some info on Jesse Foppert

[CrazyHorse]

nothing detailed here just some tidbits I found from a fantasy baseball site:


Prospects

Jesse Foppert - RHP Giants

2002 Stats
3-3, 2.79 ERA, 44 H, 74/21 K/BB in 61 1/3 IP for Double-A Shreveport
3-6, 3.99 ERA, 71 H, 109/35 K/BB in 79 IP for Triple-A Fresno

If you?re going to follow the progress of one minor league pitcher this year, make it Foppert. The 2001 second-round pick has overtaken Jerome Williams in the eyes of the Giants -- Williams was cut on March 13, but Foppert survived until the final day of the spring -- and seems prepared to jump into the rotation as soon as the Giants decide there?s no need to settle for Ryan Jensen starting games. It could happen any week now.

Foppert has the look of a pitcher who will be dominant his first time around the league, assuming he doesn?t stop throwing strikes. The 22-year-old has a mid-90s fastball with plenty of movement and a vicious slider. At this point, it may be that the best tactic hitters can use against him is to just not swing, as Foppert?s pitches tend to move out of the strike zone as they approach the plate.

Foppert probably isn?t going to spend much more time in the minors. Calling Ryan Jensen an average pitcher would be generous. There?s nothing average about Foppert. If he arrives soon enough, Foppert could win a dozen games this year and strike out a batter an inning while doing it. If he?s still available in your NL-only league, pick him up now.

 

[alamojoe]

thanks for the info horse

 

[Terryray]

good stuff! some more..

good stuff! some more..

from sportsnetwork preview:

".....Righthander Jesse Foppert will make his first major league start in tonight's contest for the Giants. His contract was purchased from Triple-A Fresno on April 10 when Ryan Jensen was placed on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his lower back.

The 22-year-old Foppert, who stands at a tall 6-foot-6, has made a pair of relief appearances for the Giants and was scored upon in one outing. He threw two scoreless innings in his big league debut April 14 against Houston, and two days later allowed three hits and two runs in one inning in a loss to the Astros.

Incredibly, Foppert is in just his third season as pitcher after making the transition from first base during the 2001 collegiate season at the University of San Francisco. He averaged 11.70 strikeouts per nine innings in his minor league career....."





from SJ Mercury News:



Foppert makes first big-league start tonight

Ever since USF first baseman coverted to pitching less than three years ago, Giants have noticed huge potential
April 22, 2003


By DARREN SABEDRA






PITTSBURGH -- Less than three years ago, Giants rookie Jesse Foppert, then a USF first baseman, was finally persuaded to get on the mound. His life hasn't been the same since.


Scouts quickly took notice. The Giants drafted him in the second round a few months later. And Foppert took over from there, rocketing through the minor leagues and landing with the big club this month when Ryan Jensen went on the disabled list.


Foppert pitched two scoreless innings against Houston in his Giants debut last Monday before yielding two runs in one inning to the Astros two days later. But tonight will be a much different experience, he said. Foppert is scheduled to make his first big-league start when the Giants open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.


"It'll be real special," said Foppert, 22. "I've been dreaming about it. Ever since I started pitching, I've been wanting to get a start in the big leagues."


Armed with a fastball that exceeds 90 mph, Foppert did not have to wait long. He pitched in 14 games with short-season Salem-Keizer in 2001, then 11 with Double-A Shreveport and 14 with Triple-A Fresno in 2002. He made one start with Fresno this season before getting promoted when Jensen suffered a muscle strain in his back.


The Giants marvel about the soft-spoken, 6-foot-6 right-hander from San Rafael. To hear them tell it, it's as if Foppert has spent the past decade in the majors.


"He's not going out there like a rookie," center fielder Marquis Grissom said. "I don't think that's in his mind. He goes out there like he's going to get the job done."


It has been that way for Foppert since his USF coaches persuaded him to pitch. As a junior in 2001, Foppert struck out 112 batters in 98? innings.


It took Foppert -- who also hit .337 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 101 at-bats that season -- only one game to realize he could reach the big leagues as a pitcher.


"Pretty much," said Foppert, who struck out nine batters in six innings against Brigham Young University on Feb. 5, 2001, yielding seven hits, one walk and four runs. "I was throwing pretty hard, low- to mid-90s."


Foppert's fastball sizzles, and he also possesses a good slider and a split-finger fastball.


Baseball America touted Foppert as the Pacific Coast League's top prospect. Giants catcher Benito Santiago calls him special. Manager Felipe Alou raves about the pitcher's poise.


"He's so confident," Alou said. "You don't want to interfere with his calm. I've never seen any kid like that. I haven't seen this kid excited yet. Maybe it's a good thing."


Foppert might not show much emotion, but he is caught up by the moment. At his locker Sunday in Los Angeles, he said: "I still can't believe I'm here, at Dodger Stadium. I don't think it's hit me yet. It's unbelievable."


Imagine if he had started pitching sooner, as his San Rafael High coaches suggested. There probably would have been no need for Foppert to walk on at USF, which he did because he had no other options.


So why the stubbornness about pitching?


"I'd never done it," Foppert said. "I never did it in Little League or in high school, and I wanted to see if I could make it as a position player."


Foppert's rise conjures up memories of Joe Nathan's conversion from shortstop to pitcher in 1997. The Giants promoted Nathan to the majors two years later, and he has not surrendered a run in 10? innings this season.


"His leap was probably a little bit quicker than mine," Nathan said.


Foppert was overpowering in the minors. He struck out 88 in 70 innings with Salem-Keizer, 74 in 61? innings with Shreveport and 109 in 79 innings with Fresno.


"He's something," catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. "He can locate his fastball in and out. He's got that split-finger. But I think his confidence is most important. He acts like he's been in baseball for a few years."


Foppert is scheduled to start again Sunday in Philadelphia. After that, his status is uncertain. Jensen is eligible to return Friday.


"I'm not even thinking about Philly yet," Foppert said. "We'll see how Tuesday goes, and we'll take it from there."

 

[Terryray]

from USF site:


Jesse Foppert Sparkles In Big League Debut
Former Don pitches two scoreless innings as Giants go to 12-1


April 14, 2003

Former USF pitcher Jesse Foppert made his major league debut tonight pitching two hitless and scoreless innings as San Francisco beat Houston 4-2.

Foppert, who played first base and pitched for USF during the 2001 season, entered the game in the top of the seventh, with the Giants leading 4-1. He retired the side in order with Craig Biggio becoming his first major league strikeout. In the eighth, he retired the first two batters, including Brian Hunter via strikeout before walking Jeff Kent. He then closed it out retiring the next batter for the final out of the eighth.

Foppert was replaced by Giants' closer Worrell in the ninth, but was named "Player of the Game" by the Giants' TV crew. In addition, Foppert received a game ball and the lineup card in recognition of his debut.

What they're saying about Jesse Foppert's Major League debut:

"I was always impressed when I was with the Giants with the core of pitchers they have over there. Not just their stuff, but their makeup. Foppert looks like he's got good makeup. He's really smooth in his delivery and spotted his changeup and breaking ball well." - Jeff Kent, Houston Astros

"I think this kid's going to be something special. It was his first time in the big show, and he didn't get nervous at all. He went after hitters right there." - Benito Santiago, catcher, San Francisco Giants

Jesse Foppert On his ML debut: It felt good. I felt pretty comfortable. It feels good to pitch in front of my hometown and my family and friends. My dad was here tonight. I'm not sure about my mom.

On coming into his first ML game: I was pretty much ready after about five pitches. The adrenaline was pumping so hard.

On pitching for the Giants: I was just glad to get in there and help out the team with what they've been doing since the start of the season.

 

[CrazyHorse]

thanks for adding the info Terryray! I watched him pitch a few middle relief innings and he had some nasty stuff. I really think I am gonna regret not betting on SF tonite but I worry about this start being on the road.

 

[Junior44]

More like Jesse FLOPpert

 

[wcb4]

far from over

far from over

Giants will bang Suppan around-long as the kid settles down a little SF will come back