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While there have been complaints about the thinness of the Giants system, in a dramatic development yesterday both San Jose and Augusta introduced new groups of prospects that could really give the org a lift! In San Jose they addressed the system's lack of power:
Superhero & Cartoon character night at the @SJGiants! They have a great crew here! pic.twitter.com/tNzMuFMhTl
— Anna Kagarakis (@AnnaKagarakis) April 30, 2015
While in Augusta they gave the system a much needed injection of youth:
Our Future Jackets for tonight from Aiken Citizen Park Little League are meeting the #AGJ before the game tonight! pic.twitter.com/svK3TuuqVh
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) April 29, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS: Matt Gage throws 6, two-hit innings with 7 Ks.
Sacramento had their first scheduled off day of the year
At the end of their first month of play their record stands at 11-9, one half game behind Fresno. Again, I'll use the offday for a complete stats checkup from minorleaguecentral.com
|
Name |
Age |
G |
PA |
Iso |
HR |
BABIP |
GB% |
K% |
BB% |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS ▾ |
|
26.75 |
20 |
88 |
0.305 |
5 |
0.424 |
28.1% |
21.6% |
5.7% |
0.366 |
0.398 |
0.671 |
1.069 |
|
|
26.42 |
19 |
79 |
0.318 |
6 |
0.385 |
40.0% |
27.8% |
15.2% |
0.318 |
0.418 |
0.636 |
1.054 |
|
|
27.42 |
1 |
1 |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
0.0% |
0.0% |
100.0% |
0.000 |
1.000 |
0.000 |
1.000 |
|
|
26.83 |
1 |
2 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.500 |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.500 |
0.500 |
0.500 |
1.000 |
|
|
24.67 |
2 |
3 |
0.334 |
0 |
0.500 |
0.0% |
33.3% |
0.0% |
0.333 |
0.333 |
0.667 |
1.000 |
|
|
25.25 |
6 |
24 |
0.150 |
0 |
0.583 |
33.3% |
33.3% |
12.5% |
0.350 |
0.458 |
0.500 |
0.958 |
|
|
31.75 |
5 |
20 |
0.056 |
0 |
0.400 |
26.7% |
15.0% |
10.0% |
0.333 |
0.400 |
0.389 |
0.789 |
|
|
29.75 |
5 |
15 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.556 |
22.2% |
33.3% |
6.7% |
0.357 |
0.400 |
0.357 |
0.757 |
|
|
31.25 |
6 |
22 |
0.105 |
0 |
0.333 |
26.7% |
18.2% |
13.6% |
0.263 |
0.364 |
0.368 |
0.732 |
|
|
25.83 |
8 |
36 |
0.188 |
2 |
0.261 |
29.6% |
19.4% |
2.8% |
0.250 |
0.294 |
0.438 |
0.732 |
|
|
32.33 |
19 |
80 |
0.120 |
1 |
0.303 |
38.2% |
10.0% |
3.8% |
0.280 |
0.316 |
0.400 |
0.716 |
|
|
26.83 |
11 |
47 |
0.048 |
0 |
0.387 |
61.3% |
23.4% |
10.6% |
0.293 |
0.362 |
0.341 |
0.703 |
|
|
29.67 |
16 |
64 |
0.131 |
1 |
0.349 |
43.2% |
26.6% |
4.7% |
0.262 |
0.297 |
0.393 |
0.690 |
|
|
31.92 |
16 |
62 |
0.102 |
1 |
0.326 |
36.4% |
25.8% |
3.2% |
0.254 |
0.274 |
0.356 |
0.630 |
|
|
28.58 |
18 |
79 |
0.055 |
0 |
0.286 |
35.1% |
21.5% |
5.1% |
0.219 |
0.269 |
0.274 |
0.543 |
|
|
33.58 |
11 |
45 |
0.050 |
0 |
0.250 |
58.3% |
13.3% |
6.7% |
0.225 |
0.267 |
0.275 |
0.542 |
|
|
25.33 |
15 |
58 |
0.087 |
0 |
0.273 |
31.8% |
22.4% |
1.7% |
0.211 |
0.224 |
0.298 |
0.522 |
|
|
23.58 |
5 |
22 |
0.048 |
0 |
0.235 |
47.1% |
18.2% |
4.5% |
0.190 |
0.227 |
0.238 |
0.465 |
|
|
31.83 |
8 |
27 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.211 |
47.4% |
29.6% |
0.0% |
0.148 |
0.148 |
0.148 |
0.296 |
|
|
25.75 |
1 |
2 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.000 |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
26.75 |
1 |
1 |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
0.0% |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
23.92 |
1 |
1 |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
28.50 |
1 |
3 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.000 |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
26.50 |
1 |
1 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.000 |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
31.92 |
1 |
1 |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
28.17 |
1 |
1 |
0.000 |
0 |
- |
0.0% |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
30.58 |
2 |
4 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.000 |
100.0% |
75.0% |
0.0% |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
Name |
Age |
G |
BF |
IP |
ERA ▴ |
FIP |
SIERA |
GB% |
LD% |
BABIP |
K% |
BB% |
KS% |
HR/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
|
34.25 |
7 |
25 |
6.1 |
0.00 |
3.83 |
7.03 |
22.7% |
31.8% |
0.273 |
4.0% |
8.0% |
0.0% |
0.00 |
2.84 |
1.42 |
|
|
26.75 |
8 |
40 |
11.0 |
0.82 |
2.02 |
2.22 |
65.4% |
11.5% |
0.231 |
27.5% |
5.0% |
20.0% |
0.00 |
1.64 |
9.00 |
|
|
23.92 |
7 |
37 |
9.2 |
0.93 |
1.34 |
2.41 |
45.5% |
18.2% |
0.381 |
32.4% |
8.1% |
27.0% |
0.00 |
2.79 |
11.17 |
|
|
28.25 |
6 |
36 |
9.0 |
1.00 |
0.98 |
1.61 |
28.6% |
33.3% |
0.286 |
36.1% |
5.6% |
25.0% |
0.00 |
2.00 |
13.00 |
|
|
27.42 |
6 |
44 |
12.0 |
1.50 |
3.20 |
3.16 |
36.7% |
26.7% |
0.207 |
25.0% |
6.8% |
18.2% |
0.75 |
2.25 |
8.25 |
|
|
28.33 |
8 |
44 |
11.0 |
1.64 |
1.29 |
2.00 |
57.7% |
15.4% |
0.308 |
34.1% |
6.8% |
25.0% |
0.00 |
2.45 |
12.27 |
|
|
27.83 |
8 |
42 |
9.1 |
3.86 |
2.99 |
3.24 |
25.0% |
28.1% |
0.400 |
21.4% |
2.4% |
16.7% |
0.96 |
0.96 |
8.68 |
|
|
30.58 |
4 |
93 |
22.0 |
4.09 |
4.15 |
4.26 |
31.7% |
28.6% |
0.279 |
20.4% |
10.8% |
15.1% |
0.82 |
4.09 |
7.77 |
|
|
29.33 |
2 |
9 |
2.0 |
4.50 |
3.20 |
3.83 |
50.0% |
25.0% |
0.250 |
33.3% |
22.2% |
11.1% |
0.00 |
9.00 |
13.50 |
|
|
24.67 |
4 |
97 |
23.2 |
4.56 |
3.66 |
3.85 |
33.7% |
26.5% |
0.338 |
14.4% |
0.0% |
11.3% |
1.14 |
0.00 |
5.32 |
|
|
31.92 |
6 |
50 |
11.2 |
4.63 |
3.54 |
3.95 |
44.7% |
21.1% |
0.351 |
18.0% |
6.0% |
16.0% |
0.77 |
2.31 |
6.94 |
|
|
28.17 |
3 |
58 |
14.0 |
5.14 |
4.77 |
4.03 |
50.0% |
21.7% |
0.295 |
13.8% |
3.4% |
8.6% |
1.29 |
1.29 |
5.14 |
|
|
26.83 |
4 |
99 |
20.1 |
5.31 |
5.36 |
3.96 |
56.5% |
18.8% |
0.354 |
17.2% |
9.1% |
16.2% |
1.33 |
3.98 |
7.52 |
|
|
26.50 |
4 |
90 |
19.0 |
7.58 |
2.99 |
3.11 |
35.4% |
30.8% |
0.460 |
23.3% |
4.4% |
15.6% |
0.95 |
1.89 |
9.95 |
|
|
25.75 |
1 |
22 |
4.0 |
13.50 |
11.45 |
6.70 |
44.4% |
16.7% |
0.400 |
4.5% |
13.6% |
4.5% |
4.50 |
6.75 |
2.25 |
Richmond lost to Reading (Phillies), 6-4
being swept in the series 0-3
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
Other |
|
2b |
Kelby Tomlinson |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
RF |
Devin Harris |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
3b |
Mitch Delfino |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
E |
|
CF |
Javier Herrera |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
PH |
Mac Williamson |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Jack Snodgrass, L, 1-3 |
5.2 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6.16 |
Apparently Steve Kline's solution to the losing streak was either all talk or failed to do the trick:
PC Steve Kline joins the @GoSquirrels Pregame Warmup and threatens naked BP as a means to end the streak. @FoxSports910RVA at 6:15.
— Jon Laaser (@LazePXP) April 28, 2015
Richmond hitters managed to string together 4 consecutive singles in the 4th inning to spur a 3 run rally, but their lead didn't even survive a half inning as Jack Snodgrass immediately gave up two runs in the top of the 5th on two doubles, a walk and a WP. Richmond again pushed across a run in the bottom of the 5th to briefly retake the lead, but again it didn't survive a half inning in the field. With two outs and nobody on Snodgrass allowed a single and another double. After Jose Casilla relieved, a crucial throwing error by Mitch Delfino brought in the go ahead run and Reading never trailed thereafter.
Mac Williamson got his first day off in this game, but did make a PH appearance in which he drew just his 3rd walk of the season. That's a good sign for Mac as he's been having a lot of quick ABs of late, it seems to me.
.@mwilliamson7 walks. Runners at the corners, bottom 9, two outs for Kelby Tomlinson. @GoSquirrels trail 6-4.
— Josh Mathews (@SquirrelsRVA) April 29, 2015
That PH appearance put the tying runs on base with two outs in the bottom of the 9th for the Squirrels best hitter but Tomlinson popped to first to end the game and the homestand. An off day tomorrow and hopefully a fresh start come May. They can't be sad to see April go in that locker room.
San Jose lost to Visalia (Diamondbacks), 2-0
|
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
|
RF |
Hunter Cole |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
DH |
Austin Slater |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
CF |
Jesus Galindo |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
SJ totals |
28 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
2 |
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Chase Johnson, L, 2-1 |
6.0 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.25 |
|
Martin Agosta |
2.0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5.87 |
The Giants suffered their 5th shutout loss of the season (in 20 games) and this one was a particularly feeble offensive effort. The team managed only four baserunners on four singles and of those, two were caught attempting to steal and one was eliminated when John Polonius bounced into a double play. No SJ hitter ever reached 2b in the game and only 28 batters came to bat.
The hard luck loser was Chase Johnson, who threw 6 excellent innings of his own, but allowed three consecutive hits to open the 7th (including a leadoff triple) that sealed the game. In the video below of Johnson recording one of his six strikeouts, there's an interesting discussion going on regarding the particular issues faced by a minor league manager from the development side, and in this regard its interesting to note that Hunter Cole got the start in RF in this game.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lIFT8SkIVpQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Augusta lost to Lakewood (Phillies), 4-2
|
Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
SO |
SB |
CS |
Other |
|
Johneshwy Fargas |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Seth Harrison |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
E, GIDP |
|
Jonah Arenado |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Aramis Garcia |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HR |
HB |
WP |
ERA |
|
Matt Gage |
6.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3.18 |
|
Connor Kaden |
2.0 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5.27 |
|
Rodolfo Martinez |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5.40 |
Like SJ's game this contest was tied 0-0 heading into the 7th as Matt Gage and UDFA LHP Josh Taylor out of Georgia College and State matched 0s and racked up Ks. Augusta managed seven baserunners, including 4 XBH but they also struck out 11 times. Nice to see that Fargas and Harrison flipped positions, suggesting a timesharing arrangement in CF. In his second game in the lineup, Harrison had a day to forget with a hat trick, a GIDP, and an E.He showed his plus speed though.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seth Harrison clocked 4.1 on a dig. He definitely looked plus last night too.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/593564845712265216">April 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the end the not quite enough offense was provided by Aramis Garcia's booming HR and back to back doubles from Arenado and Cain with two out int he 9th.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good duel between Gage and Taylor in Augusta. Both big lefties have usable curveballs getting whiffs. Gage's FB at 88-92, decent tail.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/593568397192986625">April 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matt Gage: 6 IP, 2 H, 7 K, 3 GB, 4 FB, 4 LD, 14 swinging strikes/8 on CB, 88-92.</p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/593575755650568192">April 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Matt Gage, the 22 yr old 10th round selection in last year's draft out of Sienna College had a fantastic outing and continues to be solid in his full season debut, though caveats about college guys in A ball obviously apply. He threw 6 crisp innings allowing only two baserunners, no walks and 7 Ks. The tenor of the game changed immediately upon Conner Kaden coming in to relieve in the 7th, as his appearance following a leadoff fly out went: walk, single, walks, WP, walk. And then a double brought everybody home and a tight 0-0 affair was suddenly 4-0. Rodolfo Martinez finished the game up with a pretty dominant 9th.
David Lee's full scouting notes from the game (he loves Phillies #5 prospect Carlos Tocci) can be found here.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scouting notes from Wednesday's Lakewood-Augusta: Gage, Taylor, Harrison, Canelo. <a href="http://t.co/z9j0EOdkfp">http://t.co/z9j0EOdkfp</a></p>— David Lee (@David11Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/David11Lee/status/593609690464018432">April 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Three games on tap tonight, including a start from Keury Mella vs the Visalia Rawhide.
Final thought: a little late to the game and slightly off topic, I encourage everybody to read Matt Eddy's recent piece on adding the DH to the NL. The reason I include it in Minor Lines is that Eddy approaches the topic from an interesting and under-appreciated POV of player development. What Eddy is showing is that since the adoption of the DH 40 years ago the ability of pitchers to hit has plummeted beyond all recognition and he ties this to the fact that NL orgs no longer attempt to develop their pitchers' ability to hit. No leagues below AA have any pitchers hitting and AA and AAA leagues only do so when NL affiliates play each other. As specialization increases at the amateur level, down to and beyond HS, this problem only exacerbates. The reason I kept in the pitchers' stat lines in the Sacramento hitting stats was in part to illustrate how seldom these guys get to hit and how pathetic they are at it. Essentially over the last two generations the NL kept the "traditional" game, but they stopped developing that game and the result has pretty clearly been a degradation of the product. Matt and John Manuel did a podcast on this article in which they read some radical suggestions for change from readers and discussed them as well which makes for interesting listening. I'll admit I did like the idea of radically realigning the leagues into an Eastern and Western rather than distributing both leagues across the country, though that would demand likely a DH in both.