An Unexpected Playoff Push!

SF Giants Minor Lines, July 25, 2024

Mucho mea culpa! I have been asleep at the wheel lately. We went into last night with a “win and you’re in” playoff scenario! I had honestly checked out on the ACL Giants’ post-season situation, because they have trailed their division leader by a substantial margin for most of the season. What I failed to consider, of course, is that the ACL has three divisions, and they naturally need a fourth to play some post-season ball.

So lining up for the final game of the year, the Giants sat in a tie with the Angels, whom they beat earlier this year. A win, and they get to keep playing. It turns out having major leaguers do a bunch of your pitching for you in rookie ball works out pretty well!

So, did they do it? Do we have a post-season card punched? That, my friends, is what we in the biz call….. a tease!

Hey, there was trade! The Rays, naturally, traded coveted outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Mariners for pitcher Brody Hopkins, outfielder Aiden Smith, and a PTBNL. You may remember Hopkins from yesterday’s post, when I described him dominating the San Jose lineup with his funky, high-90s, low slot delivery. The Rays are great at scouting and probably feel great about their return, and both of these are interesting talents. But they’re also the M’s 14th and 15th best prospects and both in A-ball.

As the Giants seem to inch closer and closer to selling next week, this is a very good corrective for those who believe there are some blockbuster returns out there to be had for their talent. Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper said on a BA podcast this week that, on average, about 60 prospects are moved in July every year, and that, if three of those players end up with sustained big league careers, it’s considered a solid trade deadline. That’s the hard reality of being a seller. You can turn it into value ultimately, but it’s almost always more advantageous to be in a buying position. Sadly, that is just not where this organization is right now, and it feels unavoidable that repercussions of some nature are coming.

HITTER of the NIGHT: Jerar Encarnación (Sac) 4 for 5, HR (8), 2 R, 5 RBI
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Joe Whitman (Eug), 6.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

Ok, I’m not very good at teasing

…

Let’s get to the Lines.