Photo Credit: Sacramento River Cats
Hours to wait….hm… waiting….waiting…..scrolling twitter…..hitting refresh….
I know one thing, we didn’t expect to tune into the game last night and see Kervin Castro on the cut list to make room for a catcher hitting .213 in Triple A! Admittedly, if you’ve been reading the daily posts, you’ve seen me suggest a few times that Castro’s position on the 40-man was starting to feel tenuous, and it was feeling more and more like he wouldn’t survive the winter. Still, this sure is painful to see. His command, which had always been a big part of his game, completely abandoned him, and the velo dropped to the point where he almost completely stopped throwing his fastball. It’s hard to avoid the thought that the Giants did the genial Castro no favors by adding him to the 40-man and skipping him over three levels of development. Still, pitchers are sadly mercurial creatures. So long, Kervin! I hope you find a new organization that takes good care of you and you rediscover the magic!
Ok, let’s look at some stats to kill the time between updates. It’s the weekly review of stats, leaders, and transactions to keep you busy until the deadline. What do you want the team to do? What do you want the vision of the future to be? What is this year doing to your lifespan? When will the Giants make you smile with joy again?
So many questions….
Sacramento River Cats: 42-57, 5th Place, 12.0 GB
-84 Run Differential
Rough year!
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
PCL LEADERS*
David Villar: HR (T-4th), OBP (3rd), SLG (1st), OPS (2nd), RBI (7th), BB (10th), BB% (3rd), ISO (1st), wRC+ (2nd), FB% (4th)
Bryce Johnson: SB (6th)
Ka’ai Tom: GB% (8th)
Heliot Ramos: GB% (T-4th)
Enmanuel De Jesus: FIP (9th), SO (8th), BB (8th), K% (6th), SwS% (6th)
Tristan Beck: FIP (5th), BB% (7th), SwS% (7th)
Sean Hjelle: BB% (9th), LD% (1st), GB% (1st)
Joey Marciano: Saves (T-5th)
*IP level set at 70 for this week for all full season affiliates.
TRANSACTIONS (not including recall/options to/from SF)*
LHP Ben Bowden assigned to Sacramento
LF Willie Calhoun placed on 7-day IL
C Cesar Gonzalez re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
INF Shane Matheny re-assigned from Richmond
RHP Luis Ortiz placed on paternity list
RHP Wei-Chieh Huang activated from 7-day IL
RHP Raynel Espinal traded to Cubs
C Ford Proctor acquired from Rays in return for RHP Jeremy Walker
RHP Kervin Castro designated for assignment
HONORS
RHP Tristan Beck and C Andrew Knapp named Pitcher and Player of the Week for the PCL. A clean sweep!
Richmond Flying Squirrels: 8-18, 6th Place, 10.0 GB
-37 Run Differential
Overall, the Squirrels are hanging onto .500, with a 48-47 overall record, but they have been outscored on the year, with a -21 run differential. That might point to how strong the team’s bullpen has been this year. As I noted in yesterday’s post, there are a lot of potential big leaguers down in the pen.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
EL LEADERS
Frankie Tostado: Avg (6th)
Shane Matheny: OBP (5th), BB% (4th)
Sean Roby: SLG (9th), HR (2nd), SO (4th), ISO (2nd), wRC+ (9th), FB% (8th)
Tyler Fitzgerald: HR (T-9th), SO (2nd), FB% (1st)
Diego Rincones: K% (1st)
Michael Gigliotti: OBP (10th), SB (6th), BB (T-8th), BB% (3rd)
Brandon Martorano: FB% (10th)
Brett Auerbach: SO (10th)
Jake Dahlberg: IP (10th), BB% (7th), FB% (8th)
Kai-Wei Teng: SO (5th), BB (1st), IP (4th), LD% (9th), GB% (3rd)
Matt Frisbee: IP (6th), LD% (4th), FB% (4th)
Chris Wright: Saves (T-10th)
Kyle Harrison is third in the minors in strikeouts (133) and first among pitchers with 50 IP in strikeout percentage (42.2%)
TRANSACTIONS
1b Frankie Tostado placed on 7-day IL
1b Logan Wyatt assigned to ACL Giants Orange
RHP Jorge Guzman re-assigned to Richmond
INF Shane Matheny re-assigned to Sacramento
INF Riley Mahan re-assigned from Eugene
RHP Blake Rivera placed on 7-day IL
Eugene Emeralds: 19-11, 1st Place (0.5 ahead),
+46 Run Differential
Overall, Eugene is now 21 games above .500 at 57-36 and they dominate the league leaderboards (as we’ll see in a moment).
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
NWL LEADERS
Casey Schmitt: Avg (7th), OBP (6th), SLG (4th), OPS (4th), HR (T-1st), Hits (5th), BB (8th), Runs (3rd), RBI (2nd), K% (10th), ISO (5th), wRC+ (5th), FB% (2nd)
Ghordy Santos: GB% (6th)
Carter Aldrete: Avg (3rd), OBP (4th), SLG (2nd), OPS (2nd) HR (T-4th), 2b (7th), Runs (5th), RBI (5th), BB% (9th), K% (8th), ISO (2nd), wRC+ (2nd), FB% (5th), SwS% (8th)
Hunter Bishop: HR (7th), SB (10th), SO (2nd), Runs (T-6th), ISO (7th), GB% (8th)
Luis Toribio: SLG (6th), OPS (9th), HR (T-1st), SO (8th), BB (4th), RBI (9th), BB% (3rd), ISO (3rd), wRC+ (9th), GB% (5th), FB% (7th)
Jairo Pomares: SO (3rd), FB% (3rd)
Luis Matos: K% (1st), FB% (1st)
Patrick Bailey: BB (10th)
Nick Avila: Saves (1st)
Nick Swiney: BB (6th)
TRANSACTIONS
INF Jimmy Glowenke activated from 7-day IL
RHP Ofelky Peralta re-assigned from San Jose
INF Damon Dues sent to ACL Giants Orange on rehab assignment
INF Riley Mahan re-assigned to Richmond
RHP Austin Reich retired
San Jose Giants: 16-14, 2nd Place (2.0 GB),
+20 Run Differential
The Giants have been one of the two or three best teams in the league all season — their 56-40 overall record is just one game back of Lake Elsinore for best overall — and yet they haven’t secured an entry to the post-season, and, as of this moment, aren’t in position to. Maybe Seattle trading one of Modesto’s best players to the Reds will help out!
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
CAL LEAGUE LEADERS
Vaun Brown: Avg (1st), OBP (3rd), SLG (1st), OPS (1st), HR (5th), 3b (T-6th), SB (T-9th), ISO (2nd), wRC+ (1st), LD% (1st)
Grant McCray: SLG (5th), OPS (9th), HR (4th), Hits (3rd), 3b (T-1st), SB (5th), SO (2nd), Runs (4th), ISO (4th)
Aeverson Arteaga: Hits (8th), 2b (T-2nd), SO (5th), LD% (6th), FB% (4th)
Yorlis Rodriguez: FB% (1st)
Victor Bericoto: GB% (10th)
Nick Sinacola: ERA (3rd), FIP (6th), SO (7th), K% (2nd), BB% (7th), K-BB% (3rd). Opp Avg (4th), WHIP (4th), BABIP (8th), LD% (10th), FB% (5th), SwS% (2nd)
Seth Lonsway: BB (9th)
Manuel Mercedes: BB (4th)
Tyler Myrick: Saves (T-5th)
Hunter Dula: Saves (T-5th)
Jose Cruz: Saves (T-10th)
I hate doing the pitching leaders because there’s never more than about a dozen qualified pitchers — even when I lower the limit (as I’ve done every week), the pool doesn’t raise much. Boo!
TRANSACTIONS
RHP Melvin Adon re-assigned to San Jose from ACL Giants Orange
RHP Ofelky Peralta re-assigned to Eugene
LHP Scott Alexander re-assigned to San Jose from ACL Giants Black
RHP Zack Littell sent to San Jose on rehab assignment
Arizona Complex League
Giants Black: 25-12, 1st Place (1.5 ahead) +70 Run Differential
Giants Orange: 10-28, 6th Place (15.5 GB), -53 Run Differential
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
ACL LEAGUE LEADERS
Anthony Rodriguez: SO (6th)
P.J. Hilson: SLG (4th), OPS (8th), HR (T-5th), 2b (3rd), 3b (T-2nd), Runs (1st), SB (T-5th), ISO (4th), wRC+ (8th), FB% (5th)
Elian Rayo: BB (T-2nd), SO (T-9th), BB% (7th)
Jean Peña: BB (T-2nd), BB% (6th)
Derwin Laya: GB% (2nd)
Tyler Forner: LD% (4th)
Diego Velasquez: K% (6th), BB/K (7th), GB% (9th), SwS% (3rd)
Kwan Adkins: FB% (10th)
Mikell Manzano: FIP (3rd), SO (1st), IP (4th), K% (2nd), K-BB% (2nd), SwS% (4th)
Roberto Monegro: FIP (4th), SO (8th), K% (5th), BB% (7th), K-BB% (3rd), LD% (8th), FB% (3rd), SwS% (1st)
Nomar Medina: ERA (2nd), FIP (2nd), IP (1st), SO (T-5th), K% (7th), BB% (5th), K-BB% (4th), WHIP (8th), SwS% (7th)
Freddery Paulino: IP (3rd), GB% (6th)
Miguel Mora: ERA (9th), FIP (5th), SO (4th), K% (3rd), K-BB% (7th), Opp Avg (7th), GB% (4th)
Willian Suarez: SO (T-5th)
Dominican Summer League
Giants Black, 15-28, 9th Place (12.0 GB), -72 Run Differential
Giants Orange, 17-24, 8th Place (9.0 GB), -25 Run Differential
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
DSL LEAGUE LEADERS
Estanlin Cassiani: Avg (4th), GB% (1st)
Juan Perez: GB% (10th)
Ricardo Estrada: IP (10th), FB% (9th)
Mauricio Estrella: IP (1st), BB% (T-10th), LD% (6th), FB% (8th)
Luis Bermudez: ERA (6th), Opp Avg (2nd), WHIP (1st), BABIP (2nd), LD% (4th), GB% (3rd)
Jorge Martinez: IP (4th), SO (5th), K% (6th), GB% (7th)
Ismael Mota: IP (T-6th), SO (6th), K% (7th)
Luis Yepez: Saves (T-10th)
Rookie League Games
ACL Giants Black lost @ ACL Angels, 4-3 (7 inn)
ACL Giants Orange lost to ACL D’backs Black, 6-5 (7 inn)
Couple of guys having some backward step years put Team Black on the board last night. Dilan Rosario doubled and came in to score on an Anthony Rodriguez single. Rosario had a strong start to the season in San Jose, posting an OBP over .400 in April. But that came with just a .229 batting average, and soon enough, he started backsliding. Though he kept up a strong walk rate, his 30% K rate, .216 average, and .278 SLG ultimately deposited him back in the ACL for his third season at the desert complex, and once back in the desert heat, things really started to disintegrate for him. He’s gone just 11 for 67 in the ACL with 33 strikeouts. What started with promise has turned into a really rough summer for Rosario, a member of the same high school draft class as Grant McCray.
Rodriguez started the season out in extended and was always headed for a repeat of rookie league. The switch hitting shortstop started out the campaign with a bang, with four home runs over his first 10 games. It’s been a tough slog from there, though. He’s hitting just .214/.297/.258 over his last 27 games with just two extra-base hits, and his strikeout rate has actually grown from last year, up to 36%. Rodriguez still gets enthusiastic reviews from scouts, however, who like his athleticism and build and look for him to improve at the plate as he gains more strength.
Diego Velasquez continued his recent surge with a perfect night at the plate, singling and walking twice. Velasquez is 12 for 27 over his last eight games with five walks against just four Ks. He’s reached base safely in seven of his past 10 trips to the plate, with one of the three outs being a Sac Fly. Pretty good!
Kwan Adkins hit his fifth home run of the season and 2021 11th round pick Dononvan McIntyre went deep for the second time for Team Orange. Gerelmi Maldonado started for Orange and struck out four in three innings, allowing two runs on a homer. Maldonado is probably the best young power arm at the complex. Ronnie Williams pitched the final three innings as he works his way back into shape for upper level work. He allowed two runs on five hits.
DSL Giants Orange beat DSL Giants Black, 3-2 (7 inn)
Estanlin Cassiani pushed his batting average back towards .400 with a two-hit day. He also scored twice, including coming in for the winning run on a fielding error by Black’s 1b Guillermo Williamson. Team Black has really had trouble generating offense lately. They’ve had just one hit in three of their past five games and two hits in one of the others. Jean Carlos Sio had Black’s lone hit of the game yesterday, a single with one out in the 6th inning. Sio has made a lot of contact so far this year. His 13% strikeout rate is almost on a dead heat with his 12% walk rate. Colombian infielder Jose Ramos hit a solo HR for Orange, his third of the year, which ties his total for the 2021 season.
Tonight’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento (Beck) vs. Tacoma (Sheffield), 6:35 pm, MiLBTV
Richmond (Dahlberg) @ New Hampshire (TBD), 4:05 pm, MiLBTV
Eugene (TBD) @ Spokane (Ethridge), 6:35 pm, No Video
San Jose (Lonsway) @ Fresno (Kafka), 6:50 pm, MiLBTV
ACL Giants Black (Medina) @ ACL D’backs Red (TBD), 6:00 pm, No Video
ACL Giants Orange (de la Cruz) vs. ACL Angels (TBD), 6:00 pm, No Video
DSL Giants Black (Bermudez) vs. DSL Nats (TBD), 8:00 am, No Video
DSL Giants Orange (Rojas) @ DSL Colorado (TBD), 8:00 am, No Video
“As the Giants awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, they found themselves transformed in their beds into a giant bug.” Sounds about right, actually.
Hope everyone gets their wishes at the trade deadline! See you all tomorrow for the debrief!
This week’s podcast is focused on the aftermath of the trade deadline, so it will be coming out on Thursday this week.
Any news on some of the injured, specifically Luciano and Bishop?