Spring Training Update: Game Wrap 03-28-2010

Today's game was like an afterthought given the morning's announcement of the contract extensions for Wilson, Affeldt, and Cain. More on that later. The Giants pretty much sleepwalked through a 7-0 loss to the Padres, and you have to be getting the feeling that they are getting anxious to break camp and get on with the season. Some key lines:

Offense- Nada. 8 scattered hits and a walk. That's it!

Kevin Pucetas- 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K's. This was a test of character for Kevin. He started off the game allowing 3 straight hits, a HBP and a BB to drive in the second run. Then with the bases loaded, 0 outs and 2 runs already in, he proceeded to pitch his way out of it recording 3 consecutive outs without allowing any more baserunners to score. I'm not sure where this leaves him in the roster shuffle, but this might have been a more valuable experience for him than if he had breezed through 5 or 6 more innings.

Denny Bautista- 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K's. Gotta think this closes the door on his bid for a bullpen spot.

Alex Hinshaw- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K's. See Denny Bautista, above.

Wilson, Affeldt, Mota- 1 scoreless inning each. I still think Mota has this team made. I would say the final bullpen slot is coming down to Joaquin vs Pucetas with Casilla going on the DL and extended ST, or as insurance in the minors. Casilla was reportedly throwing in the upper 90's in his few appearances.

Notes: Of course, the big news is the contract extensions. Wilson and Affeldt were known to be done deals. Henry Schulman of the Chronicle sniffed out the Cain extension. I love these moves both individually and collectively:

1. I think Wilson is more likely to get better over the next 3 years than worse. Injury is, of course, a concern, but that is true with any pitcher. The time it took for the Giants to get from Robb Nen to Brian Wilson and the pain of that journey makes me want to hang onto him as long as he's healthy and effective. Even with the extension, he's less expensive than either Nen or Benitez were.

2. Affeldt I'm less excited about, but he's built up a track record for effectiveness and he's not old. It's a decent risk-reward ratio for the Giants

3. Love the Cain extension. This keeps the pitching staff together while the Giants bring their position prospects online over the next 3 seasons. It also buys a bit more time to develop pitching prospects like Bumgarner, Wheeler, Concepcion, Sosa and Tanner. Some may be disappointed that it only extends 1 season into free agency. You never want to commit more than 3 years to a pitcher unless you absolutely have to. This gives both sides security in the mid-term and flexibility for the long term.

4. I think this sends a great message that the Giants are able and willing to pay to keep their homegrown talent. Hopefully this quiets down the doomsayers who insist that the Rowand/Zito contracts will cause the Giants to lose their so-called window of opportunity.

5. The amount of $$$ being spent on the pitching staff may signal that the Giants are counting on replacing the current veterans on the team with talent from the farm system as the veteran contracts expire over the next 2-3 seasons.

I'll say it again. I love where this organization is right now. The Giants are as well positioned for the future as any team in baseball with a great core of young MLB talent, an outstanding farm system and an equally outstanding scouting department. It all starts at the top, and I think Neukom has done a great job as Managing Partner so far. Yes, that includes the Bochy and Sabean extensions.

Speaking of Bochy, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has ranked the 30 MLB managers and ranks Bochy at #16 out of 30. I think that's about right. He's not the best manager in baseball by any stretch, but he's not nearly as bad as some fans in cyberspace are making him out to be. His weakness, obviously, is game management. His strengths are maintaining a good attitude in amongst the players and say what you will, the man knows how to build and manage a pitching staff, especially bullpens. IMO, the rap that he won't play young players is unfair too, as he's brought several young players into the team over the last two years, and has given several more opportunities that maybe they didn't take full advantage of.

Baggs has a tweet that Bumgarner has worked out some of the kinks and was hitting 91 MPH consistently in his last minor league camp outing. This is good news. They need to take it slowly with this kid. He's only 20 years old and they don't have to have him on the MLB team just yet. Maybe he was just pressing a bit in MLB camp?

Fred Lewis has been out with a pulled muscle in his side. A trip to the DL might temporarily ease some of the roster logjam? He could spend up to a couple of months in extended ST until a need develops on the MLB club, the Giants find a trading partner for him, or they finally release him.