Saturday, March 12, 2016

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.

16 comments:

  1. How would Williamson win the LF job outright?

    Arroyo is getting positive compliments from coaches and teammates in a way I've never seen from a prospect at ST. Both Crawford and Bam-Bam made Posey comparisons.

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    1. Arroyo is not wining any MLB job this spring. He'll start the season in AA and go from there. Yes, the future is bright. He's their best prospect and his confirming it this spring, but he's not going to start the season in SF. Take that to the bank!

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    2. I would add that while there is talk of Arroyo eventually moving to LF, he has not played 1 inning of OF so far this spring, so no, he's not winning any MLB LF job this spring.

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    3. Hey Doc -

      The question about LF was regarding how Williamson would conceivably win the LF job outright, in reference to your statement from the post - not Arroyo; that was a separate line of comments from the Anon author.

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    4. I think that if Arroyo keeps it up, he's going to make someone currently starting in the infield tradeable. But starting in the OF. It's a nice fantasy, but it's different game out there.

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    5. Rainball, your comment made me go back and re-read the original Anon comment. I still think I got it right. He was definitely linking the question to an assertion that Arroyo would win the LF job before Big Mac. LF may be an eventual position for Arroyo, but not coming out of spring training. Mac, on the other hand, is still a longshot to win the starting job out of spring training, but I don't think it is totally out of the question.

      Moses, I think Arroyo could eventually move to the OF, but he's have to spend some time out there learning the position first, so yeah, it's not going to happen right away.

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    6. Thanks to Rainball for clarifying for me... I was asking how Williamson has any pathway to beat out Pagan and Blanco for the starting job, not intending to imply Arroyo has the job or it's even been determined where he'll play.

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    7. First of all, my main point was not that Williamson might win the starting LF job, but that if he and Parker are competing for a backup job, Williamson will be the one to get sent down to play everyday.

      Secondly, the way Williamson can with the starting LF job outright is to keep hitting dingers! Yes, it is a longshot, but remember, Bochy himself left the door cracked open when after Williamson's first HR of the spring, he quipped, "the longshot just got shorter." Think about Pat Burrell and Michael Morse for a minute and ask yourself if Bochy would like another hitter like that in his lineup, then ask yourself which hitter, or hitters, currently in the organization most closely resemble those two guys. I think the answer is Williamson and Blanks. Now, Blanks might be the guy, but who is getting more playing time right now and who is getting a lot of time in LF and who is getting none? Put that all together and I think Williamson has a chance, a small chance, of winning the starting LF job out of spring training if, IF, he keeps hitting and hitting dingers.

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    8. Only a backup role is in play. No starting jobs available in the OF. Span could help create playing time though (when Pagan/Blanco have to move over)...and Williamson is getting more time in LF than anyone else....they're obviously seriously considering Williamson for that LF/RF backup role.

      Pretty sure Blanks has been out with an injury, but he sure does fit the Morse role.

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    9. Williamson is not auditioning for a backup role. He will be the starter in LF or he will get sent down. I understand that he will most likely get sent down, but I go back to Bochy's quote about the "longshot just got shorter." But mark this down: Wherever Williamson goes, he will be playing everyday!

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    10. Hey Anon -

      Good contributions, but go ahead and take a handle or leave your name or something. It's better for the community roundtable discussion that way!

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  2. With Pagan and Blanco on the last-year of their deals and Pence with two to go I'm thinking the Giants are going to have Parker at #5 with Williamson in AAA until roster expansion. If Parker shows he can handle everything, I think he's the LF of the future and Williamson the RF of the future.

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    Yeah, there's a bit of schadenfreude when it comes to the Dodgers. So now they've lost Greinke, lost their new #2 in Anderson for at least half of the season and (probably/possibly) their #4 in Wood. Maeda isn't going to make it up if Law is right in his being a back-of-the-rotation guy.

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  3. I think it's more conceivable that Arroyo would be traded before anyone currently in the infield. I can't think of anyone at 2B, SS, or 3B that the G's would even begin to think of trading. Just my opinion.

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    1. I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. These problems have a way of taking care of themselves. Arroyo will go to AA and we'll see if Duffy keeps hitting and if Panik, Crawford and Panik all continue to stay healthy.

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    2. I agree, I don't see the Giants trading any of them including Arroyo. A lot will depend on if Belt's extended.

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    3. …er I meant if Panik, Crawford and DUFFY all continue to stay healthy.

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