Spring Training Notes: Ortiz Released, Journeymen Re-Assigned and Belt OTF?

With Opening Day (well...the official one, unless you count today's games in Japan as Opening Day) officially begins next week, which means we're winding down in Scottsdale. So, as with anything winding down, there is some new swirling around Giants camp as the rosters start to get finalized. Safe to say, there probably is a lot more on the horizon for the Giants in the next couple of days.

Here are a few of the most recent tidbits that deal with Giants prospects/minor league players.


-- According to Hank Schulman of the SF Chronicle, the Giants released journeyman right handed pitcher Ramon Ortiz. Ortiz pitched for the Fresno Grizzlies in 2010, but didn't get a callup at any point that season. Last year, Ortiz made his return back to the big leagues, making 22 appearances for the Cubs while posting an ERA of 4.86 in 33.1 IP. Despite his experience and arm (he averaged 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings last year with the Cubs), it was a longshot that Ortiz would break camp with the Major League team, let alone see any playing time at the Major League level at any point this season. With the Giants depth in the starting rotation and bullpen, the chips were heavily stacked against Ortiz this Spring. Chances are though he will catch on with another team at some point this year, most likely with a team that is in more need of pitching or bullpen depth.

-- Also, Schulman reported that the Giants re-assigned Andrew Kown, Brian Burres, Wilmin Rodriguez, and Shane Loux to Minor League camp. All of them were non-roster invitees, so the decision on these guys doesn't really come as a surprise. Rodriguez had the most impressive Spring of the bunch, as he posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in six appearances and 5.1 innings of work. He also recorded a save and struck out five batters while allowing four hits and no walks. Of all the listed guys above with an outside chance to somehow sneak on the 40-man roster this year, I think Rodriguez has the best shot, especially with Dan Runzler's health a major question mark this year.

-- Much to this writer's dismay, Brandon Belt may start the year in Fresno despite a stellar spring (he was hitting .380 with three home runs going into today's game), according to Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area (and formerly the SJ Mercury). Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens had this to say in Baggarly's piece about Belt's performance at the plate this Spring:

“He’s way out in front of the batter’s box,” Meulens said. “It works for him, but want to make sure he’s getting the bat head out on those pitches middle-in and not just trying to flare it to left-center. We’re on the back field using drills so he can create that feel. When his elbow goes out, the barrel actually flattens and it takes a longer time to get the bat out in front."

My big issue with this is that I understand Belt may not put up the .380 mark in the Majors this year like he has been doing this Spring. That is unrealistic of course, and I think he would probably be a .250-.270 hitter with a .340-.360 OBP and .420-.450 slugging. However, Belt really has nothing else to prove in Fresno (he mashed last year), and he offers a lot more value to the Giants other than just offense (he is a huge defensive upgrade over Aubrey Huff). It's just sad that the Giants are being so cautious with him, because I think he came on toward the end of the year after the Giants stopped sending him down to Fresno and back up to San Francisco like one of those crazy, flashing Yo-Yo's. Hopefully, Belt will get an extended shot at first for the Giants at some point this year and can prove to the Giants he's the best option for the Giants not only for the future, but for the present as well.

Will Ramon Ortiz get one more shot at the majors with the Giants?

The last Major League Baseball game Ramon Ortiz pitched in was on October 1, 2007 with the Colorado Rockies. Ortiz pitched one inning of no-hit ball, and struck out one as he earned the win against the San Diego Padres in a 13-inning, 5-4 win at Coors Field.

Since then, Ortiz hasn't touched a Major League field, but that isn't to say that journeyman pitcher has quit playing baseball altogether just yet.

After playing baseball for the Nippon Baseball League in Japan in 2008 with the Orix Buffaloes, the 36-year-old pitcher from the Dominican Republic signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants during Spring Training this season.

However, unlike infielder Juan Uribe (who also signed a similar minor league contract in Spring Training after his contract was up with the Chicago White Sox) Ortiz has been regulated to being in Fresno all season.

That is not to say that Ortiz necessarily deserves to be playing in the minor leagues.

In 29 appearances, and 10 starts, he has a 5-2 record, a 2.48 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with the Grizzlies. Ortiz may not be dominating the Pacific Coast League by any measure like Madison Bumgarner is dominating in Double-A Connecticut, but he has certainly showed that he is capable of pitching in the Major Leagues again soon.

Only two things hold Ortiz back from putting on a Giants uniform:

A talented pitching staff, and his past.

Unfortunately, despite the solid numbers for Ortiz this year at Triple-A, the Giants simply don't need him, whether it is in the rotation or the bullpen. The Giants are already more than settled in the rotation with Lincecum, Zito, Cain, Sanchez and now, Martinez holding it down. Furthermore, the Giants will have to make a tough decision on who to bump out if the Big Unit returns healthy and ready to go in September.

The bullpen isn't exactly yearning for arms either. Miller anchors the long-relief position, and Romo, Affeldt, Medders and Howry have the seventh and eighth innings covered too. And the closer, Wilson? Let's just say he's not relinquishing that position for the rest of the season.

Add that with a lot of promising arms such as Kevin Pucetas, Bumgarner and Waldis Joaquin who will be considered for a callup when the roster expands, and the chances of Ortiz getting a chance to take the hill at AT&T looks as slim as Eric Roberts getting the lead role in the next Martin Scorsese movie.

It's not just the organizational depth though that hurts Ortiz chances. Let's face it. The guy hasn't shown much since 2002, where he was a key starter in the Angels' World Series rotation (trying to hold back from breaking something for a second), and went 15-9 with a 3.77 ERA.

Since that 2002 season, however, Ortiz has been a shell of himself. His ERA has only been under five once, which was in 2004. It was 4.43 in his last season with the Angels, but he only pitched 14 games that year as well.

Furthermore, his combined win-loss record since 2002 has left much to be desired. Since 2003, his record has been 46-51 after playing for the Angels in 2003 and 2004, the Cincinnati Reds in 2005, the Washington Nationals in 2006, and the Minnesota Twins and Rockies in 2007.

With that kind of history in terms of win-loss record and ERA, it comes as no surprise why GM Brian Sabean promoted guys like Ryan Sadowski and Joaquin over somebody like Ortiz.

As Ortiz continues to pitch well in Fresno, it will definitely be interesting to see what the future will hold for the journeyman pitcher who many thought was finished in the Major Leagues after 2007.

After throwing a three-hit shutout on August 4th, Ortiz is certainly making enough noise to merit Sabean's attention. Does he deserve as much consideration as a younger guy like Pucetas or Joaquin? Probably not, but you can't ignore him if he's lighting up the Pacific Coast League.

To be perfectly honest, Ortiz would be a great story to a team that is chock full of them this season. Jeremy Affeldt's resurgence. Joe Martinez's comeback after getting hit with a line drive on April 9. Pablo Sandoval breaking out. Matt Cain finally getting run support. The Giants 60-and-freaking-48. Ortiz would only add to what has been an incredible season in San Francisco.

Some Giants fans will say we don't need him, and they're probably right. But I think the situation with Ortiz goes beyond our need for him, and rather his need for the Giants to give him this shot. And to be frank, I think that chance is worth it for the Giants. He wouldn't have to be a starting pitcher or even that key of a reliever for this Giants squad. He can just be another pitcher to mop things up or lower the damage after a starter is taken out early. I certainly believe he is more than capable of handling those responsibilities.

Because the bottom line? He is pitching well enough in the minors to deserve one more shot at the majors, and as history has shown, guys in his situation don't usually waste last chances.

Unless you're Tony Batista or Jose Lima of course, but I can make a safe bet that Ortiz is no Batista or Lima. "Lima Time" wouldn't have anything on Ortiz if he could make this comeback.