Curious... very curious...

[klaiggeb]

I saw where Black was called up yesterday, but not Kelby Tomlinson.

I find that most curious, since the Giants really don't have a plethora of middle infielders on the team.

[sfgdood]

Crawford, Panik, Hanson, D'arnaud...not a "plethora" maybe, but plenty enough to know that another one would only be collecting ass splinters on the pine.

[klaiggeb]

Crawford's banged up, likely more than Bochy will admit.

3 days off?

When he's been healthy, I can't EVER remember a time Bochy did that.

Plus, D'arnaud has been pretty much worthless against RHP.

Having Kelby allows more flexibility as either he, or Chase, could be used to pinch run, or double switch

[sfgdood]

It's curious to me how you continue to toot Kelby's horn yet Hanson is pretty much a waste of space. Why is this?

[klaiggeb]

That's easy, if you're talking to me, that is.

Kelby has MUCH better mechanics.

Not as good an athlete, but his mechanics are more solid.

[sfgdood]

fair enough...I personally will take Hanson's production ( nice bomb today eh?) over a guy who lets an inning ending double play ball get right past him, leading to 3 more Rockies runs and probably the game...good mechanics be damned!

[klaiggeb]

My whole thing about Hanson is this, Randy.

I ABSOLUTELY love his speed and athleticism. Abso-freaking-lutely love them!


But as you know from reading so many of my posts, for ME, it's always about:

1-Plate discipline and pitch recognition

2-solid mechanics; repeatable, solid mechanics.

3-Being able to work the count and NOT always being in the swing mode.


On those 3, Hanson is 0 for 3.

Hopefully, he'll get better, because he has some many, MANY upsides!

[sfgdood]

I can't argue the mechanics part of it, Boly. But then again some bad ass hitters have mechanics that no hitting coaches would advocate. I'm not saying Alen is going to be or is a bad ass. But I have to say it's hard to maintain a decent knowledge of the strike zone if you aren't getting consistent starts. That's why very often the best pinch hitters are veterans who have been around the block. I think if Alen, or anyone, gets more consistent starts, you will see his discipline improve. How much, well that's an open question.

[Islandboagie]

We can argue if Hanson is the real deal until we're blue in the face, fact is, when we win, he's normally contributing to that win somehow. I would be ok if they traded Panik and let Hanson have second base next season.

[klaiggeb]

You make a good point about Hanson having a lot to do with winning.

I worry about his trying to pull everything, boagie, but the rap on him was that his defense cost more runs than he produced.

As the article I read said: "The errors kept piling up and piling up and finally they had to let him go."

Of course he was a SS then, and as I've said often, the reads off the bat are totally different.

It's easier to play 2B than SS.

I, personally, after catcher, think SS is THE most difficult position to play on the field.

[rog]

I would be ok if they traded Panik and let Hanson have second base next season.


Rog -- Hanson would likely be exposed, and who would play second against southpaws?




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/4803/curious#ixzz5QFWqC0U3

[rog]

I, personally, after catcher, think SS is THE most difficult position to play on the field.


Rog -- I think almost everyone would agree with you, Boly. Catcher is tougher because of the mental aspect and the tough demands of difficult physical repetition. In terms of all-around athleticism, shortstop is the toughest.




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/4803/curious?page=1#ixzz5QFX98N5Q

[sfgdood]

I would be ok if they traded Panik and let Hanson have second base next season.


Rog -- Hanson would likely be exposed, and who would play second against southpaws?

Dood - does it really matter? On this team NOBODY can hit lefties

[klaiggeb]

Actually, Randy, one could argue that this team can't hit ANYBODY: LH or RH

[Islandboagie]

Rog -- Hanson would likely be exposed, and who would play second against southpaws?


Boagie- Tomlinson.

[klaiggeb]

From what they talked about with Alex Pavlovic on the pre game show last night, the impression they gave was that Kelby will not be protected on the 40 man roster, and thus, likely will not be back.

Not just Kelby, but also D'Arnaud.

[rog]

Kelby will not be protected on the 40 man roster, and thus, likely will not be back.

Not just Kelby, but also D'Arnaud


Rog -- Nor Chase in particular nor Kelby seems a surprise. It seems possible one or both could wind up at Sacramento, although as you say, either or both might not be back. I'm not sure how Four A players like this (although I consider Kelby a little more highly) treat such releases. Their decisions are almost surely directed toward being in/getting back to the major leagues, and I suppose many leave because they feel they have tried one organization and would like to move on to another that might provide a better opportunity than returning.

Kelby is such a hustling player, and Chase comes from such a solid baseball family, but both are likely to have careers that are on the fringes.

Sounds as if Avelino will be in next year's plans in some capacity. And certainly Hanson has injected himself into the equation.

Hanson is a fine example of how the Giants pick up these fringe players and get a lot of value from them. We probably should show more foresight when such signings are made. Most won't work out, but the two H's certainly have.




Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/4803/curious#ixzz5QL3khDVL

[klaiggeb]

I would be willing to BET that if Kelby is free to negotiate, he will be with someone else next year.

Mediocre with the glove, but he can run, hit a little, and he can play a lot of places.

[rog]

What Kelby has going for him is his versatility, base running, pinch hitting and the demonstrated ability to get important hits late in games. What augurs against is his mediocre fielding and his OPS dropping from a nice .762 to .700 to .646 to .561.

[Islandboagie]

Kelby has been up and down this season more than any player I can remember. Because of that, I can understand the decline in his production.

[klaiggeb]

If he hadn't started out so poorly, boagie, I might have bought that reasoning.

But he went down the first time because he wasn't producing.

[rog]

Boagie -- Kelby has been up and down this season more than any player I can remember. Because of that, I can understand the decline in his production.

Boly -- If he hadn't started out so poorly, boagie, I might have bought that reasoning.

But he went down the first time because he wasn't producing.


Rog -- You guys are both right. These guys aren't machines, so not playing much or going up and down DO make it harder to produce. But marginal players have to overcome the problems, or they become AAA players rather than major league players. They become utility players rather than starters.

Lou Gehrig got his chance only because of an injury. How did Lou do?

Well, here's what he did. He became a pinch hitter deluxe. In 1923 he had only 29 plate appearances, but he put up a 1.234 OPS. In 1924 it was only a dozen PA's, but he put up a 1.122 OPS. When Wally Pipp's injury gave him his shot in 1925, he put up an .896 OPS and never looked back.

Sometimes it's just luck. A player gets his shot when he's hot rather than when he's cold. That buys him enough good will that he isn't taken out of the lineup or sent down when he does get cold.

So Boagie, you're right. And Boly, you're right too.