Pirates Grab Former Angels Prospect Christopher Garcia

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 4, 2009 7:49 PM EST

This is a very minor move, but since the Pittsburgh papers don't seem to have it yet, I'm going to go with it.

The Pirates have acquired first baseman Christopher Garcia, who recently turned 22, from the independent-league Shreveport-Bossier Captains. I'm not really sure what Garcia was doing in the indy leagues, because he signed with the Angels in 2007 after being drafted in the 15th round and generally just killed the ball in two minor league seasons, posting a .912 OPS overall in both levels of the rookie leagues. His main position seems to be first base, but he also played second and third for Shreveport. Like I said, this is a very minor move, but I'm really not sure why a guy who hits like Garcia has was even available. It's quite possible scouts think he has some problem that will prevent him from hitting at higher levels, which would basically mean he'll be an organizational player. But if not, hey--free prospect. Cool.

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Where’d you see this?

by WTM on Dec 4, 2009 7:59 PM EST reply actions

Oops. Copy-pasted wrong link. Fixed now.

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3937171

This site has been reliable in the past with minor transactions, sometimes getting them before the P-G.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 4, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

Pirates interested in Rich Harden, Reid Brignac

http://insidepittsburghsports.com/story/pirates-willing-to-move-zach-duke-targeting-reid-brignac-express-interest-in-rich-harden/19574/

by phil79 on Dec 4, 2009 8:07 PM EST reply actions

Interested in Rich Harden?

Kind of like saying a teenage boy is interested in Megan Fox, isn’t it?

by Suffering Buc on Dec 4, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

Ugh, I hope they don’t make a move for Brignac. Most overrated prospect in the Rays’ system IMO. You can get an all-glove shortstop anywhere.

http://fanhuddle.com/pittsburghpirates

by Nate Rose on Dec 4, 2009 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

Kinda like

sticking your hand in the pocket of your winter coat when you pull it out for the the first time in December, and finding a $20.

I like that.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Dec 4, 2009 8:10 PM EST reply actions

Here’s what the Angels scout said in 2007. Obviously not toolsy.

“Chris is a left-handed bat, " said Angels scout Tom Kotchman, who will also manage Garcia this summer. “Some say he’s got a John Kruk-type body. If he ends up being like a John Kruk, we’ll be very happy.”

by bolton on Dec 4, 2009 8:37 PM EST reply actions

Kruk, despite being an idiot, was an excellent player.

http://fanhuddle.com/pittsburghpirates

by Nate Rose on Dec 4, 2009 8:53 PM EST up reply actions

Does this mean he’ll do retarded commentary on ESPN?

by WTM on Dec 4, 2009 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully it means he’ll appear as himself on an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

by ElDuce on Dec 4, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

NO NOOOO JOHN KRUUUUK

http://fanhuddle.com/pittsburghpirates

by Nate Rose on Dec 5, 2009 3:18 AM EST up reply actions

Hopefully He Won't Have to Face Randy Johnson!

One of funnyest scenes was Kruk facing Randy Johnson in the All Star game in ’93 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT9ntDaFu1M&feature=PlayList&p=CF2C33A61C6194F4&index=0&playnext=1

Kruk is entertaining!

by zogger on Dec 5, 2009 8:37 AM EST up reply actions

Does anyone know why the Angels gave up on him after only a couple of seasons.

I see only played in 40 games per year during each of his first two years. Did he have a bunch of injuries or something?

by houksyndrome on Dec 4, 2009 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

40’s a decent number of games in the rookie leagues. The seasons are only 50 some games long.I can’t seem to find any info on why he was no longer with the team.

by ElDuce on Dec 4, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

I forgot about that.

it just doesn’t make sense why they would just dump him. Maybe he banged the minor league director’s wife or something. Then again, he has a John Kruk-type body, so that shoots down that theory.

I like his hitting stats a lot. Very good patience.

by houksyndrome on Dec 4, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions

Some of us

heftier-sized fellas get lots of good lookin’ tail.

So that shoots down that theory.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Dec 5, 2009 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

If he’s got your sense of humor I wouldn’t doubt it. That’s just so rare though.

by houksyndrome on Dec 5, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

Peter Griffin
Homer Simpson
Fred Flintstone
Doug Heffernan (king of queens)

… that’s all I can think of atm

by BlindSquirrel on Dec 6, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe strikeouts?

From his page in baseball-reference.com, he had 62 k/292 AB, but he also had 52 walks. Maybe a lack of power? He had only 4 HRs in two seasons. It looks like he basically repeated his 2007 season, spending time in the Arizona and Pioneer rookie leagues, and his 2008 numbers look the same as the the 2007 numbers, so maybe a lack of progression. In any event, this strikes me as a good flyer to take.

Since my other post apparently did not survive, I add, “Honey, I would never have an affair with the nanny. By the way, meet Jaimee, our new live-in cocktail waitress.” to the things you should never say to your wife while she’s holding a 9-iron.

by Trogluddite on Dec 4, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

My impression is that high walk and strikeout rates in the lower levels indicate that the hitter just waits deep into counts for pitchers to make mistake pitches. And mistake pitches are a lot more common at the lower level.

by matskralc on Dec 5, 2009 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

62 K in 292 AB...

…is well under the 25% threshold. A better contact rate would be nice, of course, but the one Garcia posted is not a huge concern in and of itself.

by Vlad on Dec 6, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

E3 - Garcia...All bat, no glove.

I think the Pirates might be able to do some wonders with Garcia. He can hit, but I think he stayed so long in the Rookie league because of his inability to field a ball. For example, he played in two Independent Leagues in 2009. In 6 games for the Jackals, he made 4 errors at 1b. That’s roughly a pace of 80 or so errors for the season. Wipe that foehead. He made 12 errors in 77 games for the Shreveport-Bossier Captains, but oddly enough played out of position at 3b and 2b. I wonder if the Pirates have their eye on moving him to one of those positions. Regardless, if you are batting .361 in an Independent league, you probably shouldn’t be there. I wonder if the Pirates would consider his left handed teamate and starting pitcher, Isaac Pavlik (7.7 strikeouts per game throughout his career).

by formerdraftpick on Dec 5, 2009 4:59 AM EST reply actions

It seems like a defensively challenged 1B would have to hit for much more power in the rookie leagues to be even a marginal prospect, but again it’s kind of a small sample size in the MLB system and possibly the Pirates will find a few worthwhile adjustments for him.

by Adam Reynolds on Dec 5, 2009 4:58 PM EST reply actions

Amazing Power Hitter

I had the pleasure of seeing Chris Garcia play in Arizona while visiting family. This kid is another Babe Ruth. The sound of the bat when he hits that ball is deafening. I love baseball, and I now am a Pirates Fan, because I could watch this kid play all day! My theory on why he was independent… bad management decision on the A’s part, go Pirates!!!

by stellabaldwin on Dec 8, 2009 4:34 PM EST reply actions