Yes, another one.
The Giants made a huge cut this past week that brought them a step closer to the finalized 25-man roster.
Nick Noonan, sadly, was assigned to AAA Fresno. It's good for him, because he'll get a lot of at-bats and lots of playing time. As disappointed as I was, it's the best thing for him. He's only 23, so he's got time to perfect his swing and see lots of pitches. Despite his fantastic defense at multiple positions during the spring, he hit only .194 (although he went six for his last 19). I guess it's safe to say that his chance of making the Opening Day roster (barring some major injury to Pablo Sandoval) has been reduced to 0%. Although, if Sandoval goes down during the regular season, Noonan has a good chance of being called up as a back-up utility infielder. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for this one.
Brock Bond was reassigned to Minor League camp, where he awaits his assignment for the regular season. We only know for sure that it won't be in San Francisco. The 27-year-old had a great offensive spring but struggled a bit defensively (and as if he's trying to confirm his own talent at the plate, as I'm typing this, he hit a run-scoring triple to tie the current game in the 9th). He'll probably start the season in Fresno but could end up in Single A San Jose. Wherever he ends up, this is a big season for Bond. This will be his seventh year in the Giants minor league system, so if he's going to make a statement for himself, he'd better do it quick. But if he can improve his arm strength, or continues to hit like he did in the spring, he also has a shot at joining the Giants should an infielder need a break.
Brett Pill is also officially out of the running to make the 25-man roster. Pill had knee surgery this past week on his right meniscus. He's been spending some time playing left field and had a decent shot to begin the season with the Giants. Now, however, he's expected to begin the season on the disabled list. He's only expected to spend three to six weeks there, and then he'll most likely start in Fresno. Should Brandon Belt, Andres Torres, or Gregor Blanco get injured, Pill would probably be the Giants first choice to join the team in San Francisco.
Kensuke Tanaka still has an outside shot to claim the 6th infield spot, but it's looking more and more unlikely as the preseason goes on. He made a questionable, off-line throw to home plate today, during an inning where the Reds scored four runs. He was also 0-for-2, bringing his spring average to .220.
That leaves the likely candidate for taking over the sixth infield spot Wilson Valdez. The 34-year-old is currently hitting .231 with one double, two RBIs, and a .333 OBP. He's listed as a shortstop, but he's played six games at third base, six games at short, and two games at second, while committing zero errors. Valdez has played for five Major League teams since 2006: the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Phillies, and, last year, the Cincinnatti Reds. He owns a .236 career batting average, with 107 RBIs in 439 games. He may not be the most promising future infielder for the Giants, but with the injury to Pill, Tanaka's sloppy play, and Tony Abreu's lack of play, Valdez could provide a need for a back-up infielder who can play a variety of positions.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tanaka and Bond
I told you we'd come back to these two utility infielders. They're both currently listed as non-roster invitees, so they're unlikely to make the Opening Day roster (although, I wouldn't rule out Kensuke Tanaka completely). They are, however, likely to start the season in the AAA Fresno and join San Francisco at some point during the season if anyone is injured.
1. Kensuke Tanaka. The 31-year-old second basmen, who was invited to the Giants spring training this year after 13 years with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan has definitely struggled so far. In 16 games, he's hitting just .231 with an OBP of .286. He has no homeruns, one double, just one RBI. He also has only three walks and five strikeouts. The best thing that Tanaka has going for him so far is that he has played every infield position for the Giants, beside 1B. The bad part of Tanaka is the caliber of the defense. He's committed seven errors at the various positions (three at SS, three at 2B, and one at 3B). And today he bounced a throw to 1B from shortstop, showing that his arm is a little weak from the left side of the infield. For a team that focuses so much on pitching and defense, having a late-inning replacement that provides questionable defense doesn't make much sense. He did win three Gold Gloves in Japan and is trying to transition from playing on mostly turf (in Japan) to dirt and grass (in US), which could provide a reasoning for why he's struggled so much this spring. Even after a tough day today, Bochy reiterated the team's support for Tanaka.
"We've thrown alot at him. We thought, with as much as we're moving him around, that we'd probably see some errors that would come with the chance in position."
Even so, seven errors in 16 games is frightening for a team that's built on pitching, defense, and playing small ball. A back-up utility infielder that doesn't have great range doesn't make much sense, so unless his defense rapidly improves, look for Tanaka to begun the season in Fresno.
(although, he is the player who Sabean brought to camp, so even if he continues to struggle, he's Sabean's guy, so he's still got a 50/50 shot at making the 25-man roster)
2. Brock Bond. Maybe I just really like Bond because of his whole "being accidentally picked by the Giants in the draft" thing, but I'm rooting for him to make an appearance in the Big Leagues this season. He does have some impressive numbers to back up my admiration. He's batting .412 in 17 at-bats this spring with two HRs and four RBIs. He also has an impressive .412 OBP. He's only got one double, which isn't proof of much speed, but I did get to see him attempt to beat out an infield single this past weekend. In my humble opinion, he beat it out, and his hustle was admirable. So far defensively, he's shown an apitude for perfection, committing zero errors in 34 chances. The biggest concern about the 28-year-old is the same as Tanaka - the strength of his arm. He's played mostly 2B, with only one game at 3B, so we're not exactly sure of how strong his arm is from the left side of the infield, but he's had a couple of weak throws from just second, which doesn't bode well for third. But the Giants roving Minor League hitter instructor Steve Decker believes that Bond has an indefinable quality that could help his case.
"The one word that comes up with Brock is 'gamer.' He's not a guy who wows the scouts by running 4.1 down the line or with extra power or a plus arm. He's just a guy who basically does everything in his will to beat the other team. Those are the guys you root for."
Both Tanaka and Bond have been praised for their great attitudes and their willingness to play wherever they're need.
Decker is right. Those are the guys you root for. And I hope I get the chance to root for them in a San Francisco uniform this season.
1. Kensuke Tanaka. The 31-year-old second basmen, who was invited to the Giants spring training this year after 13 years with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan has definitely struggled so far. In 16 games, he's hitting just .231 with an OBP of .286. He has no homeruns, one double, just one RBI. He also has only three walks and five strikeouts. The best thing that Tanaka has going for him so far is that he has played every infield position for the Giants, beside 1B. The bad part of Tanaka is the caliber of the defense. He's committed seven errors at the various positions (three at SS, three at 2B, and one at 3B). And today he bounced a throw to 1B from shortstop, showing that his arm is a little weak from the left side of the infield. For a team that focuses so much on pitching and defense, having a late-inning replacement that provides questionable defense doesn't make much sense. He did win three Gold Gloves in Japan and is trying to transition from playing on mostly turf (in Japan) to dirt and grass (in US), which could provide a reasoning for why he's struggled so much this spring. Even after a tough day today, Bochy reiterated the team's support for Tanaka.
"We've thrown alot at him. We thought, with as much as we're moving him around, that we'd probably see some errors that would come with the chance in position."
Even so, seven errors in 16 games is frightening for a team that's built on pitching, defense, and playing small ball. A back-up utility infielder that doesn't have great range doesn't make much sense, so unless his defense rapidly improves, look for Tanaka to begun the season in Fresno.
(although, he is the player who Sabean brought to camp, so even if he continues to struggle, he's Sabean's guy, so he's still got a 50/50 shot at making the 25-man roster)
2. Brock Bond. Maybe I just really like Bond because of his whole "being accidentally picked by the Giants in the draft" thing, but I'm rooting for him to make an appearance in the Big Leagues this season. He does have some impressive numbers to back up my admiration. He's batting .412 in 17 at-bats this spring with two HRs and four RBIs. He also has an impressive .412 OBP. He's only got one double, which isn't proof of much speed, but I did get to see him attempt to beat out an infield single this past weekend. In my humble opinion, he beat it out, and his hustle was admirable. So far defensively, he's shown an apitude for perfection, committing zero errors in 34 chances. The biggest concern about the 28-year-old is the same as Tanaka - the strength of his arm. He's played mostly 2B, with only one game at 3B, so we're not exactly sure of how strong his arm is from the left side of the infield, but he's had a couple of weak throws from just second, which doesn't bode well for third. But the Giants roving Minor League hitter instructor Steve Decker believes that Bond has an indefinable quality that could help his case.
"The one word that comes up with Brock is 'gamer.' He's not a guy who wows the scouts by running 4.1 down the line or with extra power or a plus arm. He's just a guy who basically does everything in his will to beat the other team. Those are the guys you root for."
Both Tanaka and Bond have been praised for their great attitudes and their willingness to play wherever they're need.
Decker is right. Those are the guys you root for. And I hope I get the chance to root for them in a San Francisco uniform this season.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Race for the infield
Even though there are still a couple weeks left of Spring Training, you can be that Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean have already started to think about who they will bring with them to San Francisco as a member of the 25-man roster.
So far the biggest area of competition is the infield, and it just continues to heat up as March continues on.
The Giants currently have nine infielders listed on their active roster, and that will dwindle down to either six or seven (depending on whether or not the Giants take 11 or 12 pitchers to Opening Day). We know five of the players that'll be on the 25-man roster:
1. Brandon Belt
2. Marco Scutaro
3. Brandon Crawford
4. Pablo Sandoval
5. Joaquin Arias
The big question is: who would get that final spot? (or possibly the final two spots)
The four remaining guys on the current roster are Ehire Adrianza, Brett Pill, Tony Abreu, and Nick Noonan. Let's break each one down with the odds of them starting the season in the big leagues, shall we?
1. Ehire Adrianza. He's played in just six games this spring, had only eight at-bats, and, oh yeah, no hits so far. He also doesn't have any walks. On the bright side, he only has one strikeout....ok, yes, I'm reaching. Just trying to give the guy a break. He's listed as a shortstop and has played only SS this spring, not showing much range. But he is error-free in five chances, so that's something. All in all, I'd say the odds of him making the Opening Day roster are....well, you know, slim (don't make me say an exact number).
2. Brett Pill. Pill is no stranger to the 25-man roster, as he began the 2012 season there. In 105 at-bats, he hit .210 with two homeruns and 11 RBIs. His OBP was a mere .265. He played most of his games at 1B, but started a few games in the outfield and played once at 3B, so he brings a bit of flexibilty to the bench. So far this spring, though, he's only played 1B and has been designated hitter. Offensively, he's batting .273 with two homeruns and seven RBIs. He hasn't made any errors in 35 chances, so he'd be a solid back-up for Brandon Belt. I'd say he's got a 65-70% chance of making the Opening Day roster. The Giants don't really have anyone to back up Belt (besides Posey) so they'd most likely take a back-up infielder who could play at 1B.
3. Tony Abreu. Unlike Pill and Adrianza, Abreu didn't come up through the Giants farm system. The Giants picked him up off of waivers from the Kansas City Royals in early February. The issue with Abreu is that he's only played in one game so far this spring due to a strained quad. He finally made his spring training debut with the Giants yesterday against the Texas Rangers. He went 1-2 and committed no errors playing at 2B. Last season in 105 games for the Royals AAA team, he hit .322 with nine HRs, 36 doubles, and 73 RBIs. During 22 games in the majors in 2012, he hit .257 with one HR and 15 RBIs. Only time will tell what Abreu's fate will be on April 1st. If he can prove that his injury is behind him, even if his batting average is mediocre, I believe he'll make the 25-man roster. Just the fact that he was claimed off of waivers gives him a leg up over the minor leaguers. If he's healthy, I'd say he's got a 100% chance (yes, that bold) to make the 25-man roster.
4. Nick Noonan. Yes, maybe I saved my favorite for last. Like I've said before (and I'm sure you're sick of hearing), I was most impressed by Noonan this past weekend. The shortstop looked pretty fantastic playing a mean third base, showing that he just might be a solid utility infielder. Offensively, however, he is struggling this preseason. He's batting just .138, after going 0-1 tonight with a rather unattractive at-bat. He did come in to relieve Crawford at short, showing that he can play a flawless defensive shortstop (you know, in at least one game). He's also shown some speed that the others on this list haven't shown, hustling out a couple triples this past weekend. He's starting to look comfortable at the plate (and he's already looking comfy in the field). I'd say that, if Abreu is injured, his odds of making the Opening Day squad is 90%. If Abreu is healthy, I'd put Noonan at a 70%. I think his potential is that apparent (and by me saying this, his actual probability probably just dropped to 6.7%. However, I'm sticking with it).
A couple guys are playing this spring as non-roster invitees and are looking to make a case for themselves. Brock Bond and Kensuke Tanaka are unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but look for them to make an apperance during the regular season.
More on them later.
So far the biggest area of competition is the infield, and it just continues to heat up as March continues on.
The Giants currently have nine infielders listed on their active roster, and that will dwindle down to either six or seven (depending on whether or not the Giants take 11 or 12 pitchers to Opening Day). We know five of the players that'll be on the 25-man roster:
1. Brandon Belt
2. Marco Scutaro
3. Brandon Crawford
4. Pablo Sandoval
5. Joaquin Arias
The big question is: who would get that final spot? (or possibly the final two spots)
The four remaining guys on the current roster are Ehire Adrianza, Brett Pill, Tony Abreu, and Nick Noonan. Let's break each one down with the odds of them starting the season in the big leagues, shall we?
1. Ehire Adrianza. He's played in just six games this spring, had only eight at-bats, and, oh yeah, no hits so far. He also doesn't have any walks. On the bright side, he only has one strikeout....ok, yes, I'm reaching. Just trying to give the guy a break. He's listed as a shortstop and has played only SS this spring, not showing much range. But he is error-free in five chances, so that's something. All in all, I'd say the odds of him making the Opening Day roster are....well, you know, slim (don't make me say an exact number).
2. Brett Pill. Pill is no stranger to the 25-man roster, as he began the 2012 season there. In 105 at-bats, he hit .210 with two homeruns and 11 RBIs. His OBP was a mere .265. He played most of his games at 1B, but started a few games in the outfield and played once at 3B, so he brings a bit of flexibilty to the bench. So far this spring, though, he's only played 1B and has been designated hitter. Offensively, he's batting .273 with two homeruns and seven RBIs. He hasn't made any errors in 35 chances, so he'd be a solid back-up for Brandon Belt. I'd say he's got a 65-70% chance of making the Opening Day roster. The Giants don't really have anyone to back up Belt (besides Posey) so they'd most likely take a back-up infielder who could play at 1B.
3. Tony Abreu. Unlike Pill and Adrianza, Abreu didn't come up through the Giants farm system. The Giants picked him up off of waivers from the Kansas City Royals in early February. The issue with Abreu is that he's only played in one game so far this spring due to a strained quad. He finally made his spring training debut with the Giants yesterday against the Texas Rangers. He went 1-2 and committed no errors playing at 2B. Last season in 105 games for the Royals AAA team, he hit .322 with nine HRs, 36 doubles, and 73 RBIs. During 22 games in the majors in 2012, he hit .257 with one HR and 15 RBIs. Only time will tell what Abreu's fate will be on April 1st. If he can prove that his injury is behind him, even if his batting average is mediocre, I believe he'll make the 25-man roster. Just the fact that he was claimed off of waivers gives him a leg up over the minor leaguers. If he's healthy, I'd say he's got a 100% chance (yes, that bold) to make the 25-man roster.
4. Nick Noonan. Yes, maybe I saved my favorite for last. Like I've said before (and I'm sure you're sick of hearing), I was most impressed by Noonan this past weekend. The shortstop looked pretty fantastic playing a mean third base, showing that he just might be a solid utility infielder. Offensively, however, he is struggling this preseason. He's batting just .138, after going 0-1 tonight with a rather unattractive at-bat. He did come in to relieve Crawford at short, showing that he can play a flawless defensive shortstop (you know, in at least one game). He's also shown some speed that the others on this list haven't shown, hustling out a couple triples this past weekend. He's starting to look comfortable at the plate (and he's already looking comfy in the field). I'd say that, if Abreu is injured, his odds of making the Opening Day squad is 90%. If Abreu is healthy, I'd put Noonan at a 70%. I think his potential is that apparent (and by me saying this, his actual probability probably just dropped to 6.7%. However, I'm sticking with it).
A couple guys are playing this spring as non-roster invitees and are looking to make a case for themselves. Brock Bond and Kensuke Tanaka are unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but look for them to make an apperance during the regular season.
More on them later.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Last thoughts from the weekend
The Giants beat the Texas Rangers today 2-1. Just a few notes from today's game before daylight savings puts me to sleep:
1. Bumgarner is back.
The 22-year-old left-hander who struggled in the 2012 postseason (going 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA, giving up ten runs in 15 innings), seems to be back in regular season form...or, so far, even better. He's currently 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA (two ER in 9.2 innings). He started today and one-hit the Rangers through four innings, striking out four (three of them looking). Posey, who caught MadBum today, was impressed with his start. "He threw the ball to both sides of the plate as well as I've seen him this Spring."
2. Hunter Pence
The inspirational right-fielder is having a nice, if not the most impressive spring. He's batting .300, but has hit .350 this month after hitting just .200 in February. And today he took some long, awkward strides in the right direction. He had the only two RBIs for the Giants this afternoon, doubling his total on the spring from two to four. He drove in Kensuke Tanaka in the 3rd with a solid double to left field. After Nick Noonan tripled to lead off the 5th, Pence followed it up with a three-bagger of his own to give the Giants a 2-0 lead, which proved good enough to win. Pence hit the ball hard today and showed of his speed a little bit, and looked to be ready for the regular season.
3. Nick Noonan
Yes, again. Like Saturday, he came in as a midgame replacement at 3B, this time replacing Tony Abreu. And, like Saturday, he had a crucial triple. Today, he led off the top of the 5th inning with a triple, missing a homerun by about a foot. And again, similar to the game against the Royals, Noonan had another great defensive play down the line. He's listed as a shortstop, but has been playing different infield positions and has looked impressive at 3B. He's still only batting .143, but he's collected hits in the last three games, including his first two triples and first two RBIs of the preseason. Despite the heavy competition for the reserve infield spots on the 25-man roster, I think that Noonan is really starting to make a case for himself.
P.S. - tomorrow we'll look at a more invasive look at the infield competition that's heating up down in Arizona.
Thanks for reading my thoughts from Spring Training! Baseball season is coming, people.
1. Bumgarner is back.
The 22-year-old left-hander who struggled in the 2012 postseason (going 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA, giving up ten runs in 15 innings), seems to be back in regular season form...or, so far, even better. He's currently 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA (two ER in 9.2 innings). He started today and one-hit the Rangers through four innings, striking out four (three of them looking). Posey, who caught MadBum today, was impressed with his start. "He threw the ball to both sides of the plate as well as I've seen him this Spring."
2. Hunter Pence
The inspirational right-fielder is having a nice, if not the most impressive spring. He's batting .300, but has hit .350 this month after hitting just .200 in February. And today he took some long, awkward strides in the right direction. He had the only two RBIs for the Giants this afternoon, doubling his total on the spring from two to four. He drove in Kensuke Tanaka in the 3rd with a solid double to left field. After Nick Noonan tripled to lead off the 5th, Pence followed it up with a three-bagger of his own to give the Giants a 2-0 lead, which proved good enough to win. Pence hit the ball hard today and showed of his speed a little bit, and looked to be ready for the regular season.
3. Nick Noonan
Yes, again. Like Saturday, he came in as a midgame replacement at 3B, this time replacing Tony Abreu. And, like Saturday, he had a crucial triple. Today, he led off the top of the 5th inning with a triple, missing a homerun by about a foot. And again, similar to the game against the Royals, Noonan had another great defensive play down the line. He's listed as a shortstop, but has been playing different infield positions and has looked impressive at 3B. He's still only batting .143, but he's collected hits in the last three games, including his first two triples and first two RBIs of the preseason. Despite the heavy competition for the reserve infield spots on the 25-man roster, I think that Noonan is really starting to make a case for himself.
P.S. - tomorrow we'll look at a more invasive look at the infield competition that's heating up down in Arizona.
Thanks for reading my thoughts from Spring Training! Baseball season is coming, people.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Royally beat
Today I got to watch my beloved Giants for the first time in 2013. I had been waiting four months for this and was beyond excited. My mom and I got to our seats a half hour before first pitch, talked to the fellow fans around us, and settled in to watch our Boys of Summer take the field.
They got beat 13-2 by the Kansas City Royals. And they were actually getting no-hit through the bottom of the 6th inning. Rough.
However, there were some positives to take away from today.
1) Nick Noonan.
Noonan was brought in as a mid-game replacement for Joaquin Arias at 3B when the Giants still had no hits in the game. When Gregor Blanco broke up the no-no in the bottom of the 6th with a triple, Noonan drove him home with a three-bagger of his own. He also played solid defense, stabbing at hits and diving at balls that could have easily driven past him. Noonan was drafted 32nd overall by the Giants in the 2007 draft. In six years in the minor leagues, he owns a .267 average, a .322 OBP, 36 homeruns, and 305 RBIs. This spring, he's batting .095 and collected his first RBI today. Watching the energy and agility that he brought to 3B, and his aggressive approach at the plate, I'd say today was a step in the right direction for the (possible) future third baseman.
2) Brock Bond.
The 2B prospect for the Giants is currently at Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. Today he went 0-1, but it was on a fairly questionable call. He could've been called safe at first on an infield hit, and the hustle to first base was impressive. But all-in-all, the "accidental draftee" has been nothing short of impressive this entire Spring. Bond was drafted by the Giants in the 24th round of the 2007 draft, when they intended to take outfielder Casey Bond. San Francisco took Casey in the next round and decided to keep Brock around, despite scouts declaration that Brock wasn't a Major League player. Since that fateful draft, Brock has hit .313 over six minor league seasons, with a .410 OBP, but with only four HRs. But this Spring, he's blowing his already-impressive stats out of the water. After going 0-1 today, he's batting .462 and has a .462 OBP. He also already has two homeruns.
3) And finally, the Brandons (yes, again).
Belt and Crawford continue to impress this Spring and watching them live today only reinforced what we've (I've) been hoping for. When the Giants were getting no-hit through the first five innings of the game, their only two baserunners were Crawford and Belt, who both drew walks. Crawford had a leaping catch to save a run in the first inning (not that it mattered much, seeing as how Yusmeiro Petit gave up six runs that inning anyway, but still, it was impressive to see). And despite going 0-1 today, B Craw is still batting .375 this Spring.
Belt crushed his fourth homerun of the preseason (tied for fourth in the league) to straightaway center in the 7th inning. He leads the Giants with nine homeruns and is 2nd in the league with a .467 average (among players with at least 30 at-bats). I'm telling you, I cannot wait to watch these two in the regular season.
And I'd like to put it out there right now, Brandon Crawford for the Gold Glove at shortstop in 2013. I know, I know. I've only seen him play one game so far in 2013. But still, I'd like to call it now. If he plays every day (no injuries slow him down), I fully believe he will win a Gold Glove this year.
Overall, a great first day here in Scottsdale. More tomorrow after Giants-Brewers. Thanks for reading!
They got beat 13-2 by the Kansas City Royals. And they were actually getting no-hit through the bottom of the 6th inning. Rough.
However, there were some positives to take away from today.
1) Nick Noonan.
Noonan was brought in as a mid-game replacement for Joaquin Arias at 3B when the Giants still had no hits in the game. When Gregor Blanco broke up the no-no in the bottom of the 6th with a triple, Noonan drove him home with a three-bagger of his own. He also played solid defense, stabbing at hits and diving at balls that could have easily driven past him. Noonan was drafted 32nd overall by the Giants in the 2007 draft. In six years in the minor leagues, he owns a .267 average, a .322 OBP, 36 homeruns, and 305 RBIs. This spring, he's batting .095 and collected his first RBI today. Watching the energy and agility that he brought to 3B, and his aggressive approach at the plate, I'd say today was a step in the right direction for the (possible) future third baseman.
2) Brock Bond.
The 2B prospect for the Giants is currently at Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. Today he went 0-1, but it was on a fairly questionable call. He could've been called safe at first on an infield hit, and the hustle to first base was impressive. But all-in-all, the "accidental draftee" has been nothing short of impressive this entire Spring. Bond was drafted by the Giants in the 24th round of the 2007 draft, when they intended to take outfielder Casey Bond. San Francisco took Casey in the next round and decided to keep Brock around, despite scouts declaration that Brock wasn't a Major League player. Since that fateful draft, Brock has hit .313 over six minor league seasons, with a .410 OBP, but with only four HRs. But this Spring, he's blowing his already-impressive stats out of the water. After going 0-1 today, he's batting .462 and has a .462 OBP. He also already has two homeruns.
3) And finally, the Brandons (yes, again).
Belt and Crawford continue to impress this Spring and watching them live today only reinforced what we've (I've) been hoping for. When the Giants were getting no-hit through the first five innings of the game, their only two baserunners were Crawford and Belt, who both drew walks. Crawford had a leaping catch to save a run in the first inning (not that it mattered much, seeing as how Yusmeiro Petit gave up six runs that inning anyway, but still, it was impressive to see). And despite going 0-1 today, B Craw is still batting .375 this Spring.
Belt crushed his fourth homerun of the preseason (tied for fourth in the league) to straightaway center in the 7th inning. He leads the Giants with nine homeruns and is 2nd in the league with a .467 average (among players with at least 30 at-bats). I'm telling you, I cannot wait to watch these two in the regular season.
And I'd like to put it out there right now, Brandon Crawford for the Gold Glove at shortstop in 2013. I know, I know. I've only seen him play one game so far in 2013. But still, I'd like to call it now. If he plays every day (no injuries slow him down), I fully believe he will win a Gold Glove this year.
Overall, a great first day here in Scottsdale. More tomorrow after Giants-Brewers. Thanks for reading!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Buster
I figured he didn't need any sort of fancy or catchy title. A blog on Buster Posey really needs no introduction at all.
In January, Posey visited the Yogi Berra museum and got to spend time with Berra himself. The legend and the already legendary catchers spent the day together and answering questions. Both players each won two World Series in their first three seasons. It led me to wonder about the other similarities between them and other great catchers of the game.
Which begs the question with Posey: are we watching potentially the greatest catcher of all time?
After being drafted 5th overall in the 2008 draft, Posey made his Major League debut in September of 2009. He started the 2010 season in Fresno but was brought up in May to provide some relief for Bengie Molina behind the plate. When Molina was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 1st for Chris Ray and Michael Main, Posey moved into the full-time catcher role. And he never looked back.
Every Giants fan, and now every baseball fan, is familiar with the greatness of Buster Posey for the last two and a half seasons. 2010 Rookie of the Year, 2012 All-Star (receiving more votes than any National League player in the history of the game), 2012 Silver Slugger Award, 2012 Hank Aaron Award, 2012 Comeback player of the year, 2012 MVP, and, most importantly to Giants fans, two World Series rings.
The only other catchers in baseball history who have won Rookie of the Year, MVP, and a World Series are Johnny Bench and Thurman Munson. Pretty good company.
He'll turn 26 at the end of this month, so he's got a long career ahead of him (knock on wood) that he'll hopefully spend in a San Francisco uniform. He's played 308 games in his career so far, not quite enough statistically for two full seasons. But he's already made quite an impression on the baseball world. How does he match up against some of the greats?
Yogi Berra, considered by many to be the greatest catcher in baseball history, was a three-time AL MVP. He was a 15-time All-Star, won 10 World Series with the Yankees, and hit 358 career homeruns. He also caught Don Larsen's perfect game.
Johnny Bench (personally, my favorite catcher) played for the Cincinnati Reds in the 70s. As stated before, Bench was named 1968 Rookie of the Year. He was also a two-time MVP, won ten Gold Gloves, a 14-time All-Star, and won a World Series in 1976.
Roy Campanella began his career in the Negro Leagues before coming to the Dodgers one year after Jackie Robinson did. Even though he only played ten seasons before being paralyzed in a car accident in 1958, he was one of the best catchers in the game. He played in eight consecutive All-Star games, won a World Series in 1955, and was a three-time MVP. He also set a single-season record for catchers with 41 homeruns and 142 RBIs in 1953.
And perhaps the All-Star catcher most similar to Posey is Mike Piazza. Piazza was an incredibly impressive catcher offensively, perhaps the best in the game (so far). He holds a .308 lifetime batting average with 427 career homeruns. He was Rookie of the Year in 1993, a 12-time All-Star, the 1996 NL MVP, and he won the Silver Slugger Award ten times.
Piazza played in 389 games in his first four seasons. Over that time, he hit 94 homeruns and had 304 RBIs. He hit .322 over that span. So far, Posey isn't quite on pace to reach those kinds of numbers, but he's not off to a bad start. 308 games in, Posey has a career 46 homeruns, 191 RBIs, and has a career average of .314. Both of them won Rookie of the Year, with similar averages (Posey with .305, Piazza with .318) and on-base percentages (Posey .357, Piazza .370).
While Buster has a long way to go to reach some of these great catchers, he's definitely on his way. And I'm looking forward to watching him all along the way.
In January, Posey visited the Yogi Berra museum and got to spend time with Berra himself. The legend and the already legendary catchers spent the day together and answering questions. Both players each won two World Series in their first three seasons. It led me to wonder about the other similarities between them and other great catchers of the game.
Which begs the question with Posey: are we watching potentially the greatest catcher of all time?
After being drafted 5th overall in the 2008 draft, Posey made his Major League debut in September of 2009. He started the 2010 season in Fresno but was brought up in May to provide some relief for Bengie Molina behind the plate. When Molina was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 1st for Chris Ray and Michael Main, Posey moved into the full-time catcher role. And he never looked back.
Every Giants fan, and now every baseball fan, is familiar with the greatness of Buster Posey for the last two and a half seasons. 2010 Rookie of the Year, 2012 All-Star (receiving more votes than any National League player in the history of the game), 2012 Silver Slugger Award, 2012 Hank Aaron Award, 2012 Comeback player of the year, 2012 MVP, and, most importantly to Giants fans, two World Series rings.
The only other catchers in baseball history who have won Rookie of the Year, MVP, and a World Series are Johnny Bench and Thurman Munson. Pretty good company.
He'll turn 26 at the end of this month, so he's got a long career ahead of him (knock on wood) that he'll hopefully spend in a San Francisco uniform. He's played 308 games in his career so far, not quite enough statistically for two full seasons. But he's already made quite an impression on the baseball world. How does he match up against some of the greats?
Yogi Berra, considered by many to be the greatest catcher in baseball history, was a three-time AL MVP. He was a 15-time All-Star, won 10 World Series with the Yankees, and hit 358 career homeruns. He also caught Don Larsen's perfect game.
Johnny Bench (personally, my favorite catcher) played for the Cincinnati Reds in the 70s. As stated before, Bench was named 1968 Rookie of the Year. He was also a two-time MVP, won ten Gold Gloves, a 14-time All-Star, and won a World Series in 1976.
Roy Campanella began his career in the Negro Leagues before coming to the Dodgers one year after Jackie Robinson did. Even though he only played ten seasons before being paralyzed in a car accident in 1958, he was one of the best catchers in the game. He played in eight consecutive All-Star games, won a World Series in 1955, and was a three-time MVP. He also set a single-season record for catchers with 41 homeruns and 142 RBIs in 1953.
And perhaps the All-Star catcher most similar to Posey is Mike Piazza. Piazza was an incredibly impressive catcher offensively, perhaps the best in the game (so far). He holds a .308 lifetime batting average with 427 career homeruns. He was Rookie of the Year in 1993, a 12-time All-Star, the 1996 NL MVP, and he won the Silver Slugger Award ten times.
Piazza played in 389 games in his first four seasons. Over that time, he hit 94 homeruns and had 304 RBIs. He hit .322 over that span. So far, Posey isn't quite on pace to reach those kinds of numbers, but he's not off to a bad start. 308 games in, Posey has a career 46 homeruns, 191 RBIs, and has a career average of .314. Both of them won Rookie of the Year, with similar averages (Posey with .305, Piazza with .318) and on-base percentages (Posey .357, Piazza .370).
While Buster has a long way to go to reach some of these great catchers, he's definitely on his way. And I'm looking forward to watching him all along the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
