Guzman Named VWL MVP
by MILB Watcher on Jan 15, 2009 5:44 PM PST
57 comments
Probably could have done a FanShot about this, but considering the lack of depth at the corner positions, Guzman seems to be a pretty shrewd move by Sabes & Co. this offseason and probably deserves some discussion. Guzman earned 42 of 45 first-place votes for Most Valuable Player in his record-setting season for Caracas.
What are the odds that he breaks camp with the Major League club? Considering Sandoval is a (ahem) project at 3B, is there a real chance that he sticks out of Scottsdale?
Whether he starts in SF or Fresno, reading this quote from a scout who saw him in Venezuela has to be encouraging:
"That kid, out of nowhere, has made himself into a major league hitter," said one scout who watched Guzman play this winter. "I don’t think he’s going to go play right now—he’s still in the learning process. But he’s got maturity at the plate and more patience than he used to have. He used to be a guy who would give you one good swing and three bad swings because he didn’t stay back enough and follow the ball. But now he just looks awesome."
Better minor league FA acquisition: Phelps or Guzman?
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I just saw this a minute ago. You beat me to it!
Guzman is intriguing. I wrote a blurb on him for SF Dugout. It’s going to run tomorrow. Hint.
"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 Jan 15, 2009 5:48 PM PST reply actions
Really?
I didn’t even think there was a race tomorrow.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME
Opinion article is gaining on the outside with MVP report in the lead and prospect blurb close behind
"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 Jan 15, 2009 7:12 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, what is the deal w/ him anyway ?
Everything about him makes him about the most exciting position prospect in the Giant system.
How did we end up with him as minor league FA? If we had drafted him or signed him as a FA out of VZ, we would be going nuts about his production thusfar.
The guy is 24 and has a MiLB OPS over 800. He struggled early in his career w/ little power but seems to have corrected that problem.
So what’s wrong with him? Do we just think less of him because the price was so cheap, he’s got to have issues ?
And why was the price so good – what are his issues?
I’m getting more and more intrigued by this guy every day.
I’ve been wondering the same thing
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 15, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions
I mean I’ve been wondering why Oakland and his previous team (Minnesota?) didn’t hang on to hiim
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
by Useful_Idiot on Jan 15, 2009 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
Seattle.
"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 Jan 15, 2009 7:35 PM PST up reply actions
Well, from what I’ve read, it sounds as though he was nothing super special, just a nice player like so many others. After winning the Texas League batting title, maybe the powers that be thought it was kind of a fluke. As the one scout said about his VWL performance, he’s really made himself into a hitter.
Sounds like maybe a guy who’s putting it together/figuring it out and catching people by surprise.
Of course, I never doubted the guy…primarily because I’d never heard of him.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
One of the reports posted here said that Oakland had wanted to resign him this year, but he liked the Giants offer better.
Adoptive father to the All-Father. Does that make me the All-Grandfather?
the deal ?
… he can swing it, but looks eerily similar to velez with the leather/skillet.
true
alfonzo was CLEARly the CREAM of the crop….
Not here to dose water but when other teams had a chance to sign him no one stepped up. When Rule 5 came around no one had 50k to toss around. SF says he will begin the year in AAA.
That's kinda my point
What are we missing ?
On paper, he looks like a pretty promising player.
by FairweatherFan on Jan 15, 2009 7:05 PM PST up reply actions
At a bare minimum, he’s a better Plan B at 3B than we had last year.
Last pre-season, our hopes were pinned on Frandsen manning the hot corner. When he went down, Sabean had to go dumpster diving and we ended up with Castilla.
At least with Jesus, we can see the light.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
That's true.
While it’s pretty clear why we were able to sign him (with our 3B situation, very thin in the upper minors and Sandoval poised to play it this year) I’m not sure why he wasn’t Rule 5’d.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
I love what Raptor Jesus is doing, but
the problem is that he has 68 ERRORS IN 396 GAMES in the minors at third base. His fielding percentage was .908. In 396 games. Thats…ummm…not very good…
HOWEVER, he also played in 106 games at second, and his fielding numbers there are a little better. If he outperforms Frandsen/Velez/Burriss during the spring,
"I didn't know (after seeing a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch) whether to shit or go blind." - Former Giants Outfielder Harvey Kuenn on Willie Mays
heh
I was gonna say if he outperforms them he should get a legit shot at the position
"I didn't know (after seeing a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch) whether to shit or go blind." - Former Giants Outfielder Harvey Kuenn on Willie Mays
by stealth snail on Jan 15, 2009 7:49 PM PST up reply actions
Definitely. I would be surprised if it is a 4-man shootout for 2nd base. Even Frandsen at 3rd, Pablo at 1st, and Burriss/Guzman/Velez for 2nd base.
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Jeremy Affeldt Ready To Make His Father Proud
by Giant among Angels on Jan 15, 2009 8:33 PM PST up reply actions
Thanks… I meant to leave fungo-legs off the post
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Don't F with the Affeldt
by Giant among Angels on Jan 15, 2009 10:52 PM PST up reply actions
we need the bat
doesn’t matter who’s playing 2nd when timmy or zito pitches. no one hits timmy, and manute bol couldn’t get to all the scorching liners into triples alley zito gives up. let guzman hit !!… and occasionally get in the way of a grounder.
by giantdonkey on Jan 16, 2009 11:36 AM PST up reply actions
Fine with me
Guzman on the big team at 2B would give Bochy flexibility. He could move Guzman to 3B when Pablo needs to get behind the dish. If this happens, I could see Frandsen as a utility infielder/pinch hit-by-pitch specialist.
My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman
and we were gonna TRADE for Jorge Cantu… when we had one all along!
"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."
by i did my job on Jan 16, 2009 12:39 AM PST up reply actions
feliz
i don’t recall pedro batting .350 at any level, or winning an mvp in anything.
I love im’ and refuse to let any of you temper my expectations. BA also has been going nuts over his bat. He looks good at the plate, i got to see a lot of vwl games at the mexican restaurant by my house.
Why does Sabean always look constipated?
this must’ve been part of sabean’s grand strategy all along.
don’t sign cantu or macpherson
wait a year
sign guzman
then something else.
by druncan on Jan 16, 2009 11:16 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
You all suck
This was funny, you bastards!
by Lars The Wanderer on Jan 18, 2009 2:48 PM PST up reply actions
You’re right. it was funny
Giant Dirtbags: Brian Anderson, Todd Jennings, Steve Hammond, John Bowker
Don't F with the Affeldt
by Giant among Angels on Jan 18, 2009 3:33 PM PST up reply actions
Rule 5 Draft
Wasn’t Guzman available to all comers in the Rule 5 Draft? I like his potential, particularly as a second baseman, but he is not without warts. Certainly a very fine winter season though.
He wasn't available to all comers
Only five teams got to pick before the Giants.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
Well..
Wil is correct here I guess. Guzman would have only have been “protected” by the Giants if they picked him with their #6 pick instead of Perdomo. I think, then if the #7 team (Braves if I recall) would have picked him he would have been gone.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Oh
For some reason I thought he was our Rule 5 pick.
..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.
Don't sweat it
I also thought he was rule V.
"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 Jan 17, 2009 10:25 AM PST up reply actions
Not Rule V
I believe Jesus was either a Rule I, Rule II, Rule III or Rule IV pick. Which is not to say that the guy rules.
Yeah I spent nearly an hour and a half losing my mind trying to write a blurb on him, because I thought he was a Rule V pick and I couldn’t find anything about that.
"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 Jan 18, 2009 2:32 PM PST up reply actions
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