I'm confused. Why not put Misch back into the rotation? It'll tax the bullpen? Well, if Ortiz goes on the DL, you bring another arm up from Fresno. Why is that difficult? Personally, any start from Ortiz is a wasted start. He's not in the picture for 2008, he doesn't have any trade value, it's a waste. Let a kid get a start and see what happens. I love Ortiz for services past, but I hope he stays on the DL the rest ofthe year and a youngun (Misch) gets the 5th starter gig.

Well Atchison is now our very first AAAA pitcher, although he did not come up through our system. Oh well. I say give Giese a shot if Scott continues to get hit hard.

I know there's an answer to our bullpen troubles, and I'm waiting for the day when they're resolved. But he's here today, and I hope he's not going to go away for awhile.

God only knows if we're seeing Wilson's best work during a stretch drive to nowhere, in which case I'd guess he just wasn't made for these times. (You're thinking, "don't talk," but that's not me.)

Lefty and others-- maybe you guys can help address this concern for me. In all the articles written and blogged about the Giants these days, I Davis pencilled in as a starting CF possibly, and possibly some variation of a Lewis/Ortmeier platoon in a corner OF spot should Winn or Roberts be moved.

So my question is this: Why does is no one clamoring for Nate Shierholtz? Is he too young at 23 to be considered a Giants prospect? All he does is hit .300 at every level, including his short stint in the majors. He doesn't seem to have blazing speed, but he has a great arm. I'm probably totally jumping the gun, but he reminds me of Wade Boggs. Perfect #2 hitter now, and as he develops power, he could be a middle of the order bat.

Why shouldn't he get a chance to be the every day RF next year while he's still young enouhg to adjust and figure things out?

>Why is no one clamoring for Nate Schierholtz?

I'm not sure that's true, but he's definitely been under the radar since he went back to Fresno.

>Is he too young at 23 to be considered a Giants prospect?

No.

Like other Giants prospects, he has flaws. I would say that being 23 gives him the jump on Davis/Ortmeier/Lewis, all of whom are three or four years older.

The main concern about him is his plate discipline. Yes, he hits for a high average, but a low walk rate in the high minors could mean that when he gets to the bigs, good pitchers won't have to throw him a strike. I'm not saying this WILL happen, I'm just saying his track record brings up that concern. Is it enough to keep him out of the bigs? It shouldn't; I'm sure the Giants will give him a long look in September and in spring training.

I was being fecitious about 23 being too young:)

I hope you're right, I really think he deserves a very long look. I would think at 3-4 years younger than Davis, Lewis and Ort that they would think he has more growth potential.

>Why not put Misch back into the rotation? It'll tax the bullpen?

Sorry, I forgot to add one piece. Lincecum will be re-activated from the bereavement list tomorrow, so either Ortiz goes on the DL or someone else is demoted. Sure, if Ortiz is DL'ed and Misch goes into the rotation, another arm will likely be called up from Fresno. I hope it's not Sanchez, though, for the reason I stated in the post.

I think we have to go with Misch as the 5th starter, F the bullpen. Misch has shown a lot as a starter and a reliever, and deserves a chance to make a case for making the rotation next season. Also, if he does well, that would free the Giants further to make Lowry available in trade.

If need be, we just parade the relievers up here as needed. Clearly Atchison has hit the wall, so bring up Sadler, or Threets, or whoever's arm is OK right now, to eat up innings. Winning is not the objective right now, seeing who can make it up here and who can't is.

I've liked Ortmeier for a while because of his speed/power combo, and it's been my assumption that he would get that assignment in 2008. Davis, in my mind, is taking the position that Lewis was going to get, as Bonds's replacement (logic says he's gone, my gut says he'll be back...), as Davis can also be Robert's platoon buddy, and the days he is that and Bonds is out, then Ortmeier would get a start in LF.

Thus Lewis and Schierholtz would get another year in AAA in 2008, as it stands now.

Given that Winn's no-trade clause ends sometime this year, I assume that the Giants will actively shop him once that happens, so who knows, things can change by spring training, and Schierholtz or Lewis could come up and be the starting RF.

I have to assume Roberts is going to be kept. He's the model of what we want our players to be, good OBP, scrappy, speedy, plus he can pass on Maury Wills techniques and knowledge to the Giants speedsters, making every Giants visit to LA sweet as Wills' neck vein nears explosion seeing his stealing techniques help the Giants win one over his Dodgers. I would keep Roberts just for that. :^D

If Bonds somehow isn't kept, then that would be another open spot of competition for the players.

The more I think, the more I say that we should just platoon Ishikawa and Niekro at 1B in 2008, both have great defense already, just put Ishikawa out there and see what happens, as he should be running out of options in 2008 anyway. Plus once they took him out of the hell-hole that is Dodd Stadium, he has hit as well in San Jose as he did before, showing that the skill he had before didn't disappear, it was masked (2006) then perverted (2007) by Dodd. And Neikro can pitch from the bullpen too with his knuckler, be our Brad Kniesterbrook, or whatever that guy's name is who was a position player and relief pitcher for the Brewers a few years back.

2B probably Durham as we won't be able to trade him away, the way he's hitting. Hopefully he can return to form in 2008 and not that 2007 was his first year of decline (which, unfortunately, it appears to be; kind of like how Robby had that great year in 1993 to get the contract, then immediately faded away).

SS, just resign Vizquel another year, he wants it, we need it. Or maybe go with Ochoa, just to go young. I don't know who, but just go with the better defensive player.

3B, we have Aurilia still around plus we can play Frandsen there. I would start Frandsen there and see what happens, keeping Aurilia in the back pocket. He will see starts at 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS, maybe one at each per week. Plus when Durham has his inevitable DL or "can only PH today" blues, just start Frandsen there and Aurilia at 3B. Just DL Durham whenever he feels the slightest tweak, it would be worlds better than the "will he, won't he" dance we go through for one/two weeks before he is either well or DLed.

I would like to note here something I noticed recently: the Dodgers this year is suddenly filled with aging and/or ailing players the year our former trainer Nick Conte took over. Not saying there's a connection, but just noticed this.

Also, there was talk of a 6 man rotation, but I guess that's out now with Ortiz out, though if they bring Sanchez out, they can just start him and see how far he can go before taking him out, treat it as a bullpen game, like the other day.

Also, with Correia's nice start, he's another option, probably a better option, again, screw the bullpen, we need to see who can do what.

Correia used to be a starter, but he's settled into that bullpen role nicely. Keep him there. Misch should be getting the starts for now, or bring up Blackley.

>Brad Kniesterbrook

I think you mean Brooks Kieschnick, though "Brad Kniesterbrook" is a great name, too.

> [Correia] has settled into that bullpen role nicely...

I'm not sure what you mean by "nicely." He's been awful in so-called "high leverage" situations, ie, coming in with runners on base and/or the game on the line.

Here are the ">WXRL numbers for the whole team.

And here is a post I wrote about WXRL a couple weeks ago.

Oops. HTML user error.

HERE are the WXRL numbers for the Giants.

Martin: I'd be all for skipping Ishikawa past Dodd and moving him up to Fresno to see if he can hack it there, but straight to the majors? Sure, he's hitting in San Jose just as well as he did before, but is that such a good thing?

You would think, being 2 years older, and having faced tougher competition for 2 seasons, Ishikawa would DOMINATE A+ ball. Instead, he's putting up similar numbers to what he did 2 years ago (a little more power, a little less OBP), and regularly racking up 3 strikeout games (and 58 total Ks in only 160 ABs). That doesn't lead me to believe he's ready for the majors. Now, if they shot him straight up to Fresno (as they announced they were going to do awhile back, then didn't for whatever reason), and he hit there, THEN I'd be in favor of giving him a shot in the majors.