SB Nation User Blog: foothillsfan

Jenkins recap on wild card race

foothillsfan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:44:09 -0000

Mainly he points out weaknesses in all the other teams. If you are an optimist, reading it could make you giddy

Sports journalism sure has changed. 2 players psych issues are highlighted, that's even before you get to Milton Bradley, and some pitcher shoving some fan.

Injuries abound for other wild card pretenders--I hadn't realized Carlos Beltran, Aramis Ramirez, Edison Volquez are all down. And major slumps on all the teams. Suddenly a team that fields non-stars like we do could be the new Rockies.

Minor leagues need promotions

foothillsfan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:31:46 -0000

Weather is heating up, and even in the Eastern League, folks are hitting at normal levels. Good time for this system to advance its good hitters. If they flop–can always demote again and try next year.

At the same time, you got to prune eventually. Who to release at the minor league level (yes, Aurilia is another question)?

At Fresno–Timpner’s 659 OPS is near the bottom of the league for starting players. It’s his 3rd year at this level, and there has never been power, just some line drives, no base stealing, decent defense. I can’t see a future. Horwitz is already "on reserve" and hasn’t played since May 29, could be let go or traded too. I love the Hebrew Hammer, but he’s OPSing 784 in the PCL, which is barely above average there.

Meanwhile Eddy Martinez-Estevez has led Conn. in hitting most of the year until Pill’s recent surge, and if we are paying Eddy a minor league salary, why not advance him and see what he does in the PCL? And Neal is dominating the Cal League, OPS is 1008.

So for outfield–Fresno should have Bowker and EME starting with Copeland, Velez, and Borchard in the mix and Dhing. Conn. would get Neal, Felmy, and McBryde starting, backed up by Mooney and my man Antoan R., both getting their last look. Roger Kliesh doesn’t get promoted yet–he’s recently 6 for 41.

San Jose will still be OK with Graham, Kliesh, plus Darren Ford and Jordan, they could also bring up Mazzola or Woodbury from Augusta.

Infield and Posey promotions are less clear--but I won't complain if Buster rejoins MadBum and Tim A in Conn.

Minor League Recap for June 1

foothillsfan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:26:56 -0000

Steve and Baroness, life is dull without you and the minor leagues

Fresno comes from behind at Colo Springs to win 8-6 with Wald, pinch hitting, and Frandsen getting the key hits. Got runs in 5th thru 8th.

Copeland HR, 2B, 4H

Frandsen 2H, 2RBI

Velez H, BB

Holm 2H

Bowker 2H, RBI

Ray pitches 2 innings, just 1 BB, Hinshaw goes 1 with 1H, 1BB, 1K

Velez plays some second and CF, Ciriaco is brought up for infield depth. 6 outfielders seems too many.

Conn. loses 2-1 second day in a row, trying too hard to play like the big club. Alderson goes 8, maybe a career high, giving up a HR in the 7th and also cheap run aided by a Brad Boyer throwing error. 6H, 0 BB, 3K.

Boyer 3H, 1 R, average has soared to 270 after horrific start, batting third.

Pill 2 doubles (18 for the year) and the RBI

They bat McBryde 8th, pretty low for a prospect. He, Crawford, EME and Felmy all hitless against New Britain’s Matthew Fox, Julio Lugo, and Anthony Slama, terrible name for a pitcher.

San Jose hosts arch rival Stockton Ports and gets battered 16-7. Odle, Whitaker, Quirarte, Mixon and Lively all bad, giving up 24 hits. Whitaker has had 7 excellent outings, 3 bad ones this year.

Posey throws out both stealers who try, Klieshnik an outfield assist, Villalona and Bocock make errors, Angel’s on a throw.

The hitters make a push to come back–

Villalona a 3-run bomb and another H and RBI, hitting 313

Posey a H and RBI, then walked twice

Klieshnik a H, BB, RBI, hitting 3211

Bocock a 2B and RBI

Lormand Dhs, gets a triple and single

Ziegler is backing up first base, Graham has dropped to appropriate level and Ks twice. Noonan’s average down to 242 8/41 with 7Ks last 10 games, still terrible vs lefties.

And those Greenjackets are shut out with 4 hits by Tom Glavine and James Hoover, neither of which sucks. Oseguera in 7 innings gives up 5 hits, 2BB, 7K, 3 runs.

merkin begins season while others breathe down neck

foothillsfan — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:21:58 -0000

merkin begins season while others breathe down neck

for the record, I don't depend on Fox News, it just showed up on my googlenews.

OT: North beach eats and strolls, need ideas

foothillsfan — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:24:10 -0000

Sunday I am going with 3 folks to The City...for ballet, near Civic Center, not for baseball.

I have not been around North Beach for years, and we will need a walking break both before and after the show. And eating too.

Any suggestions for a fairly fast meal around 1130 or 12? Or dinner around 5 or 6?

One of the friends is Italian ancestry but never visited North beach. Authentic food would be fun. Chinatown would be a possibility, or someplace else close in.

I figure we will pay for parking all day, then take Muni or a cab or something out to Civic Center. We're coming from Sacramento area, could drive over either bridge, or even take the tube from Berkeley. thanks, mccovers

Fresno Grizzlies at Reno Aces

foothillsfan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:38:41 -0000

Reno Aces are new AAA team in Reno--Dback affiliate, new stadium too. Their opening day is April 17.

Fresno plays there Friday May 8 6pm, May 9 and 10 1 pm, and Monday the 11th, 6 pm. Will Jose Guzman hit a memorable dinger? Will players lose their shirts gambling? Will prospecthound be on hand to show youngsters the seamy side of Reno?

Fresno closes out both teams' regular season September 4 thru 7.

I like the Rivercats' stadium, but Reno, especially for a day game, sounds fun.

emergency catchers, a modest proposal

foothillsfan — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:10:10 -0000

Holm rarely got used as a pinch hitter last season because Bochy wanted him available in case of injury to Benjie, or pinch running for Benjie. Having Sandoval around, usually playing first base opened things up a little. Then, 2 yrs ago IT happened and Pedro Feliz caught an inning or 2, competently. Images like this apparently upset Bochy and most other managers.

The proposal--guys who are future utility players like Matt Downs and Ryan Rohlinger should start practicing catching now, and keep it up all season. A half hour 2 or 3 times a week might be enough. They are athletes, they can catch the ball. They need to get used to wearing all that gear. Velez, Frandsen, Scheierholz and othes could add years to their careers if they were a credible third catcher.

Meanwhile management floats the idea of carrying 12 pitchers and no backup catcher besides Sandoval. Sounds smart to me since Holm plays so rarely.

http://www.ketaketa.com/index.asp?id=19 it's about sports and war and has great middle eastern...

foothillsfan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:51:15 -0000

http://www.ketaketa.com/index.asp?id=19
it's about sports and war and has great middle eastern music, what is not to like?

9 third basemen on the field

foothillsfan — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:39:35 -0000

At one point we thought there was no third baseman. Now, we could field a whole lineup card with guys in camp now: Sandoval catches.

On the infield, left to right--aurilia, Frandsen, Gillaspie (talk from scouts is, he should try second), McClain (was a 3B when he joined G's in 2007, played there lots last year)

Outfield--Guzman, Velez, Rohlinger (learning to be a utlity guy)

Pitching--Matt Downs--who has backed up all infield positions, and pitched some for the U of Alabama. DHing and backing up could be former third basemen like Randy Winn and Scheierholz. Are some of us going batty with this loooong winter and spring? Obviously.

Yabu: the DMZ Designated Mopperup of Zito

foothillsfan — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:01:42 -0000

Yabu: the DMZ Designated Mopperup of Zito