Giants Minor League Hitting Preview

by wilriv21 on Feb 11, 2010 2:50 AM PST

Joe Ritzo from SJGiants.com with Giants minor league hitting preview.

Over the last decade, the San Francisco Giants have been known as a franchise that has struggled to develop homegrown hitting talent. However, that distinction is beginning to change, most notably due to the emergence of Pablo Sandoval as one of the better hitters in the National League.

Now entering the 2010 season, nearly all of the top prospects in the farm system are position players and several will be suiting up for teams in the upper levels of the organization as they look to take the next step in their professional careers.

Some tidbits: 17 year old Rafael Rodriguez could begin his play with short season Salem-Keizer.

18 year old Tom Joseph could catch for Low A Augusta.

Brandon Crawford and Nick Nooner could be the DP combo at AA Richmond.

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.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Jax Sighting!

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Feb 11, 2010 7:11 AM PST reply actions

N-N-N-Nooner!!!

by KrazyKrabMeat on Feb 11, 2010 7:53 AM PST reply actions

Nooner is my MCC adopt a giant

Its funny because fuck the dodgers

by kvdp12 on Feb 11, 2010 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

Speaking of that. Isn’t it about time for another draft?

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Feb 11, 2010 7:58 PM PST up reply actions

Nooner is also a great way to spend your lunch hour.

by KrazyKrabMeat on Feb 11, 2010 8:31 PM PST up reply actions

I thought surely someone would go there. Thanks for stepping up.

And we plead and we pray for a glimmer of day
As the night folds its wings and descends, exposing the loose ends.
Proud adoptive parent of Sergio Romo. Looking forward to adopting Justin Smoak.

by Lyle on Feb 13, 2010 7:37 AM PST up reply actions

Our best prospects are hitters

Because we traded two of our three best pitching prospects.

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Feb 11, 2010 11:32 AM PST reply actions

It seems they’re gonna move Tommy Joe off catcher pretty early then. I wonder if they’ll give him any kind of shot at third, given his strong and accurate arm? Or maybe put him in left field? Seems like a waste of a plus arm to move him to first, though i’ve never seen the kid so i don’t know what nightmarish range he might have

Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.

by theghostofjasonellison on Feb 11, 2010 11:51 AM PST reply actions

Doesn’t seem any reason to move him now, unless it’s an issue of getting Sanchez and Joseph both playing time. I mean, the Yankees were still letting Montero catch at AA, and I don’t think there’s a soul who thinks he’s going to be a major league catcher. But why move a guy before you’re forced to?

My Bucardo is better than yours.

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 Feb 11, 2010 12:47 PM PST up reply actions

I guess it’s just more for Sanchez to catch as many innings as possible, especially with this whole “Buster hasn’t caught enough innings” deal. But I guess I prefer to have prospects playing one position throughout their minor league careers, so it’s not as big of an adjustment when they move up, facing tougher competition and dealing with a new position. But I guess it could raise trade stock if they keep him at C

Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.

by theghostofjasonellison on Feb 11, 2010 6:19 PM PST up reply actions

Nooner!

GrahamCrakalaka

by GrahamCrakalaka on Feb 11, 2010 3:48 PM PST reply actions

I thought crawford already played half a season at double a.

So whats the big woop there. Maybe he will play at triple A. that is if Frandsen and gang do not go back and waste another year at 3A.

by bradleybear on Feb 11, 2010 8:52 PM PST reply actions

Exactly. Let’s move Brandon up to AAA and see how it goes. Shortstop is wide open for 2011, and in my book Crawford has first dibs on it. Until Sabean signs Eckstein as a FA next winter…..

And we plead and we pray for a glimmer of day
As the night folds its wings and descends, exposing the loose ends.
Proud adoptive parent of Sergio Romo. Looking forward to adopting Justin Smoak.

by Lyle on Feb 13, 2010 7:39 AM PST up reply actions

Frandsen Is Out Of Options

by giantsrainman on Feb 14, 2010 3:22 AM PST up reply actions

is that a fluff piece there by Ritzo?

i mean aside Buster and maybe Neal, aren’t the rest of them longshots? and Joseph hasn’t had an AB yet in the minors and a 2nd rd pick.

for those who know that stuff well, (throw out Posey assuming he makes the big club), would the Giants be upper half farm system or lower half, just counting the position players?

by Lunatic Fridge on Feb 12, 2010 12:19 PM PST reply actions