The pitching was lackluster, the fielding was sloppy and a 5 run 6'th inning was not enough for the Giants today. Key Lines:
Joe Panik(2B)- 2 for 4, HR(3), SB(2). BA= .220. Panik now has 5 hits in his last 2 games and seems like the guy who came in and saved last season. The dinger put him in a tie with Brando Belt for the team lead in spring HR's. As Vin Scully would say, go figure!
Hector Sanchez(Catcher)- 1 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .289. Did anyone read the piece on MCC about Susac and Juan Perez getting sent down? I just don't get the hate for Hector Sanchez! Yeah, I get the love for Andrew Susac, but not the hate for Hector Sanchez, who I honestly think gives the Giants the best chance to win right now.
Daniel Carbonell(LF)- 1 for 4, 2B. BA= .316. Carbonell split the right-CF gap with a long drive that drove in 2 of the 5 runs the Giants scored in the 5'th inning and the game.
Ehire Adrianza(SS)- 1 for 3. BA= .244. The hit was a rare RBI bunt single. Ishikawa's back injury may open the door to keep Arias, Adrianza and Duffy.
Matt Duffy(PH-SS)- 1 for 2. BA= .388. Energizer Bunny.
Tim Hudson(RHP)- 4.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 4.32. Huddy did not seem particularly concerned or even interested. Gotta be brutal that these guys are still out there pitching in the Arizona heat in the middle of the afternoon. Regular season should have started today.
Steven Okert(LHP)- 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K. ERA= 3.68. Okert finally got roughed up a bit. Gives him something to work on in the minors.
Tim Lincecum gets the start against the Rockies in Scottsdale tomorrow afternoon.
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I don't care what Hudson is saying, the Giants have to be worried about their starting pitching. There is also a good article about Vogey and him trying to come to terms with his new role. One of the thing it points out is that he is very structured in how he approached his role as a starter, doing the same thing in preparation for it including the same game day meal. Not sure how that is going to translate with him not knowing when he is going to pitch.
ReplyDeleteStarting pitching still has a ton of questions which is why the Giants pursued Lester, Shields, etc. during the off-season so hard. Probably a long shot but I wouldn't be totally surprised if they tried to address it before the start of the season in some way even if it is signing a veteran to stash in the minors. Either way, this has to be high on their list come trade deadline.
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Does Ish have a guaranteed contract? Just wondering if Maxwell sticks. I would tend to prefer him in LF once Hunter comes back, with Blanco and Aoki as reserves. With Carbonell's spring, I wonder if he (and Parker) end up in AAA as the next guys up.
ReplyDeleteYeah Ishikawa's contract is a guaranteed million. But I don't think he and Maxwell are in direct competition. Travis is left handed power and PH. He's only emergency backup for the OF. Sure a general roster crunch may bump one and not the other, but right now it's not one or the other.
DeleteAn option regarding the backup IF situation that isn't being discussed is to me an obvious possibility. Everyone is convinced Arias is a given, due to the $1.45M he's owed for this season. I say otherwise. His D is serviceable, but nothing spectacular, and the bat streaky.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the cash he's due for this season is chump change, and can easily be eaten.
On a dime, baby.
The Giants have eaten bigger contracts than Arias', but they don't do it on a regular basis. They would have to believe that Duffy over Arias is a big difference maker, which it may be. I'll be surprised if they just eat Arias' contract before midseason, though. They might try to work out a trade.
DeleteArias has been an important contributor for two championships. And The Giants know what they will receive from him.
DeleteI doubt they will give him away without anything in return.
Yeah, I certainly understand the enthusiasm for Duffy. Heck, I've been bragging him up for 2 years now! I'm just not sure the Giants see Arias as being nearly as disposable as many of our readers and commenters here at least in part due to the reasons you state here.
DeleteI don't think it's the $1 million+ that keeps Arias on the team. It's that they can stash Duffy in AAA for more seasoning and full-time play, and Arias can be a serviceable back-up. The two back-up infielders won't get a lot of play time, and Duffy is still a babe in the system (service wise if not age wise). The FO will want to keep as much talent as they can, and that means people with options get sent down.
DeleteNow if a starter infielder gets hurt or gets demoted Like Hits or Panik then we may see Duffy win the starting spot OVER Arias or Adrianza. Don't confuse a spot on the 25 man roster for a pure prospect ladder.
Difference Maker - just might be; this kid continues to demonstrate that he produces, no matter when or what you might ask of him. There is tremendous value in having a kid like that on the squad. As for the money issue; I don't think that it's as big as an issue as we might think. I present the possibilities, that help us understand the delta.
ReplyDeleteArias up, 1.45m Duffy AAA 100k = 1.55m
Arias AAA, 1.45m Duffy up 500k = 1.95m
So it's only 400k additional spend with Duffy up - unless Arias has some minor league language in his contract I might be unaware of ......... a cost I would be willing to suck up; for the value gained.
Like I said, the Giants have eaten bigger contracts. I just am not sure they dump Arias as easily as that. I don't think it's only about money here. It's what Arias has contributed to the success over the past 3 years vs an exciting looking kid with a handful of MLB regular season AB's. That would be a much tougher decision for the Giants than you are giving them credit for here.
DeleteNear term, I think the team would benefit more from Duffy on the bench than Arias. But longer term, I think playing regularly would be better for Duffy, just as for Susac. A season in AAA would let Duffy erase whatever advantage Arias has in versatility. It might let Duffy establish himself as a regular third baseman for the Giants, if his arm is good enough. Or can become good enough with teaching and practice.
DeleteI didn't think Arias would have an option to AAA.
DeleteHe doesn't.
DeleteFrom Extra Baggs:
ReplyDelete"The Giants are trying to find a way to keep Duffy on the opening day roster, even if that means making a trade. If he has to begin at Triple-A Sacramento, he probably won’t be there long."
Stay tuned sports fans
Billy Baseball
Don't give away (for nothing) in March what you may need in June (when he's somewhere else). Having skin in the game is what makes one understand that.
ReplyDeleteJust picked this up from the Chron:
ReplyDeleteMaxwell is a Giant. Brown just went DFA:
The Giants needed to clear a 40-man roster spot for Maxwell and made a significant move, although hardly surprising. They designated outfielder Gary Brown for assignment, finally conceding that their 2010 first-round draft pick was a bust. Brown hit .154 this spring before he was optioned Sunday.
The Giants have 10 days to trade or waive Brown. If he clears waivers, the Giants can outright him to Triple-A, which means he could remain in the orgnaization.
Finally conceding? The Giants have not exactly acted like they were optimistic about Brown for a long time.
DeleteWow. I am very surprised to see Brown designated. I suspect he's gone. He truly must have rubbed the brass the wrong way. He had eight big league PAs (7 regular season 1 PH vs WSH), 3 hits. Hopefully they can find a trade partner.
DeleteYeah, I'm not so sure the Giants won't just release him if he is not claimed off waivers.
DeleteI am surprised. First, I thought they would put Pence on the 60-day list retroactively. Secondly, this shows they could not find any offers for him. I was not expecting much, bot even a high-A reliever?
DeleteMaybe this is the rock bottoms for Brown, and he will put himself together.
Does anyone know why Gregor came out in the 2nd inning when it was his AB? I saw something about the LHP but Blanco is no slouch against lefties. It was a good move in that Maxwell drove in 3 of the Giants 4 runs.
ReplyDeleteRead the new Game Wrap.
Delete