First Half In The Books
you know, if Webb hadn’t shat his slacks 48-49 really would have looked pretty good. Now it’s time to regroup and get ready for the British Open. Also, I’ll be down in San Diego playing golf with San Dawg at Torrey before the opening of DM on Saturday. I am going to be too busy for baseball anyway, lol.
Anyone know anything about Jimmy Tibbs? MLB draft is so underwhelming compared to NFL and NBA.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
That’s why there are 20 rounds. The success rate compared to the other sports is infinitesimal. The NFL and NBA are crapshots. MLB is finding needles in haystacks.
Always worth keeping in mind:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-often-do-first-rounders-make-the-big-leagues/
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1219356-examining-the-percentage-of-mlb-draft-picks-that-reach-the-major-leagues
Breaking the BR numbers down a little more, about 160 of the 1200 players drafted each year make it to the majors. Of those, about 10 will make it to 10 years of playing time.
per MLB.com, speed rating of 40 is lowest rating of skills for him, arm and fielding as 50 hit tools 55-60. Seems similar to what they did with Eldridge, someone who can definitely hit with power (as he at least shown so far in A/High A ball), but Tibbs is probably limited as fielder to corners in OF, 1b or DH. And we know what RF at the O is like.
See if in later rounds (4th is next pick) Z takes someone that can run or just more pitching.
Yaz and Cruz, Jr., two of the better defensive RFers since 2000, haven’t been burners.
Speed is certainly a good thing to have, but it’s also never a bad time to point out that SBs have no correlation to how many runs a team scores or how many games they win. The DBs stole 166 bases last year and finished with 746 runs scored. The team OPS was 730. They’ve stolen 59 through 97 games this year and are on pace to score 805 runs. The team OPS is 736.
Or how about, of the 5 teams who have more than 74 SBs this year, two have runs scored totals below the league average and one is at the average. Four of the 10 teams with fewer than 74 steals have scored more than the league average while one, the Giants, is at the average. It’s completely random. Over any meaningful stretch of games, there is no connection between stealing bases and scoring runs. It’s largely the OBP and slugging that determine how productive an offense is.
Keith Law likes Tibbs and had him ranked #14 going in.
“He’s limited to an OF corner but seems to have more than enough hit/power profile there, and should move pretty quickly through the low minors given his approach and experience in the ACC.”
In scouting report he had this to say: “He has excellent bat speed and hasn’t had trouble with velocity. Tibbs is limited to an OF corner though, so he has to rake, but so far he’s done so at FSU and on the Cape.”
so he sucks at defense and he’s slow. He’ll fit right in!
Here’s Brisbee’s take in first paragraph: “Here’s a quick and easy way to describe his hitting approach: Tibbs played in 66 games this season, and he had six multi-homer games and six multi-strikeout games. He finished the season with 28 homers and 37 strikeouts.”
FWIW, Ramos, Chapman, Wisely, Estrada, Matos, and Yaz are not slow runners. Not sure who besides Ramos is certain to be back among that group next year, but add Lee to the mix and the team speed profile looks ok.
Chapman certainly does run lot better than JD Davis did and does lead Giants in SBs with 9 (only 1 CS) but none of other Giants steal bases. Dunno what is up with Estrada, who stole 23 bags last year vs. 7 caught but has only 1 this season. Wisely and Matos have combined for 1 this season. Ramos has 2. Fitz has 7 with only 1 CS, second on team.
fangraphs does list baserunning rating for all players.
I think Thairo’s huge drop in most other offensive stats is a much bigger concern.
Yes.
I could give 2 shits whether speed has a “correlation to how many runs a team scores or how many games they win.”
To wit – the 2023 rule changes were done BECAUSE THE GAME WAS BECOMING BORING! Specifically, the size of all bases increased from 15 inches square to 18 inches square. This small change translates to a 4.5-inch reduction in the distance between bases, making it slightly easier for runners to steal. Previously, pitchers could throw over to a base (pickoff attempt) or simply step off the rubber (disengage) any number of times during a plate appearance. Now, pitchers are only allowed two disengagements per at-bat. This limits the pitcher’s ability to hold the runner on base and creates a better window for a steal attempt.
These changes, particularly the limitation on disengagements, have made it riskier for pitchers to hold runners on and have led to a significant increase in stolen base attempts and success rates in the 2023 season. This aligns with MLB’s stated goal of making the game faster paced and more exciting for fans.
Regarding our Giants, I will quote Flav’s 10:40am above, i.e., “so he sucks at defense and he’s slow. He’ll fit right in!”
Maybe the DBs fans should sue management for diminishing the collective level of excitement they feel this year.
Totally agree Blade, the Giants like every team they face see them only as a base to base team.When your leader in steals is a 31 year old ( but I’m in impressed never thought Chapman 9(SB) was that quick)Their’s something wrong They have no aggressive plans when guys like Fitzgerald (7SB) &Estrada ( 1 SB unbelievable something is going on with him , he has been hit a lot, plus foul balls off his leg’s& feet maybe playing an issue this year? But it’s always a Red Light never a Green Light.And in games when down 1 last inning a guy gets on, Their’s no way he will attempt to steal a bag which frustrates the hell at of me not giving your best effort to tie it up atleast..
More exciting, oy. The Reds have stolen 100 more bags than Giants have…and scored exactly 5 more runs all year. despite playing in one of friendliest hitting yards in NL, as opposed to Oracle, they can’t hit, with bottom 4 BA in NL and park adjusted OPS+. the goal of any offense is to score runs, plain and simple.
To each his own but I don’t find worst hitting teams in NL “exciting.” like I used to say about Billy Hamilton, he’s fastest guy out there walking back to the dugout.
If Tibbs can hit ball out of the park, he can jog his way round the bases, all 4 of them.
Yeah Tibbs is only going to be a LeftFielder at Oracle at best.
Probably some 1st and DH he is more advanced skill wise then a lot in the draft and should advance quickly thru the lower leagues.His power is legit and his .363 average at FSU (2nd to the draft pick behind him who also went to FSU)and capable to use all fields works well.His personality is definitely a leader type.I really believe this pick has a Buster Posey influence stamp on it..
One thing he’s kinda stocky with short arms, he kinda reminds me of that former D-Back Eurbriel Durazo who had real short arms but could rake real good.
If I do tune in to the HR derby I’m going with Bobby Witt Jr to win it over Gunnar H..
Screw Alonso he wasn’t even a deserving A/S over 2 of his teammates it’s all about politics letting him due it just cause he enjoys it but not worthy to represent the Mets..
Hopefully the inept klutzes in the outfield tonight will be as lucky dodging bullets as our former President. This is just my annual warning, not a political statement…
Top 3 teams NL for HRs Dodgers Phils Mets are also 3 of top 4 teams for runs scored. Read this years ago in Keith Law’s “Smart Baseball” book, that in times of low offense, HRs (and slugging) become much more important.
I will throw Zaidi a bone and say that he took on $400 million in salary commitments. Unfortunately, he has received jack shit from Snell (albeit, his last game provides hope that he can turn it around). Lee showed promise in the 30 something games he played before injury took him out. That being said, he will resume his baseball career next season (good news), but essentially without seeing/familiarizing himself with the MLB style of play, particularly the pitchers in the MLB.
Matt Chapman is an enigma, i.e., sometimes he looks like the player of 2018 and 2019, but other times he looks as bad or worse as he was in 2021 and 2022. Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb are question marks. Conforto is actually doing marginally better versus last year at this time. However, at $18 million a year, we are getting porked.
In 2023, the Gmen had a record of 79-83 for the season, where they were 49-41 at the All Star break. We all know where we are right now in 2024. Maybe going forward we shoot our wad after the All Star break and not before (as we did last year). Stranger things have happened.
Soler also disappointing…
Thanks Loo . . . Forgot about him.
Yeah. 36 HRs last year, hitting worse than Yaz (.750 OPS) this year. Chapman is very valuable player, superior defender for ground ball heavy pitching staff putting up better than league average offense in offense starved year overall. Until Manfred juices ball again, no one is putting up 2019 numbers.
Soler is a disappointment. Still a couple of months for him not to be.
Snell may come around. Ray is still not even a thing. Chapman is Chapman (expected more offense), but I expected a lot more out of Soler.
Tried to post this an hour ago . . . weird.
Giants restocking the outfield with power sluggers in the draft..Should make Snarkk grin some.. First 3 picks( they didn’t have draft choices in rd 2-3 due to the Chapman/Snell signings)
James Tibbs FSU LH OF 13th pick
Dakota Jordan Mississippi St RH OF ( 4th rd)114th pick rated as high as 34th pick could be a steal..
Jackob Christian San Diego RH OF (5th rd)186 pick?
All have great power we shall see in there development stages.Welcome to SF Giants!!
Of Jordan, mlb.com says, “a former 3 star wide receiver recruit he could be a power-speed threat in the Giants system.” Still pretty raw as hitter, lot of power/Ks. Per mlb “Jordan was the top ranked prospect entering Day 2.”
A’s took local guy OF Rodney Green from Cal leading off 3rd round at pick #104.
I figured out that to win the HR Derby it’s actually more important for the pitcher to get into a good groove than the hitter…
Loo’s spot on again . . . Look no further than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2023. During the Home Run Derby, Vladimir Jr. of the Blue Jays emerged victorious. Notably, his father, the legendary hitter Vladimir Guerrero Sr., pitched to him throughout the competition. This created a heartwarming moment and perhaps even a slight advantage for Vlad Jr., who grew up with his dad throwing him batting practice.
Good call Loo.
Thanks Blade. Really these guys can hit juiced balls out at will as long as the pitcher can put it close enough to their wheelhouse
Alonso should’ve used Diaz as his pitcher.
I’m not into the HR derby, but this one seems to lack star-power, overall.
Seems like Alonso should win pretty easily.
The anthem singer sounded like she was in pain. The rendition was painful to listen to.
I was in pain listening to her-she was the absolute worst I’ve heard since Roseanne Barr..
Agree about the HR derby pitcher if he’s not locked in neither will be the hitter..
something else about Chapman–as season has worn on he’s taking more responsibility. Before Ahmed got released chapman was more aggressive about cutting in front of him to field ground balls to his left and since his arm is so much stronger this is good move. if he can get to ball before SS more likely this becomes an out.
same with popups-there was play over weekend with I think wisely coming up behind him along the line but Chapman made the catch. Look at who he has had to play beside on left side of IF–started with Ahmed and Fitz, followed by Luciano Schmitt and Wisely. Hopefully kids get to realize focus and work it takes to be solid ML IF.
Ha, Alonso laid a big egg.
As per usual:
“An announced crowd of 18,978 — the biggest in Lynx regular-season history — came out to watch the Lynx play Indiana, Caitlin Clark‘s first WNBA game in Target Center.”
Scott Berlin (whoever that is)
“If you or a loved one listened to the National Anthem during the 2024 Home Run Derby, you may be entitled to financial compensation.”
Wow- when’s the last time I agreed with the NY Post?
“Ingrid Andress delivers train wreck of a national anthem performance at Home Run Derby”
Alex Raskin (whoever that is)
“It’s hard to turn patriotic Texans off to The Star-Spangled Banner, but four-time Grammy nominee Ingrid Andress nearly did exactly that before Monday’s Home Run Derby.
In what many described as ‘the worst national anthem ever,’ the 32-year-old country singer contorted Francis Scott Key’s poem into a shrill, somber death march. At least one player, the Phillies’ Alec Bohm, cracked a smile during the rendition, while attendees at Globe Life Field in Arlington quickly joined in to compete with Andress’ sharp, crackling voice.
More than a few fans reacted on social media by sharing photos of Donald Trump’s bleeding ear.”
It’s amazing how many ways there are to fuck up The Star-Spangled Banner. With a title like that, it’s no wonder everything else is a total mess. It’s truly the worst song ever written. I remember not standing for it in high school civics class just to piss off Mr. Ascheim, a dour old man in horn rimmed glasses who, according to rumors, was ex-CIA (I’ve probably told this story here before, oh well). Once Trump is re-elected, I will not stand for that execrable piece of shit composition ever again. That’s an aesthetic and political statement.
I feel bad for my kids. I’ll be done with this place fairly soon. They have a lot more shit to put up with for the next 40-50 years.
And, more than likely their children’s children. It usually takes awhile but Mother Nature has it’s way of cleaning up the bullshit.
SCOTUS is the big problem.
I think it’s everywhere now.