Minors check-up

by thashyt on May 23, 2008 2:03 PM PDT

With today's day-off, i wanted to see what was up with some of the Minors players we have. So if anyone has something to respond, please feel free...

1. Why is Craig Italiano still in Kane County? I know we have a TON of young pitchers, but the guy has a 0.8 ERA! He's completely dominant. Can we at least plug him into Stockton and see how he does? We just brought up H-Rod to Midland a couple weeks ago. I'm sure we could slide him into the rotation there.

2. Is there anything you've heard as to why Gio Gonzalez has struggled in AAA (the other night not withstanding)? He had like 4 straight clunkers. It would be nice to have him set in the Oakland rotation by the end of the year. A rotation of (assuming we trade Blanton) Duke, Harden, Eveland, Smith, and Gonzalez would be fun to watch heading into next season. Plus we always have Gaudin and DiNardo there in case he fails.

3. If H-Rod throws a 97 fastball and 84-85 change, what's his problem? Is it just that he needs a third pitch? Location? Delivery?

4. When are we gonna finally see CarGon in the bigs? Is it gonna take another injury? I mean, we're going to have MORE OF's soon when Denorfia comes back. It seems that injury would have been a good time to give the kid a look.

5. What does everyone think of Petit's stay with the big-club so far? I like his bat, though he could stand to draw more walks (Man i sound like an A's scout).

6. How's James Simmons doing in AA?

Oh One more....

7. Has Jesus Guzman cooled off? Or was he just playing over his head before?

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1.) I would guess that Italiano is stil in Low-A because he has been injured a lot in recent years and thus had sporadic playing time. I would think they are just giving him time to settle in and have some consistent success for the first time in his pro career. That and with the sheer number of pitchers in the system there is no need to rush him.

2.) Not sure about Gio, but it is said that the jump from AA-AAA is more of a mental jump than a physical one. He is not facing hitters that are that much more talented just ones who have a more refined approach at the plate. He is being tested more on his control and being made to pay for missing the zone. Hopefully his last start is a sign that he is hitting his spots more and trusting his stuff in the zone. I’m not overly concerned about him yet

3.) I dunno what’s up with H-Rod

4.) I would expect to see Carlos Gonzalez closer to the second half of the season. Because of injuries he has missed some time. I would bet the A’s would like to see him play consistently for a couple months and show that he is fully healthy and can drive the ball. This would hopefully coincide with the time that the A’s can either dump Emil off or feel comfortable relegating him to a bench role.

5.) Hard to say much about Petit in such a short time when I haven’t actually seen any games

6.) Simmons was doing well untill his last start when he was hit pretty hard and has now been shut down due to a “dead-arm phase”. It’s always iffy when a pitcher gets shut down for a while (especially with the A’s) but it’s not unusual for a young pitcher to miss a few starts in the middle of the season due to a dead arm. Considering this is Simmons first full year as a pro I’d hold off before hitting the panic button.

7.) I don’t know much about Guzman probably someone else could answer this better

by OkayJay81 on May 23, 2008 2:29 PM PDT reply actions

Agree

1) Italiano has had a brief minor league career and is a high school draftee. Might as well leave him in Low Class A and dominate.

2) Gio: Every young pitcher struggles, espcially in hitter friendly Pacific Coast League with veteran hitters. He’ll improve, or become Meyer redux.

3) H-Rod’s problems make me think that either his fastball is bone straight, or he’s hiding an injury.

4) I think CarGo has to stay in the minors untill June in order to delay his Free Agency clock. The fact that he is playing more centerfield, with Buck playing RF again in Sac-Town suggests that the A’s Brass will be promoting him in June.

5) Petit seems like a utility guy to me. He has no pop, and his plate discipline is questionable. We will probably trade Harden for Jed Lowrie in July.

6) Simmons has a dead arm. He pitched a lot in college, and advanced quickly last year. And I think he pitched in the Arizona Fall League. I would imagine he would get about 3-4 weeks of shut down time.

7) Guzman was probably playing over his head, but he is only 23, so he may become a consistantly good hitter. Defense is another issue.

by StewCrew on May 23, 2008 2:46 PM PDT reply actions

Guzman himself has said he used to try pulling everything

and now he’s finally concentrating more on hitting up the middle. That might help account for his improved batting.

by OaklandSi on May 25, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Henry Rodriguez's problems have always been walks

Last year he controled them. This year in Stockton he had it working.

But in Double A his walk totals skyrocketed back to his Rookie League totals.

by Zonis on May 23, 2008 3:04 PM PDT reply actions

My guess

At the lower levels, he could get away with throwing out of the zone, as a lot of hitters were swinging at those pitches. At AA, he’s finding hitters that lay off that stuff. It seems to me that AA is where pitchers have to finally learn to pitch and not just throw. Also, I think this level is where we learn if H-Rod is a starteror a reliever.

by ozzman99 on May 25, 2008 7:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Denorfia

has been sent back to AAA, not sure of what you meant by “when he comes back”.

by passionately objective on May 23, 2008 3:26 PM PDT reply actions

probably meant

“when he comes back”, as in after he gets regular AB’s.

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on May 23, 2008 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions