They Might Be Giants: June 15

Position Player: Thomas Neal, OF
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 23
Week Stats: .417/.481/.792, 6 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Season Stats: .346/.426/.626, 47 R, 19 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 24 BB

Neal, a 37th round pick in 2005, has made a Sandoval-esque jump this season, going from merely a solid minor leaguer to a legitimate prospect. He has out-shined more highly touted prospects in San Jose, and was one of three players from that lineup named to the California League All-Star team, along with catcher Buster Posey and outfielder Roger Kieschnick. He seems to have no problem handling Single-A pitching, so a jump to Double-A could be in his future.

Pitcher: Clayton Tanner
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 20
Week Stats: 1-0, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO
Season Stats: 5-1, 51.2 IP, 45 H, 18 BB, 49 SO, 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP

Tanner, a third round selection in 2006, is repeating at San Jose, where he put up respectable numbers last year. He's been better this year, and his start against Modesto this week was arguably his best of the season. In a season-best seven innings, he walked none and struck out a career-high thirteen. Tanner is one of those second-tier Giants' pitching prospects, but could raise his profile if he keeps pitching like this.

The Sports Illustrated cover was ok...

... but this is where it's at.
[Via Extra Baggs]

Giants Select Zack Wheeler

As many expected, the Giants went with a high school pitcher, selecting right-hander Zack Wheeler with the sixth overall pick. A lot of experts had the Giants taking lefty Tyler Matzek, but in the end it looks like Brian Sabean went with the slightly more signable pitcher. That's not to say that Wheeler was a reach, as he is certainly a top ten talent. The organization obviously needs position players, but this is a pitching-heavy draft, and there just weren't any impact hitters available at our draft position. Wheeler becomes the second or third best pitching prospect in the organization, behind Madison Bumgarner and possibly ahead of Tim Alderson. Congratulations Zach, and welcome to the Giants.

They Might Be Giants: June 8

Position Player: Buster Posey, C
Age: 22
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 2 (14 in MLB)
Week Stats: .381/.581/.619, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 1 SB
Season Stats: .307/.403/.512, 36 R, 15 2B, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 27 BB, 5 SB

On the day before the 2009 draft, it's appropriate that we look back at last year's first round selection, who has done nothing but impress. The highlight of Posey's week was a walk-off home run against Bakersfield on June 5. But what has impressed me most about Posey so far is that he possesses something that is sorely lacking in the Giants' system: plate discipline. He seems to have a very good idea of the strike zone, as his .403 OBP is tenth in the California League. I haven't been able to judge what kind of catcher he is, but the bat is for real. The speculation is that he will skip Double-A and head straight to Fresno.

Pitcher: Henry Sosa
Age: 23
Level: Double-A, Connecticut
BA Ranking: 13
Week Stats: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR
Season Stats: 4-0, 51.0 IP, 41 H, 17 BB, 34 SO, 4 HR, 2.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP

Sosa, once ranked as highly as fifth overall in the Giants' system by Baseball America, has had trouble putting together a full, healthy season, despite flashes of dominance. So far, so good in 2009, and despite getting a no-decision, the right-hander had possibly his best start of the year against New Britain this week. He allowed a season-high four walks, but made up for it by allowing just one hit and striking out seven, both season-bests. Sosa, who is on the 40-man roster, could be due for a September callup, and is a dark horse for a roster spot in 2010.

Randy Johnson Memories

Randy Johnson achieved career wins 296-300 in a Giants uniform, and we're proud he decided to share them with us. With Johnson's tenure with the Giants has been a short one, he is one opposing player we have enjoyed watching over the years. Here are a few Johnson moments that stand out in my mind.

• My first memory of Randy Johnson is during the 1993 All Star game when a fastball slipped from the Unit's fingers and flew over the head of John Kruk. Kruk had a new sense of fear when stepping back into the batter's box and proceeded to strike out swinging. In 1997, Johnson faced Larry Walker in the midsummer classic - a hitter who famously sat out on days he was to face Johnson. Showing that he has a sense of humor beneath that stern exterior, Johnson let one go over Walker's head, as well.
• Two Johnson moments that stand out for me both occurred in the playoffs and in relief. Johnson pitched three innings in relief on one days rest in game five of the 1995 division series against the Yankees. While he did allow a run in the top of the 11th, the Mariners scored two in the bottom half on a dramatic Edgar Martinez single. Johnson relieved Curt Schilling on zero days rest in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. He pitched the final 1 1/3 emerging the winning pitcher and sharing a co-MVP with Schilling. Said Schilling, "That relief appearance is everything you ever need to know about Randy Johnson."
• When the Mariners visited Candlestick in 1997, the inagural season of interleague play, Johnson looked as though he'd never swung a bat in his life. He still looks a bit like that, though I did once see him launch a hit to the centerfield wall at the 'Stick as a member of the Diamondbacks.
  

Video: Randy Johnson's Postgame Press Conference

Let's Play Two: Doubleheader History and Facts

"Let's play two!" was a catchphrase coined by Cubs great Ernie Banks, and if Banks had his wish, he'd have been able to play a double-header everyday. Once scheduled prior to the season, double-headers are rare now except in instances of making up games that had been postponed. After yesterday's rain-out, the Giants and Nationals have a double-header scheduled for today, beginning at 1:35, with Randy Johnson on the hill going for win number 300.

I was strolling on the internet and collected some fun facts and feats from the history of double-headers:

-10 pitchers have accomplished the feat of two complete game victories and the same day. Such a feat has not been accomplished since 1926. [via Baseball Almanac]
-Not an actual double-header, but on July 2, 1933, New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell went the full 18-innings for a win over the Cardinals. [via Sporting News]
-There have three tripleheaders in baseball history, though none since 1920 as tripleheaders are not allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement. [via Wikipedia]
-On September 25, 2000, the Cleveland Indians hosted a doubleheader against two different teams. [via Wikipedia]
-Mark Whiten holds the record for most RBIs in a double header with 13. On September 20, 1993, Whiten drove in one run of the first game, and then proceeded to hit 4 homers and drive in 12 in the second. [via Sports Illustrated]

Richie

How many of you felt a twinge of nostalgia which Rich Aurilia proved one of the heroes in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Cardinals. Recent roster moves had put Aurilia's roster spot in jeopardy, leading some Giants fans to wax poetic about their favorite Richie moments. Aurilia's homer - performed with the same swing and quick trot the utility man has exhibited throughout his entire career - was his first this season. Aurilia's production has been minimal this year, but he remains a hard guy not to like. Whether it be his links to better days in Giants history or just the fact that he is one of those admirable players who may not be a hall of famer but still busts his tail and occasionally achieves something great, we're hoping to see Richie stick around for a few more swings.

Henry Schulman writes today that Aurilia does not worry about his roster status. "I don't think you can have fear over something you have no control over," Aurilia said. "I still feel I can help this team now. I proved it the other day. I don't think they've lost confidence in me, and I haven't lost confidence in myself."

They Might Be Giants: June 1

Position Player: Angel Villalona, 1B
Age: 18
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 3 (44 in MLB)
Week Stats: .417/.417/.667, 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Season Stats: .308/.342/.470, 30 R, 9 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 7 BB

Villalona continued to hold his own at San Jose, despite the fact that he would still be in high school if he had been born in the United States. He's still a pretty raw talent, and he will probably always be the kind of player who strikes out a lot and doesn't draw many walks, but he's got more power potential than any player in the Giants' system. He's the first baseman of the future, though that could be the somewhat distant future. Note: I didn't pick John Bowker because he's not a prospect anymore, but his performance this week at Fresno is worth a mention, as he hit a ridiculous .538/.586/.923 with a couple of home runs.

Pitcher: Scott Barnes
Age: 21
Level: High-A, San Jose
BA Ranking: 9
Week Stats: 1-0, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
Season Stats: 5-2, 45.1 IP, 41 H, 18 BB, 33 SO, 2 HR, 3.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP

There were a few good performances by Giants' pitchers this week, but Barnes is the most legitimate prospect of the bunch. The lefthander, an eighth round draft pick in 2008, allowed a season-low two hits while striking out a season-high six against Visalia. With Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson gone, Barnes is the top pitching prospect left in San Jose. After a bit of a rough stretch in early May, he's been much better in his last three starts, going 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA. In case you're curious, Bumgarner had a good, but not dominant start, allowing one run in five innings, walking two and striking out three.