Minor leagues need promotions

by foothillsfan on Jun 8, 2009 10:34 AM PDT Comment 16 comments

Weather is heating up, and even in the Eastern League, folks are hitting at normal levels. Good time for this system to advance its good hitters. If they flop–can always demote again and try next year.

At the same time, you got to prune eventually. Who to release at the minor league level (yes, Aurilia is another question)?

At Fresno–Timpner’s 659 OPS is near the bottom of the league for starting players. It’s his 3rd year at this level, and there has never been power, just some line drives, no base stealing, decent defense. I can’t see a future. Horwitz is already "on reserve" and hasn’t played since May 29, could be let go or traded too. I love the Hebrew Hammer, but he’s OPSing 784 in the PCL, which is barely above average there.

Meanwhile Eddy Martinez-Estevez has led Conn. in hitting most of the year until Pill’s recent surge, and if we are paying Eddy a minor league salary, why not advance him and see what he does in the PCL? And Neal is dominating the Cal League, OPS is 1008.

So for outfield–Fresno should have Bowker and EME starting with Copeland, Velez, and Borchard in the mix and Dhing. Conn. would get Neal, Felmy, and McBryde starting, backed up by Mooney and my man Antoan R., both getting their last look. Roger Kliesh doesn’t get promoted yet–he’s recently 6 for 41.

San Jose will still be OK with Graham, Kliesh, plus Darren Ford and Jordan, they could also bring up Mazzola or Woodbury from Augusta.

Infield and Posey promotions are less clear--but I won't complain if Buster rejoins MadBum and Tim A in Conn.

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I agree with you that Neal and EME should be promoted. For pitchers, I’d like to see Craig Clark, Eric Surkamp, and maybe Ben Snyder promoted.

Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.

by marcello on Jun 8, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I really think Neal has a shot of being a part of our future. I’d hate for them to rush him.

by SeeingStars on Jun 8, 2009 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why would that be rushing him? Outside of Crawford, and last years A ball to MLB express train, the Giants are probably too cautious with their prospects.

Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.

by marcello on Jun 8, 2009 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know he’s 21 in an A+ league, but he’s had less ABs than Villalona.

by SeeingStars on Jun 8, 2009 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It has nothing to do with his age, just his performance. As stated below by Evan:

He’s currently sixth in the California League in OPS, while playing in the league’s worst park for hitting. That sounds to me like a guy who might be ready for a higher level of competition.

If Neal’s not ready for a promotion, who in the league is? I’d be fine with waiting another month, until the allstar break, but I honestly don’t see any reason not to challenge him some more.

Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at second.

by marcello on Jun 9, 2009 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fewer at bats

But more plate appearances. Angel has some serious plate discipline issues, or he’d probably be ready to advance as well.

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Jun 9, 2009 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually fewer PA appearances as well, but its a negligible difference. The main point was is that it’s not as if he’s been sitting in the same league for years.

by SeeingStars on Jun 9, 2009 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm, must have looked at the wrong column.

Regardless, service time isn’t really a factor at this point. He’s got enough PT that performance speaks for itself, and Neals’s performance screams promotion while Villalona’s simply doesn’t.

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Jun 9, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

promotional hesitation

I think the teams (and the Giants personnel guy has said this in the past) really don’t want to promote a guy until he can stay at the level to which he’s been promoted. They want guys to build up confidence and make sure a guy has mastered a level before promoting him. One can expect early struggles after a promotion and they don’t want to make a mistake with that and then have to send a guy down, which can really blow up his confidence. I believe this mindset would apply more to younger guys like Neal or than to older ones, like Clark or Snyder. Of course, it’s not a hard and fast rule and certain star level players are often fast-tracked, too.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 8, 2009 11:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course, it’s not a hard and fast rule and certain star level players are often fast-tracked, too

I believe this is known as Bococking.

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 Jun 8, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So it is!

A well-established tool in the Sabean arsenal.

“Hey Bobby, this is Sabes. Yeah, listen, I’ve been going over the reports, and it looks to me like it’s time to Bocock that Freddie Neal kid. Yeah – Freddie Neal; get his butt up to Fresno. Huh? OK, Thomas, Timmy, whatever…just bump him up two levels a.s.a.p. And see if he can play firstbase too, Bobby.”

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

by Lyle on Jun 8, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

EME to PCL is logical. Instead of promoting Ben Snyder would prefer they consider making him a starter again for AA Connecticut. Neal should continue his play for A San Jose.

Some of the pitchers could possibly change leagues. Candidates: Clayton Tanner, Eric Surkamp and I wonder how Henry Sosa would do at AAA.

by wilriv21 on Jun 8, 2009 11:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Still waiting for Sosa to establish himself at AA. Need to let the brother get some confidence back. Hoping Surkamp moves up.

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

by Lyle on Jun 8, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m fine with Neal staying at San Jose for the rest of this year.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Jun 8, 2009 3:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He’s currently sixth in the California League in OPS, while playing in the league’s worst park for hitting. That sounds to me like a guy who might be ready for a higher level of competition.

by Evan on Jun 8, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not only that, through May he was batting down in the lineup, around 8th, no protection. They “featured” Noonan batting 2, Gillespie 3. Somebody had a comment from a fan at an away game that Neal would bat cleanup for most Cal teams.
Now, though, Neal has worked his way up to hitting third.
as for 1B—he played it all last year while shoulder or something healed. Now he gets OF assists from left. May well have the arm for right.

cheering for Adam Witter, who will hit bigleague dingers some day.
Still yelling "Go, Antoan"

by foothillsfan on Jun 8, 2009 8:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs