I’ve been meaning to say this for several days now, but somehow I never quite remember my intention at 6:00 in the morning when I sit down to write. But I would like to remind everyone that back when Alex Dickerson was acquired I took time out of my busy Minor Lines schedule to particularly note my confusion, and heavily hint my disapproval of the transaction. It’s good to perpetually keep in mind that I’m a doofus on the internet whose every utterance is made up of ill-informed doofuss-ry.

Now go read Doug’s article about how ridiculously entertaining The Dick has been:

The Giants haven’t had a Home Run Derby participant in 15 years. @moonwalkmcfly thinks that should be remedied immediately https://t.co/ZYxbMpK7SD — McCovey Chronicles (@McCoveyChron) July 8, 2019

HIGHLIGHTS: Alexander Canario homered, doubled; Luis Toribio hit his first HR; Luis Matos had two hits, three RBI.

With AA and AAA now into their All Star breaks, we’ve got a full cuisine of low levels for the next couple of days, so what do you say we mix things up and take the system upside down!

DSL Giants lost to DSL Colorado, 7-6

It will not, perhaps, shock you to learn that Luis Matos had two hits yesterday. Nor that one of them was a double. After all, he’s had exactly two hits in nearly half of his full games this year (12 out of 25). And multiple hits in 15 out of his 25 games (since leaving after one PA in the opener) — including the last six straight (during which stretch he’s now 15 for 29). And he’s had doubles in 10 games and at least one extra base hit in 13 games. No, there seems to be little Luis can do to surprise us these days. But he did draw his 5th walk of the year! That’s a little surprising!

Victor Bericoto broke a 1 for 22 slump, coming up with 2 hits for the first time since his 4-hit day back on June 26.

Also among the things that aren’t terribly surprising, the Giants pitching blew a 4-0 lead to continue their plunge down the standings.

AZL Giants Orange beat AZL Indians Blue, 8-3

Hunter Bishop collected his second double in as many days as he continues to tune up for his promotion up to Salem-Keizer. Bishop left after 2 ABs and is now 2 for 5 as a pro. It will be interesting to see how the Giants plan to manage having Bishop and Canario in the same lineup once the 1st rounder is ready to leave Scottsdale with both currently playing CF.

After Bishop was gone from the game Team Orange went to back to their normal bashing ways, picking up 3 runs in both the 6th and 7th innings. Luis Toribio helped out the scoring, going deep for the first time this year among his two hits. Toribio is 23 for 70 so far in the early season. He has just 5 extra base hits but reports are that he is making a lot of hard contact. He’s also picked up 10 walks (to 21 K) to boost his OBP up to .413. Toribio had a very solid BB to K rate in the DSL last year and posted a .423 OBP.

Juan Sanchez had perhaps his best start of the year, allowing just 2 runs in 4.1 IP while striking out 5. The outing pulled his ERA down under the 7.00 mark.

Marco Luciano had a lackluster 1 for 4 day, but let’s all enjoy his swing anyway:

With a swing like this, it's easy to see why Marco Luciano already has seven home runs in the Arizona League. pic.twitter.com/d9kuciuDnS — Josh Norris (@jnorris427) July 7, 2019

AZL Giants Black lost to AZL Dodgers Mota, 6-5

Dilan Rosario, the Giants 6th round pick this year out of Puerto Rican academy ball, came to pro ball with a reputation for strong defensive tools at SS. But after a slow beginning he’s started to come alive with the bat for Team Black. He’s now gone 7 for his last 22 at bats with 3 HRs and 2 doubles. He’s even found time for 3 walks in that stretch. Amazingly he’s also struck out 11 times in those 22 ABs, so when he’s actually making contact he’s hitting it hard somewhere (or getting hit lucky). Rosario’s 4 HRs lead the Giants Black.

One day after breaking his 12 game hit streak, Jairo Pomares got back on the board with another 2-hit day. Like Luis Matos, Pomares has posted multi-hit games in more than half of his days as a pro so far, and overall is hitting .367/.415/.517.

Ryder Jones is still trying to shake off the rust of a lost spring. He’s gone 0 for 9 so far in his rehab stint but he’s out there every day which is the important thing.

Salem-Keizer won at Eugene Emeralds (Cubs), 9-7

sweeping their series, 2-0

Alexander Canario and the Volcanoes busted out together in a huge 8-run 2nd inning. Canario, who was still trying to find his footing since being promoted to the NWL, was both the alpha and the omega of the rally. He started things off with his first HR with Salem-Keizer — and 8th overall in 17 games:

Alexander Canario goes deep for first time as a @SKvolcanoes pic.twitter.com/PE313qZKI1 — Roger Munter (@rog61) July 9, 2019

Five hits and a throwing error later, the inning would come back around to Alexander and he would provide a punctuation point — showing some opposite field power off as well.

Canario would add two-run double in same inning to cap off 8 run rally pic.twitter.com/sGVBW1eyeo — Roger Munter (@rog61) July 9, 2019

The Volcanoes would ride that big inning all the way to a win, though Eugene fought back to make it a tiny bit scary before the end. Canario did strike out 2 more times to give him 13 now in 7 games, and overall the 22 K to 5 BB ratio will be something to focus on in the years to come. But for now he has a good day behind him at a new level, and the lightning quick bat gets a good night’s sleep and a dose of confidence to take into tomorrow.

Keep swinging it, Alexander!

AUGUSTA WAS OFF FOR A TRAVEL DAY

San Jose lost at Modesto Nuts (Mariners), 7-3

Sean Hjelle had his worst start of the year — and possibly his worst inning as a pro. Hjelle opened the game with an uncharacteristic bout of wildness, hitting the first batter he faced and walking the third. He would ultimately hit a 2nd batter in the inning (though manager Billy Hayes apparently didn’t think so as he was ejected for arguing the call). Hjelle was also ambushed for five hits in the inning. It all added up to a 4-run opening inning for Modesto and yet another loss for the Giants, who seem to be having trouble converting all the talent they have on hand into Victories.

The Giants looked like they had some fight in them, as it took them just three batters in the bottom of the first to take three of those runs back.

Sandro Fabian says “don’t forget about me” with his 1st HR of the year w San Jose. Fabian opened season with a lengthy IL stint and just rejoined ⁦@SJGiants⁩ this weekend pic.twitter.com/fzxC4linV2 — Roger Munter (@rog61) July 9, 2019

It appeared like a slugfest was afoot — but Modesto’s veteran rotation stalwart Ljay Newsome clamped down on the Giants after the Fabian HR, going the distance for a complete game victory by retiring 27 of the next 28 hitters.

Hjelle on the other hand, would struggle through just 2.2 innings — his shortest outing of the year — and allow 5 runs overall. The rough outing knocked his ERA up by nearly a full run — from 1.94 before the game to 2.76 after.

For the 21 year old Fabian, the big blow had to feel good. It took a long time to get him his 1st HR of the year with the Giants. In four games since returning to San Jose, Fabian is 5 for 16 with a homer and a double, with 4 Ks and 0 BBs.

Today’s Scheduled Starters:

Sacramento: ALL STAR BREAK

Richmond: ALL STAR BREAK

San Jose (Aaron Phillips) vs. Modesto (Matt Walker)

Augusta (Keaton Winn) @ Columbia (Christian James)

Salem-Keizer: OFF

AZL Giants: OFF

DSL Giants (Jose Mullings) vs. DSL Royals2 (TBD)

Lots of teams off tonight — the AZL always goes dark as a league for the major league All Star game — so tomorrow is an exceptionally short slate.

But, just because games aren’t happening doesn’t mean there’s no news! Which reminds me to leave with this extremely well-deserved honor! Congratulations, Zach!