Sunday, March 13, 2016

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/13/2016: Giants 8 Padres 1

Madison Bumgarner was scratched from today's start due to a painful neuroma in his foot and a "pulling" in his chest near the sternum(more on this later).  Chris Heston got the start in Bummy's place and sparkled in 4 innings of work which Mac Williamson was once again the hitting force of the day.  Key Lines:

Denard Span DH- 1 for 3, 2B BB.  BA= .150.  Span seems to be getting his timing down at the plate.  He has yet to play in CF.

Christian Arroyo PH-DH- 1 for 1.  BA= .538.  Arroyo completes the MLB portion of his spring training with another basehit.   He impressed pretty much everybody while showing a very mature approach at the plate and all around savvy on the field.  He will likely start the season in AA Richmond.

Brandon Belt 1B- 1 for 2, 2B, BB.  BA= .182.  Another guy who is getting his timing down after missing some games with the flu(is it just me, or does Belt get the flu every spring?).

Mac Williamson LF-  2 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .344.  OK, here's the real story of the day.  Big Mac continues to swing a batt fitting of the nickname.   Another sensational day at the plate.  The dinger came of Padres starter Brandon Maurer who is a serious MLB pitcher.  Boch has got to be wondering to himself what would happen if he just put Mac out in LF and in the 7-hole in the batting order every day for a full season.

Gorkys Hernandez CF- 1 for 2, 2B, BB, SB(4).  BA= .346.  Hernandez continues to state his case for a roster spot.  Unfortunately, there are just 25 of those available.  Giants are going to have some very tough choices come final cutdown day.

Chris Heston RHP- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's, GO/AO= 7/1.  ERA= 3.12.  This is the Hesto Presto we remember from the first half last year giving credence to the idea that his poor second half was more due to fatigue than regression to true talent.  In the interview from the dugout after his stint on the mount, Heston shared that he lost 15-20 lbs over the course of last season and felt like that may have contributed to him not being as strong down the stretch.  He worked on gaining the weight back this offseason and then some.  Hopefully he was also working out and making it good weight.

Sam Coonrod RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Coonrod impressed in a couple of spring appearances.  He'll go down to minor league camp and prepare for what should be an important season for him.

Ray Black RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K. ERA= 0.00.  Black got in one last game before shipping out to minor league camp on an option.

Josh Osich LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.15.  Osich will stick around as he is widely expected to take over Jeremy Affeldt's bullpen role, not easy shoes to fill.

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Johnny Cueto makes his second spring start in an evening game against the A's tomorrow.

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When the announcement of Bummy getting his start scratched came though on the MLB app on my phone, all I could see was Madison Bumgarner's start was scratched due to pain in the fo…….  My heart sank as the only thing I could think of to complete the line was forearm.  So you can imagine my relief to find out it is his foot and apparently a painful neuroma.  I think those can be treated with an injection.  Surgery would probably keep him out for 4-6 weeks.  He also has a pulling sensation in his chest wall near the sternum.  An MRI reportedly ruled out a dreaded oblique strain.  Bummy said he might miss 1-2 starts and says he'll still be ready for opening day.  The Giants are certainly testing the idea that spring training is too long, huh?

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Big cutdown day and a total of 19 players shipped out to minor league camp.  11 players were reassigned:  including Arroyo, Ryder Jones, Rando Moreno, Junior Arias, Tyler Beede, Sam Coonrod, Chase Johnson, Albert Suarez, Aramis Garcia, Ty Ross and Matt Winn.  8 other players were optioned including Ray Black, Kyle Crick, Ian Gardeck, Joan Greagorio, Derek Law, Jake Smith, Chris Stratton, Adalberto Mejia.  Many of these players performed impressively during their stay in camp and can look forward to taking big steps toward the major leagues this coming season.  Unfortunately, bad news for Ian Gardeck who will undergo Tommy John Surgery and likely get placed on the 60 day DL which will create room on the 40 man roster if needed.

3 comments:

  1. The Padre hitters were incapable of catching up with Coonrod's fastball, and the changeup was a plus, with serious fade away from a LHH & excellent sinking movement. Coonrod was able to place it on the outside corner for a swinging strike 3 to end his first inning after one hitter fouled off like 4 fastballs, & I think Posey really dug the kid's stuff. Really impressed me. Loved the ability to go above the strike zone with the FB. Was overthrowing too much to get the curve consistent, but still overpowered the Padres.

    As for Gorkeys - Might he be the next Gregor Blanco? Great speed & defense, and it seems like he's got legit XBH line drive power to all fields. Question is whether he'll get enough time in the majors this year, assuming some time on the DL for either Angel or Denard. Gotta see the kid play when it counts, but I think he's too redundant to take one of the 25-man spots of Gregor & all others are healthy.

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  2. John Miller said that scouts and players in camp are impressed with Coon rod which is good to hear. I think he's an untouchable in future trade talks. His strikeout of Solarte on the change up was impressive. Excited about Arroyo and Big Mac as well. Big Mac's homer was impressive since he hit a good pitch to the opposite field. Agreed that Big Mac stays only if they intend to play him everyday. I wonder if we'll see Black and his 100 mph cheese in the show this year.

    LG

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  3. The 40-man roster spot is important because it puts guys like Blanks and Gillaspie and Green and the Greek catcher on an even footing start with the guys already on the roster -- keeping one of them won't create the problem of dfa'ing someone

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