Regarding Tyler Fitzgerald: I first became a big fan after listening to Roger's interview with him a couple years back (I think maybe toward the end of the 2022 season?). Fitzgerald was acutely aware of his strengths and weaknesses and discussed in detail how hard he worked to improve the areas of his game that needed work. I watched a couple games on MiLB-TV early in 2023 and was very impressed with his intriguing blend of power and speed. Kudos to Roger for these great player conversations. It's usually 35-40 minutes on one or two players, and it helps us have a better idea what some of these players bring to the organization.
Roger, I think your response is frankly a little reductive while also revealing an honestly different expectations of what fans are looking for from the Giants. To begin, I certainly don’t think that going youth the last two months of the season is going to automatically produce everyday players next year let alone stars. The Giants may very well come up goose eggs on that front. Rather it’s that the last 6 years has taught me the half in half out approach has resulted in mediocrity almost without exception. Been there, done that. It doesn’t work and oh my god it’s dull. As for the Rockies, Angels…uh, yeah. No one said going youth was going to automatically produce results. There is the “you have to have good scouts, development staff” part obviously. That should go without saying. Arguing that the Giants prospects won’t perform any better or worse than the current veteran players is actually an indictment of the Giants and front office when it comes to their most important job- player development, and begs the question…why isn’t the farm system better at this point? As for the meaninglessness of playing for a third wild card spot…it’s because it almost would certainly result in a quick exit with many of the players departing in typical churn and burn Farhan style. Its transactional and doesn’t build anything. Perhaps if I was a Buddhist I’d feel differently
I love your writing and I am happy to be a subscriber. I think we both look forward to a future with a better farm system and maybe, maybe even a home grown star.
Thanks for the reply, Travis. I certainly understand and share your frustrations with the way things have gone, even if I disagree about a way forward. Let me offer three quick rebuttals and leave it at that. 1) I would disagree with your characterization of the last six years as half-in, half-out. I actually don't think that approach characterizes any of the previous years, though it absolutely does characterize this year, because in the last five years they haven't had enough young players to be "half out" or whichever direction that is. If the frustration is that Zaidi is unfailingly cautious and tepid about ANY direction he takes, and that it is always about the small move and never the big one, then I absolutely share your feelings there. I do think that is a valid criticism 2) "Why isn't the farm system better at this point?" The team has two crucial starting position players, 40% of it's rotation, and a lot of the bullpen innings going to rookies, many of whom started the year in the minors. That is a TON of impact value from the farm -- and I dare say you would have a very difficult time finding any of the other 29 MLB teams that could match it. How is that a cause for complaint? I think the biggest problem my site and readers have is that we're so hyper focused on the Giants' system that we simply lose all sense of perspective to how it sits in context with the industry. 3) the idea that the team garnering the 3rd spot will have a quick exit is easily disproved by history, including last year's MLB playoffs.
Roger, I love the back an forth...I also respectfully disagree on several points...here are two:
"....and I dare say you would have a very difficult time finding any of the other 29 MLB teams that could match it. How is that a cause for complaint? I think the biggest problem my site and readers have is that we're so hyper focused on the Giants' system that we simply lose all sense of perspective to how it sits in context with the industry. "
And why, as you admit, is there no one really on the horizon for the next 2-3 years after the current wave?
And finally, why after six years.... "But we still have to ask: are there any stars here? Can the team find the real needle-moving type of players they’ve chased externally for years from one of these internal developments? That I think is harder to answer affirmatively at this point. Time will tell."
Patience may be a virtue, but I'm not sure asking for more than six years from fans reflects anything more than a weird sense of entitlement from this front office. baseball at the end of the day is a form of entertainment that competes with more forms asking for our dollars than every before. After six (really longer), how about a few stars so we can be entertained?
Final, Final... if you are going to to tell me the the RISP hyper challenged can be like the Diamondbacks last year....ok. I just disagree :)
I wrote a comment "Replying" to PGBreaker but i don't see it--maybe it just went to him/her? Anyway, I will add it here, apologize if it is double posted. I was asking Roger about the control the Giants might have (or not have) with Encarnacion. Because of his Marlins time then Mexico then signing him as a minor league free agent before adding him to the 40 man, i wondered if the team control is still six or five or four years (depending on his Marlins time), or not much control at all since he was a minor league free agent?
Control is entirely dependent upon major league service time. Just like with Yaz and Thairo. If they wanted them all, they'd have six more years of control after this year for Encarnación.
Encarnacion in his first 4 games has become must-watch. Dayammm! So far he is hitting like we hoped Soler would. Who was responsible for him now being a Giant?
To add on to PGBreaker: I was wondering about the "control" the Giants have (or don't have) on Encarnacion. With his Marlins background and unaffiliated time in Mexico, do the Giants still have the six years of control--or maybe five or four because of his time with the Marlins? Or maybe not much control at all since he was a minor league free agent signing. You have any insight here Roger?
Regarding Tyler Fitzgerald: I first became a big fan after listening to Roger's interview with him a couple years back (I think maybe toward the end of the 2022 season?). Fitzgerald was acutely aware of his strengths and weaknesses and discussed in detail how hard he worked to improve the areas of his game that needed work. I watched a couple games on MiLB-TV early in 2023 and was very impressed with his intriguing blend of power and speed. Kudos to Roger for these great player conversations. It's usually 35-40 minutes on one or two players, and it helps us have a better idea what some of these players bring to the organization.
Thanks as always for the fantastic insight, Roger!
Roger, I think your response is frankly a little reductive while also revealing an honestly different expectations of what fans are looking for from the Giants. To begin, I certainly don’t think that going youth the last two months of the season is going to automatically produce everyday players next year let alone stars. The Giants may very well come up goose eggs on that front. Rather it’s that the last 6 years has taught me the half in half out approach has resulted in mediocrity almost without exception. Been there, done that. It doesn’t work and oh my god it’s dull. As for the Rockies, Angels…uh, yeah. No one said going youth was going to automatically produce results. There is the “you have to have good scouts, development staff” part obviously. That should go without saying. Arguing that the Giants prospects won’t perform any better or worse than the current veteran players is actually an indictment of the Giants and front office when it comes to their most important job- player development, and begs the question…why isn’t the farm system better at this point? As for the meaninglessness of playing for a third wild card spot…it’s because it almost would certainly result in a quick exit with many of the players departing in typical churn and burn Farhan style. Its transactional and doesn’t build anything. Perhaps if I was a Buddhist I’d feel differently
I love your writing and I am happy to be a subscriber. I think we both look forward to a future with a better farm system and maybe, maybe even a home grown star.
Thanks for the reply, Travis. I certainly understand and share your frustrations with the way things have gone, even if I disagree about a way forward. Let me offer three quick rebuttals and leave it at that. 1) I would disagree with your characterization of the last six years as half-in, half-out. I actually don't think that approach characterizes any of the previous years, though it absolutely does characterize this year, because in the last five years they haven't had enough young players to be "half out" or whichever direction that is. If the frustration is that Zaidi is unfailingly cautious and tepid about ANY direction he takes, and that it is always about the small move and never the big one, then I absolutely share your feelings there. I do think that is a valid criticism 2) "Why isn't the farm system better at this point?" The team has two crucial starting position players, 40% of it's rotation, and a lot of the bullpen innings going to rookies, many of whom started the year in the minors. That is a TON of impact value from the farm -- and I dare say you would have a very difficult time finding any of the other 29 MLB teams that could match it. How is that a cause for complaint? I think the biggest problem my site and readers have is that we're so hyper focused on the Giants' system that we simply lose all sense of perspective to how it sits in context with the industry. 3) the idea that the team garnering the 3rd spot will have a quick exit is easily disproved by history, including last year's MLB playoffs.
Roger, I love the back an forth...I also respectfully disagree on several points...here are two:
"....and I dare say you would have a very difficult time finding any of the other 29 MLB teams that could match it. How is that a cause for complaint? I think the biggest problem my site and readers have is that we're so hyper focused on the Giants' system that we simply lose all sense of perspective to how it sits in context with the industry. "
Why is the system consistently ranked in the lower half of the league? 25th sure seems like context: https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/farm-system-rankings
And why, as you admit, is there no one really on the horizon for the next 2-3 years after the current wave?
And finally, why after six years.... "But we still have to ask: are there any stars here? Can the team find the real needle-moving type of players they’ve chased externally for years from one of these internal developments? That I think is harder to answer affirmatively at this point. Time will tell."
Patience may be a virtue, but I'm not sure asking for more than six years from fans reflects anything more than a weird sense of entitlement from this front office. baseball at the end of the day is a form of entertainment that competes with more forms asking for our dollars than every before. After six (really longer), how about a few stars so we can be entertained?
Final, Final... if you are going to to tell me the the RISP hyper challenged can be like the Diamondbacks last year....ok. I just disagree :)
I wrote a comment "Replying" to PGBreaker but i don't see it--maybe it just went to him/her? Anyway, I will add it here, apologize if it is double posted. I was asking Roger about the control the Giants might have (or not have) with Encarnacion. Because of his Marlins time then Mexico then signing him as a minor league free agent before adding him to the 40 man, i wondered if the team control is still six or five or four years (depending on his Marlins time), or not much control at all since he was a minor league free agent?
Control is entirely dependent upon major league service time. Just like with Yaz and Thairo. If they wanted them all, they'd have six more years of control after this year for Encarnación.
Encarnacion in his first 4 games has become must-watch. Dayammm! So far he is hitting like we hoped Soler would. Who was responsible for him now being a Giant?
To add on to PGBreaker: I was wondering about the "control" the Giants have (or don't have) on Encarnacion. With his Marlins background and unaffiliated time in Mexico, do the Giants still have the six years of control--or maybe five or four because of his time with the Marlins? Or maybe not much control at all since he was a minor league free agent signing. You have any insight here Roger?