Spring Training Game Wrap 3/12/2016: D'Backs 9 Giants 5; Angels 9 Giants 5

The Giants dropped both split-squad games by identical scores.  Key Lines:

Home Game:  D'Backs 9  Giants 5

Joe Panik 2B- 2 for 3, 3B.  BA= .421.  The out was hit hard, but at the 3B.  I think Panik could very well win a batting title, possibly as early as 2016.

Jarrett Parker RF- 2 for 5, HR(2).  BA= .267.  Parker had a nice basehit up the middle and later hit the dinger off the roof of the RF pavilion.  That one possibly could have carried into McCovey Cove on the fly, something that has not happened since the 2014 season.  Right now, I'd say Parker has the inside track for the 5'th OF job.

Andrew Susac C- 2 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .250.  Susac looked good at the plate today.  Gotta think the backup C job is his to lose.

Kelby Tomlinson SS-2B- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .250.  Tomlinson is in the driver's seat for the reserve MI role.

Ty Blach LHP- 3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.43.  Blach had been excellent in his first 2 starts but got smacked around in this one as his curveballs seemed to have some hang time.

Kyle Crick RHP- 1 IP 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.  Not a great line, but he showed some grit in getting out of a 2- on, 1 out situation and mostly pounded the strike zone.

Derek Law RHP- 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 9.00.  Law didn't seem to be fooling anybody today, although there was a stiff breeze blowing straight out to CF.

Jose Casilla RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Casilla makes his spring debut after a long bout with the flu.  He said he was still not feeling up to 100% strength, so threw more breaking balls.  The final K came on a  beautiful bender that completely locked up the hitter.

Hunter Strickland pitched another scoreless frame as did Steven Okert.  Javier Lopez allowed a run but impressively limited the damage from a runners on 2'nd and 3'rd with one out situation.

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Away Game:  Angels 9  Giants 5

Trevor Brown C- 2 for 4.  BA= .308.  I feel like the backup C job it Susac's to lose, but Brownie is making it a closer call than you would think.

Brandon Crawford DH- 1 for 2, 3B, HBP.  BA= .188.  The HBP caused some concern for Crawford's hand, but it's reportedly fine.

Mac Williamson LF- 1 for 4, HR(3).  BA= .321.  The only way Big Mac makes the Opening Day roster is if he wins the starting LF job outright.  It's still unlikely, but he is definitely making his case.

Grant Green 3B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .333.  I don't believe Tomlinson has played any 3B yet, so does that give Green and Gillaspie the advantage over Kyle Blanks for the reserve CI slot?

Jake Peavy RHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 10.38.  For a veteran like Peavy, spring stats, especially this early, don't mean a thing.  He's just trying to build his pitch count to get his arm in shape for the season.  You really wouldn't want him trying to pitch like a counting game was on the line now, would you?

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Matt Cain had another bullpen session that reportedly went well.  Next step is pitching to live batters then getting in a game.  He may miss one turn to start the season.

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I have to admit I enjoy reporting bad news from the Dodgers camp just a bit too much.  Today it was Alex Wood getting scratched from his start with the dreaded forearm tightness.  He has a history of TJ surgery and made Fangraphs list of highest risk pitchers.  Another pitcher who made that list, Carter Capps, has already gone under the knife this spring.  The Dodgers have had more than their share of bad luck with pitchers this spring, but if investing in high risk pitchers as undervalued assets is part of your business plan, is it really bad luck when a wave of injuries hits?

Oh, an Rookie SS Corey Seager will miss 1-2 weeks with a mild knee sprain.