The Giants offense mustered just 3 hits for the second straight game. Key Lines:
Clayton Blackburn RHP- 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 4.50. Blackburn bounces back from a weak second spring appearance with a strong one here. Is the 5'th starter job now a 3-way contest between Matt Cain, Ty Blach and Blackburn? It's still Cainer's to lose.''
Kyle Crick RHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00. Cricky now has 3.1 scoreless frames on the spring. Is this the year he turns the corner?
David Hernandez RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00. Hernandez is close to a lock for a bullpen spot on the Opening Day roster.
Steven Okert LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 0.00. With Josh Osich struggling and Will Smith hurting, Okert would seem to be close to a lock for Opening Day too.
Neil Ramirez RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.00. Ramirez is a darkhorse for a roster spot but may be pitching his way into a significant contender.
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The Giants and Royals play again tomorrow but move to Scottsdale where Madison Bumgarner will make his 3'rd spring start.
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Around the League:
Angels' closer Huston Street has a lat strain and will not throw for 4 weeks which means he will almost certainly start the season on the DL.
David Price does not need TJ surgery, at least for now. He will rest the arm for 10 days and be re-evaluated.
Rockies Rookie OF David Dahl is having upper back issues that are apparently more serious than originally thought. He may have to miss the start of the season which means Gerardo Parra would likely be the starter in LF.
David Wright has a shoulder impingement. It seems like his career is about done as it is one injury after another for him.
Brewers second year CF Keon Broxton went 2 for 3 with a dinger and is hitting .412 on the spring.
RHP Carter Capps, who has had a rather, um, unorthodox delivery and is coming back from TJ surgery, was seen taking double hops while pitching off a mound in the bullpen. This rang enough alarm bells that MLB released a clarification of the rules regarding delivering pitches. It seems fairly safe to say Capps will not be allowed to take double hops before releasing the ball to home plate in games.
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Addendum: 1B coach Jose Aquacil got hit in the face with a foul tip. He was doing what all coaches do and should not in spring training. Sitting on a folding chair against the backstop. Transported to hospital. Reportedly did not lose consciousness. Update: Aguacil has a fractured nose and other facial bones and a deep facial laceration. He is reportedly in stable condition and with his family in the hospital.
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Nice medical analysis around the league, DrB. For that 5th pitcher spot-- traditionally have the Giants gone with the hot hand in spring training, or the one in whom they have more $$ commitment?
ReplyDeleteOh, the job is Matt Cain's to lose. You can take that to the bank. He'll have a relatively short leash but will be given at least until the end of spring training and probably a few games into the season to prove he can't do it anymore.
DeleteI'm pretty much resigned to what Doc is saying. Unless Cain stinks it up through Spring Training AND Blach or Blackburn shows out convincingly, they're going to try and get something out of that $20 million. And, of course, they're also kind of stuck since that $20 million kind of wreaks havoc with trying to get a FA upgrade.
DeleteI'm not sure how Hernandez fits. I like him, and the Giants like him, but unless the Giants roll with 1 lefty (either 1 who has missed time this Spring with elbow concerns, or 1 rookie lefty, or 1 lefty coming off a down, injured year and offseason surgery), or DFA Gearrin or Kontos, I'm not seeing a fit.
ReplyDeleteI think Gearrin and Kontos are in trouble.
DeleteI think the Giants appreciate their clubhouse presence, especially Kontos. Gearrin maybe not as much.
DeleteI am sure they do, but they also like to win. There is a reason they brought in Hernandez and others. Competition. Right now Hernandez is winning.
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