Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/17/2015: D'Backs 10 Giants 0

Well, I am not sure there is much to say about this one.  Matt Duffy, Juan P and Joaquin Arias got 3 of the Giants 5 hits between them, but that is about all the positives I can find here.  Bummy went just 2 innings then went to work on some things in the pen.  Angel Pagan apparently has a stiff back which is really not a good thing coming off back surgery.  I think we've all suspected he still is not right for awhile now.  Just glad there is still a couple of weeks to go before the season starts, because they are not ready right now.

A bunch of kids got sent out to minor league camp as expected.  No real surprises.

Strange transaction:  The Giants obtained Jackson Williams, a former farmhand, for cash considerations from the Angels.  I would say this is AAA insurance in case Andrew Susac is slow coming back from the wrist problem.

12 comments:

  1. Yeah, it's been pretty grim, especially the pitching. But we shall see what we shall see.

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  2. Does Arroyo being sent to AA camp mean anything significant?

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    1. It is interesting. Wouldn't that be something if he started the season in AA? I think the Giants really want to challenge him this year. I'm guessing they will see how he competes in AA camp and if he does well just might push him. On the other hand, minor league assignments are finalized very late and can change at the last minute. I think one year Nate seemed ticketed for AA and at the last minute got sent back to San Jose.

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  3. I was just thinking this morning that things are not right with this team, and sure enough Bochy admitted his frustrations after another drubbing. I truly do not get hung up on spring stats, but Pavlovic reported today that the Giants have the WORST ERA in the majors this spring. What that means, I don't really know. What I do know is that this club hasn't had a losing record in spring since 2008, so there must be at least a sliver of correlation between success in ST and success in the regular season. It'd be nice to see the starters show a bit more consistency for the next couple weeks.

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    1. I have always said that pitching stats in spring training mean something. I would certainly hope to see some better outings from the SP's over the next week or I'm afraid this could be a real downer year for them. Forget about the lack of power. This team, as always, will succeed or fail with the pitching.

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  4. I think it is a combination of a couple of things. First, I think it is still somewhat of a hangover from last year. Season was very long and draining so I am sure they are still recovering a bit physically and emotionally from that. They are also banged up with 2/3 of their starting line-up out with injuries, another gone via FA and their starting pitching still nursing some ailments. I think there are some issues with the pen that will come out soon too. This is, in places, an older and banged up team that Bochy is going to have to use his magic on to get the most out of them until they are all up to speed. It is looking to me already that the plan is to try to keep it together until the trade deadline and then, if they are in contention, use some of the money and maybe a prospect or two that they tried to do some deals with in the off-season for a deal that carries them into a post season position. I don't think they have ever been comfortable with this club this year in terms of expecting them to come out the gate like they did last year but I also think they are seeing that they may have some challenges just hanging in there if people don't get healthy.

    Billy Baseball

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    1. I think that last year, even more than 2010 and 2012 took a big physical and emotional toll on the team. Again, I am not saying it's insurmountable this year, but absolutely everything has to come together right.

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  5. im already prepared for a down year

    what the giants org has done in the age of fa and the month long playoff structure is beyond remarkable....no matter what the naysayers say (reg season means much less, etc)

    i dont think we are going to see scores like this in the reg season, but i also dont believe the giants are going to win more then 80 games

    its ok

    bacci

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    1. As I have said many times, it is crazy hard to repeat a championship in baseball for numerous reasons. This team has left it on the field so many times over the past 5 seasons it is crazy. I felt like they were starting into a transition phase of the franchise last year. They got another ring out of it, but at what cost? I don't think they need a full rebuild, but they do need an infusion of newer younger talent over the next 2-3 seasons to keep this thing going. Sabean's biggest challenge lies ahead and I'm already giving him a Mulligan for this year, which is not to say I think it is impossible for them to win again, just extremely challenging.

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  6. I agree Doc. That is why part of me hopes that they use the trade deadline as an opportunity to re-tool instead of trying to squeeze another title out of it. Not a complete rebuild, but just younger in a couple of positions and build some depth for the future.

    Billy Baseball

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    1. I just don't want to see them sign a huge longterm deal with 1 high priced veteran that might not be enough and will hamper them in the future. That's the main reason why I was relieved they did not sign Lester or Shields and most of all thank God they did not sign Pablo! They have several promising young players in the organization. They have to integrate at least 3-4 of those over the next 2-3 years to remain competitive into the future.

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  7. All good points, and having endured a discectomy/laminectomy after a misfortunate parachute landing, I can appreciate Pagan's pain a bit.

    All I really hope for is a competitive team that can defend its well-earned title until the end of the regular season. It is an odd-numbered year after all, and being the superstitious soul that I am, I have been banking on 2016 as the next installment of the McCovey Cove version of "LOTR". By then, the yoots that Doc and others speak to hopefully will be ready to contribute (a la Panik, Susac and Matt Duffy!).

    But if Boch & Co end up repeating this year? Icing on the proverbial cake I say!

    Oh, and knock the Fodgers out ot the playoffs as a consolation prize!

    NWGiantsFan
    DtF!!!

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