Dan from NM
Feb 12, 2008 May 31, 2012 20 2777
Dan grew up a military brat. Actually, his dad was in the Air Force, but "military brat" sounds tougher than "A ir Force brat." He now lives in Albuquerque, N.M., with his beautiful wife, their 15-year-old son and two cats. He covers City Hall for a daily newspaper and has never won a drinking contest. He is 35.
website: Albuquerque City Hall Blog
email:
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San Francisco Giants
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Giants Sign Colombian OF
ESPN reports that the Giants have signed Leonardo Fuentes, an outfielder from Colombia. The bonus is $280,000.
It's great news, as far as I'm concerned. The Yankees were after him as well, I think, and Edgar Renteria made a telephone call on the Giants' behalf.
Manny Ramirez to ABQ
Dear McCoven,
I come to you humbly because my reputation is on the line. Manny Ramirez is in Albuquerque this week to prepare for his return to the Dodgers.
My friends, aware of my Giants' fandom, are dragging me to the game on Wednesday, with hopes that I'll develop some witty anti-Manny heckles. Any suggestions?
Thanks much,
Dan from NM
Member, Southwest Chapter, McCovey Chronicles
Hector Sanchez Among Top DSL Prospects
Baseball America writes up the Top 19 prospects in the Dominican Summer League. It's subscriber-only content, but BA says Sanchez had "superlative" performance, a "feel for hitting and for the strike zone" and rough defense behind the plate.
Sanchez is a switch-hitter who played catcher and first base last year with a .348/.458/.502 line. He walked more than he struck out. He's 19 this season.
Sabean said he expects to solve third base internally, with Pablo Sandoval getting the bulk of time despite his inexperience at the position.
Four Giants on AZL Top 20 List
by Dan from NM on Sep 15, 2008 12:58 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
Four Giants made the top 20 prospect list for the Arizona League. Baseball America has a nice write up here.
No. 4 Ehire Adrianza, SS
No. 9 Jose Casilla, RHP
No. 17 Kyle Nicholson, RHP
No. 20 Wendell Fairley, OF
Buster Posey gets mentioned in the intro as the best prospect in the league, but he didn't play enough to make the list.
It's nice to see some recognition for Adrianza, a teenage shortstop. He gets praised for his defense, and he may just be able to hit a bit, too. I think Baggs was talking him up, too, particularly as a possibility for a promotion to Augusta, but he got hurt.
All in all, not a bad haul for rookie leaguers.
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Schulman: Posey deal not done
by Dan from NM on Aug 15, 2008 1:31 AM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
Henry Schulman says the Giants are denying they have a deal done with Buster Posey or that they're talking about $7.5 million. A Pittsburgh newspaper is also reporting that baseball officials deny all aspects of the Posey deal outlined in the Mercury News.
To further confuse matters, Baseball Prospectus says the Giants and Posey are just dotting the i's and such, and the Giants' Web site says team officials are talking privately like he's signed.
What to make of it all? I don't know. I think it's pretty unlikely that the Giants would bring him in for a physical if the deal wasn't close, as they did last week. And I don't think Baggs would report on it if he had any doubts.
I'm a worrier by nature. I think he'll sign, but I'm not certain.
If this goes down to the deadline, it's going to seriously interfere with all the drinking I have planned.
TV Station: Gillaspie Signs
by Dan from NM on Aug 4, 2008 4:50 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
A television station out of Kansas is reporting that Conor Gillaspie signed with the Giants and is on his way to Arizona. Supposedly, he's going to get slot for the No. 37 pick, which is surprising to me 'cause I thought he'd get more.
Also, Andy Baggarly recently reported that the Giants are in the "finishing" stages of negotiations with the top four picks.
I suspect Gillaspie's deal will be a 2009 contract and that he won't play in games this year.
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Giants call up Burriss, cut Davis
by Dan from NM on Apr 19, 2008 5:26 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
Wow. I'm surprised, but the Associated Press reports that the Giants are calling up Manny Burriss and cutting Rajai Davis.
They must have a ton of faith in Burriss. He hasn't really done much above Augusta, and he's already in the bigs. On the one hand, I'm pleased they like what they see in the guy, but on the other, I'm skeptical that he's ready. I wonder whether he'll steal some time from Bocock.
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Milb.tv and the Little Giants
by Dan from NM on Apr 13, 2008 1:07 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
I caught a few innings of Augusta here. The Minor League Baseball site is now offering video of minor-league games, which I hadn't noticed before. I was able to watch parts of two games for free. (I'm pretty sure you have to buy a $30 subscription eventually.)
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Top Dominican Rejects Giants' Offer
by Dan from NM on Feb 8, 2008 11:31 PM EST
on McCovey Chronicles
I often daydream about the Giants plowing an obscene amount of money into amateur talent. Say $10 million for draft bonuses and $5 million for international players. You could build a farm system pretty quickly for the price of one year of Rowand or Zito.
The Giants aren't going to win anything in the bigs this year, and their minor-league system is in the bottom third, according to Baseball America. My one hope for the off-season: bringing in high-ceiling talent at any level.
The Giants have been unable to trade for Edwin Encarnacion or Andy LaRoche or Lastings Milledge or any of the advanced players I dreamed of.
I've slowly turned my eyes to the international market. The Giants' most promising prospect from Latin America, Angel Joseph, was unable to sign because of a paperwork problem.
Now this make my heart go pitter-patter: Baseball American reports that Edward Salcedo, the top Dominican prospect available, has rejected the Giants' offer of $2.5 million. I hope negotiations aren't over.
Salcedo is a right-handed-hitting shortstop with first-round tools. He's represented by Boras. It's hard to know whether he'd be worth the money, but, damn, if any team needs to take risks and spend money on youngsters, it's our Giants.
Cleveland is supposedly in the lead for Salcedo, but I'm hoping the Giants push for the kid. Also, I've had four beers and my judgment is bad. Links:
http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=123749
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=743
http://mvn.com/mlb-indians/2008/02/06/the-myth-of-edward-salcedo/
Matt Cain and other pitching notes
by Dan from NM on Jan 1, 2008 3:33 PM EST
on McCovey Chronicles
My sister sent me a text message about midnight announcing that 2008 would be "great." In the spirit of optimism, I present some cheery pitching-leader notes from the The Bill James Handbook 2008:
10th in ERA, Cain, 3.65
Seventh in Opponent BA, Cain, .235
Fourth in Pitches Per Start, Cain, 104.7
Seventh in Pitchers Per Start, Zito, 102.8
Sixth in Quality Starts, Cain, 22
Sixth in Opponent SLG, Cain, .366
Sixth in Opponent OPS, .678
Eighth in HR per Nine IP, Cain, 0.63
10th in Holds-Adjusted Save %, Hennessey, 86.5
Third in Relief Opponent BA vs LHB, Sanchez, .160
Fifth in Relief Opponent BA vs RHB, Wilson, .145
Second in Fastest Average Fastball, Cain, 93.2
Second in Total Pitches 95+, Lincecum, 647
Ninth in Highest % Curveballs, Zito, 18.3
Sixth in Opponent OPS vs. Changeups, Zito, .636
Fifth in Hits Per 9 IP, Cain, 7.79
Matt Cain Motion Analysis
by Dan from NM on Mar 5, 2007 12:14 PM EST
on McCovey Chronicles
Manny Acta the Stathead?
by Dan from NM on Oct 18, 2006 9:18 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
Baseball Prospectus had an interesting interview with Manny Acta awhile back. I really like the guy and think he'd be a great addition as manager.
Angel Villalona in a Giants uniform
by Dan from NM on Sep 26, 2006 2:10 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
Villalona is in Arizona for instructional league, and the Chronicle has a fairly lengthy article and pictures here.
Payroll Analysis
by Dan from NM on Aug 14, 2006 5:54 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
The Giants' 25-man payroll this year is around $90 million, according to El Lefty Malo. Here's a look at next year's payroll, with sources below:
Lefty -- http://tinyurl.com/k8je6
Contract Info -- http://tinyurl.com/eq9xw
Draftee Team, NWL
by Dan from NM on Jun 11, 2006 11:25 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
To take my mind off the recent losses to the Pirates, I tried to construct a short-season team of recent draftees for the NWL. Feel free to add in some of last year's AZL-squad players if you want. Here goes:
Minors Opening Day and Rosters
by Dan from NM on Apr 6, 2006 8:26 PM EDT
on McCovey Chronicles
Rosters can be found at
Fresno
http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=259
Connecticut
http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=514
San Jose
http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=476
Augusta
http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=478
Farm Update
by Dan from NM on Mar 18, 2006 1:42 PM EST
on McCovey Chronicles
Milb.com posted an interview with Jack Hiatt, Giants farm director.
Eyre to the Cubs
by Dan from NM on Nov 17, 2005 9:06 PM EST
on McCovey Chronicles
Does this mean the Giants automatically get supplemental-first and second-round draft picks, or is there a technical way that Sabean can forfeit the picks?
Anyway, I wish Eye luck. It's probably best that the Giants spend their money in other areas.
Colletti Leaves
by Dan from NM on Nov 15, 2005 8:57 PM EST
on McCovey Chronicles
It looks like Ned Colletti is going to the Dodgers.
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