A little late this week, but I’m sure you’ll fill the ol’ mailbag up in time!There R Giants is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
These mailbags have been outstanding lately. Thanks for doing them, Roger.
You’re starting to get me excited about the oft-injured pitchers who are back in action. It’s tricky to gauge what to make of Will Bednar, Spencer Miles and Liam Simon because of their very limited pro track record. Would you provide a breakdown of what you see in them? Given health going forward, how do they stack up against the Giants’ arms that we’ve seen so much more of?
The stolen base issues at the Major League level are well-documented, but wondering if you can shed any light on why the Giants seem so hesitant to develop base-stealers at the Minor League level. From the outside, they seem to be actively moving *against* stealing bases: Quinn McDaniel came out of the gates swiping bags this year, and after a month quit almost cold turkey, while Grant McCray has attempted 9 stolen bases in 57 games, a year after attempting 62 in 127 games (I know his lowered OBP is a part of that, but that only explains so much!).
Furthermore, it really feels like a waste to have not tried (or at least it appears that way from the outside) to turn Wade Meckler and Heliot Ramos into threats on the basepaths. MLB is full of players slower than those two who are regularly swiping bags! Hell, in 2022-23, Tyler Fitzgerald attempted just 56 stolen bases in 246 Minor League games. Why?!!!?!?!
It feels like there has to be a development explanation beyond "they don't value this thing that every smart, modern organization really values." Wondering if you have any clue what that explanation is.
Planning a trip to spring training next year with my dad. We haven’t gone since I was about 10 (so…decades). Do you have any suggestions? Best way to enjoy the games, places to stay or eat, other activities in the area, etc. Figured your answers might be of interest to other readers. Thanks for considering!
Hi Roger, your discussion with Eli Walsh (the part about Luciano) spurred this question: of the top prospects in the system who are 22 or younger, if they are in the upcoming draft (somehow converting their pro stats/profiles into a rough college equivalent), where do you think they would go?
As I watch teams run wild against the Giants, while the Giants remain as if in anchored mud when on the bases, I have a simple question:
Does this organization place any value on speed? Put another way, Grant McRay stole 52 bases last year. Which I found rather exciting. He has stolen nine so far this year. Which I find rather perplexing.
Can you help me understand how the minor league player rating system works? For example, Joe Whitman has been given the following ratings: Fastball, 55; Slider, 60; Changeup, 50; Control, 50. But his overall rating is 45. Why is it so low?
Hi Roger. Just read a post proposing a trade with White Sox for Robert & Flexen, with the Giants sending 4 top 20 prospects in Luciano, Wisenhunt, Seymour & Meckler. Do you think the Giants would entertain giving up such a haul?
It was disappointing to see Reggie Crawford hit the IL after a strong beginning in Sacramento. Setting that aside, I’m intrigued by how the Giants might gradually try to turn him into a starter. Assuming Crawford debuts as a reliever limited to an inning or so — hopefully this season! — could you sketch out how that build up might work in the coming years? Also, Fangraphs put a timeframe on that transition in their Giants prospects rankings 2 months ago: “Crawford’s 40-man platform year is 2025, so realistically the Giants have through 2026 or so to build his innings count and help him polish his repertoire and command enough to start.” Do you agree?
A really basic question and my apologies if you have already written about this, but can you list who you think are the top 5 prospects who will be contributing at the major league level this season and next? Don’t count Ramos, Wisely and Harrison. But instead who else should we as fans be focusing on as contributors to the Giants (hopeful) success going forward.
I can’t speak for all fans, but I need to know who to root for and why we should be hopeful about the future. Churn and burn, platoon or one year and a player option contract FAs deals aren’t doing it for me. Who can be our guys?
Does it seem like Esmerlin Vinicio is putting it together in Low-A? I saw he got a start and threw five shutout innings. Any idea if he’s grown some man strength and added some ticks to his fastball to make it more playable?
I'm pretty sure you've discussed earlier seeing some data that suggested that Giants minor leaguers were being pretty passive on fastballs, while performing fairly well against sliders. Having watched some major league games recently, it seems like even major league Giants are not getting around on fastballs (lots of fouls off to the right side). Why do you think the Giants have this as an organizational philosophy (if indeed you think they do)? Do you have anecdotal evidence of any Giants prospects who are sort of bucking the trend on swinging at or performing well against fastballs?
These mailbags have been outstanding lately. Thanks for doing them, Roger.
You’re starting to get me excited about the oft-injured pitchers who are back in action. It’s tricky to gauge what to make of Will Bednar, Spencer Miles and Liam Simon because of their very limited pro track record. Would you provide a breakdown of what you see in them? Given health going forward, how do they stack up against the Giants’ arms that we’ve seen so much more of?
The stolen base issues at the Major League level are well-documented, but wondering if you can shed any light on why the Giants seem so hesitant to develop base-stealers at the Minor League level. From the outside, they seem to be actively moving *against* stealing bases: Quinn McDaniel came out of the gates swiping bags this year, and after a month quit almost cold turkey, while Grant McCray has attempted 9 stolen bases in 57 games, a year after attempting 62 in 127 games (I know his lowered OBP is a part of that, but that only explains so much!).
Furthermore, it really feels like a waste to have not tried (or at least it appears that way from the outside) to turn Wade Meckler and Heliot Ramos into threats on the basepaths. MLB is full of players slower than those two who are regularly swiping bags! Hell, in 2022-23, Tyler Fitzgerald attempted just 56 stolen bases in 246 Minor League games. Why?!!!?!?!
It feels like there has to be a development explanation beyond "they don't value this thing that every smart, modern organization really values." Wondering if you have any clue what that explanation is.
Jeez,
I guess I should read before I post. My question almost exactly. Thanks Brady.
Planning a trip to spring training next year with my dad. We haven’t gone since I was about 10 (so…decades). Do you have any suggestions? Best way to enjoy the games, places to stay or eat, other activities in the area, etc. Figured your answers might be of interest to other readers. Thanks for considering!
Hi Roger, your discussion with Eli Walsh (the part about Luciano) spurred this question: of the top prospects in the system who are 22 or younger, if they are in the upcoming draft (somehow converting their pro stats/profiles into a rough college equivalent), where do you think they would go?
I know it’s way to early to tell, but how would you grade the most recent draft class so far?
As I watch teams run wild against the Giants, while the Giants remain as if in anchored mud when on the bases, I have a simple question:
Does this organization place any value on speed? Put another way, Grant McRay stole 52 bases last year. Which I found rather exciting. He has stolen nine so far this year. Which I find rather perplexing.
So, what gives.
Can you help me understand how the minor league player rating system works? For example, Joe Whitman has been given the following ratings: Fastball, 55; Slider, 60; Changeup, 50; Control, 50. But his overall rating is 45. Why is it so low?
Hi Roger. Just read a post proposing a trade with White Sox for Robert & Flexen, with the Giants sending 4 top 20 prospects in Luciano, Wisenhunt, Seymour & Meckler. Do you think the Giants would entertain giving up such a haul?
It was disappointing to see Reggie Crawford hit the IL after a strong beginning in Sacramento. Setting that aside, I’m intrigued by how the Giants might gradually try to turn him into a starter. Assuming Crawford debuts as a reliever limited to an inning or so — hopefully this season! — could you sketch out how that build up might work in the coming years? Also, Fangraphs put a timeframe on that transition in their Giants prospects rankings 2 months ago: “Crawford’s 40-man platform year is 2025, so realistically the Giants have through 2026 or so to build his innings count and help him polish his repertoire and command enough to start.” Do you agree?
A really basic question and my apologies if you have already written about this, but can you list who you think are the top 5 prospects who will be contributing at the major league level this season and next? Don’t count Ramos, Wisely and Harrison. But instead who else should we as fans be focusing on as contributors to the Giants (hopeful) success going forward.
I can’t speak for all fans, but I need to know who to root for and why we should be hopeful about the future. Churn and burn, platoon or one year and a player option contract FAs deals aren’t doing it for me. Who can be our guys?
What's the latest word on Landen Roupp?? I know he is playing in ACL.
Does it seem like Esmerlin Vinicio is putting it together in Low-A? I saw he got a start and threw five shutout innings. Any idea if he’s grown some man strength and added some ticks to his fastball to make it more playable?
I'm pretty sure you've discussed earlier seeing some data that suggested that Giants minor leaguers were being pretty passive on fastballs, while performing fairly well against sliders. Having watched some major league games recently, it seems like even major league Giants are not getting around on fastballs (lots of fouls off to the right side). Why do you think the Giants have this as an organizational philosophy (if indeed you think they do)? Do you have anecdotal evidence of any Giants prospects who are sort of bucking the trend on swinging at or performing well against fastballs?