Tuesday, December 24, 2019

'Tis the Season for Some Changes

The Giants promoted Antoan Richardson, the team's Field Coordinator, to first base coach for the major-league squad. Jose Alguacil, it seems, is let go. I always thought they were grooming Alguacil for bigger things. From a January article about Richardson:

Antoan Richardson -- Field Coordinator
Richardson starts his first season with the Giants as the Field Coordinator. The former outfielder spent the 2018 season as an Outfield Coordinator for the Toronto Blue Jays. Richardson appeared in the Majors with the Atlanta Braves in 2011 and with the New York Yankees in 2014. He was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 35th round of the 2005 draft out of Vanderbilt University. The Bahamian native made his Major League debut on September 4, 2011, and recorded his first career hit off Clayton Kershaw in his first Major League at-bat. In his free time, Richardson mentors youth in the Bahamas through Project Limestone, a non-profit organization he established shortly after his retirement.

He just turned 36. Only Ron Wotus, among the coaches, is a greybeard. These whippersnappers have some big challenges ahead--I hope they're up to it!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone. And thanks for reading, as always.

--M.C.

6 comments:

Ron said...

We seem to have more Coaches than Players right now. I'm struggling to identify 3 Outfielders on the current Roster. Hope that we're scouring the Winter Leagues, so that we can construct a full Roster soon. And, why do we again not seem to be in contention for the latest Japanese League people who are becoming available?

M.C. O'Connor said...

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo signed with TB, he's a lefty-hitting corner OF who just turned 28. Two yrs, $12M seems pretty modest. My guess is the Giants want a righty, hence their interest in Castellanos, which I understand is somewhat overstated. (Yaz, Dickerson, and Duggar are all lefties, as are Chris Shaw and Joe McCarthy.) Shogo Akiyama, CF, is also a lefty, and 31 years old. Again, the surfeit of lefties makes me think neither of these guys is on the radar.

Then again, all that may be moot, as the team is clearly in a rebuilding mode. Rebuilding teams often avoid the free agent market entirely. Jaylin Davis, I expect, will get a lengthy look (he's a righty) and they still have Austin Slater (another righty). I know these names don't generate much excitement, but with a team focused on "player development" (aka "teaching at the big-league level") you might have to get used to them.


nomisnala said...

they would generate more excitement if they were not the two righty outfielders that the team at this point must rely on. Davis on a good team could be selectively placed so that he could have success. Seems now that if things do not change he will be thrown into the fire, and he may come up smelling roses, or be another failure.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Matt Moore goes to Japan.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Ryosuke Kikuchi, 30-year old second baseman, elects to stay in Japan, despite being 'posted' by his team (Carp).

If we had universal free agency, talent would move between professional leagues more readily. I have no idea how NPB contracts work, but it seems like only older players get to come to the States.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Shun Yamaguchi goes to the Jays for 2 yrs, $6+M, he's a 31-year old RH reliever.