angel chavez or kevin frandsen, anyone?

[west coast orange and black]

whaddaya think the chances are for either one of these youngsters to make the opening day roster?
chavez recently left the panama world classic squad in hopes to get more licks in during spring training.

chavez plays 3rd and is built a little bigger and has more pop.
frandsen is a second baseman who, i think, will play his 2006 season in aaa.
durham's health looks to be good, and this is his *contract* year.

[Dravecky43]

whaddaya think the chances are for either one of these youngsters to make the opening day roster?
chavez recently left the panama world classic squad in hopes to get more licks in during spring training.

chavez plays 3rd and is built a little bigger and has more pop.
frandsen is a second baseman who, i think, will play his 2006 season in aaa.
durham's health looks to be good, and this is his *contract* year.

I think Frandsen does need another year of seasoning, and with Vizcaino back he will probably get that. I really like Chavez as a sleeper, but he will probably be forced back here because of the Vizcaino signing. I do believe I have seen him make some NICE diving plays here in AAA, and he could definitely be a .270-15-60 guy in the majors right now. We'll just have to see if he gets a shot, though.

[west coast orange and black]

vizcaino definitely tampens down chavez's chances, gatw16. good call.

[kdiddy63]

Frandsen should be on the opening day roster. He has only been dominant at every level he has played. After this season, I think the Giants should give the starting 2B position to him when Durham's contract is up.

[west coast orange and black]

so, frandson over vizcaino, diddy?
it's one thing to play superbly in the minors, it's another to be even an *average* regular starter in the bigs. you think very highly of frandson. i hope that the giants are right when they decide to name him the starting second baseman.
and if it all works out then i will say "hey, diddy made that call last year!"

[Honus Wagner Rules]

What?! The Giants have a potential regular position player coming through their minor league system?! Who's is in charge here! Sabean, wake up! You must trade them before they has a chance to develop and actually help the Giants. :grouchy

[west coast orange and black]

[west coast orange and black]

on another note, merkin valdez has been heating it up.
after reaching 99 on the gun several times the past few days, he hit double-0... with control.

[Dravecky43]

on another note, merkin valdez has been heating it up.
after reaching 99 on the gun several times the past few days, he hit double-0... with control.

Dude. No way. If the gun's readings were correct, and he did have control, I'm very excited about him filling the hype that has been given him the past few years. It's gonna be fun watching him blow away AAA hitters this year.

Or maybe he'll be a dark horse winner of the 5th starter job in the bigs...

[JonnyDomestik]

Or maybe he'll be a dark horse winner of the 5th starter job in the bigs...

I was under the impression that Merkin Valdez was going to be coming out of the bullpen. I've been hoping we could have a closer for the first time since Nen...

[KHenry14]

I'm hoping that this might turn out like the Yanks when they had Rivera setting up John Wettland. Rivera got used to being in the show, and when he was ready they moved Wettland. Or K-Rod behind Perceval with the Halos. I'm hoping that Valdez might work the same way with Benitez.

KH14

[Dravecky43]

I was under the impression that Merkin Valdez was going to be coming out of the bullpen. I've been hoping we could have a closer for the first time since Nen...

Well, I think the jury is still kind of out on this deal. Yes, it is looking a lot like he will be in the 'pen. But there is still a chance he stays in the rotation.

[west coast orange and black]

gatw16: Dude. No way.

way.
merkin is battling for probably the roster's final pitcher's spot, but he will most likely spend the first 5 months in aaa, then get the call-up.

next year, though, if things go according to schedule, he will be with the big men all season.