Comments on: A’s Cactus League report http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/ An A's-Giants blog Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:14:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jeff Fletcher http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-775 Jeff Fletcher Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:22:45 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-775 Dave, it's hard for me to answer that question fully since I haven't been here and seen many of them. From what I read in the Chronicle today, it seems like Mazzaro is probably the closest of the Little Three. I think Jerome Williams and Edgar Gonzalez are probably both in the same category in the competition. Either could make it if he pitches well over the next three weeks. Don't forget, it's still early. A lot could happen between now and opening day. Dave, it’s hard for me to answer that question fully since I haven’t been here and seen many of them. From what I read in the Chronicle today, it seems like Mazzaro is probably the closest of the Little Three. I think Jerome Williams and Edgar Gonzalez are probably both in the same category in the competition. Either could make it if he pitches well over the next three weeks. Don’t forget, it’s still early. A lot could happen between now and opening day.

]]> By: daveinsm http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-774 daveinsm Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:05:40 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-774 Hey Jeff, with the possibility of the Duke starting the season on the DL, which one of the "little three" do you think will make it on the starting 5? or maybe a darkhorse like j. williams? Hey Jeff,

with the possibility of the Duke starting the season on the DL, which one of the “little three” do you think will make it on the starting 5? or maybe a darkhorse like j. williams?

]]> By: Jim http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-756 Jim Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:28:11 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-756 Thanks for the info, Jeff. Speaking of Villalona, where do you think he ultimately ends up in the field? Can he play anwhere other than first base? Looking down the road as a Giants fan, my best case scenario for 2010 would be: 1) Burriss, 2B 2) Renteria, SS 3) Lewis, RF 4) Holliday, LF 5) Sandoval, 3B 6) Ishikawa, 1B 7) Rowand, CF 8) Posey, C With Molina, Roberts, Winn, Johnson, and others coming off the books, do they have the money to throw at Holliday after this year? Depending on how Lewis and Ishikawa perform this year, that lineup could be coming into its own for 2010 - then maybe a Villalona call-up at the end of '10 for some spot starts against lefties at 1B/platoon with Ishikawa. Thoughts? Thanks for the info, Jeff. Speaking of Villalona, where do you think he ultimately ends up in the field? Can he play anwhere other than first base?

Looking down the road as a Giants fan, my best case scenario for 2010 would be:

1) Burriss, 2B
2) Renteria, SS
3) Lewis, RF
4) Holliday, LF
5) Sandoval, 3B
6) Ishikawa, 1B
7) Rowand, CF
8) Posey, C

With Molina, Roberts, Winn, Johnson, and others coming off the books, do they have the money to throw at Holliday after this year?

Depending on how Lewis and Ishikawa perform this year, that lineup could be coming into its own for 2010 – then maybe a Villalona call-up at the end of ’10 for some spot starts against lefties at 1B/platoon with Ishikawa.

Thoughts?

]]> By: Jeff Fletcher http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-751 Jeff Fletcher Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:56:14 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-751 Even though Villalona is a full two years ahead of him in the development pipeline, I think it'll be close. Because Villalona has to figure out defense too, I think he'll be a level-to-level guy. I think he could be in the majors late in 2011 or early 2012. It's such a crapshoot to try to guess when Ynoa will be up, but I'll say sometime in 2012. Even though Villalona is a full two years ahead of him in the development pipeline, I think it’ll be close. Because Villalona has to figure out defense too, I think he’ll be a level-to-level guy. I think he could be in the majors late in 2011 or early 2012. It’s such a crapshoot to try to guess when Ynoa will be up, but I’ll say sometime in 2012.

]]> By: Jeff Fletcher http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Jeff Fletcher Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:23:27 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-748 We asked Billy Beane about verifying Ynoa's age when he signed last July, and here's what he said: “Just getting out of the country these days, there is a lot more process and documentation that needs to be provided. Major League Baseball has done a good job. The process of verifying ages here is far more strict than even in the United States, in some cases, to be honest. We are quite confident in verifying his age.” I've heard that after 9/11 the documentation rules got a lot tighter. When players first started getting their visas to come to spring training in 2002 a bunch of guys got "older." We asked Billy Beane about verifying Ynoa’s age when he signed last July, and here’s what he said:

“Just getting out of the country these days, there is a lot more process and documentation that needs to be provided. Major League Baseball has done a good job. The process of verifying ages here is far more strict than even in the United States, in some cases, to be honest. We are quite confident in verifying his age.”

I’ve heard that after 9/11 the documentation rules got a lot tighter. When players first started getting their visas to come to spring training in 2002 a bunch of guys got “older.”

]]> By: Jeremy http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-747 Jeremy Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:48:59 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-747 @Marvin Supposedly his parents are very rich and well known in the DR making it virtually impossible for them to fudge his age based are their status as public figures. @Marvin

Supposedly his parents are very rich and well known in the DR making it virtually impossible for them to fudge his age based are their status as public figures.

]]> By: Jim http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Jim Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:42:06 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-744 Who makes it to the bigs first: Ynoa or Villalona? Who makes it to the bigs first: Ynoa or Villalona?

]]> By: Marvin http://baybridgebaseball.com/2009/03/as-cactus-league-report/comment-page-1/#comment-743 Marvin Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:25:59 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=666#comment-743 Is Ynoa really 17? with all the questions about ages, what did the As do to make sure he was the age he claimed he was? Is Ynoa really 17? with all the questions about ages, what did the As do to make sure he was the age he claimed he was?

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