SF Giants Minor Lines, April 18

The wit and wisdom of David B. Fleming:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>They need a ring ceremony RT <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeRitzo">@JoeRitzo</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJGiants?src=hash">#SJGiants</a> held hitless in the last six innings tonight. No runs or extra-base hits last two games.</p>&mdash; Dave Flemming (@FlemmingDave) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlemmingDave/status/589621236667285504">April 19, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

HIGHLIGHTS: Andrew Susac was recalled to the majors. Jarrett Parker reached base 3 times including his 4th HR and stole his first base of season. Martin Agosta and Ian Gardeck struck out 7 in 4 innings of relief work. Kelby Tomlinson had three hits including a double and a HR.

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Sacramento won at Salt Lake City (Angels), 5-1

The Giants pounded out 12 hits with 15 baserunners. They hit 2 HRs and stole 4 bases. Every member of the starting lineup reached base and all but Brett Jackson had a hit in the same kind of "up and down the order production" effort the Sacramento team has been generating to start the year with the exception, of course, of Andrew Susac who was not in the lineup as he headed up to SF. Jarrett's hoping to join him someday.

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Austin Fleet has been used as an org plugger for years, moved up and down the system wherever a hole needed to be filled and wherever he's been, in whatever role he's been used, he's been effective. He has a live arm and I hope he gets his chance to stand on the mound at AT&T some day. Sacramento's bullpen, which has been a weapon for them to start the year, continued its run with five innings of 1 run relief to ensure an easy win for the team.

Richmond lost at Reading (Phillies), 6-5 in 10 innings

The Richmond hitters struggled a bit with Reading lefty Jessie Biddle (BA's #11 prospect in the Phillies system and a former member of the top 100), however they did manage to put 5 runs on the board and 12 baserunners on the day (albeit against 14 Ks). The clear star of the day was Kelby Tomlinson, whose leadoff double to begin the game led to a two run rally, and who later hit the above 3 run HR which put Richmond into the lead in the 7th. Tomlinson is beginning his second full season in AA (third AA appearance overall) and seems to find repeating the level much to his liking thus far, posting a robust 1.020 OPS in the first week of play. Mac Williamson knocked in a first inning run with a single, but he takes the "fight another day" prize for putting up a sombrero in his subsequent four PA.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Fightin Phils still trail Richmond, but they worked Kyle Crick for 100 pitches in 4.2 innings</p>&mdash; Matt Winkelman (@Matt_Winkelman) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matt_Winkelman/status/589573321877954560">April 18, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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He also did this.

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In the end his line looked ok, and the stuff was jumping but he again ran up high pitch counts and was unable to make it to 5 innings which his been a chronic issue in his AA career.  The normally staunch bullpen ended up giving up the lead twice in this game (the first time due to Blake Miller's error) and finally gave up the walk off victory in the 10th (also aided by a Miller throwing error).

Here's an article on Jackson Williams which talks about hopes for him to influence the young starters like Crick.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Five pitches into a Richmond Flying Squirrels game, catcher Jackson Williams made a mound visit to Kyle Crick,... <a href="http://t.co/cXCiuFy9LR">http://t.co/cXCiuFy9LR</a></p>&mdash; CanadianSquirrel (@CanSquirrel) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanSquirrel/status/589080656505806848">April 17, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

San Jose lost to Bakersfield, 3-0

San Jose hitters continued to struggle with the bat managing just three hits and four baserunners on the day. The combined for 0 XBH and only 1 BB while K'ing 9 more times and consequently they were shutout for the second consecutive day. On the bright side they played their first errorless game in the week. Troubled times seem have come to the once perennial power of the Cal League.

Parenthetically, I do think it's really cool that the SJ Giants won 4 championships in 6 years and many of the stars of those teams ultimately graduated to the majors and helped with 3 championships in 5 years. Seems like math is telling us that the big club is going to figure out a way to win another ring this year. It's just science people!

D.J. Snelten had a strong start, surrendering two runs in 5 innings with 5/1 K/BB. His ratio of pitches to strikes was fine (79/47) however the HB and 3 WP imply something less than pinpoint control. Agosta's first appearance since his disastrous start was excellent as we walked nobody (19 strikes in 28 pitches) and K'd 4 with only a solo HR blighting his line. Gardeck finished up with two good innings though his strike ratio hovered down closer to 50%.

Since Snelten was pitching I'll repeat this link from earlier in the week of Joe Ritzo's interview with DJ:

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rome-Augusta tonight has been postponed because of an unplayable field. Sunday doubleheader at 1:05 p.m.</p>&mdash; David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/589579096742592512">April 18, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Today we have five games with the Augusta DH (if they get it in).  Listed starters are Coello, Lujan, Ysla, Coonrod, and Nick Gonzalez.