During the course of this week, I will be counting down the reasons to get excited about Spring Training 2009. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday, so let's count 'em down.
Number 1: Second Base Competition
At the end of last season, Brian Sabean declared Emmanuel Burriss the 2009 starting shortstop. A few months later, the Giants signed Edgar Renteria. It appears that the Giants don't think Burriss can handle short defensively yet and they have thrust him into a competition for the second base job. Some speculate that if he doesn't win the job, he could be sent to triple A to work at shortstop. Burriss is speedy and hit a whopping .283 in 240 at bats as a rookie. However, his slugging percentage (.329) was lower than his on-base percentage (.357). Burriss simply couldn't get extra base hits and has little pop. And his OBP was so high because he normally hits in the eighth spot where he would get fewer pitches to hit with the pitcher coming up next. But at 24, Burriss still has much room to grow with playing time. His competition?
Eugenio Velez was sizzling during Spring Training last year, but he struggled mightily during April. He was sent to the Minors and returned later in the season and improved his average to .262. He stole fifteen bases and has amazing speed. But the positives stop there. It appears that Velez just isn't a very good baseball player. He is a great athlete, but he has no baseball sense. He is a terrible hitter and struggles defensively wherever you put him. My verdict: pinch runner at best.
Juan Uribe was signed to a minor league contract a short time ago and will be used as a utility infielder if he makes the roster. He provides insurance at third if Sandoval struggles, but so does Aurilia. Uribe's value is probably as insurance at the two middle infield positions. Uribe has a little pop, and used to be regarded as a strong defensive player. At 29, he's lost a little of that defensive prowess, but he is easily the most seasoned of any of the second base candidates. My verdict: utility player if he makes the roster.
Kevin Frandsen was supposed to compete with Ray Durham for the second base job a year ago. He even had a shot at third before Omar Vizquel got injured. Frandsen was moved to short and struggled in a few Spring Training starts. As if it couldn't get any worse for Frandsen, he hurt his Achilles before the season started and had exactly one at bat in September. Frandsen can handle the job and has a little bit of pop in his bat. He also added some base-stealing to his repetoir in the offseason. Frandsen is probably Burriss's main competition. My verdict: start Frandsen and let Burriss get some more experience in Fresno.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Spring Training Countdown - Number 2
During the course of this week, I will be counting down the reasons to get excited about Spring Training 2009. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday, so let's count 'em down.
Number 2: Buster Posey
Quick, name the last Giants Minor League position player that you could see coming and you knew he'd be a star! No, no one saw Sandoval coming and the jury is still out on whether he's a star. If you said Pedro Feliz, then just get outta here. Anyone? Really?
Buster Posey probably won't be a member of the San Francisco Giants roster this year, but there could not be a better set of circumstances leading up to his eventual Major League debut. Bengie Molina has performed admirably as a Giant and continues to contribute as the cleanup hitter. However, Molina's contract expires at the end of this year and, given his age and Sandoval's ability to play catcher, Molina becomes expendable going into 2010.
Posey, drafted last year, made his professional debut late in the year in the Minors. Posey is said to be a Major League backup right now if he never improves one bit. He still needs to learn to call his own game behind the plate because he is straight out of college. If he continues to improve, he could be a prolific hitter who plays good defense. He is the closest the Giants have had to a bonafied hitting prospect in quite some time. He was invited to Spring Training so he can be exposed to the big league club in case the Giants trade Molina at the deadline or Molina gets hurt. Posey is definitely something to get excited about and I can't wait to see what kind of numbers he puts up this spring.
Number 2: Buster Posey
Quick, name the last Giants Minor League position player that you could see coming and you knew he'd be a star! No, no one saw Sandoval coming and the jury is still out on whether he's a star. If you said Pedro Feliz, then just get outta here. Anyone? Really?
Buster Posey probably won't be a member of the San Francisco Giants roster this year, but there could not be a better set of circumstances leading up to his eventual Major League debut. Bengie Molina has performed admirably as a Giant and continues to contribute as the cleanup hitter. However, Molina's contract expires at the end of this year and, given his age and Sandoval's ability to play catcher, Molina becomes expendable going into 2010.
Posey, drafted last year, made his professional debut late in the year in the Minors. Posey is said to be a Major League backup right now if he never improves one bit. He still needs to learn to call his own game behind the plate because he is straight out of college. If he continues to improve, he could be a prolific hitter who plays good defense. He is the closest the Giants have had to a bonafied hitting prospect in quite some time. He was invited to Spring Training so he can be exposed to the big league club in case the Giants trade Molina at the deadline or Molina gets hurt. Posey is definitely something to get excited about and I can't wait to see what kind of numbers he puts up this spring.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Spring Training Countdown - Number 3
During the course of this week, I will be counting down the reasons to get excited about Spring Training 2009. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday, so let's count 'em down.
Number 3: Jonathan Sanchez vs. Noah Lowry - Loser Gets Traded
Not many teams have a man fighting to be the fifth starter who is too talented to trade for a third baseman who nearly hit 30 home runs last season (Jorge Cantu) competing with a pitcher who led the team in wins a just two seasons ago. Chances are that whoever loses this battle will be traded for a bat, even if the loser is Sanchez despite what Sabean says. Sanchez has some gas in the 95mph territory and has been linked to the likes of Cantu and Edwin Encarnacion. Each of these players would drive in runs, but neither is a dependable third baseman. Lowry isn't likely to blow away batters like Sanchez can, but he keeps hitters off-ballance with his change-up. This will surely be a spirited battle that could last long into Spring Training despite Sabean's assertion that Sanchez has an early edge because Lowry missed all of last season.
Quick Manny Ramirez Update
I'm just as tired of the Ramirez rumors as most are, but there were some interesting developments today that indirectly affect Ramirez and his search for a new team. Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu signed with the Nationals and Angels respectively today. The Dodgers were hoping to land either of these two if they couldn't get Manny, so Ramirez and agent Scott Boras must be pretty happy to find out that the market for outfielders is drying up quickly with Spring Training starting next week. Will the Dodgers give in to Ramirez's demands now that they are quickly running out of options?
Number 3: Jonathan Sanchez vs. Noah Lowry - Loser Gets Traded
Not many teams have a man fighting to be the fifth starter who is too talented to trade for a third baseman who nearly hit 30 home runs last season (Jorge Cantu) competing with a pitcher who led the team in wins a just two seasons ago. Chances are that whoever loses this battle will be traded for a bat, even if the loser is Sanchez despite what Sabean says. Sanchez has some gas in the 95mph territory and has been linked to the likes of Cantu and Edwin Encarnacion. Each of these players would drive in runs, but neither is a dependable third baseman. Lowry isn't likely to blow away batters like Sanchez can, but he keeps hitters off-ballance with his change-up. This will surely be a spirited battle that could last long into Spring Training despite Sabean's assertion that Sanchez has an early edge because Lowry missed all of last season.
Quick Manny Ramirez Update
I'm just as tired of the Ramirez rumors as most are, but there were some interesting developments today that indirectly affect Ramirez and his search for a new team. Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu signed with the Nationals and Angels respectively today. The Dodgers were hoping to land either of these two if they couldn't get Manny, so Ramirez and agent Scott Boras must be pretty happy to find out that the market for outfielders is drying up quickly with Spring Training starting next week. Will the Dodgers give in to Ramirez's demands now that they are quickly running out of options?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Spring Training Countdown - Number 4
During the course of this week, I will be counting down the reasons to get excited about Spring Training 2009. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday, so let's count 'em down.
Number 4: Pablo Sandoval
Going into Spring Training last year, there was no Buster Posey. The Giants drafted him a few months later. Angel Villalona was stilll a young pup making a name for himself in the minors, and he still is. Madison Bumgardner and Tim Alderson were just arriving on the scene having been drafted only a few months prior. The Giants list of top prospects included very few names that were truly capable of making an impact in the near future. Half the season went by, and things began to change, in part due to one man:
Little Money. Kung Fu Panda. Pablito.
Pablo Sandoval tore up the Minors and hacked his way to the big leagues. He came up as a catcher, but his bat soon made the Giants reassess the fruits of the Minor League system. Sandoval came seemingly out of nowhere to hit .345 and an OPS of .847 in 145 at bats. He ended up playing third, first, as well as catcher.
So why is he number 4? What do we need to watch for?
I don't know about you, but 145 at bats isn't enough for me to say Sandoval is going to be a career .300 hitter. And, more importantly, he's being asked to play third, a position in which he has little experience. His glove seems okay, but what kind of range can a man of his size truly have? Put Renteria at short and there's going to be a lot of slow grounders that find their way into left field. Prove me wrong, Pablo. And knock in 100 runs while you're at it.
Number 4: Pablo Sandoval
Going into Spring Training last year, there was no Buster Posey. The Giants drafted him a few months later. Angel Villalona was stilll a young pup making a name for himself in the minors, and he still is. Madison Bumgardner and Tim Alderson were just arriving on the scene having been drafted only a few months prior. The Giants list of top prospects included very few names that were truly capable of making an impact in the near future. Half the season went by, and things began to change, in part due to one man:
Little Money. Kung Fu Panda. Pablito.
Pablo Sandoval tore up the Minors and hacked his way to the big leagues. He came up as a catcher, but his bat soon made the Giants reassess the fruits of the Minor League system. Sandoval came seemingly out of nowhere to hit .345 and an OPS of .847 in 145 at bats. He ended up playing third, first, as well as catcher.
So why is he number 4? What do we need to watch for?
I don't know about you, but 145 at bats isn't enough for me to say Sandoval is going to be a career .300 hitter. And, more importantly, he's being asked to play third, a position in which he has little experience. His glove seems okay, but what kind of range can a man of his size truly have? Put Renteria at short and there's going to be a lot of slow grounders that find their way into left field. Prove me wrong, Pablo. And knock in 100 runs while you're at it.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Top Five Reasons to Care About Spring Training - Number 5
During the course of this week, I will be counting down the reasons to get excited about Spring Training 2009. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday, so let's count 'em down.
There are several honorable mentions, such as:
There are several honorable mentions, such as:
- The Kings and Warriors are terrible and football season is over
- The Dodgers now train in Arizona
- Listening to baseball on the radio is fun no matter what month it is
But let's get down to the meat and potatoes, shall we?
Number 5: Evaluating Unknown Talent
There are several players showing up for Spring Training that we just haven't seen enough of yet to truly know how they are going to contribute to the Giants. Several of those players will be mentioned in future posts, but for now let's just concentrate on the rest.
Nate Schierholtz: Nate the Great has done everything the Giants have ever asked of him and he has only now guaranteed himself a spot on the Opening Day roster. Why? Because he's out of options after the Giants have sent him down time and time again. He's currently blocked by an outfield that features an overpaid Aaron Rowand, a 34 year-old Randy Winn, and blossoming relative youngster Fred "Don't Call Me Freddie" Lewis. From all accounts, Schierholtz is said to be a good hitter as his career Major League average of .310 can attest. But perhaps Schierholtz will best be known for plowing over a catcher in the Olypmics last year. Scouts say he's a fourth outfielder, but I still want to see him get some at bats.
Travis Ishikawa: Unless the Giants make another significant move this offseason, Ishikawa is your starting first baseman. I know what you're thinking: Who? Ishikawa only has 119 career Major League at bats, but his glove and potential power make him an intriguing 25 year-old prospect for the Giants. Personally, I don't think he finishes the year as the starter, but I am interested to see what he has to offer.
Edgar Renteria: Sure, Renteria has been around the bigs a long time, but he has this uncanny ability to change his skin when he jumps from one league to the next. In the National League, Renteria is a hitting machine. In the AL, well, just check out his drop in average from 2007 with the Braves (.332) to 2008 with the Tigers (.270). Even though he has shown this disparity throughout his career, some will point to the fact that Renteria is now 33 and his skills are probably deteriorating. His range is lacking at his relatively advanced age, but his bat, even if it's the one from the AL, would be a significant improvement over the shortstops of last season.
Anyone Making Less Than $1 Million Per Year: In a year where we're all scrapping for money (and jobs), it is especially intriguing to watch some of these youngsters and aging veterans (Josh Phelps, Juan Uribe, and maybe Rich Aurilia) fight for work. Sure, they could all end up in the Minors, but how about the guy who comes out of nowhere to make an impact on the team and maybe even make the Opening Day roster? In order for that to happen, someone on the main roster would probably have to get hurt. Last year, Kevin Frandsen and Omar Vizquel got hurt, making way for Brian Bocock. Bocock hit .143 in 77 at bats (hence the need for Renteria), but he was still an intriguing option, especially with the glove.
And those are just the players who didn't deserve an entire blog to themselves. Expect more players to show up elsewhere in the Top 5. Check back tomorrow for number 4!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Crede-ence Revival
On the day of the San Francisco Giants Fan Fest, it was reported that the Giants have finally offered Joe Crede a contract. That's right, after all the hoopla surrounding the possibility of Manny Ramirez making his way up I-5 and joining the Giants, Sabes squashed Manny-Mania by potentially signing a 30 year-old Pedro Feliz clone with a bad back for more than he's probably worth.
Surprisingly, I'm okay with that.I'm more than okay; I'm ectstatic. Face it, Manny for $25 million a year for 2 or 3 years doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a team that is rebuilding. But take Manny out of it for a minute. We've heard the reasons for and against signing Manny for a month now. Why Crede? Why now?
Crede is looking for $7 million for one year. That's quite a bit less than what they'd have to spend on Manny. Crede plays third base, a position that at the present would be manned by Pablo Sandoval, Kevin Frandsen, and possibly Juan Uribe (minor league contract) or Rich Aurilia (offered minor league contract). None of these options are all that enticing. Sure, Sandoval showed a lot with his bat in his short big-league stint, but he is not a natural third baseman and lacks the range necessary for the hot corner. He'd be better served playing first base full time. Kevin Frandsen may not even win the 2nd base job, let alone be a productive 3rd baseman. He'll never put up the numbers you want from your everyday third baseman, unless some of his buddy Dustin Pedroia's mojo rubs off on him. Juan Uribe? He may not make the roster out of Spring Training. Aurilia's not even in the organization yet, and he's not getting any younger.
Obviously, there's a hole at third. Of the available third baseman, via free agency or trade, Crede is the only one who can contribute offensively as well as defensively. When I said he was a Feliz clone, I meant it. He has a great glove, his average is, well, below average, and he has enough pop to lead this team in home runs. He could potentially hit fifth or sixth in the lineup and provide necessary help to Edgar Renteria on the left side of the infield.
And the contract makes sense. We haven't heard what's been offered, but one year at $7 million wouldn't exactly break the bank. If he gets injured, then it's more of the youth movement and we can see if Sandoval can handle third base. I would consider this a one-year tryout for Crede to see if his back can hold up. If he performs well, I could see the Giants attempting to resign him for a few years, at least until Conor Gillaspie or someone else develops.
So let's break it down:
Surprisingly, I'm okay with that.I'm more than okay; I'm ectstatic. Face it, Manny for $25 million a year for 2 or 3 years doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a team that is rebuilding. But take Manny out of it for a minute. We've heard the reasons for and against signing Manny for a month now. Why Crede? Why now?
Crede is looking for $7 million for one year. That's quite a bit less than what they'd have to spend on Manny. Crede plays third base, a position that at the present would be manned by Pablo Sandoval, Kevin Frandsen, and possibly Juan Uribe (minor league contract) or Rich Aurilia (offered minor league contract). None of these options are all that enticing. Sure, Sandoval showed a lot with his bat in his short big-league stint, but he is not a natural third baseman and lacks the range necessary for the hot corner. He'd be better served playing first base full time. Kevin Frandsen may not even win the 2nd base job, let alone be a productive 3rd baseman. He'll never put up the numbers you want from your everyday third baseman, unless some of his buddy Dustin Pedroia's mojo rubs off on him. Juan Uribe? He may not make the roster out of Spring Training. Aurilia's not even in the organization yet, and he's not getting any younger.
Obviously, there's a hole at third. Of the available third baseman, via free agency or trade, Crede is the only one who can contribute offensively as well as defensively. When I said he was a Feliz clone, I meant it. He has a great glove, his average is, well, below average, and he has enough pop to lead this team in home runs. He could potentially hit fifth or sixth in the lineup and provide necessary help to Edgar Renteria on the left side of the infield.
And the contract makes sense. We haven't heard what's been offered, but one year at $7 million wouldn't exactly break the bank. If he gets injured, then it's more of the youth movement and we can see if Sandoval can handle third base. I would consider this a one-year tryout for Crede to see if his back can hold up. If he performs well, I could see the Giants attempting to resign him for a few years, at least until Conor Gillaspie or someone else develops.
So let's break it down:
- Crede will only cost $7 million for one year where Ramirez would cost $25 a year for 2+ years.
- Crede fills a positional need while playing great defense and passable offense. Manny fills a lineup need with no outfield positions open and plays horrendous defense.
- Signing Crede would mean the Giants can relax and let trade offers come to them if they want to add a bat later on. Signing Ramirez would force the Giants to trade Lewis/Rowand/Winn and probably get little in return before the season starts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)