Monday, March 21, 2016

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/21/2016: A's 6 Giants 4

Jeff Samardzija became the first Giants starter of the spring to go 6 innings in a MLB level game, but gave up all 6 of the A's runs in a Giants loss.  Key Lines:

Hunter Pence RF- 1 for 3, HR(3).  BA= .421.  Just stay healthy, Pence!

Angel Pagan LF- 2 for 3.  BA= .455.  Pagan made a running catch in left-CF and even Andy Baggarly thinks he looks great so far this spring.

Miguel Olivo C- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .667.  Olivo was pressed into service when starter Trevor Brown took a backswing off his forearm and had to leave the game with a bruise.  Seems like Brown will be OK but will likely miss a couple of games.

Conor Gillaspie 3B- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .333.  With Kyle Blanks hurting and assigned to minor league camp, I'm thinking Gillaspie has the upper hand in the battle for corner IF backup over Grant Green.

Ehire Adrianza SS- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .293.  I also see Adrianza currently leading Kelby Tomlinson for the backup MI bench slot.  Yes, they could keep both Tomlinson and Adrianza and drop both Gillaspie and Green, but neither Tomlnson nor Adrianza have played much at 3B and I don't think the Giants will go into the season without a solid back up for Duffy.

Jeff Samardzija RHP- 6 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, GO/AO= 10/2.  ERA= 8.53.  The ERA is ugly but the peripherals look good.  Samardzija reportedly had good stuff and his split-fingered FB in particular really showed some progress.  The 2 dingers are part of a pattern, but hopefully AT&T helps beat those down a bit.

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I guess there are split-squad games tomorrow against the ChiSox and D'Backs with Jake Peavy and Ty Blach getting the starts respectively.

6 comments:

  1. For whatever reason, I'm rooting for Grant Green to take the final spot on the roster. Kid just has a game-ready feel, and I think he's got more power and a better arm to serve fielding any of 3B, 1B or even corner OF in a pinch off the bench.

    So honestly, is anybody actually worried about the starting pitching, given the Spring stats? (Read between the lines for my own response.)

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    1. I agree; I'd keep Green over Gillaspie. To me, Cory Gearrin is the most interesting decision the team will have to make at the end of Spring Training.

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    2. Yes, across the board, the rotation has been...slow to dial it up. I think it's fair to say that we've yet to see a solid performance by anyone in the rotation. It's a little odd.

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    3. But they all seem to be healthy and throwing well, which is probably more important for this point in spring training.

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  2. Of all the IF bench, I'm most impressed by Adrianza and Brown.

    Adrianza's major issue was his weak contact that made easily fieldable. With his more developed physique, he's (in what little I've seen) hitting the ball much harder. Yesterday the ground-out to 1B was an eye opener as that could have been an easy 3-6-3 DB but Adrianza ripped it so hard the 1B couldn't cleanly field it. And he's knocked quite a few grounders through the infield that, in the past, tended to be slower and fieldable.

    Brown is developing at an amazingly fast rate AND has substantial 2B play in the minors. He's also got 1B, 3B and OF experience at UCLA and (some) in the minors so, in a pinch, he could fill in. So I would not be surprised to see Brown on the roster though I recognize he has a good chance of being sent down for more polish.

    I'm thinking Tomlinson will be sent down as he's not hitting well and he has options.
    I'm thinking Susac will start the season on the 15-day DL. He may end up SAC to work on his receiving.
    I'm thinking Gillaspie has a good shot at making the club as the B/U 3B/1B.

    For the OF bench...

    Hernandez has been a surprise. He's making a very strong case to make the 25-man roster. I see him being sent down then making the club in 2017 (if he doesn't void) as the replacement Blanco. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him make this year's club.

    I don't see how Green fits this year though, who knows, maybe he ends up 5th OF since he can also play some IF, if only in an emergency.

    I think Williamson or Parker is the most likely bet for the 5th OF. At this point I think Williamson has earned it over Parker based on the Spring Training though Parker certainly showed a lot more during 2015 roster expansion. Plus Williamson has RH power. Parker's a lefty.

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    1. I just continue to believe the Williamson won't be anywhere that he's not starting.

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