Giants call up Ishikawa, Rohlinger and Sandoval.

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:03:40 -0700, Brent Peterson
<brentpeterson01 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

>I don't have a problem with the moves, even though they're mostly about
>replacing marginal prospects with other marginal prospects. I'm glad,
>of course, that Castillo was DFA'd; he was a complete waste of time.

I read a couple of comments about Castillo's sacking and the best one
was a resounding "Yippee!" from one reader on the blog.
>
>After so many minor league ABs, it's hard to see Ishikawa ever making it
>as a major league 1B. Still, he's got more of a shot than, say,
>Ortmeier. They might as well give him some ABs.

Imagine the Giants actually putting a real first baseman at first
base. Great move overall and one that should have happened early in
the season.


>
>I don't know much about Rohlinger. Based on a cursory glance at his
>professional career, he doesn't appear to qualify as a realistic
>prospect. He's 24 and has hit .259/.344/.415 in about 1,200 at bats.
>If he were a SS, he might be worth a look; but as a 3B, he's probably a
>waste of time.
>
>Sandoval is interesting. If he can develop as a passable catcher, then
>he's a real prospect; if, on the other hand, he is nothing more than a
>1B, then he's marginal. I think this is a case where I'd prefer that
>the organization keep him in the minors to work on his catching skills.
> In terms of Sandoval's development, I would rather that he learn to
>catch--that seems more important than getting him a few dozen major
>league ABs right now.

If he hits better than Bengie and he throws better than Bengie, being
able to run the bases faster than Bengie will be icing on the cake.
>
>-Brent
>
>
>
>
>
>Peter Lawrence wrote:
>> The San Jose Mercury News reports that the Giants have called up first
>> baseman Travis Ishikawa, third baseman Ryan Rohlinger and catcher/first
>> baseman Pablo Sandoval. Jose Castillo has been designated for
>> assignment, and Steve Holm and John Bowker have been sent back to Fresno.
>>
>> http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_10192198
>>
>> - Peter
 >> Stay informed about: Giants call up Ishikawa, Rohlinger and Sandoval. 

Brent Peterson <brentpeterson01.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:48a3698a@darkstar:

> I don't have a problem with the moves, even though they're mostly
> about replacing marginal prospects with other marginal prospects. I'm
> glad, of course, that Castillo was DFA'd; he was a complete waste of
> time.
>
> After so many minor league ABs, it's hard to see Ishikawa ever making
> it as a major league 1B. Still, he's got more of a shot than, say,
> Ortmeier. They might as well give him some ABs.

I'm not as optimistic. He finally mastered AA in his third time around,
at age 24; then he had a few great ABs in AAA. It's not impossible, and
it's not like he's taking ABs from anyone with more of a chance, but
it's still pretty much a waste of time. Better to find a washout from
elsewhere who gets let go and try that.

> I don't know much about Rohlinger. Based on a cursory glance at his
> professional career, he doesn't appear to qualify as a realistic
> prospect. He's 24 and has hit .259/.344/.415 in about 1,200 at bats.
> If he were a SS, he might be worth a look; but as a 3B, he's probably
> a waste of time.

That's what it looks like to me, too. Again, it's not as if Castillo or
anyone else in the organization is exactly a better use of the ABs.

> Sandoval is interesting. If he can develop as a passable catcher,
> then he's a real prospect; if, on the other hand, he is nothing more
> than a 1B, then he's marginal. I think this is a case where I'd
> prefer that the organization keep him in the minors to work on his
> catching skills.
> In terms of Sandoval's development, I would rather that he learn to
> catch--that seems more important than getting him a few dozen major
> league ABs right now.

I don't want him rotting on the bench, but if he plays some and soaks up
experience, I'm OK with it -- I don't think major league experience
counts much for hitting or fielding the other seven positions, but I'm
willing to believe that it could matter for a catcher.

There's also an intangible here: while the other two guys aren't really
prospects, it's a good message to send, I think, that success is going
to be rewarded in the organization. All three of these guys had good
years so far, and in the past that bought you absolutely nothing. I've
wondered if it hurt the development of guys like Linden that they must
have known that there was no path for advancement within the
organization. Especially since there don't see to be any real costs in
doing it at this point.

Still would like to see Winn, Molina, Roberts, and Aurilia elsewhere
before the end of the month (assuming that Sabean could get something
decent for Molina and something halfway decent for Winn).

JHB

JHB
 >> Stay informed about: Giants call up Ishikawa, Rohlinger and Sandoval. 

On Aug 14, 2:07 pm, Jonathan Bernstein <j... RemoveThis @socrates.berkeley.edu>
wrote:
> Brent Peterson <brentpeterso... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote innews:48a3698a@darkstar:
>
> > I don't have a problem with the moves, even though they're mostly
> > about replacing marginal prospects with other marginal prospects. I'm
> > glad, of course, that Castillo was DFA'd; he was a complete waste of
> > time.
>
> > After so many minor league ABs, it's hard to see Ishikawa ever making
> > it as a major league 1B. Still, he's got more of a shot than, say,
> > Ortmeier. They might as well give him some ABs.
>
> I'm not as optimistic. He finally mastered AA in his third time around,
> at age 24; then he had a few great ABs in AAA. It's not impossible, and
> it's not like he's taking ABs from anyone with more of a chance, but
> it's still pretty much a waste of time. Better to find a washout from
> elsewhere who gets let go and try that.

From what I can tell it's around 7-1 against that he'll hold
any new level.

Al Martin is an example of the possible hope.
 >> Stay informed about: Giants call up Ishikawa, Rohlinger and Sandoval. 

Ron Johnson <johnson DeleteThis @ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca> wrote in
news:757db434-09bd-433c-a5a6-db3b345e6be5@f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com:

> On Aug 14, 2:07 pm, Jonathan Bernstein <j... DeleteThis @socrates.berkeley.edu>
> wrote:
>> Brent Peterson <brentpeterso... DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote
>> innews:48a3698a@darkstar:
>>
>> > I don't have a problem with the moves, even though they're mostly
>> > about replacing marginal prospects with other marginal prospects.
>> > I'm glad, of course, that Castillo was DFA'd; he was a complete
>> > waste of time.
>>
>> > After so many minor league ABs, it's hard to see Ishikawa ever
>> > making it as a major league 1B. Still, he's got more of a shot
>> > than, say, Ortmeier. They might as well give him some ABs.
>>
>> I'm not as optimistic. He finally mastered AA in his third time
>> around, at age 24; then he had a few great ABs in AAA. It's not
>> impossible, and it's not like he's taking ABs from anyone with more
>> of a chance, but it's still pretty much a waste of time. Better to
>> find a washout from elsewhere who gets let go and try that.
>
> From what I can tell it's around 7-1 against that he'll hold
> any new level.
>
> Al Martin is an example of the possible hope.

And if the best you can hope for is to hit like Al Martin, but you can't
even handle the OF CO/sometimes stand in CF defensive responsibilies
that Martin (or Shannon Stewart, or, more to the point, Fred Lewis)
could handle, then you really aren't much, are you?

Again, not that he's blocking a more helpful use of the playing time,
barring Sabean actually going out and getting someone. Which isn't
going to happen. Alas.

(There is now another guy on the roster -- Sandoval -- who appears to be
more of a prospect, but I have no idea whether his development into a
starting catcher would be helped or hurt by playing 1B on the days he's
not catching).

JHB

JHB
 >> Stay informed about: Giants call up Ishikawa, Rohlinger and Sandoval.