I could be talked out of this, but I guess Rohlinger would be the best scenario.

If we still had McClain, or if McFEARson were healthy, or if Bowker could play 1B, or if Jesus Guzman was getting on base in Fresno and didn’t have massive defensive problems—-we might have a better scenario, but we don’t.

Any other ideas that don’t involve one of our cruddy ML backups getting a full-time job?

This isn’t the Ishikawa I was looking for…

First of all, Juan Uribe is not over the hill and washed up as you imply. He’s only 29 years old. I agree with your conclusion, but not how you got there. Fact of the matter is that Juan Uribe can help this team off of the bench, but as an everyday starter, ugh! I think the problem here is that Ishi is an inexperienced kid, and both Uribe and Aurilia are veterans. This leads Bochy to the philosophy that both Richie and Uribe have shown they are major league players, while the jury is still out on Ishikawa. I think that’s the problem here. While Uribe isn’t very good, he IS a major league talent, while Ishi may not be. Like you, I would rather continue to find out about Travis, because his upside is better than the upside of a below average major leaguer like Uribe.
     As for Jesus Guzman, calling him up is Sabean’s decision, not Bochy, and Bochy can only deal with the crappy offensive players that Sabean has provided him. Here’s what I would do. Call up Guzman, and use him like he’s using Richie, which means platoon with Ishi with an occasional start against righties as well. For the next month, let them split time about 50/50. If someone gets hot and wins the job, great. If not, wait for McPherson or start making phone calls about trades. When calling up Guzman, I would ship out Velez. I would give Richie a couple of weeks or so to show he can help the team as a late inning pinch hitter, and if he can’t I would release him when Andres Torres returns.

Uribe or Aurilia over Ishi seems like a dumb move to me. As does moving Pablo to 1st when he is making great defensive strides at 3B. 3B also showcases Pablo’s arm. Just because Pablo is fat, doesn’t mean he doesn’t move like a cat. Uribe at 3rd yesterday should show he is not a better solution there just because he used to play shortstop.

The injury logjam of major league and AAAA talent in Freson (Torres, McPherson and Phelps) along with players that could usefully spend some more time in AAA (Guzman and Rohlinger), and my preference to see if Ishi can turn it around rather than just release him leads me to conclude that Velex should go down, and Frandsen can step into the IF mix and 5th OF at least until Torres returns. In the short run, some mix of Uribe, Frandsen, Ishi and Richie could play 1st base. Med-term Dallas McPherson, Phelps or Guzman could step into the mix. Long term, Sabean should be thinking trade.

Ishi is at just over 70 PA. I would like to see him get twice that before he is simply released or dismissed as “not a big leaguer.” Burriss now has 100 PA. Where would he be 30 at bats ago? 161/235/177

There’s no reason to get rid of Uribe. NL teams need a super-sub that is capable of playing multiple positions on the infield. Aurilia is a 1B, only, at this point. Uribe is hugely important and is a more than capable bench player. Cutting him actually makes this team worse in the long run. As would playing him every day instead of the every-other-day that we should be seeing over the course of the season.The solution is to either call up Guzman or Bowker from AAA, or to trade some of the middling prospect arms for a middling first baseman (someone who would still be a HUGE improvement over Ishirillia).

As much as I’d love to see Ishi succeed, he looks as if he has zero confidence at the plate right now. Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen little to suggest that he’s making adjustments. There’s also little chance that he would be claimed off waivers. Bring up Guzman, bring up Bowker, do something, sign someone. Let Travis find his swing in Fresno and if he knocks the cover off the ball or someone gets hurt, bring him back up. I know a lot of people are saying that there’s still time to let him show something. This team is a historically unique position. With the combination of great pitching and Manny’s absence, this team can easily be a contender this year. A modest upgrade offensively (say to an even below-average offensive first baseman) would put this team in the WC and division races for the next couple months. And what do we lose – barring any imminent trade – if TI gets sent down and the team still struggles?

Hey, this isn’t a fanpost about Kazuhisa Ishii…

mine was ok

bad on the power

Does Ishikawa have any options left?

basically. Travis better start hitting and F’ing soon, or else. I say give him another week and then bring up Jesus to play 1b, or bring up Rohlinger and shift Pablo to 1st. If we can’t send Travis down then send down Velez.

I swear if Pablo goes to first and Juan Uribe becomes the starting first baseman … why not just make Velez the permanent starter in LF while we’re at it? That would ensure we always have speed in our batting order.

I really wish Sabean would drop these two sacks of bricks.

I am sure that’s what every pitcher he faces is throwing him. He has the same hole in his swing as Bowker and both just love to swing through curveballs low in the strike zone.

I’d give him one more month and if he is still hanging around .200 BA plus striking out a ton, time for a change.

Giants hitting staff are working on adjusting Ishikawa’s stance to better help him turn on inside pitches.

I was thinking about this very idea recently. TI is a big guy (6 ft. 3, 225 lbs.) but he doesn’t look it at the plate. What do you all think about adjusting his stance? Obviously, this wouldn’t solve his breaking ball problem, but could it potentially allow him to make more consistent contact? Could an adjustment in his stance help him generate more power?

TI has shown in the minors that he has the skills to hit for power and draw walks, but he has yet to show that this year (his walk rate is low considering his track record).

He did have a couple years where his hitting was awful in the minors after he started out well. Anyone know what changed or what they ‘fixed’ to make him hit again last year?

Thus the title of my post up there… “I’m worried” lol

lets try Osiris Matos!

…and assuming the Giants still aren’t ready to gamble on Guzman, I’d rather they call up Frandsen. Start him at first and leave Sandoval at third and Uribe on the bench.

I realize Frandsen’s future is not as a first baseman, but he should be able to handle it defensively (having played everywhere else in the infield) and he could get enough PAs to get a decent evaluation.

OK, I am not advanced in my analysis and certainly not going to win any arguments with the more knowledgeable/opinionated posters here, but the way I look at it, this is pretty simple. It’s about commitment and fortitude.
At the beginning of the year the Giants (rightly, IMHO) decided that outside of a miracle, they were not winning the World Series. In addition, the bevy of talented young hitters in the organization were not going to be ready for everyday play this year. So they decided (among other things) to play TI, Sandoval and Burriss (and apparently keep Nate twisting in the wind) and find out exactly what they have.
The price of that knowledge has been and will continue be the possibility of some serious suck out on the field. The only way to make that price worth it is to PLAY THE KIDS. You must display commitment and fortitude. Do not panic. If you have less than 1/2 a season (and more likely a full season) of play from these three (and at the positions they are trying to find out about), you will not have enough data to make an informed decision. You will have lost out on one of the more important things that can come out of this year – actual data to guide your decisions regarding personnel in the offseason and beyond…
Because I have high hopes that the Giants will be improving for the next few years, I am willing to pay the price. If Travis is still on the interstate as the trade deadline approaches, trading for a power hitting first baseman is an obvious move, but until then, I stand pat.
Of course, if you believe that the Giants are one player away from winning a ring in ’09, the preceding is horseshit.