Let’s start by firing up the ol’ twitter machine, with a couple of different discussions about prospects and prospect value that collectively give a great deal of insight:

How do #SFGiants No. 2 prospect Heliot Ramos and #Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic compare?@JonathanMayo sizes up both of the #FuturesGame participants in the latest Inbox: https://t.co/7JUVY4TGrj pic.twitter.com/1ALySSPaec — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 11, 2019

If you missed today's A's/Giants prospects Q&A with @melissalockard, check out the transcript. Tons of good info and insights within. https://t.co/LSMiFsqYij — Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 12, 2019

And for Baseball Prospectus subscribers (sorry for all the subscriber material today!), here’s a great think piece on Why linear ranking lists matter, what they’re good for (other than for the click bait, obviously). It’s really worth a read if you care at all about prospects (which you do or you wouldn’t be here, right?)

I’ve worked on a couple more of these lists than Jarrett and agree with all of this to the point I was apparently “yelling” at Craige to put it in front of the paywall. https://t.co/MTXaz8m4Xw — Jeffrey Paternostro (@jeffpaternostro) July 12, 2019

HIGHLIGHTS: Steven Duggar reached base four times, SB;

Sacramento beat Fresno Grizzlies (Nationals), 8-5

Gerber knocks home Duggar!



T6 | River Cats - 4, Grizzlies. - 1 pic.twitter.com/rAvVzaZXIJ — Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) July 12, 2019

Steven Duggar had a scoresheet filling performance — he reached base four times, doubled, scored two runs, drove in two runs, and stole his second base — helping Sacramento start the second half right. Duggar has gone 11 for 30 with five extra base hits since showing up in Sacramento on a rehab assignment (since changed to optional assignment).

Duggar seeing double! Leading 8-5 as we head to T9 #ClawsUp pic.twitter.com/inA94q13lS — Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) July 12, 2019

Sacramento got hits from all eight starters, with excellent production from the bottom of the order, where Abiatal Avelino and Levi Michael each had two hits and collectively scored three runs.

The Rivercats jumped out to a lead against rehabbing Nats starter Joe Ross. They salted things away with a three-run rally in the 7th that included RBI hits from Joey Rickard and Chris Shaw. They finished up their scoring against an old friend:

This series is the chance to make some hay against 2nd place Fresno. With a win to open the second half, Sacramento pushed their lead to 1.5 games. Widen it tonight, fellows!

Richmond lost at Harrisburg Senators (Nationals), 7-2

It was not, on the whole, much of a night for the Squirrels as they were held to just four hits and found themselves down and out pretty early.

But amidst the gloaming, Bryce Johnson stood out as the right fielder had his own little skills competition going on. First the speedy OF showed off his excellent arm:

WHAT. A. THROW. @BryceJohnsonSF throws out Michael A. Taylor at home to prevent the run pic.twitter.com/6jf71HK2Jv — Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 12, 2019

And later on he gave Richmond it’s only runs of the night with tool he rarely uses — power!

✅ Throw out a runner at the plate

✅ Hit a homer@BryceJohnsonSF launches a two-run shot to right! pic.twitter.com/0bcaYqqijm — Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 12, 2019

It was a quiet day elsewhere though, as Richmond continued to sink to the bottom of the standings — where they’ve spent much of the last several years. The Squirrels have the worst record in the EL this year, and are the only team with a winning percentage below .400. In fact, they’ve now done something no other Squirrel team has ever...uh...accomplished?

Flying Squirrels have fallen to 23 games under .500 for the first time in the franchise's history. https://t.co/a8VXvPKUsU — Trey Wilson (@treywilson757) July 12, 2019

Which makes the devotion of their fans quite an extraordinary phenomenon. I said this on the podcast the other day and I really mean it — they need to get this fanbase a winning collection of talent soon to reward their incredible passion.

Thank you to the 9,560 fans who came out tonight, a new Eastern League All-Star Game record pic.twitter.com/1Uz4c4lAUR — Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 11, 2019

San Jose lost at Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers), 8-4

San Jose suffered a frustrating loss last night. They outhit the Quakes 13-9 but left a season high 13 runners on base as they struggled to bring runners around to score. Starter Jake Wong scuffled with his control a little bit, pushing his pitch count up and limiting him to just 4.2 innings. Wong hasn’t missed a ton of bats this year, but in Augusta he maintained a 3:1 K to BB ratio because he kept the ball in the strike zone. He’s had a little less success with that in the Cal League, where it’s dropped to 2:1 with 40 Ks against 19 BBs in 47.2 IP.

Still the Giants went into the late innings in a 3-3 tie, but a three-run rally against Rodolfo Martinez swung the game to the Quakes.

Heliot Ramos’ average climbs above .300 with three hits tonight (3-for-4, three singles). Ramos at .304 for the year with the #SJGiants. Has a .404 AVG (21-for-52) in last 13 games. And... he just made a spectacular catch crashing into the CF wall. Wow. — Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) July 12, 2019

.300-hitting Heliot Ramos and Joey Bart picked up 5 hits between them — all singles — and each had an RBI in the game. Speaking of Joey, the one and only Billy Hayes had a lot of fascinating and frank things to say about Bart’s season and the rest of the Giants, in last night’s pregame interview with Joe Ritzo:

Today's pregame interview is #SJGiants manager Bill Hayes providing an in-depth assessment of Joey Bart's season at the plate and in the field, last night's DRod start, Sean Hjelle's "edge" on the mound & some of his Giants-Dodgers rivalry anecdotes https://t.co/LGANHBw6In — Joe Ritzo (@JoeRitzo) July 12, 2019

Augusta lost at Columbia Fireflies (Mets), 5-2

losing their series, 1-2

The matchup of 18 year old starters swung in favor of the Mets’ #8 prospect Simeon Woods-Richardson last night. Woods-Richardson, who the Mets nabbed with the 48th overall pick in the 2018 draft, limited the Greenjackets to just 2 hits over 5 innings while striking out 6.

Gregory Santos looking good both fashion-wise and stuff-wise! pic.twitter.com/Ab4U6kJX4I — Roger Munter (@rog61) July 11, 2019

On the Augusta side of the matchup, Gregory Santos certainly had his moments, showing off a nasty breaking ball for two early strikeouts.

Another beautiful breaking ball from Santos. Relied a little overmuch on Fastball in tonight’s game. Breaking ball can be outstanding offering pic.twitter.com/yB3F0JTbNc — Roger Munter (@rog61) July 12, 2019

His fastball was more hittable last night — including a solo shot by the first batter he faced — and as happens with a lot of young pitchers, he seemed to lean on it too much, often going to a fastball heavy mix when he got in a jam. Santos suffered through a particular long and tough 3rd inning, allowing 4 runs and using up 27 pitches. The defense, which was sloppy in a couple of crucial moments, really let the young right-hander down when a double play ball to Orlando Garcia was instead turned into a bases clearing disaster.

Turning point for the @greenjackets last night pic.twitter.com/5Uig8AEnWU — Roger Munter (@rog61) July 12, 2019

The long inning would end up being the night for Santos, and effectively for the GreenJackets as well. Better luck next time, Gregory! Mix in that breaker more often! It’s a good one.

Salem-Keizer lost to Eugene Emeralds (Cubs), 5-4

As with their San Jose brethren, the Volcanoes had a frustrating offensive night where they just couldn’t convert baserunners into runs. Salem-Keizer went just 2 for 16 with RISP, leaving 12 men on base overall — a drip, drip, drip exercise in torment in what turned out to be a one-run decision.

Much of the inability to bring runners around had to do with the team’s 14 strikeouts. Six members of the lineup struck out two or more times, including hat tricks for both Alexander Canario and Armani Smith.

Canario did hit his 3rd double since joining the Volcanoes, giving him three extra base hits in his past two games.

And before leaving the great northwest, I really have to ask — who thought this was an acceptable promotion?!?!?!??! Clearly Mr. Sabean didn’t see this item cross his desk! Bad! BAD Salem-Keizer!

Fans this Saturday July 13th Steve Garvey will be signing Free Autographs at @SKVolcanoes stadium!

Garvey was a 10x all star

World Series champion

NL MVP

2× NLCS MVP

4× Gold Glove Award

Roberto Clemente award winner

Come meet a True Legend

Tickets at https://t.co/dK6h4F2SBn pic.twitter.com/Ieiku4Ipct — S-K Volcanoes ⚾ (@SKVolcanoes) July 7, 2019

THE AZL GIANT TEAMS HAD THEIR REGULAR FOURTH NIGHT OFF

DSL Giants lost to DSL Pirates2, 9-8

After a brief foray into the well-pitched game genre, the Giants returned to more standard fare, blowing multiple four run leads before finally going down to defeat in the top of the 9th.

Sammy Jorge’s three-run double pushed the Giants out to a 4-0 lead in the top first inning. That lead was gone by the top of the 4th, but a fielding error on a Luis Matos’ grounder led to another three-run rally in the 5th. But relievers Anthony Torres and Christian Acosta would allow 5 runs from the 7th inning on. Same as it ever was for the Giants who have now lost 17 of their past 23 games.

Matos didn’t manage another two-hit game, but he did reach base safely twice on his 6th walk of the season and his 13th double. Matos is currently 2nd in the DSL in doubles, 5th in HRs (5), 8th in SLG (.591), and 13th in OPS (.895). Matos seems to be sort of “the other guy” among the Giants’ teenaged prospects, but the 17 year old is having an undeniably terrific pro debut — even if it’s not quite Luciano level.

Sixteen year old Rayner Santana reached base three times in the game, drawing two more walks along with a single. Santana has walked eight times in the last six games, boosting his OBP up to .435, though he’s also striking out at a fairly high rate (27%).

Today’s Scheduled Starters:

Sacramento (Yoanys Quiala) vs. Fresno (Logan Ondrusek)

Richmond (TBD) @ Harrisburg (TBD)

San Jose (Jose Marte) @ Rancho Cucamonga (TBD)

Augusta (Keith Weisenberg) @ Asheville (Colten Schmidt)

Salem-Keizer (Luis Moreno) vs. Eugene (Ryan Jensen)

AZL Giants Orange (Wilkelma Castillo) vs. AZL Brewers Blue (TBD)

AZL Giants Black (Keyvius Sampson) @ AZL Athletics Gold (TBD)

DSL Giants (Marvin Brown) @ DSL Pirates2 (TBD)

Salem-Keizer hosts the pro debut of former Fresno St. star Ryan Jensen (no relation to the former Giants pitcher of the same name). While San Jose tries to get Jose Marte’s season on track — he’s a big arm who really hasn’t seen a lot of success so far in 2019.

We’re nearly to the weekend everybody. Keep on chasing down that dream!