Sunday, March 11, 2018

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/11/2018: Giants 5 Padres 4

Hunter Pence highlighted a 5-run rally in the first inning with a grand slam HR and the Giants hung on for a 1-run win.  Key Lines:

Austin Jackson CF- 3 for 4, 2B.  BA= .400.  Jackson is having a fine spring at the plate.  Starting to make a believer out of of me even though spring stats mean close to nothing.

Hunter Pence DH- 1 for 2, HR(1), BB.  BA= .143.  The dinger was a first pitch grand slam HR in the first inning.  And Hunter Pence sez "STFU, haters!"

Ty Blach LHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K, ERA= 2.92.  Blach wasn't as sharp as in his previous starts. You could tell because even the outs were fly balls or lineouts.

DJ Snelton LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.69.  Snelton is leaving an impression for later if the Giants need to call up a lefty reliever.

Mark Melancon RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K, GO/AO= 2/0.  ERA= 4.50.  Per Pavs, Melancon's stuff looked more crisp today than his first appearance.

Pierce Johnson RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Another guy who is leaving his calling card for down the road.

Tyler Herb RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.40.  Nice 2 innings of work for Herb, who should get the promo to Sacramento after pitching AA last year.

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Fantasy Focus:  Around the League

Bartolo Colon SP, Rangers- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.04.  Looks like Colon is going to do his thing for at least another year.  He has value in Wins and WHIP.

JC Ramirez, SP, Angels- 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.72.  Ramirez has been very good when healthy.

Justin Upton, OF, Angels- 1 for 3, HR(2).  BA= .333.  Upton may be poised for his career year.

Matt Olson, 1B, A's- 2 for 3, 2B.  BA= .310.  Olson had a breakout in the second half last year.  From his spring so far, he may be able to keep it up for a full season.

Luke Weaver, SP, Cardinals- 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 1.00.  Breakout candidate.

Didi Gregorius, SS, Yankees- 1 for 3, HR(2).  BA= .280.  Gregorius is my late round target at SS.

Francisco Liriano, SP, Tigers- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA- 0.00.  Liriano is a lock for the Tigers decimated rotation.  He's had his ups and downs, but can be terrific when he gets on a roll.

Jose Pirela, 2B, Padres- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .481.  Padres are obviously trying to expand Pirela's defensive repertoire to get his bat into the lineup more.  Deep sleeper, but needs a position.

Andrew Cashner, SP, Orioles- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K's, GO/AO= 6/2.  ERA= 0.00.  Cashner's first appearance of the spring.  He's kind of like Bartolo Colon only younger.  Had a 3.40 ERA in 166 IP for the Rangers last year, but had a poor K/BB.

Chris Iannetta, C, Rockies- 1 for 2, HR(3), BB.  BA= .308.  Iannetta has appeared to be on the verge of breakouts in the past and disappointed, but I love his upside moving to Coors Field.

Keston Hiura, 2B, Brewers- 2 for 2.  BA= .409.   If he can throw at all, it seems like a matter of a short time before Hiura is the starting 2B for the BrewCrew.  He should be an instant asset in BA.

Carlos Carrasco, SP, Indians- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.00. Carrasco is an ace level pitcher now.

Wade Miley, SP, Brewers- 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 1.38.  Miley has disappointed for several years.  Is he pulling it back together?

Eloy Jimenez, OF, White Sox- 2 for 2, 3B, HR(2) BB.  BA= .750.  Jimenez missed the early part of spring training with an injury, but is back with a vengeance.  If you have a place to stash him, by all means try to draft him.  Just a monster bat.

Reynaldo Lopez, SP, White Sox- 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.96. Breakout candidate.

Brandon Finnegan, SP, Reds- left his start in the first inning with forearm pain.

Robinson Cano, 2B, Mariners- left the game in the first inning with a lame hammy.

1 comment:

  1. I was kind of surprised that Snelten did not get much media love after his good season in 2017. I was thinking he was a dark horse for winning the lefty relief spot while Smith was still rehabbing, before they signed Watson. With Okert and Osich pitching well too, suddenly we have an overflowing cup of loogies in Watson, Smith, Okert, Osich and Snelten.

    Pierce has been eye-opening, the Giants made some great pickups with their trades last season, him, Anderson and Santos.

    Even better about Melancon: no talk about his arm, though I suspect the Giants told him to be quiet about it going forward...

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