Obervations From Dodd

by Mordy From Monsey on May 21, 2009 4:15 AM PDT

Last night I decided to drive 250 miles round trip to see Tim Alderson pitch, so I thought I might give you all some first hand observations about the game.

For starters the Stadium is beautiful and economically priced. $10 bucks gets you front row seats.

Tim Alderson had an interesting evening. His fastball topped out at 88 (which was disappointing to me) but his off speed pitches were spot on. Now, I don't know if his poor velocity was due to a slow radar gun at the park or because he was pitching on 3 days rest, but his fastball looked very hittable to me...He was behind most of the hitters but did not issue any walks because simply put, when the going gets rough, Tim knows how to throw strikes!!

There were 2 hits in the 1st inning that were not Tim's fault. One was an infield hit and the other went by Brett Pill (who is an awful fielder from what I saw last night). After pitching 6 scoreless, Tim ran out of gas in the 7th and 2 out of the 3 runs scored came on 2 groundouts...so all in all not a bad night!!!

Brandon Crawford is the real deal guys!! He hit a booming opposite field HR in the 1st inning and seemed to have great balance at the plate the rest of the game. Kid was very smooth in the field too...The cathcer LaTorre called a great game and also hit along HR...Felmy has a sweet swing and looks like a real gamer...(move over Rowand!!) EME looked great, making great contact and showing very nice plate discipline. If his fielding were better, I am sure he would be in the Majors..Jesse English had wicked stuff last night...Gotta keep an eye on him...

Bottom line is, if any of you West Coasters make out to the East coast, I would really recommend you go to Dodd for a game. You will have a blast!!

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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good to hear. Glad you went up there and saw something we don’t usually see from the big team, which is a win and some HR power. I’m hoping to make it up there for a Bumgarner start.

Proud new dad of Edgardo errr Edgar Renteria!!!

by rxmeister on May 21, 2009 4:39 AM PDT reply actions

next time there is a field trip to Dodd from NYC...

let us other McCoven know! I can’t speak for the others, but you won’t be paying for gas or even your own $10 front row seat. I’m polite and don’t smell.

co-dad of IshikaBOOM w/AfDC.
Ishikawa, let the boy hit against lefties.

by kennv on May 21, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for the report, Mordy. I’m afraid to get too excited about Crawford, given our history in developing hitters, but this is really encouraging.

Must. Stop. Hoping.

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on May 21, 2009 7:15 AM PDT reply actions

It’s the hope that hurts.

Duane Kuiper: Hall Of Fame broadcaster.

by Johnny Disaster on May 21, 2009 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Hope can drive a man insane.

GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.

by groug on May 21, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Insane can hope a man drive.

Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all

If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.

by baetown415 on May 21, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree about Crawford. That he’s playing in AA just two months into his full season says it all. For those who don’t buy that, the kid swings a loud honkin’ stick. Incidently, I will now be on my way to start a rock-n-roll band called … Big Honkin’ Stick.

by StickRat on May 21, 2009 8:28 AM PDT reply actions

Hmm …Thats what she said ?

Where is my beer & chili dog?

by daveinexile on May 21, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions

LaTorre

SHOULD NOT BE PLAYING BEHIND J.W.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adopted father of Brian Bocock, Brad Boyer, Sharlon Schoop, Shane Jordan and Jeremiah Luster.

by RichH on May 21, 2009 9:51 AM PDT reply actions

That is so true

I heart LaTorre.

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on May 21, 2009 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions

so now

infield hits are not the pitchers fault? Groundskeepers fault?

FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.

by zenbitz on May 21, 2009 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

For some reason

I am still fascinated with EME.
He’s not getting any younger, and obviously doesn’t have a lot of fans in the front office,
but something about his being a former 1st round pick with plate discipline keeps me intrigued.

by DesertFox on May 21, 2009 1:55 PM PDT reply actions

Actually he was a late 2nd round pick, #70 overall falling just a few picks after Dustin Pedroia, Hunter Pence, Kurt Suzuki … and Ray Liotta! He was of course our first pick of that draft for reasons that don’t need rehashing. Our next pick, at #100 was John Bowker. Down at #370 we grabbed Kevin Frandsen, and waaaay down at #820 we found Jonathan Sanchez.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on May 21, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Silly me

How can I forget the Sabeanlosesearlypicksformediocreveterans era.

by DesertFox on May 21, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Considering we didn’t even have a top 50 pick, I’d say we did okay that draft.

Semi-proud adoptive father of Scott Barnes.

by boonitez on May 21, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I think my boy EME must have killed Sabean’s cat.

by malarky on May 21, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Alderson and Crawford

When I saw Tim Alderson open San Jose’s playoffs last year, he threw 89-91. It is his curve that is exceptional. Tim threw only a couple of changeups that day and according to the guy with the speed gun didn’t throw many last season.

I felt at that time that if Tim had a changeup he had legitimate confidence in, he would be pretty close to being major-league ready. Although Mordy didn’t comment on the pitch, I did read elsewhere that Tim’s changeup is now pretty good. He needs that change to neutralize lefty hitters IMO.

I am surprised that Tim was getting behind hitters, as his control is quite good. As Mordy said, he can throw strikes when he needs to. In the bigs, though, some of his get-it-in fastballs won’t come back. That said, I think Tim has enough confidence in getting his curve over that he won’t be throwing all fastballs every time he gets behind.

As for Crawford, it’s amazing that he is hitting only one point lower at Connecticut than at San Jose. But I did notice that he has 12 strikeouts and only one walk, and that he has committed four errors.

Still, has any Giants prospect improved himself as much this season as Brandon? He appears to be this year’s Pablo Sandoval in that regard.

by sharksrog on May 21, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions

I'm scared..

The Giants have told him to be “more aggressive” at the plate since he was walking about 10% of the time in SJ

Brandon Crawford: Your 2011 Opening Day starting SS!

by Azmanz on May 21, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

You can’t walk off the island of Connecticut. Apparently.

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on May 22, 2009 7:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Listening to Alderson’s first AA game on the radio feed, several of his Ks came on backdoor sliders — at least that was the opinion of the CT radio announcer (a guy who drives me to distraction with his love of the phrase, “he’s batting .xxx with X runs uh, driven on in.”). Anybody seen his use of that pitch at any of his games?

by Roger on May 21, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks for the first hand impressions Mordy. It is always nice to receive an eyes-on view of our future major leaguers. When I saw Tim last year in Visalia his fastball was in the low 90s, so I wonder if the speed gun was a bit slow. It is nice to hear that his off-speed stuff is effective. Crawford does sound like this year’s version of Pablo – let us hope he keeps it up. I wonder why EME is not in Fresno – he is going to become the Mayor of Norwich if he isn’t careful; he is in what – his third year there already and he isn’t getting any younger. Perhaps his lack of consistent power numbers bothers the Brass.

by APGiantsFan on May 21, 2009 4:14 PM PDT reply actions