Monday, March 27, 2017

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/27/2017: Giants 14 Reds 2

Madison Bumgarner was in midseason form and the competition for roster spots reached a fever pitch as the Giants dominated the Reds.  Key Lines:

Denard Span CF- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .271.  A healthy, strong season from Span would be a huge plus for the Giants chances of adding another championship banner.

Aaron Hill 3B-2B- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .255.  Hill made a statement that he wants a roster spot.

Jae-Gyun Hwang 3B- 2 for 3, HR(5).  BA= .349.  It seems settled that Hwang is going to start the season in Sacramento, but he remains the most intriguing player in the Giants camp.  Is he the Giants 3B of the future or is Christian Arroyo?  And what about Conor Gillaspie?

Gorkys Hernandez LF-RF-CF- 3 for 5, 3 2B.  BA= .204.  Hernandez comes back from getting extra AB's in minor league camp and raps out 3 doubles.  He also played all 3 OF positions, which seems to send some kind of message.

Madison Bumgarner LHP- 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K's, GO/AO= 9/3.  ERA= 2.52.  Madison Bumgarner in midseason form.

Josh Osich LHP- 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 5.00.  Not a strongly encouraging line for Osich.

Mark Melancon RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA- 0.00.  Another boring inning for Melancon.  Have I mentioned that boring is good?

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Matt Cain takes the mound for the Giants final Cactus League game facing Jake Arrieta and the Cubs.  This would seem to be a critical start for Cain.

8 comments:

  1. It's nice to have a boring closer.

    It's kind of funny to see how things change in clubs. In 2015 the Giants lost Sandoval in FA and were desperately trying to fill the 3B slot with McGehee. Duvall had a great hit tool, but was a throwing error machine. Duffy just a utility guy. Ryder Jones was way down in the minors and struggling to hit (.225 in A-ball). Arroyo was still working at SS. And Gillespie was long gone and a sub-par hitter & defender kind of bouncing around baseball already.

    Now we have a lot of solid players fighting for that slot as starter or 3B-capable utility player.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorkys Hernandez could be the candidate for this year's "Who is This Guy and Where Did They Find Him?" award.

    A few quick facts...
    1) He is the biggest CF (6'1") the Giants have had in at least 10 years - I know, Angel Pagan was 6'2", but I did not consider Angel Pagan a true CF - and he runs better than almost all of them (when healthy, Angel Pagan could run well).

    2) While he does not walk much (235 career PA, 53 career K), he does not strike out a lot either (235 career PA, 53 career K).

    3) He is the best defensive CF the Giants have had since Darren Lewis. Marquis Grissom, Steve Finley, and Willie McGee were past their prime. Angel Pagan, Aaron Rowand (I know, a GG with PHI, but that was his only one, and when he got to SF, he looked like he used it to play CF), Dave Roberts, were adequate in CF, but no more - same with Denard Span. Andres Torres and Gregor Blanco were well above average, but not GG material. Just take one look at Gorkys Hernandez - if he could hit .280-.300, he would be an All-Star.

    3) Believe it or not, in his career, he has bee traded for a) Gaby Sanchez, b) Nate McLouth, and c) Edgar Renteria. And he is still just 26 (aka 7 years younger than Gregory Blanco).
    4) Have you seen this guy in CF? A blind man can see he is great. I was not surprised to find out that he has played almost 500 innings in his young career (all in the OF, and most in CF), and the next error he makes in an MLB game will be his first.

    In many ways, he is like Gregor Blanco - only younger and a better defensive CF (and Blanco was a very good defensive CF). He is exactly what the Giants like. Makes contact (if not for high average). Runs well. Fields his position (a position of need in SF) very well. All in all, if he hits at all, he will get all the non-Span AB in CF. And if he does not hit much, he will still be the guy in CF in the late inning defensive replacement time if Span is not there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. REVISED

    Gorkys Hernandez could be the candidate for this year's "Who is This Guy and Where Did They Find Him?" award.

    A few quick facts...
    1) He is the biggest CF (6'1") the Giants have had in at least 10 years - I know, Angel Pagan was 6'2", but I did not consider Angel Pagan a true CF - and he runs better than almost all of them (when healthy, Angel Pagan could run well).

    2) While he does not walk much (235 career PA, 16 career BB), he does not strike out a lot either (235 career PA, 53 career K). And he has 5 HR, to boot.

    3) He is the best defensive CF the Giants have had since Darren Lewis. Marquis Grissom, Steve Finley, and Willie McGee were past their prime. Angel Pagan, Aaron Rowand (I know, a GG with PHI, but that was his only one, and when he got to SF, he looked like he used it to play CF), Dave Roberts, were adequate in CF, but no more - same with Denard Span. Andres Torres and Gregor Blanco were well above average, but not GG material. Just take one look at Gorkys Hernandez - if he could hit .280-.300, he would be an All-Star.

    3) Believe it or not, in his career, he has bee traded for a) Gaby Sanchez, b) Nate McLouth, and c) Edgar Renteria. And he is still just 26 (aka 7 years younger than Gregory Blanco).
    4) Have you seen this guy in CF? A blind man can see he is great. I was not surprised to find out that he has played almost 500 innings in his young career (all in the OF, and most in CF), and the next error he makes in an MLB game will be his first.

    In many ways, he is like Gregor Blanco - only younger and a better defensive CF (and Blanco was a very good defensive CF). He is exactly what the Giants like. Makes contact (if not for high average). Runs well. Fields his position (a position of need in SF) very well. All in all, if he hits at all, he will get all the non-Span AB in CF. And if he does not hit much, he will still be the guy in CF in the late inning defensive replacement time if Span is not there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Appreciate the run down. Pulling for Gorkys at this point, given the time he put in in Sac last year, and that fact that I just think he's going to be a decent bat and a very plus CF reserve. Ruggiano has not impressed, and I've really got no feeling for him at all.

      Gorkys last year showed me he's got something. If he can hit .250 with a 105 ISO, that's plenty for me for the reserve OF bat; Anything more and I'm ecstatic.

      Plus, his name is Gorkys. GORKYS! I'm gonna name my kid Gorkys...mmm, maybe one of the pets.

      Delete
  4. Jae-Gyun Hwang- I read that he might play LF in Sacramento. What do you think the learning curve would be for him playing LF at ATT? You got to like his numbers.

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  5. GH is the real deal! He can play all three fields well which is great if the Gs decide to go with only four outfielders, which I hope they do. Marrero is really not an option in LF. Watching him this week in AZ, he's pretty lost out there. Hope they decide to give him some time there in AAA.

    Looks like they're keeping Hill, because he's back in camp today. I hoe they keep Tomlinson too. He's played some good SS, which the team will need. There are some tough decisions to be made in a couple days.

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  6. I am really intrigued by Hwang. I know his defense hasn't been great this spring, so I guess that I am okay with sending him to Sacramento. At the same time, Nunez appears to be ailing a bit. Connor Gilaspie is a good Giant, but he has had years to establish himself as an everyday player with the Giants and with the White Sox and couldn't really do it. I wonder if Gilaspie was right handed and Hwang was left handed would Hwang make the team. The Giants don't have another left handed bat off the bench. It worries me that Hwang is going to Sacramento because I wonder how he will share time with Arroyo.

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  7. I see the Braves released Paco Rodriguez, who's coming off of 10/15 TJ surgery. Always thought he was an effective LH relief pitcher for LA. In light of the Will Smith news, wonder if he's worth a look?

    ReplyDelete