CalL1 San Jose Giants

San Jose at Bakersfield, April 3-6

Published on April 2, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


San Jose Giants (0-0) at Bakersfield Blaze (0-0)

At Sam Lynn Ballpark

- Thursday, April 3rd at 7:15 PM

- Friday, April 4th at 7:15 PM

- Saturday, April 5th at 7:15 PM

- Sunday, April 6th at 1:15 PM

Pitching Match Ups

- Thursday - Clayton Tanner (0-0, 0.00) at Tommy Hunter (0-0, 0.00)

- Friday - Kevin Pucetas (0-0, 0.00) at Zack Phillips (0-0, 0.00)

- Saturday - Ben Snyder (0-0, 0.00) at Omar Poveda (0-0, 0.00)

- Sunday - Tim Alderson (0-0, 0.00) at Beau Jones (0-0, 0.00)

Internet Broadcast...The entire series from Bakersfield can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com with Joe Ritzo calling all of the action.

THE SAN JOSE GIANTS...begin their defense of the California League title on Thursday with the opener of a four-game series against the Bakersfield Blaze. Last season, the Giants won their second championship in the last three years and fourth overall in team history. San Jose posted a 73-67 regular season record before defeating Visalia and Lake Elsinore in the North Division and Championship Series' respectively. The Giants begin the 2008 campaign with seven consecutive games on the road before opening their home slate on April 10th versus Bakersfield.

The Steve Decker Era Begins...Manager Steve Decker, who returns to the California League after starring as a player in San Jose during the 1988 and 1989 seasons will lead the Giants. Decker, a former major league catcher, previously managed Salem-Keizer (Short-Season) to consecutive Northwest League titles in 2006 and 2007. Overall, Decker guided the Volcanoes to a 157-71 record during his three-year stint at the helm for a remarkable .689 winning percentage. 2008 marks his eighth year as a minor league manager/coach with the San Francisco Giants organization.

Clayton Tanner To Start Opening Night...20-year old left-handed pitcher Clayton Tanner will make the opening night start on the mound for the Giants. Tanner, a 2006 third round draft pick, is coming off an excellent season in Augusta (Low-A) last year. The southpaw, who earned in-season South Atlantic League All-Star honors, logged a 12-8 record and 3.59 ERA over 23 starts with the Greenjackets. The De La Salle High School product (Concord, CA) was named the #12 prospect in the entire Giants organization according to Baseball America entering the 2008 season.

Top Prospects...All total, five players on the Giants opening day roster garnered mention on Baseball America's Top 30 prospect list. Starting pitcher Tim Alderson headlines the group after the right-hander was selected in the first round (22nd overall) last year. Alderson, just 19 years old, has only five innings of professional experience, but was named the #2 prospect (#1 pitcher) in the San Francisco farm system. Other players listed include Tanner (#12), Mike McBryde (#13), Ben Snyder (#21), and Brett Pill (#25). McBryde, who will start in center field, was a fifth round draft selection two years ago. The speedster hit .276 with seven homers, 61 RBI, and 14 stolen bases for Augusta last season. Snyder is coming off a fantastic season with the Greenjackets as the left-handed pitcher finished second in the South Atlantic League in victories (16), third in ERA (2.09), and third in strikeouts (145). The former fourth round pick is expected to start on Saturday evening. Pill, a power-hitting first baseman, hit .269 with 10 home runs and a team-high 91 RBI with Augusta last year. The slugger also led the South Atlantic League with 47 doubles.

League MVP Joins Giants...Infielder Matt Downs joins the San Jose Giants this season after a banner 2007 campaign with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Downs earned Northwest League MVP honors last season after he hit .338 with 33 doubles, eight home runs, and 48 RBI in 73 games played. The 24-year old was a 36th round draft pick out of Alabama in 2006 and is expected to garner considerable playing time at second base for San Jose.

Sandoval, Mooney, Wilding Return...Pablo Sandoval, Mike Mooney, and Taylor Wilding - three key performers on last year's championship squad - have all returned to San Jose for the 2008 season. Sandoval, who split time between catcher and first base last year, will catch exclusively this season. The 2007 San Jose Giants Offensive Player of the Year, Sandoval was a non-roster invitee to major league spring league training. The 21-year old hit .287 with 11 homers and 52 RBI last season. Mooney returns to play right field after hitting .245 with 12 homers, 56 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. The Bay Area native features an outstanding throwing arm that led to a league-high 17 assists in '07. Wilding was the lone San Jose Giants representative on the California League All-Star team a year ago when he saved 12 games to go with a 4-2 record and 2.54 ERA.

Projected Lineup...The projected opening day starting lineup (2007 statistics in parenthesis):

C - Pablo Sandoval (San Jose: .287, 11 HR, 52 RBI)

1B - Brett Pill (Augusta: .269, 10 HR, 91 RBI)

2B - Matt Downs (Salem-Keizer: .338, 8 HR, 48 RBI)

3B - Ryan Rohlinger (Augusta: .235, 18 HR, 78 RBI)

SS - Sharlon Schoop (Salem-Keizer: .284, 4 HR, 29 RBI)

LF - Bobby Felmy (Augusta: .281, 15 HR, 82 RBI)

CF - Mike McBryde (Augusta: .276, 7 HR, 61 RBI)

RF - Mike Mooney (San Jose: .245, 12 HR, 56 RBI)

DH - Andy D'Alessio (ARL-Giants: 306, 14 HR, 51 RBI)

Bakersfield Blaze...The Blaze, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers, have not finished above .500 since last reaching the playoffs in 2001. Last season, Bakersfield posted a 57-83 overall record - worst in the North Division. Former major league catcher Damon Berryhill takes over as the manager in 2008 and he'll give the ball to Tommy Hunter on opening night. Hunter, a supplemental first round draft pick (54th overall) last year out of Alabama, was 2-3 with a 2.55 ERA as a reliever for Spokane (Short-Season) in 2007. Hunter has been rated the #15 prospect in the Rangers farm system according to Baseball America entering the season. Third baseman John Whittleman, second baseman Jose Vallejo, and outfielder Julio Borbon are expected to lead the Blaze offensive attack. Whittleman, a second round pick in 2005, hit 17 home runs between Clinton (Low-A) and Bakersfield last season. Vallejo, a 21-year old out of the Dominican Republic, hit .269 and was a remarkable 47-of-50 in stolen base attempts with Clinton a season ago. Meanwhile, Borbon is regarded as the top outfield prospect in the Texas organization. A 2007 first round draft pick, Borbon played in just nine games last season after signing his professional contract.

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California League Stories from April 2, 2008


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