so who do we have in the minors that has a chance?

by joe t on Jul 5, 2008 2:53 PM PDT Comment 16 comments

just taking a look at some of the minor lines, I am wondering about the potential of some guys; given that A ball is quite a distance from the majors, I wanted to look at AA and AAA. I am interested in what others have to think, as I don't really follow minor league ball all that closely.

Fresno: do the following have much of a chance to make an impact at the major league level

Ishikawa

Harper

Nate

Ochoa

Velez (provided he ever learns how to run the bases)

Timpner

anyone else?

Conneticut:

Copeland

EME

Haines (sp?)

anyone else?

I left pitchers off just because A) I think all of our better prospects are at the lower levels and/or relievers and B) position players are where we are weak.

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Personal opinion of course

Ishikawa – He’s made a surge and if he’s going to make it as an ML player, his time is quickly coming up.

Harper – Has an outside shot, if he can get the power stroke back he had in the Mets org.

Nate – I’m still waiting for him to get the playing time before I make an assessment. See: Fred Lewis circa 2008.

Ochoa – About two weeks ago I thought he was an over 30 piece of roster fodder. He’s around my age (born in 1982). That changes the whole game. I’m not sure if that means he can be an ML player, but I like his chances better now.

Velez – My belief in him is fading, I’ll be honest.

Timpner – I never saw him as an ML player. I don’t think he hits enough to make it. I could be wrong. For his sake, I hope I am.

Copeland – Jury’s still out. I want to see him in Fresno before I say anything on his future.

EME – Same boat as Ishikawa.

Haines – I haven’t seen enough of him to make an assessment. Sort of like Copeland here.

"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 Jul 5, 2008 3:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ochoa

I thought the same thing about him being an over 30 roster filler type. Upon checking his DOB it turns out I’m nearly exactly a year older than him! Under the seriously flawed system of younger than me equals still a prospect, that makes him a prospect. Of course under that system he will always be a prospect, which is one of the serious flaws.

Olma Rosario; liking the cut of your jib since 2008
Free Angel Joseph from US immigration!

by Mr Scruff on Jul 5, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scruff can't hit inside heat

but you stopped being a prospect about two years ago :)

by melottfan on Jul 5, 2008 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

None

Not w/ Bochy as the manager.

As far as Velez, He is still obliterating the ball down @ Fresno (.308/.371/.503) So I think he still has a chance.

Nate’s Fresno line: .290/.341/.525. Not sure anyone can reasonably argue that Nate has a solid chance @ ML success while Velez does not.

Let’s just hope Velez is putting in some serious time on defense.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jul 5, 2008 3:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sure they can. Schierholtz has better minor league numbers – .353 OBP, .511 SLG for Schierholtz, .352 OBP, .461 SLG for Velez. Their OBP are virtually identical, but Schierholtz has shown more power. Schierholtz’s numbers have come against a higher level of competition, too – he’s spent 2 1/2 years at AA/AAA, while Velez hadn’t played above Low A until last. Schierholtz is also almost two years younger than Velez, which isn’t a lot, but it does matter in terms of player development.

by jcb9 on Jul 5, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Velez seems to only be able handle left field competently.

by rotorueter on Jul 5, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Let’s just hope Velez is putting in some serious time on defense."

Agree. I’ve been impressed with how Velez has been hitting since going down to Fresno, if he can keep it up and learn some defense he could become a valuable asset.

Olma Rosario; liking the cut of your jib since 2008
Free Angel Joseph from US immigration!

by Mr Scruff on Jul 5, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nate and Eugene

I think Velez has some more obvious holes in his swing that Major league pitching was able to take advantage of. Nate’s problem might be finding patience for pitches he can drive. I’m pretty sure he can be a punch-less 300AVG hitter. Can he be more? His consistent AVG/OBP/SLG history at the various levels shows me there is hope.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on Jul 5, 2008 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bash Brothers

Please do not write off TI and EME just yet. They have found a groove in 2008 and has earned another look. Possibly EME can find his success and health the same way Carlos Quentin has this season.

by wilriv21 on Jul 5, 2008 5:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm more inclined to overlook EME's ill health than TI's unexplicable suckitude

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Jul 5, 2008 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is that?

Is that unexplicable suckitude—or inexplicable sickatude?

by sharksrog on Jul 6, 2008 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A couple of others

Sandoval and, if Dodd is as tough on hitters as everyone says, I’d like to hear more about Rosario

by NearestNorwich on Jul 5, 2008 5:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Only one

Of all the position players who began the year in either Fresno or Connecticut and is still in the minors, I think only Nate Schierholtz will make much of an impact. I don’t expect Nate to be a star, but I think he can start.

John Bowker and Manny Burriss started the season at Fresno, and they have helped their stock in the majors this season. At the beginning of the season I had Nate ahead of John, but now I would have to examine them further to separate them.

I liked Manny better than Brian Bocock before the season, and the difference has only increased this season. But even though he’s my favorite Giants position player now, I’m not completely sold.

The Giants don’t have much in their system at shortstop though, so I think Manny is the best. Ochoa was probably closer to being ready to play in the majors than EITHER Brain or Manny when the season began, which is why I thought the Giants should have made him their shortstop, saving Bocock an option year and perhaps some confidence.

If I were the Giants, I would still bring Ivan up, allowing Manny to play every day in Connecticut or Fresno. But now that would likely require taking someone off the 40-man roster.

I do like Pablo Sandoval, who homered last night for Connecticut. Pablo is off to a so-so start for the Defenders, but he certainly tore it up for San Jose.

by sharksrog on Jul 5, 2008 6:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

anyone else: Pablo Sandoval at AA

maybe your scan skipped him, since he’s on;y been in Connecticut for a little while. I think he keeps moving up.

And Sosa in AA. I want Winn gone, so that EME and Sosa have a shot at AAA, and Nate a spot in SF.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on Jul 5, 2008 7:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"do the following have much of a chance to make an impact at the major league level"

Weasel answer: Yes. The only unknown is if it would be a positive or negative impact.

Frank answer: A couple of borderline MLB bench players, the rest AAAA or worse.

Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.

by S.F. Giangst on Jul 6, 2008 3:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Travis Ishikawa: Yes. His minor league numbers have generally been underwhelming, but he does have real plate discipline, which gives him a chance. If he could harness the power he had in SJ at age 21 in 2005, he could really be a player. Maybe he turns out to be a Hatteberg or Casey or Overbay type guy. That’s not too bad.

Harper: Time is running out for him to be taken seriously as a prospect, as he is already 26. He has moved slowly through the minor league ranks and probably lacks the plate discipline to succeed at higher levels. This is his first season in AAA, but he has a .311 AVG and .336 OBP, which is poor. I’m guessing no, he doesn’t make it.

Schierholtz: No. I know, everybody thinks he is the jewel of the farm system, but I think he sucks. He doesn’t have great power, he doesn’t have good plate discipline, and he isn’t anything special as far as speed or defense. Why waste a corner OF position on him? I say trade him now.

Ochoa: Last year, I would have said no chance, but he has been a big surprise. He has repeated AAA, but a .322/.401/.458 line is pretty sweet for a SS, and he is still only 25. It is time to call him up and see if he can handle the bigs. Even if he can’t play well enough to hold down a ML SS job, he might be a utility infielder.

Velez: EPIC FAIL. Can’t run the bases, can’t play defense. Who cares if he can hit? He doesn’t have power, so he doesn’t belong in a corner IF or corner OF position. Left field? You have to be kidding me.

Timpner: No. Weak bat at every level.

Anyone else? If Bocock could hit .250/.310/.350, he has the glove to be at least a backup IF. That may be a big if, but he was pushed way too far up the ladder.

Connecticut:

Copeland: Not unless he has a superb CF glove. No power.

EME: As wilriv says, don’t write him off too quickly. He has a .305/.390/.382 line in AA, so he definitely has the batting eye. His power disappeared, but it was there, so if he can heal, he might get it back. Sometimes these injuries sap the power forever, so it’s hard to say. I saw him at San Jose, and he had that sound off the bat that you hear from the real hitters. Let’s see if he can get it back. Of course, when he could hit, his glove was a question, and that may not have improved.

Haines: AA at 25, no power, too many in the system ahead of him. I like the plate discipline, but I doubt it.

anyone else? Pablo Sandoval is at AA now, ripped up high A, and is only 21. Sure, he repeated high A, but in his first time there he did slug .476 and was only 20. Catchers don’t have to hit as well as corner OFers either.

by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Jul 7, 2008 12:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs