Giants Minor League updates

[opzoneworld]

Shoutout to Henry Sosa. His numbers this year are just crazy combined in Augusta and San Jose. At just 22, he could have a very bright future.

10-1 in 18 starts with a 1.97 ERA.
More impressive, in 100.1 inngs pitches with 104 strikeouts.

[opzoneworld]

Witter, San Jose Giants DH, hit 3 homeruns today. According to the web site, that is the first time in San Jose history a player has hit 3 homeruns in one game. He has 13 homeruns, 12 coming since June, and 60 RBI's this season. He is having a monster second half. The Giants should really give him a tryout at 1B.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Jackson Williams broke his wrist and is out indefinitely. Michael Ambort still hasn't returned from his injury either.

EDIT: Just got off the phone with Matt Downs, the Volcanoes' second baseman; he told me that Williams expects to be back after about a week and Ambort should be ready in time for the team's three-game road trip against Everett on Monday. Supposedly, Ambort's been taking BP to get his swing back to where it was; he'll likely return as a DH for the first few games.

[opzoneworld]

Broken wrist. Bad luck there. Do you know which hand it is? For a catcher, that will probably set him back for a while.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

I want to say his right (throwing) wrist, but I'm not completely sure. Next time I talk to Jackson Williams, I'll give this board an update.

Shane Jordan, meanwhile, upped his average to .327 and Downs homered last night to improve his batting average to .307.

Relief pitcher Jesse English was also named Player of the Week a couple weeks back, and he's been flat-out ridiculous: 5-0 record, 0.69 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts. Oh, and that's in 26 innings of work.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

UPDATE: Just off the phone with Jackson Williams. (This whole sportswriter bit is good for something after all.) The injury is a small fracture on his right wrist, below his pinky finger. He's already had a week and a half of rest, but he wants to be back in time for the Volcanoes game on August 17, when they play the Vancouver Canadians (A's affiliate). He said he's taking BP and looking forward to returning as soon as he can.

Also, not long after I posted about Jesse English, he was promoted to the San Jose Giants. Hard work pays off.

[opzoneworld]

Hey Philip...

I was wondering if you could give me some information on a few players who on paper seem to be having a very good short-season. What are thoughts on these guys and do you know what the organization thinks about these guys?

1B - Chad Rothford
3B - Andrew Davis
IF - Matthew Downs
OF - Shane Jordan
CL - Daniel Otero

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Hey Philip...

I was wondering if you could give me some information on a few players who on paper seem to be having a very good short-season. What are thoughts on these guys and do you know what the organization thinks about these guys?

1B - Chad Rothford
3B - Andrew Davis
IF - Matthew Downs
OF - Shane Jordan
CL - Daniel Otero

Can do. Some of these guys I know a lot better than others, and I've gotten significant face time with all of them except Otero, who I plan on talking to some more later on.

Before I begin, I'd like to preface this with some bad news: Michael Ambort has been called back to San Francisco, his season likely done. He's been struggling with an injury all season and the organization's probably gonna limit him to "extended spring training". Word around the clubhouse is that the organization may call up a pitcher from Arizona, and a few names were thrown around.

Now, as to the players you've mentioned, opzoneworld:

Chad Rothford: A lot of what I've heard when Rothford's name is mentioned is that people don't expect him to ever make the majors. What's going against him? If you can believe this, it's his size (6-5, 270)...people believe that his lack of mobility will prevent him from being a serious prospect. However, Rothford has serious power...he hit a home run tonight that measures out to about 375 and he's hit it much farther. This may also come as a surprise from a power-hitting prospect, but at one point about halfway through the season he also led the team in walks. Defensively, Rothford's glove absorbs most everything and he's very adept at digging balls out of the dirt. Rothford is also the son of a coach, so making adjustments is essentially in his blood. He can improve upon his pitch selection and he could stand to add muscle (so long as he doesn't gain much weight), but with Rothford you get a known quantity and a familiar ceiling. I personally think he has a crack at the majors, although he may be better suited with an AL team as a DH. The big thing the Giants need to remember with Rothford is that they grabbed him in the 42nd round, a pretty remarkable fact for a player with the collegiate polish Rothford developed.

Andrew Davis: He's a real wild card. I don't see a Major League future for him, but if he shows improvement through all levels he's got a shot. Davis has been used at 3B and SS this year and is adept defensively if not great; his arm is solid but not spectacular. He's not a very big guy and he's not a very fast guy, but he's deceptively powerful with legitimate home run power. Looking at his stats, the fact that he currently leads the team in walks surprises me, but the .295 average really doesn't. Davis, to me, hasn't really had much of a challenge; he's never really had a big slump this season and he's able to make tough plays defensively if need be but I've never seen him make a play that made me say "Wow". The one thing I do like about Davis is his attitude...he's a horrible interview, but just talking with him you can tell he's a carefree person and is really enjoying where he's at in his life. I'd say that if he were to have a Major League future he'd need his bat more than his glove. As is, he's definitely deserving of a trip to San Jose to see if he can continue to produce.

Matthew Downs: People have been telling me that he's the best player on the team and I'm coming around to that belief. It all starts, of course, with the bat; he's been steadily improving his average this year and had a breakout game of sorts a few days ago, going 4 for 4 with three doubles, a home run, and a walk. He's already broken the team record for doubles in a season and may touch on the league record; his ability to find the gap is uncanny, even though, as he put it, "a double is just a single that gets away from the outfielder." Power-wise, he has all you need and then some, and I have no doubts he can hit in a Major League park. It's his defense, though, that's gonna get him into the majors and stick. He started his college career as a relief pitcher and permanently moved to 3B his senior year at Alabama, and the Volcanoes played him at 2B for a while. Nowadays he plays 3B and 1B when the organization called up Brock Bond. His range is great; he can cover each line with relative ease and always looks calm and together making his throws. The fact that he's got a gun for an arm only makes him more attractive. He's also quick on the base paths. Not deceptively quick, not fast, but quick, and he can steal a base if need be. Probably the best thing he's got going for him, however, is the fact that he has an excellent personality and is one of the nicest guys on the team. He respects everyone from his manager to the press to the grounds crew members, and he's got a real even keel. I'd go as far as to say that Downs has a legitimate shot at being a San Francisco Giant within three years. I just hope someone in the organization is paying attention.

Shane Jordan: This guy is awesome. You wouldn't know it looking at his stats, but Jordan, a 43rd-round pick from Stetson University in Florida, wasn't even supposed to start in CF for the Volcanoes. Manager Steve Decker is an advocate of playing anybody if they prove their worth, and Jordan is Exhibit A. His average has skyrocketed by about 40 points in a month, and he keeps tapping a power source you wouldn't expect from him; he has four homers this year and he hit all of three at Stetson. In his whole career. His .417 OBP is exactly what you want in a leadoff hitter, which Shane has been all year. Defensively, he could stand to improve but he has great range and a decent-to-above-average arm. So what's holding him back, if he's an offensive juggernaut and a steady presence defensively? His size. Jordan is listed at 5-7, 170, both of which are generous, and people are forever going to doubt him. Jordan's attitude, I'm told, has always been very matter-of-fact when it comes to his size, and it's good because he'll need that. Personally, he's a fun guy to be around and a great locker room presence. I'm rooting for him where conventional wisdom will forever root against him.

Danny Otero: At Duke and South Florida, where he used to play college ball, he was a starter and long reliever, but he's now converted to a closer with some great success. Jackson Williams and Decker praise him for being consistent, throwing strikes, and mental toughness; Otero has gotten into jams but has never been replaced in any game by a fresh arm. His strikeout pitch is a fastball which has very good location, and he very rarely gets behind 2-0 or 3-1 in the count. Just as importantly, Otero has (from what I gather as I talk to him and other pitchers) trust in the seven guys behind him, who have played very good team defense up to this point. Don't know a whole lot about him personally but I plan on talking to him some more as the season draws to a close.

[opzoneworld]

Thanks Philip!

I find it somewhat surprising, at least on paper anyways, that many do not feel Rothford will make it. His numbers look really good. .299 AVE, 8 HR, 45 RBI in 200 Ab's. Would you say that Downs and Jordan are the two possition players that have the best shot of making the bigs at this point?

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Thanks Philip!

I find it somewhat surprising, at least on paper anyways, that many do not feel Rothford will make it. His numbers look really good. .299 AVE, 8 HR, 45 RBI in 200 Ab's. Would you say that Downs and Jordan are the two possition players that have the best shot of making the bigs at this point?

If I had to pick two position players to make the big leagues from this group, I'd pick Downs and Sean Van Elderen. I am a big believer in Shane Jordan's abilities and I do believe he'll wear a Giants uniform one day but he's only in control of his own destiny to a point...the rest is the Giants' faith in him to produce. Realistically, this team could feature as many as ten future major leaguers: Downs, Van Elderen, Jordan, Rothford, Jackson Williams, Michael Ambort, Garrett Baker, Otero, and Waldis Joaquin.

re: Rothford, it should be surprising that members of the organization are a little down on him because he's got great power, his discipline is improving, and his defense has been solid all year. It's just that people are prone to shoehorning him: big, bulky power hitter with some average D. I like his chances a lot, but it all goes off feeling and if the Giants don't feel like he's a player they can use he will be dealt or released.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

The Volcanoes beat the Yakima Bears (D-backs affiliate) to clinch the division last night. Their record stands at 48-12 with 16 games to go.

No team has ever won 80% of its games in a season.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Some news and notes from the Volcanoes:

-Since my last game post, their record is 52-17; that's 4-5 since my last update. They've clinched the division title and will play in the championship series, but they won't have a shot at securing the best record ever, which would be a 60-win year. Decker doesn't care, but nevertheless it's a little discouraging going into the playoffs. What's happening? Either the offense doesn't show up when it should or the pitching doesn't come through when it needs to. Nevertheless, this team is still very, very good and the class of the league.

-They recently named the Northwest League All-Star Team and four Volcanoes made it: Matt Downs (.333/.404/.538, 88 H, 60 R, 30 doubles, 8 HR), Garrett Baker (.298/.373/.490, 58 RBI, 73 H, 5 HR), Thomas "TJ" Brewer (8-1, 3.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 49 K, 15 BB, 60.0 IP) and Danny Otero (0-0, 0.47 ERA, 18 Saves, 0.41 WHIP, 13 K, 0 BB, 8 H, 1 ER, 19.1 IP). Downs was named co-MVP of the NWL with Padres prospect Luis Durango, and manager Steve Decker was named co-MOY.

-In a move you may or may not have seen, the Giants acquired a minor-league pitcher named Steve MacFarland from the Pirates to complete the Matt Morris trade. I haven't yet met MacFarland, but his scouting report indicates that he's a project with command problems. He posted a decent ERA in A-ball with Pittsburgh's farm club this year and he record 70 strikeouts, but he also recorded 50 walks. Either way, he's probably better than Ivan Rusova is right now.

-Tell me that this line from the past 10 games isn't very good: .394 (13-33), 7 R, 9 RBI, 4 doubles, 2 HR. In case you can't figure out whose this is, the correct answer is Jose Flores, the Volcanoes reserve shortstop who just turned 20 a week ago. The Giants signed him as a 16-year-old, and Flores, who's Venezuelan and idolizes Omar Vizquel, projects as a solid defensive shortstop with gap power and occasional HR power (think the Mariners' Yuniesky Betancourt). He's not a big guy, but he's very sturdily built and pretty quick.

-Sean Van Elderen and Chad Rothford are ice-cold recently, especially Rothford, who has three hits in his last 24 at-bats and has seen his average dip to .273. Van Elderen is hitting .293, but he has not had any big games offensively in a while. Decker (presumably on the orders of the Giants) is using Bruce Edwards, an 18th-round pick out of Auburn, a lot more in the outfield, with decent results.

-Jared Cranston, a pitcher in his second year with the team, was recently named Pitcher of the Week in the NWL and his numbers are pretty ridiculous: 4-1, 2.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 14 BBs and 68 Ks in 50.0 IP. Oh, and he's given up 33 hits all year.

-Another pitcher to look out for is Tim Egart. He's a reliever drafted in the 39th round who went to Arkansas State with TJ Brewer. Egart's numbers are pretty good thus far: 2-0, 2.93 ERA, 2 saves, 40 K, 7 BBs, 28 hits in 30.2 IP. But it's not just about numbers: Egart's 6-4 and 205 with long arms and legs. Physically, he's an interesting project, which probably explains why the Giants picked him up.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

The Giants are preparing for their September call-ups, so check carefully. Four Volcanoes have been called up to Fresno: Wilmin Rodriguez, Carlos De La Rosa, Ivan Rusova, and Jeremiah Luster. Four players from Arizona should replace them; D'Alessio and Villalona would be cool but I don't know if there's room for him.

Also, Volcanoes starter Craig Clark's season is over. His last start, August 17, he'd felt some pain in his shoulder and Decker had him miss a start. Decker's officially shut him down now. I feel bad for the guy, because Clark seemed a bit broken at the news--hopefully his shoulder is all right.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Six players called up to the Volcanoes for tonight's game:

Chance Corgan
Oliver Odle
Daniel Runzler
Richard Wilshire
Andrew D'alessio

And...drumroll please...

Angel Villalona

Also...anyone out there? Anyone at all?

[backer55]

PhillipN.F.

I'm here, read every post and i thank you for them. I don't really concern myself much with the minors, don't have the time as it is to keep up with all the interests i have going. But, your updates are short and do give some insight and info about these guys that i WILL, if they make it to the big club, be very interested in. For that, i Thank You!

.

[FaTaL]

velez got called up, talk about a rapid rise for him though the giants farm after getting claimed on waivers

[Swift21]

Six players called up to the Volcanoes for tonight's game:

Chance Corgan
Oliver Odle
Daniel Runzler
Richard Wilshire
Andrew D'alessio

And...drumroll please...

Angel Villalona

Also...anyone out there? Anyone at all?

I'm surprised Noonan didn't get called up.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Nor did Alderson. I guess they're being real careful with both of them.

I'll post some stuff about Villalona a little later on.

[Swift21]

Nor did Alderson. I guess they're being real careful with both of them.

I'll post some stuff about Villalona a little later on.

You may not see much, he's only had 7 AB's in 4 games so far.

[B-Diddy#1fan]

PhilipNelsonFan, I greatly appreciate the minor league info you bring.

What can you tell us about Sean Van Elderen?

Also, which SS do you see having the best chance to make it in the majors? I know of Culberson, Burris, Bocock and Schoop.