Minor League Thread

[Giants666]

Giants extend San Jose's player development contract through 2008

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants will continue their 19-year relationship with their Class A affiliate in San Jose with a two-year extension of their player development contract through the 2008 season, club director, player personnel Bobby Evans announced on Friday. With Friday's announcement, the partnership between the big club and the reigning California League champions will reach 21 seasons at the close of the 2008 campaign. The Giants' relationship with the San Jose club began in 1988, and during that time the Minor League club has advanced to the post season 13 times in the first 18 years. In fact, San Jose captured the first-half championship last week and will make its 14th appearance in the California League playoffs as a Giants affiliate. "The San Jose Giants organization has consistently made San Jose a great experience for our players and staff," said Evans. "The fans have been tremendous in supporting and even hosting our players over the years. While we have concerns about San Jose Municipal Stadium, we are optimistic that these facility issues will be addressed in the near future. It has been a great partnership, and we have every reason to believe it will only get better."

[Giants666]

Lincecum named Golden Spikes winner
Giants draftee is first player from UW to earn honor


Tim Lincecum, who went 12-4 with a 1.94 ERA and a nation-best 199 strikeouts for UW, was named the 2006 winner of the Golden Spikes Award.

The commercial would go something like this: Announcer: Tim Lincecum, you've won 12 games, finished the season with an ERA under 2.00, set a Pac-10 record in strikeouts, been named an All-American and been selected No. 10 overall in the recent draft. What are you going to do next? Tim Lincecum: I'm going to win the Golden Spikes Award! Lincecum, the ace of the University of Washington baseball team and one of the best college pitchers in the country, was honored with the prestigious 2006 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award on Friday. Lincecum -- a native of Renton, Washington -- becomes the first-ever winner of the Golden Spikes Award from the UW. He was also the first-ever finalist from the school. The USA Baseball Golden Field Award -- given to the athletic department and head coach of the Golden Spikes Award winner -- has now gone to 23 different schools since its inception in 1978. The presentation of the award, which will also be sponsored by Major League Baseball, will be held at a later date and time to be determined. "It doesn't get much better than this," Lincecum said. "Having a great season, going in the draft, this is one of the biggest things to happen to me. Winning the award is a big honor for me. It just feels really good to win it." Lincecum, a two-time Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year (2004, 2006) felt really good all season. He started 17 games for the Huskies, going 12-4 with a 1.94 ERA and a nation-best 199 strikeouts in 125 1/3 innings. In his April 18 start against the UCLA Bruins, Lincecum struck out 18 on the way to a 5-0 victory. As a result of Lincecum's collegiate efforts, his draft stock skyrocketed, and he was even in consideration at one point for the No. 1 overall pick. The pitcher was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the No. 10 overall pick, becoming the University of Washington's highest-drafted baseball player ever. Lincecum is the school's career record holder in multiple pitching categories including wins (30), innings pitched (342) and strikeouts (491). But in the company of fellow Golden Spikes finalists Evan Longoria, Andrew Miller, Drew Stubbs and David Price -- all of whom were top 10 picks in the draft with the exception of the sophomore Price -- Lincecum was all ready to give his "it's-an-honor-just-to-be-nominated speech." "I was thinking the same thing," Lincecum said. "I wasn't in the mindset to think about these awards. If it was going to happen, it would happen. There were so many good players. We all played well this season. Just to be in that group is a big deal. It means a lot." The 2006 Golden Spikes Award winner was announced during the telecast of the 29th Annual USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award show on ESPNU. The telecast, produced by Major League Baseball Productions, highlighted USA Baseball's athlete programs as well as some of the various youth baseball initiatives supported by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball. ESPNU will offer fans additional opportunities to see the show with broadcasts today at 9 p.m ET and 11 p.m. and Saturday, June 24, at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. For the past 28 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first-ever presentation of the award to Bob Horner of Arizona State in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. Last year's winner was Alex Gordon of the University of Nebraska. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars such as Rickie Weeks ('03), Khalil Greene ('02), Mark Prior ('01), Jason Jennings ('00), Pat Burrell ('98), J.D. Drew ('97), Travis Lee ('96), Mark Kotsay ('95), Jason Varitek ('94) and Phil Nevin ('92). Former Major League stars who have captured the award include Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('85), Dave Magadan ('83), Terry Francona ('80), Tim Wallach ('79) and Horner. "USA Baseball is extremely proud to honor Tim Lincecum of the University of Washington with the 2006 Golden Spikes Award," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball executive director/CEO. "Tim's tremendous season and magnificent career show he belongs in the impressive company of the players who have previously won the award. We are very happy for the Washington baseball program and their head coach, Ken Knutson." The Golden Spikes Award puts a cap on Lincecum's season and college career. Now all that remains is for him to agree to terms with the Giants and begin a new chapter as a professional. "I's getting very close to where I'm going to put on a San Francisco -- or whatever farm team in their system -- hat," Lincecum said. "Signing is getting very close. "I'm really psyched for it. It's going to be an exciting time for me. I'm finally going out on my own and finding out what it's all about."

[love_that_reefer]

Double-A Connecticut's Eddy Martinez-Esteve had surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Martinez hurt his non-throwing shoulder on May 6 and hadn't played since. The 22-year-old was hitting .272/.324/.446 in 92 at-bats before going down. He still should have a future as a major league left fielder or DH.

This is not good news. This is probably THE only position player with promise and now he misses a year!

[Giants666]

Yeah no shit.....this kid has gold glove written all over him.......has never made a error in the minors(knock on wood).

[Giants666]

Giants sign first-round pick Tim Lincecum

[love_that_reefer]

While Triple-A Fresno has won just one game in July, outfielder Todd Linden is on a 14-game hitting streak, batting .385 during the longest Grizzlies skein of the year. Also, third baseman Mike Cervenak, who started the season in Korea, rejoined the club and has hit safely in nine straight games with a .455 average in that span.

Holy shit! Linden showed up!

[Giants666]

Only in triple A though, his stock has fallen big time.

[love_that_reefer]

Giants Triple-A farmhand and Frenso starting pitcher Matt Palmer took home Pitcher of the Week honors for his efforts from July 17-23 in the Pacific Coast League. The 27-year-old former University of Tennessee hurler went 1-0 and did not allow a run in two starts against Tacoma and Salt Lake. Palmer has a record streak of scoreless innings going, not allowing an opponent to reach home in 15 1/3 innings. Palmer is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA for Frenso since being called up June 15 from Double-A Connecticut.

Sounds like he is progressing well!

[love_that_reefer]

San Jose Giants closer Brian Anderson was named to the High Class A All-Star team by Baseball America. Anderson leads the California League in saves, converting 28 of 28 opportunities this season and appearing in 40 games for San Jose. The right-hander has given up just seven runs in those 40 appearances and owns a 1.31 ERA and an 0-1 record. The right-hander and Long Beach State alum is the anchor for a Giants 'pen that has a 46-0 record when leading after eight innings. The 23-year-old California native was San Francisco's 14th selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Good to hear some talent is in A ball!

[love_that_reefer]

Scott Munter, the reliever renowned for his "bowling ball sinker," is alive and well at Double-A Connecticut, and he'll soon be packing for a promotion to Triple-A Fresno. Presumably, he'll take that heavy sinker along for the ride. "He's not far from being back to what he should be," said Alou, explaining the right-hander, who underwent elbow surgery Sept. 30, took awhile to regain his arm strength. Munter was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season before being optioned to the Minors. With the Defenders, Munter is 1-3 with a 5.00 ERA, but his fastball has hit 92 mph recently, a vast improvement for the 6-foot-6, 261-pound pitcher. In Fresno, first baseman Lance Niekro smacked two homers Wednesday and has a team-best 11 homers in only 19 games. That's good news for the promising slugger, who also has a nine-game hitting streak during which he's batted .421. Fresno outfielder Jason Ellison (.405) and second sacker Kevin Frandsen (.301) are also doing well. From last Friday to Wednesday, the top two batters in the Grizzlies' batting order hit a combined .392 with 10 runs, four doubles and seven RBIs. Reliever Tim Lincecum, the Giants' first-round pick in June's First-Year Player Draft, is slated to pitch for Class A San Jose on Saturday night. He certainly earned his promotion from short-season Salem-Keizer, where he fanned 10 of the 14 batters he faced and allowed only a run. Also at San Jose, outfielder John Bowker's 22-game hitting streak has ended. He batted .386 in the streak, longest in the California League this season.

Great to see Niekro, Ellison and Frandsen doing so well. We need all the help we can get when September comes around.

[love_that_reefer]

Jonathan Sanchez yielded one run in five innings Sunday in his second start since he was sent down to Triple-A Fresno. The Giants are stretching Sanchez back out after using him as a short reliever in the majors. He threw 74 pitches yesterday, suggesting that he could be an option to take over as the Giants' fifth starter after two or three more turns at Fresno.

I don't know if he will be better than Hennessey but who knows. If we keep playing like shit, expect Wright to be put on waivers.

[love_that_reefer]

Tim Lincecum yielded two runs and struck out seven in six innings Wednesday for Single-A San Jose.
The performance earned the 2006 first-round pick his first win as a pro. Lincecum has a 2.92 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings for San Jose. He could join the Giants as a reliever in September.

[love_that_reefer]

Brian Anderson, the crafty closer for Class A San Jose, broke a California League record Friday night when he recorded his 35th save of the season.

Anderson shut the door for the 35th time in 36 tries, breaking the previous record shared by Rafael Chaves (High Desert, 1992) and Bill Everly (San Bernardino, 1999).