I've been trying to figure out the meaning of the hand gesture the players all seem to make when they get a base hit. The hand or hands raises and the two fingers up, twisting of the wrists? Me, I would do a double fist pump in the same situation
With Fitzgerald apparently floundering, how realistic is it to think that Meckler can become a major-league-caliber second baseman soon enough to matter this year?
Similar question. I’m a Fitzgerald fan, but you need to get offense out of 2B. If we assume that Tyler takes a step back, what are the options, and what do you think of each? Is there a reasonable answer short of a trade?
A possible solution I would like to see the Giants look at is Diego Velasquez. Second Baseman in Richmond AA, the kid can hit in a pitcher's league, over .300 last year, .288 so far this year. The Giants could use someone who can hit and get on base.
(Posted this in a comment the other day, but here it is phrased as a question). It seems like Marco Luciano's minor-league career so is following the same arc as Heliot Ramos' — lots of national hype, a high ranking on the Baseball America 100 following by lots of dashed dreams — not to mention some brief, failed appearances with the major league club. The Ramos story has come with a happy ending (so far), but I'm curious what strengths/weaknesses you saw with Ramos in what seemed like an endless minor league career and how that compares Luciano. Obviously, I'm looking for silver linings since I'd hate to see Luci's power swing flourish for another club if we choose not to squeeze him onto the 40 man.
I realize this is incredibly complicated in the domestic player limit era, but do you think there’s any way for the organization to improve its approach to managing catcher depth at the upper levels of the minors? As minimal as his prospect status may be, it feels like it’s not in the best interest of Drew Cavanaugh or the big league club that he’s caught so much in Triple-A this season, and I remember guys like Trevor Brown, Ben Turner, Fabian Peña, etc. being thrust into semi-long-term duty in Sacramento before they were ready as well, simply because they were at some point nearby in San Jose. Maybe that’s ultimately more enjoyable for guys who have little chance of reaching the big leagues anyway, but especially with San Jose now being a Low-A team, it seems like a negative for the pitching staff, the Triple-A lineup, organizational depth as a whole, etc. that they often choose to just summon the closest geographic catching option.
How do you think the strategy will be different this incoming draft compared to previous ones? This is an especially important draft considering the failure of the 2019 draft was pretty massive. The miss on Bishop hurts more when a division rival picks their franchise cornerstone seven picks later in Carroll and the one other guy we thought about taking at 9 turns into a serviceable big leaguer in Stott. Add on top that the Dodgers cleared our draft with one pick by picking Busch at 28 who they turned into two more borderline top 100 prospects. I guess what I am saying is that a repeat of this draft would probably sink the future of the org, so what can Buster do to prevent that?
Post Devers trade (like it very much) and with Roupp approaching unfamiliar innings totals, JV at 40+, and the eternal vagaries of the baseball gods, who after Carson W gets call if parent club happens at some point to need - gulp- 2 starters?
Who is most worthy of a promotion right now and why is it most of the San Jose pitching staff? I believe you recently said Eugene has given up the most runs in the league, and it seems like San Jose has arms that can help. Now that they’ve clinched, do guys start moving up? Or would you bet most moves come post draft?
Jacob Bresnahan is on fire right now, but he’s 19. I’m expecting him and Gerelmi Maldonado to stay in SJ all year.
But Hunter Dryden, Niko Mazza, Greg Farone, Drake George, and Evan Gray are all making the 2024 draft look really good so far. Charlie McDaniel also looks good, and wasn’t even drafted. Gray is 24, the rest are 23. That’s old for that league innit? Do any of these arms truly excite you?
If you were Buster, would you have done the Devers trade? I know you were a big Harrison fan. I don't think you high on Tibbs. I don't recall your thoughts on Bello.
I've been trying to figure out the meaning of the hand gesture the players all seem to make when they get a base hit. The hand or hands raises and the two fingers up, twisting of the wrists? Me, I would do a double fist pump in the same situation
Matos is raking at AAA. Does it look like the typical quad-A player raking or do you see any changes that could restore our hope?
How does the org feel about Eldridge’s defensive progression at 1B? Does the Devers trade make revisiting RF a more realistic option?
With Fitzgerald apparently floundering, how realistic is it to think that Meckler can become a major-league-caliber second baseman soon enough to matter this year?
Similar question. I’m a Fitzgerald fan, but you need to get offense out of 2B. If we assume that Tyler takes a step back, what are the options, and what do you think of each? Is there a reasonable answer short of a trade?
A possible solution I would like to see the Giants look at is Diego Velasquez. Second Baseman in Richmond AA, the kid can hit in a pitcher's league, over .300 last year, .288 so far this year. The Giants could use someone who can hit and get on base.
(Posted this in a comment the other day, but here it is phrased as a question). It seems like Marco Luciano's minor-league career so is following the same arc as Heliot Ramos' — lots of national hype, a high ranking on the Baseball America 100 following by lots of dashed dreams — not to mention some brief, failed appearances with the major league club. The Ramos story has come with a happy ending (so far), but I'm curious what strengths/weaknesses you saw with Ramos in what seemed like an endless minor league career and how that compares Luciano. Obviously, I'm looking for silver linings since I'd hate to see Luci's power swing flourish for another club if we choose not to squeeze him onto the 40 man.
followed by....
I realize this is incredibly complicated in the domestic player limit era, but do you think there’s any way for the organization to improve its approach to managing catcher depth at the upper levels of the minors? As minimal as his prospect status may be, it feels like it’s not in the best interest of Drew Cavanaugh or the big league club that he’s caught so much in Triple-A this season, and I remember guys like Trevor Brown, Ben Turner, Fabian Peña, etc. being thrust into semi-long-term duty in Sacramento before they were ready as well, simply because they were at some point nearby in San Jose. Maybe that’s ultimately more enjoyable for guys who have little chance of reaching the big leagues anyway, but especially with San Jose now being a Low-A team, it seems like a negative for the pitching staff, the Triple-A lineup, organizational depth as a whole, etc. that they often choose to just summon the closest geographic catching option.
How many major league starts do we get out of Whisenhunt and/or Seymour before the trade deadline?
How do you think the strategy will be different this incoming draft compared to previous ones? This is an especially important draft considering the failure of the 2019 draft was pretty massive. The miss on Bishop hurts more when a division rival picks their franchise cornerstone seven picks later in Carroll and the one other guy we thought about taking at 9 turns into a serviceable big leaguer in Stott. Add on top that the Dodgers cleared our draft with one pick by picking Busch at 28 who they turned into two more borderline top 100 prospects. I guess what I am saying is that a repeat of this draft would probably sink the future of the org, so what can Buster do to prevent that?
Hi Roger
Post Devers trade (like it very much) and with Roupp approaching unfamiliar innings totals, JV at 40+, and the eternal vagaries of the baseball gods, who after Carson W gets call if parent club happens at some point to need - gulp- 2 starters?
Feel like the other 2 Carsons might get called up before W since they are already on the 40-man.
Who is most worthy of a promotion right now and why is it most of the San Jose pitching staff? I believe you recently said Eugene has given up the most runs in the league, and it seems like San Jose has arms that can help. Now that they’ve clinched, do guys start moving up? Or would you bet most moves come post draft?
Jacob Bresnahan is on fire right now, but he’s 19. I’m expecting him and Gerelmi Maldonado to stay in SJ all year.
But Hunter Dryden, Niko Mazza, Greg Farone, Drake George, and Evan Gray are all making the 2024 draft look really good so far. Charlie McDaniel also looks good, and wasn’t even drafted. Gray is 24, the rest are 23. That’s old for that league innit? Do any of these arms truly excite you?
Are you planning any draft-focused podcasts in the next few weeks?
I have a question ?
Maybe!
Definitely!
If you were Buster, would you have done the Devers trade? I know you were a big Harrison fan. I don't think you high on Tibbs. I don't recall your thoughts on Bello.