Saturday, April 4, 2015

Spring Training Game Wrap 4/4/2015: Giants 2 A's 1

After getting pummeled in game 1 of the Bay Bridge Series, the Giants settled down and played a couple of games following their playbook and won the rubber game today with tight pitching and some timely hitting.  Key Lines:

Buster Posey(DH)- 1 for 1, BB.  BA= .292.  Buster's walk started the winning rally.

Justin Maxwell(RF)- 1 for 2, 2B, BB.  BA= .347.  I am not sure if Maxwell's smash down the LF line would have been fair if it had not ticked off Brett Lawrie's glove, although Lawrie was not guarding the line.  The ball already had a wicked hook to it but Lawrie deflected it farther foul.

Joe Panik(2B)- 1 for 2.  BA= .208.  Panik entered the game as a sub after Duffy moved to 3B.  To my eye, Panik had a rough day on D at 2B as several hot smashes kicked off his glove.  Only one was charged as an error, though, and it did not result in any runs being scored.

Tim Hudson(RHP)- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, GO/AO= 8/4.  ERA= 3.32.  Huddy looked sharp, like he is ready to start the season.  He was looking a bit tired by the end of the 5 innings though.  Giants are going to need those long men in the pen this year.

Tim Lincecum(RHP)- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.95.  Timmy looked very confident and his pitches were crisp with good command.  Very nice to see in a 1 inning tune up for the regular season.

Hunter Strickland(RHP)- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save(2).  ERA- 5.11.  Strickland came in the game in the bottom of the 9'th after Javier Lopez allowed the first two batters to reach base.   Strickland then proceeded to strike out the next 3 batters for a well-earned Save.  If it comes down to just 1 out of Strickland, Kontos and Machi making the team, it would not shock me if Bochy kept Strickland.  I am quite sure that would be Boch's choice if options were not an issue.

Bochy said the Giants would wait until tomorrow to finalize the roster.

Off day tomorrow as the Cards and Cubs play the opener.  Next game is the start of the regular season on Monday and the defense of the Championship with Madison Bumgarner taking the mound in Phoenix facing Josh Collmenter and the Arizona D'Backs.

5 comments:

  1. Way to come back and get a couple of games "for bragging rights" and soothe the Fan Base a bit. Not to mention make some hard decisions for Sabes & Boch...

    "Defense of the Championship..." a very nice ring to it. Like Shankbone says, "Flags Fly Forever".

    Thanks for the updates Doc. And Happy Easter to all that observe it. Happy Passover to those of that faith. And Happy Defense of the Ring to Giants Fans everywhere!

    NWGiantsFan
    DtF!!!

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  2. After the first championship, we lost, I think, Renteria, Uribe, F. Sanchez and Ross.

    We lost, I believe, Scutaro after the second one.

    This time, we lost Panda, but have Cain and Pagan back. In theory, we are in a better position to defend than the other two times.

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  3. Dr. B--
    You're going to make us wait till the beginning of season for the NL West preview, eh? Nice suspense there.
    I am still waiting to see the Savvy Vets roster since you seem to have a good roll going in fantasy as well.
    I am crossing my fingers about the starting pitching this year-- still rather suspect until someone convinces me otherwise...

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    1. I'll do the NL West later today or tomorrow AM. I didn't think anyone cared enough about Savvy Vets to remember the name! Yeah, we had our draft. Once again, I got the team I wanted, but I did last year too and finished 8'th. I'll try to post my team with auction prices later today too.

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  4. AZ cut Ross owing him $9,500,000

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