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Around SBN: VIDEO: Veterans Share Favorite Sports Memories

minor lines, 6/26/10

Saturday highlights from the Giants' farm: Thomas Neal had 3 HRs; Ryan Rohlinger, Drew Biery, and Ryan Cavan also homered as part of multi-hit efforts; and Matt Yourkin allowed just 1 ER in 7.0 IP.

Star-divide

AAA: Fresno defeated Las Vegas 8-1

Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 2 for 3, HR, BB
Fresno: CF Eugenio Velez: 2 for 4, 2B, HBP, SB
Las Vegas: 1B Brett Wallace: 2 for 3, HBP, SO
Las Vegas: 3B Edwin Encarnacion: 2 for 4, 2 E

Fresno: SP Matt Yourkin: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K--1 HR, 1 HB
Fresno: RP Scott Nestor: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Rohlinger homered and reached base three times in his first PCL rehab game.  Velez also reached base three times.  Reaching base three times for the 51's was Wallace, the Blue Jays' top prospect.  He and the recently demoted Encarnacion were the only 51's to reach base twice.

Yourkin had his longest and most effective start of the year.  In a new season-high 7.0 IP, he matched the season-high 8 K he set in his last start.  Plus, he has no walks over his last two starts.  He now has 49 K vs 19 BB in 58.2 IP this year.  Nestor had 2.0 scoreless IP in his Fresno debut (although not his PCL debut as he pitched for Albuquerque two years ago).

AA: Richmond defeated Erie 6-3 (11 innings)

Richmond: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 5, BB, SO
Richmond: LF Thomas Neal: 3 for 5, 3 HR, BB, IBB, SO

Richmond: SP Clayton Tanner: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K--1 HB, 1 IBB
Richmond: RP Rafael Cova: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Neal, who had just 4 HRs previously this year, homered three times, first in the 4th inning, then in the 6th inning, and then finally a two-run, two-out shot in the 11th inning.  Of the four other Flying Squirrels with multi-hit lines, Crawford walked to be the only one to reach base three times.

Tanner had his second longest start of the season and might have been on his way to completing eight full inning for the first time this year, but he was ejected following a balk call in the 8th inning.  He did not allow a run after the 3rd inning.  Cova struck out two of four batters for his 14th save.

A+: San Jose lost to Modesto 5-4 (10 innings)

San Jose: DH Brandon Belt: 1 for 5, HR
San Jose: 2B Charlie Culberson: 3 for 4
San Jose: 1B Drew Biery: 2 for 3, HR, BB, IBB

San Jose: SP Eric Surkamp: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K--1 HB, 2 WP, 1 PO
San Jose: RP Ben Wilshire: 2.0 IP, 2 K
San Jose: RP Edwin Quirarte: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K

Culberson's three hits raised his AVG to .325.  Belt led off the 4th inning with his 10th HR, and Biery led off the 7th inning with his 7th HR.

Surkamp had his second straight start with 7 K, but he has also allowed 4+ ER in three of his last five starts.  His ERA is now 3.69.  Wilshire had 2.0 perfect IP in his eighteenth appearance.  Quirarte retired six of seven batters, but that one batter tripled and then scored on a suicide squeeze in the 10th inning.

A-: Augusta defeated Kannapolis 4-3

Augusta: 2B Ryan Cavan: 2 for 5, HR, 2B, 3 SO
Augusta: C Tommy Joseph: 2 for 4, SO

Augusta: SP Andrew Reichard: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K--1 WP
Augusta: RP Jose Casilla: 1.0 IP, 1 K

It was a feast or famine type game for Cavan, who had his 4th HR and 23rd double but struck out in his other three plate appearances.  He's not usually a three true outcomes type of player, though, given his SO/AB ratio below 17%.  Joseph had the GreenJackets' other multi-hit line, raising his AVG to .217.

Reichard has delivered 6.0 solid IP in both his starts this year.  Casilla, who got his 3rd save, had his sixth straight appearance without allowing a hit or a walk.

ssA: Salem-Keizer defeated Tri-City 4-2

Salem-Keizer: RF-CF Jose Medina: 1 for 4, HR, SO
Salem-Keizer: 1B Daniel Brock: 1 for 3, BB, SO

Salem-Keizer: SP Cameron Lamb: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Salem-Keizer: RP Seth Rosin: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 K

Medina's three-run, two-out HR in the 5th inning provided most of the Volcanoes' offense.  Brock was their only hitter to reach base twice.

Lamb, the 21-year-old Australian who had a 2.04 ERA in thirteen AZL starts last summer, had 3.0 scoreless IP in his 2010 debut.  Facing ten batters in his second pro appearance, Rosin, the Giants' fourth rounder this year, struck our four, got four ground ball outs, allowed one fly ball out, and allowed a single (to the next to last batter he faced).

R: Scottsdale had its regular off-day (every fifth day)

DSL: Giants defeated Yankees1 4-0

Dominican: 3B Cristian Paulino: 2 for 3, SF, CS
Dominican: SP Luis Angeles: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K--1 WP

Paulino (18.9 y.o.) had the Gigantes' only multi hit line, raising his AVG to .259.  With his second straight start with no runs allowed, Angeles (20.6 y.o.) improved his ERA to 1.71 through five starts.

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Comments

Display:

Neal is Real.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare

by jponry on Jun 27, 2010 9:38 AM PDT reply actions  

Thank you, Tony Pena Jr!

Neal, who missed time earlier this week after injuring his shoulder against Binghamton, credited a discussion with reliever Tony Pena Jr. — a former Major League infielder — for the biggest night of his five-year career.

“Today was like the first day in about five or six days I felt good,” Neal said. “My first at-bat, I missed the pitch and I asked [Tony], ‘How did I miss the pitch?’ He told me that I was getting underneath the ball, and I made the adjustment.”

They could be Giants...but not really.

by esseffgeez on Jun 27, 2010 9:48 AM PDT reply actions  

Promote him now!

Isn’t it obvioius that Pena’s value as a hitting instructor far outweighs anything he’ll ever accomplish for us on the mound? We need him in SF now – special assistant to Muelens would be a workable title. If he can get Pablo turned around he would be worth his weight in gold.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yay Neal!

Yay Crawford!
Yay (mostly) Quirarte!

And please push Surkamp up. We need to see how well his stuff does against better comp.

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

McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.

by baetown415 on Jun 27, 2010 10:25 AM PDT reply actions  

cant wait

Kevin Mitchell has a black belt in keeping it real.

by kbsofaraway08 on Jun 27, 2010 10:31 AM PDT reply actions  

so far, i’m slightly disappointed with ford and neal, and am pleased with crawford. all 3 players probably need a full year in Fresno, though.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

You never know. Quite often a young player struggles to put everything all together at the plate and come up with consistent quality ABs. Then 1 day he “gets” it, flips a switch, and there’s no stopping him. Panda in 2008 is a good example, and Andres Torres in 2009 is also.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

This is true. I’m just thinking as of today how their performances look. I am very encouraged by crawford’s performance in particular. I’m just fine with not rushing them, being as current management won’t give them the patience required. All 3 players have bben bought more time by the performances of Andres Torres, John Bowker and Juan Uribe

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

The one in the middle is Kieschnick, for the record.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare

by jponry on Jun 27, 2010 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

my mistake

I knew the other two were Ford and Neal and thought the 3rd was crawford based on his line last night.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

Crawford is much dreamier.

Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller

by Johnny Disaster on Jun 28, 2010 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions  

Rosin needs to be promoted

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 10:37 AM PDT reply actions  

they'll be taking it easy on Rosin this summer

I’m happy with that philosophy, beause he pitched a lot of inning in college this spring (16 starts and 103 innings). Right now they just want to work out any kinks in his mechanics and refine the way he attacks the hitters, in a low-pressure setting. If he’s still fresh and doing well, I’m sure the Giants will promote him to Augusta or SJ to help with their playoff runs in September.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions  

I was joking… but hey, he looks good so far.

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

you are a beast

IN TIMMY WE TRUST

by LincecumFTK on Jun 27, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions  

Gotta love Darren Ford’s grit and smarts. With 2 outs in the top of the 11th he bunts for a base hit, rather than trying to hog the glory for himself. He knew that Neal was hitting next and the he was on fire.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:28 AM PDT reply actions  

CamLam

I wonder why they skipped his turn the first time through the rotation, and why he only pitched 3 innings. I’m thinkin that those 2 facts mean that he’s either coming off some injury, or he got a late start in starting his throwing this Spring.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:30 AM PDT reply actions  

I'm still for surkamp being promoted

He has a solid K rate, a great BB rate, his FIP is 3.36. I say give him a new challenge.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 11:31 AM PDT reply actions  

+1

Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster

by Gobroks on Jun 27, 2010 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

HELL YEAH THOMAS NEAL

FREE BUSTER POSEY

by djp4cal on Jun 27, 2010 11:33 AM PDT reply actions  

Belt

Posey was promoted to AAA last year on July 14 skipping AA. Anyone thing Brandon headed for the same treatment this July?

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 11:43 AM PDT reply actions  

no. Pill has done a good job in Fresno and there isn’t really anyone in Richmond, if I recall.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

So why not AA now?

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

That’s where I think he should be. I just disagree he should skip AA. There is a decent 1B in Fresno, which wasn’t the case for Buster.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

Not saying he should go to AAA. I am just trying to figure out why he was not called up (to AA) at the break.

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

Who can figure out the mind of BS in terms of how he handles his minor leaguers? For that matter, who can figure out the mind of BS on anything he does with his major leaguers either?

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

the major league part isn’t hard. Veterans. done.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions  

Do you think Sabean is making these calls? I would figure it is Evans or Tidrow.

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think that, at A+ and above, BS makes the final decision on “real” prospects, with input from Barr, Evans and others. I don’t think he gets involved in the decisions on what to do with the non-prospects.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

Got it. Thx

Adopted Nut: Paraparaumu, New Zealand native, Andy Skeels

by capn on Jun 27, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

Very much doubt it

If he’s going to be promoted this year it will almost certainly be to Richmond. There was no catching prospect blocking playing time for Posey at Fresno last year, but this year Fresno has Brett Pill playing a very nice 1B for them. Meanwhile, Richmond has a decided non-prospect holding down 1B this year. I also believe that the Giants will want to throw Belt into the EL grinder, this year or next, to assure themselves that his new hitting prowess isn’t just a typical Cal League mirage

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

Charles in Charge!

Very encouraging trends for Culby – this isn’t just a “hot streak”. After a miserable April, Culberson found his swing in May:
.328/.355/.529/.884 …. 119 ABs, 5 HRs, 28 Ks (23%), 3 BBs (2.5%)

Now, he’s actually improved his swing and developed somewhat of a batting eye in June:
.410/.452 /.687/1.138 …. 83 ABs, 3 HRs, 14 Ks (15.9%), 5 BBs (5.7%)

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:45 AM PDT reply actions  

I haven’t been paying attention to him. Has his defense improved now that he’s not at SS?

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

You mean 3B?

Culby hasn’t been playing SS for at least 2 years now.

I can’t tell you anything about his range or how he turns a doubl-play at 2B, but he has cut down on his errors significantly this year since he’s been starting at 2B. If he can just hit above .300 and keeps his Ks below 18% for the rest of this year, I’d have to rank him ahead of Noonan as 2B prospect going forward.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

I thought he was still playing some 3B. But as long as he hits and is just below average at 2B, he’ll be considered a prospect again.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

Purely a 2B this year. His 3B game was so brutally bad in 2008 and 2009 that the Giants had to move him to 2B this year as a last-chance scenario, and to keep his pitching teammates from accidentally killing him.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

interesting. Personally, I place a lot of stock in defense, but i’d put him behind rohlinger and ahead of noonan on the 2B prospect list.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Rohlinger not on the 2b list. He’s strictly a 3B with the possiblility of filling in at SS, in a pinch. The Giants 2B prospect list goes something like this (other people probably have a different order, but these are the current contenders):
Matt Downs
Brock Bond
Culberson
E. Burris
Noonan
Carlos Willoughby
Julio Izturis
Adam Duvall
Raynor Campbell

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

I don’t think Bond should be on the prospect list personally. His defense is average and is a BA only player. Non Prospect for me.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

Just curious

Are you writing from first-hand knowledge? I’m just asking because I’ve seen many conflicting reports on his D, his range, his arm-strength, and his foot-speed. Having never seen him even on video, I can only know for sure that his error rate the past 2 seasons has been slightly above-average – which is not the best judge of D as we all know.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jun 27, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions  

I’m basing it on defensive data from minor league splits.com. his UZR over the last 3 seasons have been right around 0. Granted, UZR isn’t the be and end all in terms of defense, but it would seem to agree with the conflicting reports. He could be inconsistent, leading to an approximately average defensive player.

Adopted father of Eric Surkamp, the next great big-eared soft tossing lefty in SF Giants History!

by Speedforthewin on Jun 27, 2010 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think you read more than I do, but off the top of my head, I can’t recall seeing one positive scouting report on Bond’s defense by someone outside the organization or not a Giants fan. Granted, a player with Bond’s profile isn’t going to generate a lot of scouting reports being circulated publicly anyway like the elite prospects, so there was not a large sample to begin with, but I don’t think I have heard a scout perspective from outside the organization describe his defense as anything more than below average.

by steve S on Jun 27, 2010 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

I’d agree with everything except the BA only player — his secondary average has always been his biggest selling point. Even this year he’s putting up a .409 OBP on top of his .290 BA.

Noonan I see came back from the DL, played two games and then disappeared again. What is his injury, anyway?

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 Jun 27, 2010 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions  

FWIW

He made some great diving plays the last 2 nights. That’s the extent of my scouting report.

by marcello on Jun 27, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think he still has an iron glove

Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster

by Gobroks on Jun 27, 2010 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

Brandon Crawford is quickly becoming one of my favorite prospects

Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster

by Gobroks on Jun 27, 2010 11:09 PM PDT reply actions  

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