned about Pablo’s catching than his hitting. Defensively, Pablo seems to at least be doing a good job of throwing runners out. Clearly he isn’t learning a whole lot by still hitting against A-Ball pitching, but perhaps the need to learn to catch overrides that.

Maybe if he reaches a certain level of accomplishment behind the plate he gets moved up to test his bat. If he continues to hit within 175 points of where he is hitting now (which would be my projection for him at the major leagues), he could well replace Bengie Molina when Bengie’s contract expires at the end of 2009.

I do think if I were the Giants that I would look toward moving Pablo up as soon as possible. If he wasn’t overpowered at a higher level, I would even consider bringing him up if Bengie got hurt.

To me, Pablo has been the biggest positive surprise in the organization - aside perhaps from Freddie Lewis and Merkin Valdez at the major league level. Unfortunately, thus far the unfortunate Charlie Culberson has IMO been the biggest negative surprise - followed by Brad Hennessey, Barry Zito and Angel Villalona.

by sharksrog on May 2, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Decker is not the only one who can teach him

Why not put some of that good ol’ Mike Matheny money to work and have him schooling Pablito at a higher level?

by wilriv21 on May 2, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's an idea that makes sense....

wonder if Matheny would go for it though….

by slojoe on May 2, 2008 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Matheny is working with the Cardinals.

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on May 2, 2008 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

on our dime?

Is Matheny still under contract with SF?

by wilriv21 on May 2, 2008 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

He signed a 3-year contract starting in ‘05 with (IIRC) an option. We declined the option.

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on May 2, 2008 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That might just have been for spring training.

SAVE_US.RAY
Nattowear: now featuring new crap!

by Natto on May 3, 2008 1:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

easy on Angel. He’s 17, in his first full year. Give him some time before slapping that label on him.

Hennessey and Zito, however, have been near crushing disappointments.

by tyrannoman on May 2, 2008 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i wouldnt put Hennessey

in the same category….what does he make, $2 mil? i would consider giving him some starts right now as #5…..he had some good outings vs. St. Louis and Milwaukee a few years ago….i think he
prefers the starter role anyway….

by slojoe on May 2, 2008 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Pitchers in general, though

I think pretty much only Jonathan Papelbon prefers relief. Him and all the other wimpwads, anyway.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 3, 2008 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who the heck is Will Sandoval?

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 1, 2008 1:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He be jammin'

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on May 1, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pablito is his visa name

by wilriv21 on May 1, 2008 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised....

nobody has mentioned the possibility of him making the jump to the big club. Or at least to the 40 man roster. If Molina’s injury turns out to be the real deal then I see it a possibility, in conjunction with notgardo’s release.

"Don't trust anyone under the age of 30" - Brian Sabean

by Smotheredinhugs on May 1, 2008 1:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Can he be released while under suspension? I was wondering that myself when the news broke yesterday. Anybody know?

by tyrannoman on May 1, 2008 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they’d probably acquire someone or call up Witter before Sandoval simply because its silly to bring a guy of from A ball to the big league….oh wait I guess that’s already happened.

by Keenlow on May 1, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, A-Ball is the new AAA! If you can hit .220, you get a free ticket to the bigs.

by tyrannoman on May 1, 2008 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I beg to differ!

If you like things that are funny, perhaps you will enjoy ChatterBalks Dot Com?

by groug on May 1, 2008 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dodd Stadium

Did the AA stadium’s fences ever get moved in, or home plate moved out? I wonder how the ballpark is playing so far this season. If it’s still an extreme pitcher’s park, going to AA is an even bigger jump. I hope a move there wouldn’t affect Pablo’s confidence too much, although he’s probably more confident now than ever with his hot start.

Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on May 1, 2008 3:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Although I don't live there

..I believe Greg and others have said that the fences were not moved in, nor was home plate moved out.

One person’s post I read implied that there was a feeling in Norwich of “if the Giants won’t renew the affiliation before the season, why should we do what they want just to please them?”

Greg, please correct me if I’m wrong, either factually or perceptually.

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on May 1, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they wanted the Giants to share some of the expense

IIRC, which isn’t a safe assumption, ever.

That said, if the Giants don’t re-up with Norwich, they (Norwich) will be looking for other suitors, who, one would assume, would also want the park to be made at least a little less hitter-hater-y. So they’d need to do the renovations either way, yeah?

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on May 1, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fences

The fences have not been moved in. It would not make any financial sense for the Defenders to finance this. They arn’t doing that great attendance-wise to begin with. If the Giants want the fences moved, they should pay for it. Its something that they can afford to do and the Defenders cannot. I’m expecting the Giants to leave Norwich after this season since they have not extended to contract yet.

by SBcaptain2 on May 1, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs