The Same Old Song and Dance for Bumgarner, Alderson, and Sosa
As the months go on, it’s starting to make this seem like a broken record with all the praise that has been given to them throughout the course of the 2009 season so far.
Bumgarner has continued to keep rolling along, racking up wins and mowing down hitters on the season with ease.
In just eight outings, seven starts, at Double-A Connecticut, Bumgarner has been simply fantastic.
You want to know about how dominant he’s been? Just those seven starts have earned him Eastern League All-Star status and a spot on the United States roster for the XM Futures Game in St. Louis.
Not a bad month of July planned for Mad Bum.
Alderson has also been very good since the mid-May promotion, going 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. His control has been exceptional, walking just nine batters in nine starts spanning 49.2 innings.
Completing the talented threesome is 23-year-old right-hander Henry Sosa.
After a frustrating 2008 filled with injuries and inconsistencies, it seems the flame-throwing Dominican is back at it. His 2.36 ERA ranks him fourth in the Eastern League, and he has yet to lose a game on the year, going 6-0 in 14 starts.
Not a bad trident the Defenders can roll out, isn’t it?
Quick Hits From Around the Giants Minor League System
It may be a year early, but last year’s big-money international signing has hit the United States.
Rafael Rodriguez, who signed for $2.55 million last July, has played in just four games for the Giants Arizona Rookie League affiliate, hitting .125 in just 16 at-bats.
It’s no reason to frown about because as we know during the early goings of a season, his average could go from .125 to over .300 with just a couple of good games back-to-back.
The Giants are handling Rodriguez much like they handled Villalona, which has turned out to be quite effective looking at how Big V has progressed in the two years since he signed out of the Dominican.
Also playing for the AZL affiliate is this year’s 2009 third-round pick, third baseman Chris Dominguez.
The two-time Player of the Year and 2009 First Team All-American out of Louisville clubbed 25 home runs, finished 82 RBI and stolen bases (19-of-25) and hit .345 overall.
He’s expected to see time at Class A Short-Season Salem-Keizer when the season starts this month.
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This season hasn’t been much to smile about for two members of the San Jose Giants infield.
No. 5 ranked prospect, second baseman Nick Noonan, has been in what seems like a six-week funk, seeing his average drop down to .249. While Noonan has knocked in 36 runs, he has only hit three home runs, 12 doubles, and only sports a .317 OBP.
Fellow infielder, third baseman Conor Gillaspie, hasn’t done much to show critics that he can hit for the kind of power people expect from players at the hot corner.
In fact, he hasn’t hit for much power at all in 2009.
In 71 games, Gillaspie has only hit one home run and driven in 31 to go with 16 doubles. While he has made very good contact (only 39 strikeouts in 254 at-bats), the severe lack of power is something that might bring a position change in the future.
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He may not officially be a prospect anymore after playing 111 games with the Giants last season, but you can’t ignore what John Bowker is doing down in Fresno right now.
He smacked a club-record 12 homers in the month of June while hitting .392 during that same span. On the season, Bowker’s hitting .359 with 16 home runs and 58 RBI. He’s also added 18 doubles and 10 stolen bases.
However, don’t expect Bowker to be in the big leagues any time soon with the way the Giants roster currently is. Sabean & Crew have made it clear that they will bring him up when consistent playing time is available.
The decision to keep Bowker at Triple-A does make sense, especially when he’s hitting the ball like he is and guaranteed time in the majors isn’t exactly a lock right now. Keep him in the minors, have him rake, then bring him up when the Grizzlies’ season is over and the rosters expand in September.
It’s certainly something Pacific Coast League pitchers don’t want to hear.
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