Saltzman Says...Meet the 2011 Fresno Grizzlies

Meet Your 2011 Fresno Grizzlies:

C Jackson Williams and Chris Stewart will platoon along with Dashenko Ricardo from the Rule 5 draft
1B Brett Pill will be the everyday 1st baseman
2B Emmanuel Burriss will be the everyday 2nd baseman
SS Brandon Crawford should start in AAA, but Ryan Rohlinger might get some AB's at Short in case of a call-up to the Big Leagues
3B Conor Gillespie should get some start, but Ryan Rohlinger will get a lot of AB's here too, especially if Pablo Sandoval struggles or gets hurt.
LF Thomas Neal will be the everyday Left Fielder
CF Darren Ford will be the everyday Center Fielder
RF Ben Copeland and Tyler Graham should platoon in Right Field

SP Josh Banks and Matt Yorkin should lead a promising staff, but the talent is in the bullpen.
RP Marc Kroon, Waldis Joaquin, Henry Sosa and Alex Hinshaw all have Major League Experience, and Steve Edlefson was added to the 40 man this off-season.

To see the full roster, CLICK HERE

Marc Kroon, right, will close games for Fresno

Warszawski Says...Predicting the 2011 Fresno Grizzlies

Catchers (2)

Jackson Williams (Decker calls him the best defensive backstop in the system)

Chris Stewart (Hit .248 in 85 games last season for Triple-A Portland)

Infielders (6)

Brandon Belt (Top prospect likely will spend a couple months in Fresno before heading to the majors.)

Brock Bond (Hard-nosed gamer who works the count, sets the table)

Brett Pill (Needs to re-establish himself at crowded 1B position)

Emmanuel Burriss (Slick fielder still hasn't shown he can hit, stay healthy)

Edgar Gonzalez (Adrian's older brother adds depth, versatility)

Conor Gillaspie (Has not lived up to college and draft hype)

Outfielders (5)

Tyler Graham (Opened eyes last season by hitting .343)

Thomas Neal (Performed well enough at Double-A to earn promotion)

Terry Evans (Ex-Angels farmhand swatted 15 homers at Triple-A Salt Lake)

Justin Christian (Ex-Yankees farmhand hit .356 with .452 OBP this winter in Mexican Pacific League)

Brad Eldred (Slugger banged 30 homers in 106 games last season at Triple-A Colorado Springs)

Starting pitchers (5)

Matt Yourkin (At times last season, lefty was Grizzlies' most consistent starter)

Brian Lawrence (Former 15-game winner for Padres turned in solid 2010 at Triple-A New Orleans)

Shane Loux (Journeyman owns career 4.77 ERA over eight Triple-A seasons)

Henry Sosa (Maturity, experience all this hard-throwing righty is lacking)

Clayton Tanner (Lefty went 9-9 with 3.68 ERA last season at Double-A Richmond)

Relief pitchers (7)

Steve Edlefsen (Stingy sinker specialist still looking for first call-up)

Ryan Vogelsong (Look who's back. Ex-Giant farmhand once traded for Jason Schmidt)

Casey Daigle (12-year pro looking to wear third major-league uniform)

Alex Hinshaw (Lefty can be wild, and at times wildly effective)

Waldis Joaquin (Hard thrower re-joins Giants after rejecting White Sox waiver claim)

Dan Runzler (Lefty might also get stretched out to start if the Giants need rotation depth)

Marc Kroon (ex-Yomiuri Giants closer reportedly touches triple digits, but he's 38)

Other possibilities: IF Brandon Crawford, IF Ryan Rohlinger, RHP Felix Romero, RHP Osiris Matos
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Saltzman Says...

Brandon Belt and Dan Runzler may make Opening Day Roster for San Francisco.
Brandon Crawford should start at SS for Fresno.
Darren Ford should get promotion to AAA as well and play CF.
Ryan Rohlinger will start in AAA as well.