Monday, January 12, 2015

DrB's 2015 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #19 Cody Hall

Cody Hall, RHP.  DOB:  1/6/1988.  6'4", 220 lbs.

2011 SS:         3-1, 2.63, 27.1 iP, 6.26 BB/9, 13.83 K/9, 4 Saves.
2012 Low A:   3-0, 1.60, 39.1 IP, 2.75 BB/9, 12.36 K/9, 20 Saves.
2012 High A:  1-1, 3.24, 8.1 IP, 4.32 BB/9, 10.80 K/9, 1 Save.
2013 High A:  2-0, 1.34, 33.2 IP, 1.87 BB/9, 12.83 K/9, 2 Saves.
2013 AA:        2-2, 2.39, 26.1 IP, 2.73 BB/9, 9.23 K/9, 8 Saves.
2014 AA:        1-4, 3.14, 51. 2 IP, 2.44 BB/9, 9.93 K/9, 11 Saves
2014 VWL:      0-0, 0.00, 17.1 IP, 3 BB, 16 K, 12 Saves.

Cody Hall is a big, hard throwing RHP who has worked his way up the Giants organizational ladder in dreaded closer track.  He may be the guy who breaks that curse after a sensational winter league season.  For a point of reference, Jack Snodgrass, Kelvin Marte and Austin Fleet all pitched in the same league and had ERA's over 5.  The rap on Hall is that he does not have much in the way of secondary stuff.  Conner Penfold of Giant Potential posted video from spring training 2014 which clearly showed him using a FB at 93 MPH, a Cutter at 90 MPH, a slider at 87-88 MPH and a Splitter at 83 MPH.  All of his pitches appeared to be well commanded and effective.  Cody was added to the 40 man roster this fall.  I expect him to start 2015 in Sacramento, but he could be in the mix for the final bullpen slot in spring training.

14 comments:

  1. Got to love this relievers section. I feel like Erik Cordier is just around the corner. Nice reports from Conner Penfold. That sounds like a really nice arsenal that Hall is working on. I'd say if Hall gets that splitter down, he will be a force. Now comes the question, who gets bumped to open a slot in pen for the young guns? Kontos? Machi? Both?

    -Baseball Guy

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    1. I actually have Cordier farther down the list. Probably should have ranked him right after Ray Black, or may even ahead of black right behind Strickland.

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  2. The Giants indeed "tried" to trade for Zobrist but the cost was too high according to Nick Cafardo on Twitter.

    Apparently the Giants have interest in Dillon Gee of the Mets. This is very weird since we have our 5 starters in place. I do not see us getting a new starter without getting rid of Lincecum. An $18M arm coming out of the pen sounds like a little too much. The Mets want a SS and a lefty reliever. Not sure we have a SS to trade except if that means Duffy or Adrianza. The lefty reliever would almost have to be Okert. I do like Dillon Gee but I think we should roll with what we have now and possibly look to trade if an injury occurs or we want some more depth towards the deadline for a playoff run. I don't think now is the time to start trading for pitching. As far as trading for a starting LF then I think we should at least consider it. John Shea thought Josh Reddick would be a good fit. Although he is a left handed batter I think that would be a good fit. He is a above average defender with some pop. He had a down year but I think he can revert to previous form.

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    1. As much as I've been rooting for Lincecum to regain his magic, I just don't think it's going to happen. So I'm not so sure we have five starters in place and I really believe Lincecum, barring a very, very solid pre-season, won't be on the opening day roster..

      Hudson is another question mark. He started incredibly strong, but finished pretty weak. But I think he's going to be safe as a 4/5 guy.

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    2. I agree, but what do you do with him? Pay $11M of it and see if someone would take him for $7M and a mid level prospect? I just don't see him in the pen. In this scenario it would probably be: Bumgarner, Cain, Peavy, Gee and Hudson. I think Hudson would be a great #5. I don't think this trade happens unless Lincecum has a new home.

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    3. I actually think that it's fine to have Lincecum to come out of the pen. He has the stuff, just wildly inconsistent. In the bullpen, he can exert himself to his full extent because he'll only pitch an inning or so. Getting some value out of a guy who costs $18 million is better than getting no value. Plus, if he does well out of the 'pen, we can pay most of his salary and flip him to a contending team.

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    4. Does a rumor that the Giants are interested in a player make it more likely that the Giants are really interested in him? There are lots of rumors. Most of the players that the Giants have acquired, IMO, came as a surprise. Who tweeted or whispered that they would trade for McGehee? Or Pagan and Melky and Scutaro?

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    5. It isn't the rumor itself, it is who it came from. Ken Rosenthal is pretty reputable and if he says the Giants are interested in him then I am most likely going to believe him. Jon Heyman is another source I trust. Nick Cafardo and Jon Morosi are also pretty reputable. Not everything they post actually happens but more often than not if there is smoke there is fire. Over the last 4-5 years I have seen these guys leak hundreds of moves, signings, etc.

      To recap, interest is just interest. Does not mean anything will come of it. If the Giants are indeed interested then maybe their offseason plans are not done and there are moves to come. That is very interesting and worth talking about, For me personally I think they are done minus a few invites to ST.

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    6. Mark this down! TIm LIncecum will be on the 25 man roster to start the season and he will be in the starting rotation. The Giants simply are not going to flush $18 M without giving him a several starts to prove he cannot do the job.

      I am sure the Giants are interested in bringing in a starter or two for depth. I expect them to be of the minor league contract/ST invite variety, but hey, no harm in kicking tires and seeing if you can get a great deal. The Mets are fairly desperate to unload a starter. Just because they want a SS and LHP in return doesn't mean they are going to get it. I mean, people in Hell want ice water…….

      And if Billy Beane trades Josh Reddick, then I am really stumped as to what he is doing. He's a great glove in RF and about the only power bat they have left.

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    7. I'd be happy to take Reddick. Also, I'd be happy to get Gee. Timmeh is a question of mechanics, but we really can't just give up on him. He showed last year that when he's right (the no-hitter) he's an elite pitcher. Since the contract is already signed, time to see if it can be fixed (sunk cost and all that) and maybe he'll recover.
      Meanwhile, back to the bullpen prospects: over the coming season, we'll need a couple of these guys to help out. Which one proves out remains to be seen, but I'm sure we'll need one of our bullpen prospects to step up.

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    8. Lots of non-elite pitchers have thrown no-hitters, but yeah, Timmy was pretty good for a stretch last season. I just don't know that mechanics is the only problem when he has been steadily losing between 0.5 and 1 MPH of velocity per season since 2008.

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  3. If the Giants persists in looking for a starter, I am sure they know more than we know.

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    1. Ok, I'm basically in this boat - but posts like this are getting to be a mockery of themselves..

      Let's allow ourselves the luxury of not placing team management in the role of All-Knowing Aristocracy. The Giants' front office has just about a good idea as I do that there's a very strong chance that 1, and maybe even 2 or 3, of their starters may come up lame this season.

      They are quite good at what they do, but let's all not imagine ourselves to be fools in the rest if the world either. The fun of the game is getting to know the leagues and our minors as much as possible - not throwing our hands up in an appeal to authority!

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  4. I think the Giants are done with the offseason. No players of interest will fall into their lap at their price. The roster is full, they've got their rotation with some depth on the farm; maybe Sabean will add another minor league pitcher as he just did with Travis Blackley. The payroll for the 25 man is at 166+ million, calculated by AAV. They're close enough to the luxury tax that they should probably stay put so they can absorb a contract later in the season. Dodgers and Padres looking pretty good so this should be a fun year.

    -Baseball Guy

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