The Giants have designated Ehire Adrianza for assignment which means Matt Duffy has won a roster spot to start the season. Adrianza is the best fielding SS the Giants have behind Brandon Crawford, but Duffy can play the position. Duffy won the competition with an overwhelming performance in spring training. The Giants were also impressed with his grit and savvy down the stretch and in the postseason last year and he has absolutely raked the minor leagues, including the always tough AA Eastern League, for the past 2 seasons.
Congratulations to Matt Duffy!
Oh, and one more thing: Matt Duffy!!
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A little surprised that they exposed Adrianza when Arias, in my opinion, seem expendable. Also surprised to see Kontos on the Opening Day Roster, but with some of the injuries, I'm excited for him. Anyone else see the Cardinals claimed Gary Brown? Of all the teams that could have possibly claimed him, they would be the last I wanted to see. Hope we don't see Gary Brown steal second as a pinch runner in a Cardinal uniform in a playoff game against the Giants in the near future.
ReplyDeleteAndy in San Diego
As much as I like Duffy I think designating Ehire is a mistake and didn't have to be done. Kid is just coming into his own, I just hope we don't regret this move later. I would have let Arias go, contract or not.
ReplyDeleteBilly Baseball
If they are trying to win this year, and I think they are, Arias is the guy they have to keep.
DeleteHey Doc, respectfully I don't think keeping Arias over Ehire is going to make the difference this year if they are going to win or not. Why it is surprising to me is that the Giants prize defense so much and Ehire is clearly better defensively than the others we have including Duffy. I do know they are trying to be strategic about their moves but I think this one may come back to bite them at some point. Crawford gets hurts and the whole defensive dynamic of the team now changes.
DeleteBilly Baseball
I just think Arias is the guy with veteran savvy and intangibles here. I agree that Adrianza is the best defensive SS and I hate to think the Giants may lose him, but they also are not completely out of options if something happens to Crawford.
DeleteHey DrB:
ReplyDeleteDuffy deserves much credit; from Salem, to Augusta, to San Jose, to Richmond to the Show in no time at all.....tell me who's path has been quicker through the system. And raking all the way; two all-star births, a batting championship in the mighty Eastern League at .332 to playing a contributing role towards a World Series Championship, since his call-up August 1, 2014. Now in 2015; a Spring that continues to shine - team high in average .361 and the opportunity to stand on the line tomorrow night as one of twenty five making the starting squad.
Agreed - MATT DUFFY!!!!!!
fyi - your post needs a slight modification, not two years in AA.
Read it again.
DeleteI don't know what happened to my simple 'Matt Duffy!" post.
DeleteI am happy for him and have shared Doc's enthusiasm for him over the years. I am not sure if he was ever on anyone's top 10 Giants prospects list, but it is encouraging for all young players.
Andy, in two years of AAA ball, Brown stole 53 bases and was caught stealing 31 times. That is against AAA pitchers and AAA catchers' arms. I hope that if the Cardinals insert him as a base runner against us, he does attempt to steal. A CS squanders a good bit more for the team that suffers it than a stolen base would benefit that team.
ReplyDeleteAs to DFAing Adrianza, it's worth noting that one of these days Ishikawa will presumably return, and in a month, Pence should. The Giants will have to prune the active 25-man roster by at least two more players, and only one of them is likely to be a pitcher. I wouldn't be quick to assume that they have made a mistake in that context.
One of Kontos/Machi, with the other is likely to be an OF'r. Though I like him, it could be Maxwell. I read yesterday that Duffy is taking reps in LF.
DeleteCampanari I think you are right about the context and hopefully the strategy works but I bet the Giants are sweating bullets right now too. I still would have let Arias go first and then drop Duffy down when the other time came to make a move but maybe this will all work out.
DeleteBilly Baseball
Well, I'm surprised but happy for the Duffman.
ReplyDeletenice for duffy, but ehire is out of options and will be lost to waivers, and that isnt a great thing
ReplyDeletebacci
Well, as Carl Steward pointed out, Duffy can play the position as can Arias and Panik. So can Tomlinson. Then there is Arroyo coming along. I like Ehire, but losing him is not the end of the world. I'm not so sure he gets claimed off waivers either since he is out of options and has to stick on a 25 man roster.
DeleteIt's still conceivable, although not likely, that he could be traded if some team really wants him and doesn't want to risk his being claimed by a team who has priority. But I am guessing that DrB is right, and that at this time of year, when teams are cutting players from their own active rosters, Adrianza has a very good chance of passing through waivers. The Giants probably know how much other teams want him, from trade talks.
DeleteWe have a friend who's a 3B coach for an MLB team, and he's been saying all along that if there were lots of interest in EA, we would have heard it long before now. Not to mention, most teams have bubble guys with high potential like him that haven't quite lived up to expectations, creating dilemmas for F.O's who aren't sure what to do with them.
DeleteEA could still get picked up, of course, but it shouldn't be a surprise if he doesn't. Obviously if he clears, it's a win-win for the Gigantes.
just saw that lon simmons passed away today
ReplyDeleteall flags at att should be flown at half staff for the remainder of the season
huge loss for the giants family
bacci
The only real downside I see to EA getting cut instead of Arias is that IF Duffy can actually play 3b and become an every day player, we've lost a good back up who would be under control for a few years cheaply. I can't get all that worried about that because (1) it hasn't happened), (2) we've got credible back up IFs in the minors (Slater at 2b, Tomlinson/Arroyo at SS), and (3) back ups are far easier to find, especially those of the light hitting variety. Ultimately, Duffy earned it, and I like the fact they're continuing to inject with younger kids who are going to make a difference. Whether we win or lose, the team is setting up nicely to build for the future.
ReplyDelete