McCovey Chronicles

Who should get sent down when Omar is activated?

cakes — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:17:17 -0000

The papers are reporting that Omar will be activated today. There's a chance the Durham goes on the DL, but if not, either Burriss or Bocock will get sent down. Which one should it be?

Mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes mashed potatoes

minor lines, 5/8/08

steve S — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:47:45 -0000

AAA: Fresno lost to New Orleans 1-0

Fresno: C Eli Whiteside: 1 for 3
New Orleans: RF Val Pascucci: 1 for 3, HR

Fresno: RHP Victor Santos: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Erick Threets: 1.0 IP, 1 BB
New Orleans: RHP Claudio Vargas: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

The 28-year-old Whiteside, who began the year in the Twins organization, received his first start for Fresno. His single provided one of just four Grizzly baserunners. The Mets' 29-year-old Pascucci, who hits 34 HRs for the Marlins' PCL affiliate last year, provided the game's only run with a solo HR to lead off the 7th inning.

Santos tied his season lows in H, BB and ER allowed, but he suffered tough-luck loss. It was his first loss of the season, even with an ERA that remains above 4.00. Threets made his third rehab appearance. The walk was the first he has issued in that time. Vargas, who spent all of last year in the majors, made his third minor league start of the year. This start was much more effective than his previous start when he allowed 6 ER in 4.0 IP. He threw 61 of 82 pitches for strikes.

AA: Connecticut defeated Harrisburg 9-5

Connecticut: CF Antoan Richardson: 2 for 3, 3B, BB, HBP, SO, 2 SB
Connecticut: RF Carlos Sosa: 3 for 4, HR, 2B
Connecticut: 1B Travis Ishikawa: 2 for 5, HR, 2 SO
Connecticut: LF Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 4 for 5, 2B

Connecticut: RHP Dave McKae: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Connecticut: RHP Justin Hedrick: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K--1 HR
Harrisburg: RHP Shairon Martis: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K--1 HR

EME's four hits paced the Defenders' sixteen hit attack and improved his AVG to .302. Sosa and Ishikawa connected for their 4th and 3rd HRs, respectively. For Ishikawa, it was his fifth straight game with multiple hits. Richardson reached base four times, bringing his OBP above the .300 mark, and stole his 9th and 10th bases.

McKae had just his second start this year longer than 5.0 IP as he improved his W-L record to 3-1. Hedrick allowed a run but improved his K/BB ratio to just better than 2.00. He has 10 K and 1 BB over his last three appearances. The 21-year-old Martis, whom the Giants traded to the Nationals a couple years ago, had his least effective start since his first start of the season as those are the only two starts in which he has allowed more than 2 ER. He set a new season with 9 H but also a new season high with 7 K.

A+: San Jose defeated Lake Elsinore 4-2

San Jose: SS Omar Vizquel: 0 for 2
San Jose: DH Pablo Sandoval: 0 for 1, 2 BB, HBP
San Jose: 3B Ryan Rolinger: 2 for 4, HR
San Jose: LF Bobby Felmy: 3 for 4, PO
San Jose: 1B Brett Pill: 2 for 4, HR, 2B

San Jose: RHP Tim Alderson: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K--2 WP
San Jose: RHP Taylor Wilding: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Rohlinger and Pill both connected for their 4th HRs. Pill's two-run HR in the 7th inning turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead. Felmy's three singles paced the Giants' nine-hit attack and raised his AVG to .294. Sandoval had his eight-game hitting streak snapped but still reached base three times. Vizquel played five innings to finish his rehab stint with San Jose.

After allowing 3 ERs in each of his past two starts, Alderson allowed just 2 ER in this start, maintaining his ERA at 3.03 and improving his W-L record to 4-1 after seven starts. He set a new season high with 7 K. Wilding worked a perfect 9th inning for his 5th save.

A-: Augusta defeated Columbus 6-4
(extending winning streak to nine games)

Augusta: LF Garrett Baker: 2 for 4, SO
Augusta: 1B Angel Villalona: 2 for 4, HR, SO, E

Augusta: LHP Craig Clark: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K--1 WP
Augusta: RHP Orlando Yntema: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K

Every GreenJacket starter had a hit, but Baker and Villalona were the only ones with multiple hits, raising their respective AVGs to .243 and .198. Villalona's HR was just his 2nd of the season, while he committed his 5th error. Baker had his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, helping him to a .355 AVG so far in May after a .197 AVG in April.

Clark, who had been particularly dominant in his past two starts, had just his second start with more than one earned run allowed. His ERA rose back above 3.00. His K/BB ratio remains above 5.00. After making five starts, Yntema made his first relief apperance of the year. He allowed three baserunners but no runs.

Turn over your couch cushions, bust up that piggy bank, the Giants are for sale...

AngelintheInfield — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:08:53 -0000

Yes, that's right; the San Francisco Giants are for sale.

Although I am aware that many other posts have brought this rumor to our attention, none have presented us with an idea for who the next majority stakeholder should be.

I have said idea.

I heard Eddie Debartolo mentioned. Too trendy.

Mark Cuban wanted the Cubs, would he want the Giants? Naw, he's too high strung for me.

What people are missing is the obvious answer.

It's time that we as Giants fans took a stand. No longer shall we bitch and moan about what we would do with Zito, Durham, or Roberts. We all know that we are the most rational, most intelligent, most devoted baseball experts on the planet. No one could run this team better than us. Our cries will no longer fall on deaf ears. We've put up with this for too long. It's time for change.

This is why I propose that the patrons of McCovey Chronichles should come together as one to purchase Magowan's share of the San Francisco Giants. What would be better than thousands of baseball experts co-owning a team? Nothing. Nothing would be better.

We knew that Roberts was old. We knew that the AJ trade was stupid. We knew that Armando Benitez would not, in fact, "do his job." If we owned the team. The Giants would be in the World Series. Right now. Selig would just hand over the trophy 20% of the way through the season.

You may ask me: "Matt, how will thousand of different people decide what to do with the team. We could argue until hell freezes over, or at least until Zito's contract expires."

To this I say phooey. It wouldn't be a problem, since we would keep McCovey Chronicles up and running, and settle all front office decisions with an internet poll.

Then you might ask, "Matt, how would we know that the poll is an accurate scientific representation of the McCoven's actual opinion?"

Phooey again. If someone were to vote multiple times, it would only express their desire to see something happen even more, and their persistence should be rewarded.

We wouldn't have to hire scouts either, as the MCC has members in every part of the country, all baseball experts that could relay information back to the members of the site.

Obviously, we would have to establish some sort of managing hierarchy; I propose that we keep it as it is. MCC members would be awarded management roles according to their established contributions to the site. Others could be voted in. Now, I understand that we would have to raise a significant amount of capital to make this happen. So, find all the change you can. Smash that piggy bank open with your miniature Shinjo bat (I can't be the only person who has one). Dig through your car for those grease covered pennies. A donation link should be placed on the site immediately. Instead of going to a game provided to us by the current, inferior ownership, donate that money to the cause. If every visitor donated a dime to MCC, we'd have a million dollars within the month. You do the math.

This can work. We can do this. I proposed long ago that we all donated $20 to land Vlad. Don't let another opportunity be wasted.

Comment starter: Come up with a catchy slogan for the campaign.

Buster hearts Timmy

UnleashTheGore — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:33:43 -0000

Buster Olney gives Timmy some video love:

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3386464&name=olney_buster&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3386464%26name%3dolney_buster%26lpos%3dspotlight%26lid%3dtab1pos2

I really noticed this stoicism after the *balk. He did noticeably say something after he got out of the inning, but as it was happening I was pretty impressed with the way he handled it. I can't get enough of this kid and I'm pretty sure if he's ever traded or lowballed when he hits free agency, I won't ever, ever forgive this organization.

Enough fawning for now...

Magowan to step down?

KCE — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:26:58 -0000

This seems like pretty big news.

Per Kawakami and Ratto:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2008/05/08/red-alert-giants-swept-in-pittsburgh-chatter-that-magowan-could-quit/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=22&entry_id=26359

Rumors that Peter Magowan may be ready to retire from his job as the Giants' managing general partner have been circulating for more than two weeks, but they picked up steam Wednesday night when a Chicago Tribune blog on the White Sox-Twins rain delay included a reference buried at the bottom to "a change in control coming soon" for the Giants.

Tickets Available: Monday 5/12 vs Astros

Goofus — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:15:29 -0000

Peeps,

I've got my tickets to this game and not sure if I'll be able to use them, so I'm once again making them available to my adoring public. If you're interested in two or all four tickets at face value ($37 each), let me know.

Those McCoven who've used my tickets will attest that these are very good seats:

Premium Lower Box 117, Row 26 (They're behind home and just 26 rows back)

Cheers,

Goofus

Semi-OT: Italian baseball: Whaddya know?

delorean — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:04:23 -0000

My wife and I are headed to Italy on Saturday, and we're considering trying to catch some baseball games while we're there. Have any of you ever seen any Italian baseball action? What's the level of play like?

Any/all feedback would be super-helpful. Thanks!

Minimum word-count padding:

Baseball in Italy started at the end of WW2, in 1945, when American troops came to Italy to help us get rid of the Nazis. Though known by most as the site of a great WWII battle, the American cemetery in Anzio is also the birth place of baseball in Italy. American soldiers would recruit local youths to aid in the burial details and then teach them to play baseball on their breaks. They taught Italian kids how to play the game, played some in front of Italian people, and the seed was sown. The first Italian League Tournament was held in 1948, and Bologna won it. Teams with a good tradition for baseball are in the following towns: Nettuno, Bologna, Parma, Milan, Rimini and Grosseto.

Question about Lincecum's slider

dixieflatline — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:02:41 -0000

Hi everybody. I'm Josh Kalk the harbdalltimes writer and blogger. In the off season I wrote this article on Tim Lincecum where I noted that while he didn't throw any sliders in 2007 he had thrown that pitch in college and was rumored to be tinkering with it. Even though the 2008 data still has a lot of issues, Lincecum is definitely throwing a slider this year. Here is a plot of his movement on his pitches with the pitch identification from MLBAM:

via baseball.bornbybits.com

The splitters should be change ups and the cutter really is a slider. Anyway, last year Lincecum mostly threw his curve to right handers and his change to left handers. This year it looks like that has continued but he is throwing his slider to both. It appears he is still throwing about 2/3 fastballs but now he is using his curve ball much less.

Sadly I haven't gotten a chance to watch him pitch this year so I am curious if you guys who have seen him all year have noticed the slider and what you guys think? As I noted in my article while Lincecum's curve got a lot of press I was very impressed with his change. Where do you think his slider fits in?

Tell me why I shouldn't become an A's fan...

lmaozedong — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:15:57 -0000

I'll be honest and say that I don't know a heck of a lot about the A's farm system, and I probably couldn't tell you how many prospects either the A's or the Giants have in any given top 100 prospect list, or anything like that.

I've been a lifelong Giants, fan, and on principle alone, I'm not ACTUALLY considering jumping ship and going to the other side of the Bay, even if their stadium is a 2 minute drive from my house. However, the grass is looking mighty green on the other side of the fence.

I realize that the A's are playing way over their heads right now. On paper, I'd say they probably have a worse team than we do, even. On paper, that is--somehow all the players the A's decide to try out turn out to be huge successes (they get Cust, we get Velez). That said, I fully expect their team to take a huge turn for the worst, and end up around third in their division with about 80 wins, simply riding on a weaker division. Let's be real. Both the A's and the Giants SUCK right now. Neither has a chance to make the postseason unless a nuclear attack destroys the entire West half of the US other than the Bay Area.

The team right now is not the reason why I have a huge impulse to jump ship every time I hear about the A's--the reason is that while the A's have reason to be optimistic in the next few years, with big name prospects coming to them in trades, we really don't. Our biggest prospect by most people's count is almost at the Bocock line, and let's be honest--our farm system is pretty crappy. We don't REALLY have anyone to be really excited about until, oh, about 2011, when Noonan, D'alessio (who will have white hairs by this point), Alderson, Villalona, Bumgarner, Fairley (where is this guy, anyway?) and Sandoval all come at once and make the first all-rookie team to win the World Series. As a rule, really young prospects all seem exciting because usually they have extremely high ceilings. Probably at least 80% of these players will flame out, with Villalona looking like the most likely to flame out out of all of these. I've never really been a big fan of him--just some athletic looking guy with tools that make him look like he's going to hit 40 HR a year--hey, I mean the guy's hit six already.. in 300 ABs.

The A's farm system isn't AMAZING, like it has a reputation of being historically. However, all levels have legitimate prospects in them (unlike us, where our high A team has a million prospects and none of the others have anyone even slightly interesting). A comparison of the average ages of players in the system says it all:

AAA

Pitchers-- A's: 25.9 Giants: 28.1

Batters--A's 25.5 Giants 27.4

Pitchers--A's 23.4 Giants 25.0

Batters--A's 24.7 Giants 24.9

A+

Pitchers--A's 22.1 Giants 22.2

Batters--A's 23.0 Giants 23.3

Pitchers--A's 22.5 Giants 22.2

Batters--A's 22.9 Giants 21.3

Basically, what these numbers tell me is that the higher levels of our organization is filled with loser AAAA players that other teams got rid of. And it's true--we have guys like Scott McClain and Justin Leone jamming up our Fresno roster. It's funny, because you would think that these veteran players would be there so that if one of our big leaguers went down, we wouldn't have to disrupt the development of one of our real prospects. Oops, I guess we forgot a SS somewhere in there. Anyway, the point is that they have real, legitimate prospects at every level in their farm system, while we basically have our 2007 draft class that we have to put all our hopes in. I could name names, but do you really want to hear about the A's here?

I'm a big fan of young players, and I get excited every time a new player is called up. My fantasy teams are generally composed of high risk, high reward young guys and I generally follow those the most. I'll be biased toward the young guy, even when he's batting .200 and killing my team. By this disposition, you would think I'm an A's fan, right? But way back when, before I knew anything about baseball, I probably decided that the Giants stadium looked cooler and orange and black are much better colors than green and gold, which happen to be my high school's colors as well (boring). Now I'm just sticking on principle. Why do I hang on?

minor lines, 5/7/08

steve S — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:24:42 -0000

AAA: Fresno lost to New Orleans 9-7
(allowing six runs in 2nd inning)

Fresno: RF Nate Schierholtz: 2 for 5, HR, 2B
Fresno: LF Brian Horwitz: 2 for 4, HR, BB, SO
New Orleans: 3B Fernando Tatis: 2 for 4, HR

Fresno: RHP Brooks McNiven: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K--1 HR
Fresno: LHP Eugene Espineli: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Schierholtz and Horwitz were two of four Grizzlies hitters with two hits each. They both connected for their 3rd HRs. Their lines improved to .308/.362/.505 for Schierholtz and .317/.374/.429 for Horwitz. The Mets' 33-year-old Tatis connected for his 10th HR.

McNiven retired just four of fourteen batters faced in his second PCL start. He threw just 35 of 62 pitches for strikes. With his eighth straight appearance without allowing an earned run, Espineli lowered his ERA to 0.87.

AA: Connecticut defeated Harrisburg 3-2
(scoring go-ahead run in top of 9th inning)

Connecticut: CF Antoan Richardson: 2 for 4, 3B
Connecticut: 1B Travis Ishikawa: 2 for 4, 2B, SO
Connecticut: 3B David Maroul: 3 for 4, HR, 2B

Connecticut: RHP Garrett Broshuis: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 2 IBB
Connecticut: RHP Kelvin Pichardo: 2.0 IP, 2 BB--1 WP
Connecticut: RHP Osiris Matos: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Three Defenders had two hits each. Maroul connected for his 3rd HR to lead off the 9th inning with the game's decisive run. With four straight multi-hit games, Ishikawa batted .440 for the first week of May. Richardson had his first hits in nearly a week, raising his AVG to .174.

Broshuis allowed a season-high 9 H but a season-low 1 ER. He improved his ERA to 4.04. He had an atypical 9/4 GO/FO line. Pichardo and Matos pitched scoreless relief, although they each allowed a couple baserunners.

A+: San Jose defeated Lake Elsinore 6-0

San Jose: SS Omar Vizquel: 2 for 4
San Jose: RF Mike Mooney: 3 for 4, HR, 2B, SO, SB
Lake Elsinore: CF Cedric Hunter: 2 for 3, BB

San Jose: LHP Ben Snyder: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K--1 WP

Mooney is challenging Sandoval for being the team's hottest hitter, as he has hit .538/.552/.885 through 26 AB. Vizquel was the only other Giant with a multi-hit line. Hunter was considered the Padres top prospect heading into last season but then hit a relatively disappointing .282/.344/.373 in the Midwest League. So far this year he is hitting .323/.405/.378 in 127 AB in the Cal League.

Snyder, already the league leader in ERA, further lowered his ERA to 0.85. It matched his longest start of the year. Even with two walks, he still has a K/BB ratio above 6.00.

A-: Augusta defeated Columbus 4-3

Augusta: LF Garrett Baker: 2 for 4, SO
Augusta: SS Charlie Culberson: 2 for 4, 3B, SO

Augusta: RHP T.J. Brewer: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K--1 HB
Augusta: RHP Danny Otero: 1.0 IP, 2 K

Baker and Culberson, both of whom had very slow starts to the season, each had two of the GreenJackets' seven hits, improving their respective AVGs to .233 and .122. It was Baker's third straight multi-hit game, whereas Culberson was returning to action for the first time in nearly a week after going 0 for 18 in his previous five games.

Brewer had an effective start despite having a season-high 8 H and a season-low 1 K. His 11/4 GO/FO line is consistent with his GO/AO ratio of the season of nearly 3.00. Otero struck out two in a perfect 9th inning for his 6th save.

Sabes on XM

Roger — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:36:26 -0000

Brian Sabean phoned in an interview with XM's Baseball this Morning and as, I don't believe they archive any of their baseball channel shows (and it was about 5:00 a.m. SF time), I thought I'd jot down a few of things he had to say before I forget it all.

Sabes is currently on a scouting trip, preparing for the June draft. The team's scouts and player evaluation team have by now come up with a list of "6 or 7 guys" they feel are solid for the #5 pick and Sabean wants to see all of them play in person "at least twice" before the end of the season. Last night he caught Gordon Beckham, in sadly an uninspiring performance ("I saw the wrong game, in scouts' lingo") and today he'll watch HS SS Tim Beckham play. Then he's off to Nashville to catch a UGA/Vandy tilt that will feature both G. Beckham and Pedro Alvarez. Sabean doesn't believe Alvarez will still be available at 5, but the hamate injury could concievably cause him to fall.
Dick Tidrow was ga-ga for Tim Lincecum. So convinced was Tidrow that Lincecum was far and away the number 1 talent in the '06 draft, he spent much of the run up to the draft trying to figure out other team's draft strategies, obsessing over the idea that Timmy might fall to us (pretty funny story the way Sabes told it). He even convinced Sabean NOT to go to Washington to watch Lincecum, because he didn't want other teams to know how interested the Giants were.
Matt Cain was also a Dick Tidrow call.
Brad Hennessy apparently has yet another medical issue. Sabean opined that the reason for his fall in performance is "he's lost a bunch of weight this year and he just can't seem to keep any on him." They sent him down to Fresno, but Sabean suggested that what they really want to do is run him through a battery of tests to try to find out what's going on inside him. Sad. Poor Brad's body has been through enough.
Alex Hinshaw has "an electric arm -- you'll see him in SF soon."
Sabean's love of experience and moxie doesn't stop at the playing field. Describing the front office reorg that went on this winter, he said "the great thing is we now have a whole room of veterans -- guys who've been around the block." One of those veterans Ed Creech (former Director of Scouting for the Pirates) was directly responsible for bringing in Jose Castillo, who the Giants are very happy with.
Surprisingly, Sabean seemed to place a lot of faith in Lowry's role in the Giant's rebuilding process over the next couple of years. Lowry's "a proven winner who we're really missing right now" and who's return will make the team much better. (Personal aside, that strikes me as crazy talk in several different ways).
Sabes thinks the Giants are the most improved team in baseball right now (from ST to now, I'd assume he meant).
Though he grew up in New Hampshire, Sabes was raised a Dodgers fan by his fundamentals lovin' Dad (UGH!)

Hennessy optioned to AAA, Sadler called up

CPGiant756 — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:13:24 -0000

According to sfgiants.com...

The Giants tweaked their bullpen on Wednesday by optioning right-hander Brad Hennessey to Triple-A Fresno and recalling right-hander Billy Sadler from the same club.

Sadler, 26, had excelled in 11 appearances with Fresno, posting a 1.13 ERA as opponents hit only .138 (8-for-58) off him. He also had 24 strikeouts in 16 innings, reflecting the command of his fastball, curveball and changeup that Bochy cited.

I think that it is about time Hennessey got sent down to fix whatever is wrong. I'm surprised he still had an option left, seems as though nobody on the Giants roster has any. Sadler has experience as a starter so he can also be a spot stater if needed. I'm a fan of this move

Sadler was issued jersey No. 34, most recently worn by left-hander Steve Kline, whose uninhibited behavior contrasted with Sadler's polite, subdued nature. Asked if he was worried about acquiring some of Kline's traits, Sadler laughed and said, "I did think about that."

Oh wait never mind, Sadler now has no chance as helping out the ball club.

Poll

Does the stench left on the number 34 jersey by Steve "The Bum" Kline have an effect on Billy Sadler?

Zito on the airwaves? Uh...maybe not!

PacBellBoozer — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:40:42 -0000

Hola McCovenites -

Wanted to clue you all in to a little bit of radio I caught this AM. Here in Sacramento, the greatest lil' cow turd in the world, we have both the honor and privilege of hearing FP Santangelo host the morning sports talk show.

So today, he drops this priceless little gem. Supposedly, FP and the show producer have gotten ahold of the Giants PR people and then Zito for a call-in interview tomorrow morning. They were told that Barry would love to call in and talk with FP and the guys.......that is unless he has a rough night tonight and in that case we'll get to hear Aaron Rowand!

FP said he approached Barry in the locker room during the last homestand and stated that he'd just like to have him in a low-pressure environment...no callers, no hack media, just an honest sit-down discussion about the team's performance to date. FP doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to throw another dude under the bus, but he was about as agitated as I was when retelling this story.

Barry, dude, grow a pair already and face the music. We understand that your massively bloated contract is of no fault of your own, but by saying so explicitly that you'll only give an interview if you're not shelled the night prior?!? You're losing every last bit of compassion from those of us that are being fed this bullshit "GAMER" line.

Like it or not, being a professional athlete involves a little more than serving up an 82 mph fastball and skateboarding home to a lonely bottle of merlot. Feed us some BS about how you've found something with your delivery and are working day and night on fixing it....something....anything. Don't be a douche and set your own parameters for an interview! You're better than that! Or so I thought.

So ya...if you're interested tune into AM 1140. Typically they have guests like this on around 8:00-9:00 or so. I believe the radio station streams live across the net so check out the website for KHTK if you're out of the area and want to see if the $125 M man shows up tomorrow.

Peace out!

I'm so over you, Joe Castle.

FairweatherFan — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:05:45 -0000

It was exciting, and had moments I will remember fondly. You teased me with your doubles power and your respectable glove. I even thought for a while that it might work out between us, at least for a little while.

But in the end, you turned out to be exactly the washed up, no talent, rebound 3rd baseman that all my friends said you were. It's okay, they said I needed to do this -that I needed to try something new.

But it's become predictable, and I need more than that right now. I need excitement and potential. I need upside, and that is something you just don't seem to have. I think at this point, Joe, that we should part ways before it gets ugly. That way, we will only have fond memories of the times we spent together - like that 3 run HR you hit in garbage time last night. If this relationship goes on much longer I am afraid that the 2nd in NL GIDP will just remind me too much of my last 3rd baseman, and that's something I just can't handle emotionally right now. In fact, you are second only to my last 3rd baseman in GIDP - only further demonstrating how you are just a shell of what he was.

Goodbye, dear Joe. It's been fun.

87 MPH

passionately objective — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:11:06 -0000

Just when I thought Barry was prime for a meltdown during the bottom of the 3rd, he gets out of it. Did I mention that he hit 87 on a low fastball.

Of course, as I'm typing this, he gets rocked for a 2 run shot. Not good since that looked like a meat sandwich, wrapped in meat, served in a meat sauce on a meat plate.

Let's see how he recovers, if he does at all.

BA's Jim Callis talks AnVil and the Giant's draft strategy.

AngelintheInfield — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:30:03 -0000

Jim Callis had a chat on ESPN.com today, and awnsered an uncharacteristically high number of Giants questions. I always love hearing some Villalona news, and I though it was relevant due to all the talk of his slow start.

Giants Question 1:

Todd Nizzle, SF: How important are Angel Villalona's stats for these first couple of years in the minors? Do they serve as good indicators, or should they be secondary to his overall development?

Jim Callis: Stats aren't as important in the lower minors ad they are in the upper minors, and Villalona also will get bonus points for being so young for his levels. That said, it's too easy to say a young player "held his own" against older competition to explain away lackluster stats. If Villalona is going to be the stud a lot of people think, he shouldn't spend the whole year in the SAL and hit .230 with six homers. I know he's off to a bad start, but it's still early.

Giants Question 2:

Vern (SF): ANy chance ther Giants get lucky with Alvarez slpping to #5? Seems too good to be true! If not..is G. Beckham the guy even if Tim B. is still on the board? I know the Giants want t college bat...but doesn't it make sense for them to take the best offensive player in the draft?

Jim Callis: That could happen if the first four teams decide Alvarez is too costly. We still think he's the top player in this draft, but he's not head and shoulders above everyone. Posey, Matusz, both Beckhams and Crow could go ahead of him, especially with signability factored in. I could see the Giants taking G.Beckham over T.Beckham depending on what they want. Gordon has performed very well in the Cape Cod League and against tough competition this spring.

Giants Question 3:

Andrew (Sacramento, CA): When do you see Howie Long's son going in the draft? Do you think the Giants at #5 will decide to take him?

Jim Callis: No chance to go No. 5 at all. He's really more of a third- to fifth-rounder, a big kid throwing in the high 80s who hasn't faced much in the way of competition. He's more projection than present, and I don't think he's signable in the third to fifth, so he could slide.

*Disclaimer: I didn't know the policy on pulling info from other sites, and I couldn't find it online. Hoping I don't get in trouble for this!*

Some (more) Zito Anal-lysis

FairweatherFan — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:49:45 -0000

I'm doing this one pre-start today in the hope that it will not appear as a hind-sight 20/20 type of thing. I should also make clear that I don't know my head from my ass when it comes to pitching mechanics or anything like that, so this is all a layman's analysis. If you don't want to read all my blabbering, just read the bolded lines...

What's wrong with Zito? Well duh, a lot of things. There are a lot of people on the 'net claiming Zito has this or that wrong w/ his mechanics, or that his drop in velocity leads to other problems etc. It's probably all true, and probably all prevents him from winning another Cy Young or ever being a 126m dollar worthy pitcher.

But right now, he has got a much more serious problem. He isn't even a league-minimum worthy pitcher. If he ever returns to a point where he can tow a 4.5 ERA and go 5-6 innings w/ regularity, then we can talk about velocity and mechanics etc.

But, my opinion on what is keeping him from being effective AT ALL is as follows:

He cannot locate his curveball for strikes. Plain and simple. While there are a lot of pitches that don't try to locate for strikes but are still effective, (the in-the-dirt slider, etc ) the reason these pitches are effective is because they look fastballs (or reasonably close to) coming out of the pitchers hand. They fool the batter into thinking they are going to be in the strike zone.

Barry Zito's curveball doesn't look anything like a fastball coming out of his hand, and any hitter who has half a clue can recognize it. If you are at the plate, and you see Barry unleasing that big swooping curve of his, and you know (from the scouting report) it is not going to be in the strike zone, what would you do?

Duh. Don't swing. Take all the way. Even I could stand in there and take on a Zito curve. Well, unless my last name was Castillo, Feliz, or Velez.

This forces Zito to throw his fastball to get strikes. His location w/ the fastball has been good enough to get it mostly over the plate, but not good enough to consistently paint corners. His velocity on the fastball is too low to overpower anyone, and he ends up pitching BP.

Imagine Zito as a BP pitcher who alternates between an 82 mph fastball somewhere around the plate and a big swoopy curve that's not going to be anywhere close. You don't swing at the curve and sit on the fastball. It's kinda like playing ball w/ your friend who keeps trying to throw a knuckle ball, and you know he's doing it, and you just kinda let it go where ever it's gonna go 'cause you know it doesn't have a chance. Then when it's 2-0 he finally stops screwin' around and soft-tosses one in there that you cream...

So batters are sitting all over it. Now, Zito knows he can't put a 82 mph fastball over the plate in the ML, 'cause even Brandon Webb can(will?) own that pitch. So he tries to locate it to the corners. He misses, a lot. Sometimes he misses off the plate and it's a ball, other times he misses right over the plate, and we all know what happens then.

So what you end up with is a pitcher who walks a lot of people in "hafta" counts because he misses off the pate with his BP fastball, gives up a lot of hits in "hafta" counts because he misses over the plate with his BP fastball, and gets into a lot of "hafta" counts because he cannot locate his curve for a strike. He also throws a lot of pitches trying to nibble the plate w/ the fastball or do something useful w/ the curve. Sound familiar?

On the flip side, if he can reliably locate that curve for a strike, hitters have to swing at it. It's a hard pitch to hit well - maybe not as hard now as it was, but it's still hard. You can still see the curve coming, but now you know you have to treat it as a strike, and swing appropriately.

The low-velocity fastball and fastball/change location issues will still cause him problems, but at least having the curve as a strike will keep the hitters guessing. A hitter having to protect against the curve will not have as good of timing on the fastball, and as a result that pitch becomes more effective (not as effective as it would be if it were 5 mph faster, but still effective). Right now, the hitter can disregard the curve, and as a result sit dead-red on the fastball. When I go to the batting cages, I can hit a 80 mph fastball once I get adjusted to the speed. I'm pretty sure that I could face Barry Zito right now and get him to throw curveballs into a "hafta" count and then make contact w/ the pitching machine fastball he tosses. Since I am a giants fan however, I would almost certainly ground it to the third baseman.

End result: Zito w/ curve in the strike zone, velocity issues, and fastball/change location issues = league average or slightly better pitcher.

Zito w/o curve in the strike zone, velocity issues, and location issues = someone who probably wouldnt have even made his college team.

So why isn't his curve in the 'zone? I don't know... that's not my job. What baffles me however is why the people who's job it is don't seem to see where he is at. It seems to me that watching Zito throw a bullpen session, I could tell you if his curve was going for strikes or not. If it's not, no reason to start him until it is. It's pretty simple. If you can't throw strikes in warm-up, you aren't going to be able to in the game.

If he can throw his curve for strikes in the bullpen but not in the game, that is a whole 'nother issue, and one for the psychologists.

Of course, Pitch F/x could show that I am completely full of it, but I doubt it.

Roster Ideas

hairball — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:03:51 -0000

Step 1: Put Frandsen on the 60-day DL. Can anyone explain to me why this hasn't happened, and why he is taking up space on our 40-man?

Step 2: Send Bocock and Velez down. Burriss can take Velez's place as backup 2nd baseman. Aurilia can have Bocock's place on the Shortstop depth chart. Reasoning: Bocock looks more lost at the plate than most pitchers, and it can't be helping his development. Velez looks the same way in the field.

Step 3: Call up Justin Leone and Brett Harper. Reasoning: they are more worthy of the MLB time and they have power that we need to take a look at, especially considering step 4, below. Leone and Castillo can split time at 3rd, while Harper is broken in slowly as a backup at 1st. Make Bowker and Ortmeier your primary 1st base platoon, relegating Aurilia to mostly utility infielder work.

Step 4: Try to trade Molina for prospects. Bump Sandoval up to AA, in anticipation of possible big-league time in September if he continues to surge, or certainly next year. If trade happens, bring up GRod as Holm's backup.

Step 5: Try to trade Winn for prospects. If it happens, bring up Schierholtz.

When Omar returns: Keep an eye on Aurilia and Leone. If things go well with them, DFA Castillo. Consider bumping Noonan up to AA, for similar reasons as Sandoval (yes, he's young, but that hasn't stopped other teams, and we will need Shortstops and 2nd Basemen in the not-too-distant future)

When Roberts returns: Send down Harper, if you have to create a spot. Otherwise, if outfield is looking good, consider DFA-ing Roberts.

I think the Giants have way more tools in their toolbox than they, and a lot of fans, realize, and I for one look forward to what we may see in September. I don't expect us to be contending, but I do expect us to have some exciting youngsters getting playing time.

minor lines, 5/6/08

steve S — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:51:26 -0000

AAA: Fresno defeated New Orleans 3-2

Fresno: SS Ivan Ochoa: 2 for 4, SB
Fresno: LF-3B Justin Leone: 1 for 3, HR, BB, 2 SO
Fresno: 1B Scott McClain: 1 for 4, HR
Fresno: RF Nate Schierholtz: 1 for 3, 3B, BB, 2 SO

Fresno: RHP Julio Mateo: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Fresno: RHP Billy Sadler: 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Fresno: LHP Alex Hinshaw: 1.0 IP, 2 K
New Orleans: RHP Tony Armas: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K--2 HR, 1 WP

Ochoa had two of the Grizzlies' six hits, raising his AVG to .264. Leone and Schierholtz were the other two Girzzlies to reach base twice. Leone and McClain connected for their 9th and 7th HRs, respectively.

Mateo had one of his better starts this year, improving his ERA to 6.75. Sadler and Hinshaw continue to pitch very effectively this year, further lowering their respective ERAs to 1.13 and 0.66. The Mets' 30-year-old Armas, who spent all of last season in the majors, now has a 3.02 ERA after seven PCL starts this year.

AA: Connecticut defeated Harrisburg 5-2

Connecticut: SS Olman Rosario: 1 for 3, 2 BB
Connecticut: 1B Travis Ishikawa: 2 for 3, 2 BB, CS
Connecticut: RF-LF Carlos Sosa: 1 for 4, SO, BB, 3 SO
Connecticut: 3B Simon Klink: 0 for 4, 3 SO
Harrisburg: 2B William Bergolla: 2 for 4, 2B

Connecticut: RHP Adam Cowart: RHP Adam Cowart: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K--1 PO
Connecticut: LHP Jason Waddell: 3.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K--1 PO
Connecticut: RHP Osiris Matos: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Harrisburg: RHP Jordan Zimmerman: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K--1 HR, 1 WP

Ishikawa had two of the Defenders' seven hits and reached base four times. His line is now .250/.350/.365 through 104 AB. After reaching base three times, Rosario's line is .298/.362/.417 through 84 AB. Sosa connected for his 3rd HR. Along with four hat tricks in his last ten games, Klink has just 5 H but 16 SO in his last 33 AB. Bergolla, the former Giants farmhand and current Nationals farmhand, had his second straight two-hit game against his former organization.

Cowart allowed more than 1 ER for just the second time in seven starts, raising his ERA slightly to 2.23. Waddell faced the minimum in three scoreless innings in his longest appearance of the year (in terms of IP). Matos worked a perfect 9th inning for his first save. Zimmerman, who entered the year ranked #7 among the Nationals top prospects after being drafted in the second round last year, made his upper minors debut after just five appearances in full-season ball.

A+: San Jose defeated Lake Elsinore 8-0
(after scoring five runs in 1st inning)

San Jose: SS Omar Vizquel: 1 for 2, 2 BB
San Jose: DH Andy D'Alessio: 0 for 5, 4 SO
San Jose: 1B Brett Pill: 3 for 5, HR
San Jose: RF Mike Mooney: 3 for 4, 2B, SF

San Jose: RHP Kevin Pucetas: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Pill and Mooney each had three hits to pace the Giants' fourteen hit attack. They raised their respective AVGs to .216 and .500. Pill connected for his 3rd HR in the 1st inning. After the oh-fer, D'Alessio still has an AVG above .300, but with the sombrero he now has more strikeouts than hits, with 32 H and 35 SO among 102 AB. Vizquel reached base three times in his third rehab game.

Pucetas had six scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.80. He had a no-hitter through five innings and improved his W-L record to 5-0 after seven starts. His peripheral stats are 29 H, 7 BB, 0 HR and 28 K in 40.0 IP.

A-: Augusta defeated Rome 7-0
(completing four-game sweep and extending winning streak to seven games)

Augusta: LF Garrett Baker: 3 for 4, HR, 3B, 2B, E

Augusta: LHP Madison Bumgarner: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Augusta: RHP Waldis Joaquin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Rome: LHP Jeff Locke: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K--1 HR, 1 WP

Baker had probably his best game of the season. After a slow start, he has hit .324 over his last ten games to improve his season line to .222/.271/.364 through 99 AB.

Bumgarner had perhaps his best start yet. At least it was a new career high in strikeouts, although he allowed fewer baserunners while pitching into the 7th inning two starts ago. In his first three starts, he had 15 H, 3 BB, 10 ER and 12 K in 11.2 IP; in his past three starts, he has 8 H, 4 BB, 0 ER and 23 K in 16.1 IP. FWIW, he has made each of his starts on five days rest. Joaquin has now issued a walk in eight of nine appearances this year and has a WHIP over 1.50. The 20-year-old Locke entered the season as one of the Braves' top ten prospects. After not allowing an earned run in his two previous starts, he was touched up for 5 ER to raise his ERA to 5.19.

It's time, or even past time, for an update to my Future Forty list:
1. 1B Angel Villalona
2. RHP Timothy Alderson
3. LHP Madison Bumgarner
4. 2B Nicholas Noonan
5. LF John Bowker
6. RHP Henry Sosa
7. RF Nate Schierholtz
8. CF Wendell Fairley
9. RHP Merkin Valdez
10. SS Emmanuel Burriss
11. 2B Eugenio Velez
12. SS Brian Bocock
13. LHP Clayton Tanner
14. LHP Benjamin Snyder
15. C Pablo Sandoval
16. CF Clay Timpner
17. 2B Travis Denker
18. LHP Erick Threets
19. LHP Alex Hinshaw
20. 1B Thomas Neal
21. RHP Waldis Joaquin
22. SS Charles Culberson
23. RHP Kelvin Pichardo
24. RHP Osiris Matos
25. CF Michael McBryde
26. LHP Paul Oseguera
27. RHP Wilbur Bucardo
28. RHP Billy Sadler
29. RHP Sergio Romo
30. RHP Brian Anderson
31. CF Ben Copeland
32. LF Eddy Martinez-Esteve
33. RHP Adam Cowart
34. C Jackson Williams
35. C Adam Witter
36. RHP Kevin Pucetas
37. SS Sharlon Schoop
38. LHP Jesse English
39. LHP Craig Clark
40. 1B Travis Ishikawa

Pics: Omaha Royals at Fresno Grizzlies

Flashfire — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:42:14 -0000

My longest photo trip of the year so far, Fresno is as much as three hours from the Bay Area depending on where I start from. I'll be passing that next week but it won't be a one day thing. In this case, it was 15 hours from the time I left home until I got back but that's just the way it is for something like this.

Chukchansi Park is a little over five years old and one of the nicer minor league ballparks around in my opinion. It's a nice place to shoot in, though given the hot weather in Fresno they don't have much other than night games once the summer really gets going so it's good to get down there while it's still pleasant. To help some fans stay cooler, they also have some misting machines mainly located under the overhang above the seats between the dugouts.

There are some pretty nice angles to shoot from on the field between the dugouts as well. The way a row of seats are set up right behind the backstop net, you literally get to watch the game at field level. A few feet above that, the regular seating sections begin so it's no real trouble to work down there without worrying about blocking someone's view.

In this one, Fresno used a combination of excellent pitching on the part of Nick Pereira (8 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 11 K) and home runs from Scott McClain (two) and Clay Timpner to take home an 8-0 victory over Omaha. San Francisco SS Omar Vizquel played four innings in the first of a few injury rehab starts and both BaronVonCurrentEvents and I had the opportunity to be around him while being interviewed. I was pretty pleased with the majority of what I got at this game. There were a couple things I missed but I got some good results on a stolen base, double, error and double play, along with the usual pitcher/batter shots. I'll be back down in Fresno again this season and I look forward to working there some more.

A sample:

5/4/08: Omaha Royals at Fresno Grizzlies

By the way, you'll probably be able to see these soon on SFDugout.com as well.