SF Giants Minor Lines 8/30/18: Joey Bart hits #12

Not exactly breaking, but of course the big news of the night:

The Giants receive 23 year old SS Abiatal Avelino and a second minor leaguer. Avelino has ranked as high as #12 in the Yankees system (following the 2013 season) and was their #22 prospect two years ago. He brings a little more SS depth to the organization. It would be nice to get one of the many many live armed pitchers that the Yankees are loaded with, though likely the return will be a player of the Dillon McNamara variety, which is useful.

But one wonders if the bigger impact of the deal will be a September sighting of this guy at AT&T:

HIGHLIGHTS: Kelby Tomlinson had four hits; Jacob Heyward hit 3rd HR in two games; Diego Rincones had four hits with double. David Villar had three hits with HR.

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Sacramento lost to Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies), 10-8
losing their series, 1-3

It was a “hitterish” sort of night as the two teams combined for 18 runs on 30 hits. Shaun Anderson’s final start of the year probably didn’t send him off into the offseason quite the way he hoped, as he was tagged for 10 hits and 5 runs over 5 innings of work.

As it often does, the PCL provided quite a challenge for Anderson, who allowed 22 runs in 47.1 IP following his promotion. Interestingly, many of his peripherals stayed basically the same in the PCL as they had in the EL: his BB% was identical, the HR rate was the same, his WHIP and BAA were close to identical between the two leagues and his BABIP actually went down in the PCL. However, there was one number that took a steep decline in AAA: his K rate plummeted from 23.7% to 16.9% (or a drop in K9 from 8.9 to 6.5). So he’ll likely go to his winter and think a bit more about the mental side of the game and sequencing his repertoire, and maybe try to add a tick or two to some of his pitches. All in all though, it’s been a very good year for Shaun Anderson, who isn’t too much development away from being ready to help at the big league level.

The offense battled in this game, coming back from deficits of 5-0 and 7-5 to take the lead in the 7th before Roberto Gomez dropped the save giving up a 3 run 8th. The top of the order sparked things as Peter Bourjos and Kelby Tomlinson combined for 7 hits. Kelby slapped his way to a four-single night. Miguel Gomez picked up two hits, both doubles.

But the big hit of the night came off the bench, as Ryder Jones strode to the plate with the bases loaded, with the RiverCats down by four.

Ray Black, in perhaps his final tuneup before returning the San Francisco, did Ray Black things:

That was actually the first time this year that Black has retired the side in order on strikeouts!

This was the final home game of the year for the RiverCats — where do the seasons go. Raley Field shuts up until next spring, when hope will flower forth again.

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RIchmond’s game against Reading was cancelled due to rain

The game will not be made up. They finish up with four games against the Hartford Yard Goats (though they do still have that suspended game against New Hampshire hanging out there, which could conceivably decide the Northern Division title, as currently New Hampshire and Trenton are separated by a single game).

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San Jose lost to Stockton Ports (A’s), 11-5
losing their series 0-3

Mac Marshall’s final start of the year was going well until he ran into an iceburg of a 5th inning. The LHP finished up the 4th having allowed two runs on four hits, including a solo HR. He opened the 5th by hitting a batter and then he proceeded to allow hits to three of the next four batters, including a double which chased him from the game. Peter Lannoo did some damage to Marshall’s final line when he followed a one-out intentional walk (not m favorite baseball strategy!) by forking up a Grand Slam.

Sam Coonrod had an interesting line, allowing 3 unearned runs on 0 hits. Coonrod loaded the bases on a HB, an error from 1b Gio Brusa, and a walk. And then with two outs, LF Jacob Heyward dropped a ball on the warning track as everybody circled the bases for a three-run error.

Heyward’s night wasn’t all bad though, as he continued his torrid hitting, including his third home run of the past two games.

Fresh off being named to the AFL, Heath Quinn had two hits including a double, inching his average back up towards .300. Quinn has hit just .270 since the start of July, with an .838 OPS following a torried May and June. 20 year old Sandro Fabian, whose average was on the verge of crossing the Mendoza Line (in the wrong direction) hit his 10th HR of the year and also drew his 25th walk. Fabian was the 5th Giant to reach double digit HRs this year (Brusa, Quinn, Miller, Heyward)

As you might have heard Joe say there, the Giants lead the Northern Division teams in HRs with 115, which is a pretty decent accomplishment at the Muni.

San Jose is now just one loss away from 80, a mark they haven’t seen since the 2003 team went 58-82. That 2003 team was led by Dan Ortmeier, Justin Knoedler, and David Aardsma.

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Augusta lost at Lexington Legends (Royals), 7-0
splitting their series 2-2

Another starting pitcher who isn’t going into the offseason with a happy last impression is Jose Marte, who was hit hard in a big 6-run 4th inning that ended his night and his season. But like Anderson, Marte has a lot of good things to take with him into the winter following his first full season. He showed a live arm and at times some of the best stuff in the system, getting his fastball up into the upper 90s for multiple innings at a time with life. The command obviously needs a lot of sharpening and the secondaries have a ways to go, but Marte definitely put his mark on the season as one of the liveliest arms in the org and built himself up to 118 innings, more than double his previous high.

Augusta comes home for the remainder of their season, playing 4.5 games this weekend against the Columbia Fireflies. That will kick off with a sort of double header tonight as they finish up a game suspended in the 5th inning back in July.

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Salem-Keizer beat Eugene Emeralds (Cubs), 15-5

Ah, the tried and true path to success for the Volcanoes — bash ‘em into submission. Salem-Keizer rang up 18 hits, including 8 extra base hits in romping Eugene and climbing back into a tie with the Emeralds for second place in the division in the second half.

As usual, the long ball was their weapon of choice, as a spirited chase for team lead took place. Joey Bart and David Villar went back to back in the 2nd inning, with both hitting their 12th of the year. Four innings later Aaron Bond kept pace with his 11th. Bond also added his 8th SB of the year (Combo Meal!). Checking the leaderboard, Bart and Villar are tied for 2nd in the NWL, with Bond right behind them in 4th place (Robinson Medrano in 7th in the league with 9).

Diego Rincones, who’s been slumping a bit of late, got healthy in a hurry with a four-hit night that included his 14th double of the year. Rincones has fallen to 5th in the league in hitting now with a .317 average. Still, it’s been a fantastic season for the LF, who at 19 is one of the youngest hitters in the league. He’ll still be 19 next year when he starts his season in Augusta. Diego also recorded his 10th OF Assist of the year in this game as he’s shown a strong and accurate arm this year.

4th round pick Blake Rivera continued his rough pro debut with 4 runs in 3 IP including two walks and a HR. Rivera has had just one appearance this year without allowing a run. Overall, he’s allowed 13 earned runs in 19 IP and walked 11 to 13 Ks. Rough rough start. They’re going to have to just wipe the slate clean for the pitching class of 2018 this winter.

The Volcanoes are all over the NWL end of season All Star list, as one might imagine. Bart, of course, is the headliner, but Diego Rincones and Kyle McPherson also make the list of the league’s best.

And if you’d like to get to know the players a little better, there’s a fun video up at the Statesman-Journal on the players’ superstitions:

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Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento: Michael Connolly vs. Matt Gage
Richmond: TBD vs. Cesar Vargas
San Jose: DJ Myers vs. TBD
Augusta: TBD vs. TBD
Salem-Keizer: Jake Wong vs. Faustino Cabrera

Down to a precious few. Never take for granted!