Whistle Me Timbers
Since we are deep into the darkness of the baseball off season I thought we could take a quick look at our newest pick up. The Whistler.
Is this the second coming of Sergio Romo? Who throws this many sliders?
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A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
small sample size he was OK for Twins last year, but otherwise yikes.
4 years with Braves 2015-18, ERA was 5.27 with WHIP of 1.41
2019 Padres ERA was 5.28 WHIP was 1.5 in 29 innings
2019 Seattle ERA was 6.04 though he did lower WHIP.
Walks a lot of guys, not good sign in 3 batter era.
Always dug Romo, can’t believe he’s still going.
Looks like he threw well last year and he falls within my “one year contracts only” mandate, so I like it.
Keep diving through that dumpster Z-Man….
I’m so excited for what this year represents. The record will likely be ugly and I’m ok with that.
The battleship darn near completes its 180 this year and I think some positives are going to start popping up in 2022.
i never understood why Romo was so damn successful. If you know he’s gonna get you out on the slider, and it rarely ended up in the zone, just let the bitch go. Seems like you could guess right often enough to light his ass up
Agree with SanDog. Turning a battleship is a slow process. Reminds me of when I try to turn my Tundra around in tight spaces, or parallel park that boat.
We should see Ramos up in ’21, and Luciano in ’22. Along with some pitching prospects that look to be solid, too. I think I read where the Giants farm is now rated 7th in all of baseball.
He’s Baaack! Wouldja believe the Giants re-signed Chadwick Tromp after a non-tender? Not so hard to figure if you think about it. Contract would likely be minor-league and would be lower than arbitration, so some $ saved in the transaction. Logical move if the intent is to give Bart plenty of action in a less stressful AAA assignment where he can get that motor revving. Meanwhile Tromp, who threw out a third of would-be base stealers last go-round, would serve as Buster’s backup, with some starts when the vet moves over to first to spell Belt vs. LHPs.
If MLB goes the full 162, expect to see Joey back up if he gets that bat cranked up, but more probable sometime around or after the A.S. break.
Just saw that news…not surprised. The handwriting was on the wall. Good move for the Giants and Chadwick seems pumped to be back with the Orange and Black.
For couple seasons Romo was lights out vs. RH but had much harder time vs. LH. I think it was just ability to locate down and away vs. RH as opposed to hanging more vs. LH. Slider that looks like it might be a strike and then dances away are unhittable, while the one that hangs winds up in seats.
Agree with SD too, but mostly on what he said in that 4th sentence— “the record likely will be ugly.” Just don’t see how pitching holds up and there isn’t much in farm that’s near ready. The dumpster dives are fine but there’s just an inevitability these guys come back to earth in long season and turn into George Kontos.
I was gonna go with Scott Munter. He of the ‘heavy slider’. Man, I got tired of hearing that.
My expectations for the Giants this year is to have as much fun as i can with em. I figure we have a good shot at coming in 3rd and that is just fine. It is also great that our minor league prospects and system have gotten so much respect. That is where we will find the most dividends in the years to come. So there will be days when we suck and days when we look pretty good, patience is the key.
Just think after we dump all those old contracts this team might look pretty damn good.
IF you can adequately replace them.
Granted Belt had a pretty good year,Craw’s bat came alive at times and his defense is still good. In my mind they will always be SF greats. But I think it’s time for them to go because i don’t see us winning anything with then in the next year or two and after that it will just get worse. Maybe some new blood might not have the #’s they produce right away it will be more of a new and younger face of the franchise that should eventually bring this team back into contention.
I’m with you on all this. I have lots of love for these vets–esp Craw and Posey. They should be regulars this year and I hope I can go cheer them on and show them some respect. But, it is time for new blood and new faces, and that was I am on looking forward to in 2022. I don’t get the sense Z is ever going to go after big time free agents, but I think once these contracts come off the books, he will upgrade his dumpster diving to players at a little higher $$$ level and I am confident he will find more diamonds in the rough than he can right now basically only going after bargains.
Once again the hope is that one of both of Belt and Craw get hot around the deadline and someone grasps at one of those straws.
News on SS out of Korea…I don’t see it, but thought it was interesting…
https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2020/12/08/sf-giants-ha-seong-kim/
WillieDav – in regards to your “Just don’t see how pitching holds up and there isn’t much in farm that’s near ready” comment: Seth Corey (5th on Giants prospect list) is suspected to be ready by ’22 (3rd starter) and Sean Hjelle (10 on prospect list) in ’21 as a 3rd or 4th starter. There are a couple of bullpen guys in the top 30 that are pegged to be up by ’21 or ’22, too. So, the cupboard is not entirely bare of pitching prospects.
I think Hjelle is future closer material…
Giants depth chart on their site has him listed as a potential 3rd/4th starter. All games in the minors were as a starter.
I still think this dip in the market could be the time to sign a good SP to a multiyear deal.
Pretty good article by Baggarly in the Athletic about Wisler. Some froth. He slips in an obligatory reference to Matt’s mother.
Romo’s FB picked up movement in 2012 and he was able to take over the closer role mid-season when Casilla developed his “blister.” That was right after Casilla gave up a walk-off HR in Oakland. Romo was effective against LHs the rest of the year.
Fun fact: the umpire arrested in a big sting the other day for trying to hook up with a hooker over the internet was the guy behind the plate in the rain in game 4, when Cabrera struck out looking against Romo.
Chi, thx for that article on Korean SS from link quite interesting. Read the mlbtr story on him, and it appears he’d be looking for long term rather expensive yet lot of competition for him. Does seem like quite adequate immediate help for somewhere middle iF though.
I’d be more bullish on Corey and Hjelle if they’d pitched this past year, which they didn’t. As is, Cueto is gone and Gausman hasn’t signed anything beyond QO 1 yr deal. Appears he wanted more security and $$ than Giants were willing to give for longer contract.
fangraphs site had Corry at #12 and Hjelle at #14 in giants system, both with eta of 2022.
Hjelle has 77 innings at San Jose high A ball, Corry 122 innings at low A ball Augusta.
Cupboard might not be entirely bare as you say, but these guys are woefully inexperienced. idk 2022 doesn’t seem feasible without them really showing something at higher levels. Losing this entire season without any meaningful experience at any level of competition really sucked.
I’m not asking for a ton in 2022. If Bart can hit .250 and actually put a ball over the fence every once in a while, that would be great. And maybe Ramos or Bishop can show us something. And like I said earlier, I think Z will have a bigger war chest to go after value free agents, which I think he does well.
I expect at least 8 wins out of my boy Black Shoes Beede in 2022 as well. I still believe in him having a part in the future of this team. And Duggar—don’t even get me started on what the GraveDuggar should be bringing to the table in 2022.
I agree with Chi on Hjelle as a starter. In 2019 he pitched over 140 minor league innings in 28 games. His FB sits around 94, but his command is good. His knuckle curve is apparently a great pitch. If durability comes along with his size and athleticism, he could be a good starter for a long while.
what GD brings to table in 2022 I’d guess would be nice healthy locally sourced meal at high end restaurant recommended to him by teammate in the Japanese League.
Some news on the Giants’ minor league teams:
we’ll see if they even play. The lost developmental year in 2020 was huge. How are teams supposed to develop players if there is no minor league system? Gonna just have to bring em up and have them learn up here. I have no problem with that, actually
Diggity said “And Duggar—don’t even get me started on what the GraveDuggar should be bringing to the table in 2022.”
From your lips to God’s ear my man. MVP, comeback player of the year, and WS MVP are ALL on the table for The Grave Duggar in 2022…..
sure, anything’s possible…just not on this continent.
Or this planet.
The Grave Duggar will silence the skeptics much like the “All Knowing Nunie” did a few short years ago…
one of the guys acquired in Nunez trade with Sox is still in system. 20 yr old prospect Greg Santos, 40V pitcher rated similar to Corry and Hjelle by fangraphs, 34 innings at low A Augusta 4.15 ERA.
Released by Mets, Nunez (33) himself is still available.
yes, he will.
And Freddie Electric, Ray Ray, and the Flying Squirrel.
Answering fans questions on Chron, Giants J Shea said this about crowds coming back to the O:
“one fifth of the park full when season opens in May, a third full by August.” With caveat covid numbers drop as vaccines widely available, yada yada.
Right-handed pitchers galore among ten minor-league signings by SF today. One LHP and one single, lonely utility man at age 31. Best known name among the mostly relievers is Dominic Leone (not that I’d heard of him). Giants seem to have a fixation on relievers named Sam. (Knew a kid years back with the front-name of Sam. Tried to convince him to see if some neighbors down the road and around the corner would adopt him–their surname being Francisco.).
Both Sam Wolff and Sam Long (the lefty) seem to have pretty good track records, as do Daniel Alvarez and Raffi Vizcaino. As for the rest, throw some mud up against the wall and hope some sticks.
With a relatively modest budget going into the new season, I still think the Giants are gonna pick up a closer. If there is a F.A. or two, late in the off-season, who are jonesing for a pickup, the Z&H vultures might swoop down on a low-bid offer. Seems to be their M.O.
I will definitely hit some Emeralds games if they kick off that is only about 45 miles away. I was hoping that they would end up in Salem that is only 20 miles away.
Where are you in Oregon, Winder? I have a friend near the Leaburg fish hatchery. Nearly lost his house in the fire and did lose a coupe barns.
Albany
Ahhh. Been to Corvallis a couple times when I worked for HP. Nice area,
The only silence GraveDuggar provides is his baseball bat.You see and hear the bat moving forward but in the end it’s just a swoosh of air that ends up in a strikeout.
blatant disrespect. Grave Duggar comin’ for you Kat as soon as he wins MVP and Comeback PLayer of Year in same year. Sleep with one eye open….
I will give you the GraveDuggar name for a jersey but only if it’s on a Monster Truck t-shirt BF..
Hopefully the Grave Duggar hit the weights over the winter.
With a little more upper body strength, we’re looking at the next Paul O’Neill…
Paul O used to kill Giants. Didn’t he break up no hitter, by Garrelts vs. Reds?
I was thinking the next Don Knotts..
Leone was once a top prospect in Cards system. You guys are killing me with Duggar. The possibility he will be on the roster should be our alert for another suck shit year for our outfield:)
Bravo Mrsprtdude, now you’re a man that gets it!
Having Duggar around is like having Gary Brown around to get noogie head rubs from Hunter Pence before Pence turned into a shit sandwich himself..