Week 21: The Penultimate Week!
Sounds impressive! Week 22 is the final regular season week for both A ball clubs, but we’ll have extended games for at least two more affiliates, and likely three. Still, we’re about as close to Final Grades as we’re gonna get. Six more games to change the numbers.
Let’s go around the farm and see what 2021 has looked like one week before it becomes the year that was for half of these guys…
Sacramento River Cats: 58-71, 5th Place, 14.0 GB
-76 Run Differential
Guys playing for call ups through the long month of September. Perhaps I should have shown you this roster in all its 90 player glory, but I thought (as I’ve thought all year) I’d do you the small mercy of removing the many, many players who have taken part in Sacramento’s season who are no longer with the organization (33 and counting!)
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
PCL LEADERS*
David Villar: OBP (2nd), SLG (1st), OPS (1st), HR (T-3rd), RBI (T-3rd), BB% (4th), FB% (3rd), ISO (1st), wRC+ (1st)
Isan Diaz: HR (6th)
Bryce Johnson: SB (T-6th)
Austin Dean: 3b (T-7th), FB% (9th)
Jason Krizan: 2b (T-4th)
Heliot Ramos: GB% (7th)
Jason Vosler: FB% (4th)
Enmanuel De Jesus: K% (8th), SwS% (9th)
Tristan Beck: FIP (4th), BB% (9th), SwS% (8th)
Sean Hjelle: GS (5th), LD% (1st), GB% (1st)
Joey Marciano: Saves (9th)
Shelby Miller: Saves (8th)
*IP level set at 70 IP for this week for all full season affiliates.
It can’t be overstated just how good Villar’s season has been. It’s not just “tearing it up,” or “really hot.” He was the best hitter in the PCL this season — an honorific that normally goes to someone playing their home games in Albuquerque or El Paso or Reno. First in slugging and second in OBP is a heck of a combo shot.
TRANSACTIONS (not including recall/options to/from SF)
RHP Ken Giles released
LHP Daniel Tillo rehab transferred to Richmond
LHP Aaron Fletcher activated
Selected contract of C Andrew Knapp
C Patrick Mazeika activated and assigned to Sacramento
OF Lewis Brinson acquired for cash from Houston
LHP Andrew Vasquez sent outright to Sacramento
LHP Jonathan Bermudez sent outright to Sacramento
3b Jose Rojas claimed on waivers and assigned to Sacramento
Richmond Flying Squirrels: 59-66, 5th Place, 15.5 GB (Full)
-18 Run Differential
A lot of this team took part in last year’s Championship Series in Eugene, so maybe they can rouse themselves to a post-season run, but it’s somewhat amazing that the team that has clinched a losing record for the season, with an underwater run differential for the year, is headed to the post-season in a couple of weeks.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
EL LEADERS
Sean Roby: HR (T-3rd), SLG (8th), SO (8th), ISO (3rd) FB% (9th)
Tyler Fitzgerald: HR (10th), PA (9th), Runs (6th), SO (2nd), FB% (2nd)
Michael Gigliotti: SB (T-7th)
Brett Auerbach: SO (T-10th)
Shane Matheny: BB (T-9th)
Jake Dahlberg: GS (T-10th)
Kai-Wei Teng: SO (1st), BB (1st), GS (1st), IP (3rd)
Matt Frisbee: SO (7th), GS (T-3rd), IP (2nd), LD% (8th), FB% (8th)
Kyle Harrison: ERA (8th), SO (9th), K% (1st), K-BB% (3rd), Opp Avg (5th), SwS% (8th)
Kyle Harrison is second overall in the minor leagues in strikeouts (173) and has the highest K% of any pitcher with >60 IP (39.9%).
Landen Roupp is second in minor league baseball in K-BB% (29.6%) for pitchers with more than 70 IP. Harrison is 4th.
Vaun Brown has the highest batting average (.346) of all qualified hitters in full season ball.
TRANSACTIONS:
RHP Evan Gates re-assigned from Eugene
LHP Daniel Tillo rehab transferred from Eugene
OF Franklin Labour released
RHP Melvin Adon placed on 7-day IL
OF Vaun Brown placed on 7-day IL
Eugene Emeralds: 76-47, 1st Place, 10.0 Games Ahead (Full)
+153 Run Differential
The Emeralds have a strong chance of finishing the season against the same team they’ll meet in the championship series, and unfortunately, it’s a team that costs them some of their starting OF when on the road: the Vancouver Canadiens. Vancouver holds a 4.5 game lead in the wild card race over Spokane going into the final week of play.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
NWL LEADERS
Casey Schmitt: Avg (6th), OBP (5th), SLG (3rd), OPS (2nd), HR (T-3rd), Runs (T-6th), RBI (T-5th), BB% (9th), K% (7th), BB/K (5th), ISO (4th), FB% (3rd), wRC+ (2nd)
Carter Aldrete: HR (T-6th)
Hunter Bishop: ISO (9th), GB% (5th)
Luis Toribio: SLG (9th), HR (2nd), RBI (T-9th), BB (T-6th), SO (2nd), BB% (6th), ISO (3rd), FB% (6th)
Jairo Pomares: SLG (8th), OPS (8th), HR (T-8th), 2b (T-7th), RBI (T-5th), SO (7th), ISO (8th), FB% (5th), wRC+ (9th)
Andy Thomas: OBP (1st), OPS (7th), BB (3rd), BB% (1st), BB/K (1st), wRC+ (6th), SwS% (1st)
Luis Matos: K% (1st), BB/K (10th), FB% (1st)
Patrick Bailey: BB (T-6th)
Nick Swiney: ERA (T-6th), FIP (5th), GS (9th), IP (10th), SO (9th), BB (6th), K% (5th), K-BB% (10th), Opp Avg (2nd), WHIP (T-5th), BABIP (4th), LD% (1st), FB% (1st), SwS% (2nd)
Jake Wong: FIP (7th), IP (8th), SO (T-7th), BB (7th), K% (9th), LD% (3rd), GB% (3rd)
Mason Black: ERA (9th), K% (4th), BB% (7th), K-BB% (4th), LD% (2nd), GB% (9th), FB% (9th), SwS% (3rd)
Nick Avila: Saves (1st)
Juan Sanchez: Saves (T-6th)
TRANSACTIONS
INF Hayden Cantrelle re-assigned from San Jose
RHP Evan Gates re-assigned to Richmond
RHP Hunter Dula re-assigned from San Jose
RHP Trevor McDonald re-assigned from San Jose
HONORS
RHP Mason Black was named NWL Pitcher of the Week following his Saturday night start in which he allowed just one hit and no runs over 5.0 IP while striking out nine.
San Jose Giants: 72-54, 2nd Place (7.0 GB)
+127 Run Differential
The magic number for putting the Giants into the playoffs is 1 — one Fresno victory or one loss for Modesto sends them into the Cal League post-season in a rematch appearance against the Fresno team that they beat for the Low A West championship last season.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
CAL LEAGUE LEADERS
Vaun Brown: HR (T-10th)
Grant McCray: Avg (10th), SLG (2nd), OPS (3rd), PA (4th), Hits (4th), 3b (2nd), HR (3rd), Runs (2nd), RBI (10th), SO (4th), SB (5th), LD% (7th), ISO (1st), wRC+ (6th)
Aeverson Arteaga: PA (1st), Hits (2nd), 2b (1st), Runs (8th), RBI (5th), SO (3rd), LD% (8th), FB% (4th)
Yorlis Rodriguez: Hits (10th), HR (T-8th), K% (9th), FB% (2nd)
Hayden Cantrelle: 3b (T-7th)
Garrett Frechette: GB% (9th)
Victor Bericoto: SwS% (6th)
Nick Sinacola: ERA (8th), IP (7th), SO (6th), K-BB% (10th), FB% (5th), SwS% (4th)
Eric Silva: GS (2nd), K% (7th), FB% (7th)
Trevor McDonald: ERA (1st), FIP (4th), K% (9th), Opp Avg (4th), WHIP (T-5th), GB% (5th), SwS% (6th)
Seth Lonsway: ERA (6th), BB (T-8th), SO (5th), K% (4th), K-BB% (9th), Opp Avg (3rd), LD% (6th), GB% (1st)
Matt Mikulski: K-BB% (8th), FB% (8th)
Manuel Mercedes: BB (3rd), Opp Avg (6th), BABIP (2nd), LD% (5th), GB% (2nd)
Hunter Dula: Saves (T-4th)
Jose Cruz: Saves (T-9th)
TRANSACTIONS
RHP Hunter Dula re-assigned to Eugene
RHP Trevor McDonald re-assigned to Eugene
RHP William Kempner re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
LHP John William Bertrand re-assigned from ACL Giants Black, then placed on IL
OF Wade Meckler re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
INF Hayden Cantrelle re-assigned to Eugene
LHP Carson Whisenhunt re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
OF P.J. Hilson re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
C Zach Morgan re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
INF Diego Velasquez re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
1b Logan Wyatt re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
LHP Matt Mikulski placed on 7-day IL
RHP Eric Silva placed on 7-day IL
RHP Spencer Miles re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
RHP Hayden Birdsong re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
RHP Liam Simon re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
That’s quite a roster turnover! Basically, the 2022 draft class is going to make a run for Cal League Championship. Or, looked at differently, the ACL Giants Black are looking for another title to grab!
HONORS
RHP Willian Suarez was named Cal League Pitcher of the Week after striking out 16 batters over three scoreless appearances in relief (6.0 IP). Suarez was a guy who really popped for me back in March, when I noted he was bringing some of the best velo in spring camp. Quite a rise for Willian!
Today’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento (TBD) vs. Las Vegas (Wiles), 6:35 pm, MiLBTV
Richmond (Winn) @ Bowie (TBD), 3:35 pm, MiLBTV
Eugene (TBD) @ Vancouver (Mendoza), 7:05 pm, MiLBTV
San Jose (TBD) vs. Fresno (TBD), 6:30 pm, MiLBTV
Wie-Chieh Huang is the scheduled starter for Sacramento, but in light of his Facebook announcement that he’s starting a game for the Giants in Dodger Stadium, I suspect he won’t answer the bell. Richmond faces a big test in Bowie. For everybody else, this week is all about setting up the playoff rotations.
We’re less than a week away from post-season action, which means the minor lines will be getting skinnier and skinnier the next couple of weeks. Don’t worry, I have lots planned for the off-season posts, and we’ll start rolling those out as soon as the playoffs are over.
So now’s a great time to become a There R Giants subscriber!
Apologies if this has been explained elsewhere but why do the Emeralds lose players when traveling to Vancouver? Is it that the international prospects do not posses the necessary work visas to enter Canada as minor leaguers?