Some Minor League Transaction Thoughts

by Keenlow on May 3, 2008 2:06 PM PDT

Yesterday, in the wake of the Brian Wilson bummer I was surfing through the minor league rosters and noticed a few transactions

C Dayton Buller promoted from AA to AAA
2B Travis Denker promoted from AA to AAA
SP Paul Oseguera pitched his first game of the year for AA
C Nester Rojas promoted from low A to AA
2B Brad Boyer promoted from Hi A to AA
OF Mike Mooney played his first game since coming off the DL for Hi A

All in all most of these moves (at least the ones involving catchers) seems to be in reaction to the Alfonzo suspension, but of course it is what was not done thats making me scratch my head. Why promote Buller to back up Jennings in Fresno when Jennings is hitting like he's swinging a dishrag at the plate? Why not take the opportunity to promote Witter who at age 25 would be more age appropriate in AAA and who has clearly been hurt my the unfriendly confines of Dodd stadium? Not only that but promoting Witter to AAA would also allow the Giants to promote Sandoval to AA as he clearly seems ready to make the jump as he is hitting .442/.491/.842 through the first month! That promotion in turn would also allow the Giants to start either Elio Sarmiento or Tyler La Torre full time, two players who have put up solid numbers in part time duty; I'm especially interested to see what Sarmiento can do with some more at bats.

I do agree with the Denker move, I hope he salvages his season after a rough start in AA though I'm not holding my breath, if he can't handle Fresno a demotion to Hi A would probably be in the cards. I don't have a problem with Boyer being promoted either as he was hitting pretty well in Hi A.

Its nice to see Mooney and Oseguera back from their injuries as well

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People who don’t regularly follow the minor leagues won’t know this, but Sandoval is being kept at SJ specifically to work with former C Steve Decker. He has a lot to work on: blocking balls in the dirt, calling a game, managing a pitching staff

by allfrank on May 3, 2008 8:28 PM PDT reply actions

Ah, didn’t think of that, its nice to hear that they are trying to commit him to one position, if he can stick at catcher he may turn into something special. Do you know any specifics about his defensive game, where he needs the most work and where he’s made the most improvements? I know he’s below average defensively but I don’t know what specifically, arm, pop-times, blocking, calling, etc.

Regardless though, they should have moved up Witter instead of Buller, that one still makes me scratch my head

by Keenlow on May 3, 2008 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah, Bobby Evans

addressed this on the pre-game show today with M. Urban…....

by slojoe on May 4, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

what else did bobby have to say

missed his show the last two weekends

by melottfan on May 4, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I get this, but every time I see “1B” next to Pablito’s name in the box score I go WTF.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 5, 2008 7:39 AM PDT up reply actions

just saw Denker and Buller tonight

Buller looked fantastic behind and at the plate; Denker, not so much. Usual small sample size disclaimers apply.

Spoke briefly to Buller after the game—that kid is built like a brick shithouse. Lordy.

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

by delorean on May 3, 2008 10:51 PM PDT reply actions

if denker goes back to high a....he wont be with the org next season

the bums had him in a ball for 3 seasons…a 4th bascally means that a ball is his ceiling, and there really is little point for him to stick around

i like all the movement…it means evans is doing his job

this is something that we havent seen in years

by bacci40 on May 3, 2008 11:39 PM PDT reply actions

The team can not make hitters run and hide because of a stadium. If that were the case, we’d never have pitchers in Fresno, either.

For that matter…is Dodd really hurting him? He’s not hitting singles well there, but park factors rarely limit that. It’s power that park factors usually affect. And, in fact, despite hitting just .121 at Dodd and .306 on the road, Witter has hit twice as many home runs in Dodd Stadium than on the road.

(Actually, EVERY hit Witter has had at Dodd is a home run).

The worrying stats for Witter have nothing to do with home-road splits. It should be around Witter’s platoonish stats against left handed pitching, and some apparent weaknesses in his swing, especially in pitches away. For that, he’s better off working in Double-A, rather than pitchers in Triple-A whose breaking stuff will keep him from learning which outside pitches are good for working the count, and which are good for hitting fastballs for singles the other way.

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!

by BruteSentiment on May 4, 2008 1:32 AM PDT reply actions

Fair enough

Its hard to argue against what you’ve stated. However, there is still a lot to like about Witter, his OPS is still impressive for the EL despite his low batting average.

by Keenlow on May 4, 2008 2:12 AM PDT up reply actions

if he can hit RHP at major league level,

i’d be fine with that…..lately we got the opposite, right-handed or swithc-hitters that cant hit RHP…..
not much use for that….

by slojoe on May 4, 2008 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I couldn’t find concrete stats on Witter’s defense for this season but IIRC he’s been pretty bad behind the plate, at least with the passed balls.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 5, 2008 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Jennings is on the DL in Fresno and the word is the leg injury could be problematic. Buller is the starter (for now) and Gunther isn’t expected to stick around for more than a few days, just based on his history with the organization. Gunther played for five different teams in the system last year. Also nobody knows what happened to G-Rod. It’s like he fell off the face of the earth.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on May 5, 2008 7:38 AM PDT reply actions