Game Wrap 10/1/2017: Giants 5 Padres 4

The Giants fell short of winning the right to select first in the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, a dubious honor they didn't seem to want any part of anyway.  Pablo Sandoval hit a walk-off HR in the bottom of the 9'th inning to complete a Giants comeback from a 4-1 deficit as several players achieved some personal milestones and stated their cases for next year in the process.  Key Lines:

Buster Posey 1B- 1 for 1, 2B, BB.  BA= .320.  I'm guessing it was no coincidence that Buster came out of the game when his BA hit exactly .320.

Brandon Crawford SS- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .253.   It was a down year for Crawford overall, quite likely in large part due to a tragedy in his family, but he finished with 2 strong months plus 1 day to give hope for a much better campaign in 2018.

Pablo Sandoval- 3B/1B- 1 for 4, HR(9).  BA= .220.  From September 8, Pablo hit .296 with 5 doubles and 3 HR's in 54 AB's and stated his case for opening the 2018 season as the Giants starting 3B.  The Giants can keep him around by exercising an option for the major league minimum salary with Boston paying the rest of what he is owed on his longterm deal with them.  The Giants should, and almost certainly will, pick up the option.  I would think Pablo's place in their plans next spring will depend largely on his ability to keep himself in playing shape.

Again, it might just be me, but I thought that Pablo initially gained some poundage after coming back to SF but then slimmed down again by the end of the season.

Johnny Cueto RHP- 5 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.52.  It will be a big surprise if Johnny Cueto opts out of his contract although the current market for pitching makes it a non-no-brainer.  If he does not opt out, the Giants owe him something like $84 M over the next 4 seasons, something I am not sure they were counting on.  They have to hope this was just a down year and he'll bounce back next season.  Have to think the anxiety of getting his dad to the states and setting up care for him through most of spring training had something to do with his regression this season.

Ty Blach LHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.78.  Whether it is competing for the 5'th starter role or the multi-inning reliever role, gotta think Blach is in the Giants plans for next season.

Steven Okert LHP- 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 5.67.  Okert's  ERA from September 1 on was 1.69 in 12 appearances covering 5.2 IP.  Definitely kept himself in the conversation for a lefty specialist role next season.

Cory Gearrin RHP- 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. ERA= 1.99.  Gearrin faced and retired 1 batter to get his ERA below 2.00 then came out of the game.  Again, probably no coincidence he came out after the 1 batter.

Hunter Strickland RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.64.  A reliever who can put up a 2.64 ERA while pitching over 60 innings has value, either to the Giants or another team.  Strick still struggles a bit against lefty hitting.

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The Giants Win coupled with the Tigers loss to the Twins put them in a tie for the worse record in MLB.  Since the Tigers had a worse record last year, I think by just 1 game, they get the #1 overall draft pick while the Giants will pick second.  At this point, it looks like a fairly trivial issue as there is currently no consensus #1 overall draft pick for 2018.  Last time the Giants drafted #2 overall they picked some guy named Will Clark.

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That's it folks!  Next Game Wrap will be the first exhibition game of Spring Training 2018.  Hang around this offseason for prospect reviews, Giants organizational depth charts, scouting reports on draft prospects, Hot Stove updates and finally Dr'B's annual Giants Top 50 Prospects for 2018.