Monday, March 19, 2018

Spring Training Game Wrap 3/18/2018: Giants 13 Rockies 0

The Giants were hitting on all 8 cylinders and more as the crushed the Rockies mostly "A" team in Talking Stick.  Key Lines:

Austin Jackson CF- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .370.  It's looking more and more like Jackson will start the season manning CF for the Giants.  He's done everything you want from a CF/Leadoff man.

Gorkys Hernandez PR/CF- 2 for 2.  BA= .278.  Gorkys has been coming on.  It's probably down to him or Jarrett Parker for the 5'th OF spot.  I feel like Gorkys is winning that battle.

Hunter Pence LF- 1 for 3, HR(2), BB. BA= .294.  Pence seems like he is ready to start the season like most of the rest of the team. Whew!  Hope they aren't peaking too soon!

Andrew McCutchen RF- 3 for 4, 2B.  BA= .345.  Reported exit velocity on the double, which banged off the batter's eye in dead CF was 103 MPH.

Evan Longoria 3B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .346.  Longoria has had a solid spring and looks ready to start the season.

Nick Hundley C- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(3), BB. BA= .400.  Has Hundley become some sort of beast at the plate or what?  Not sure how you get him more AB's but he deserves them.

Brandon Crawford SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .297.  The Giants brought Crawford along slowly so as not to wear him out before the season starts.  He seems to be rounding into form on schedule.

Pablo Sandoval 1B- 2 for 2, HR(2), 2 BB.  BA= .306.  Speaking of finding more AB's...OK, nothing against Evan Longoria and I completely understand why the Giants felt like they could not count on Pabs to be the starting 3B, but....dang!  Maybe they didn't need to go out and trade for Longoria?  Pabs looks like he is literally in the best shape of his life and it's showing on the field.

Madison Bumgarner LHP- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .200.  Bummy has a date with Clayton Kershaw in less than 2 weeks.  He definitely used this game to get tuned up for that matchup!

Madison Bumgarner LHP- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's, GO/AO= 7/2.  ERA= 2.84.  Like I said, Bumgarner and Kershaw are on a collision course and Bummy looks like he's going to be ready.

Josh Osich LHP- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  According to Pavs, the key to Osich's spring success is ditching the curveball.  He's throwing 4 seamers up in the zone, 2-seamers down in the zone, Cutters for glove-side movement and changeups to keep hitters off balance.  Along with some other mechanical adjustments, he's dominating hitters again.

Derek Law RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 6.43.  At this point, I have a hard time seeing Law make the Opening Day Roster, but this was a nice more-than-one-inning appearance.

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Fantasy Focus:  Around the League

Mike Clevenger SP, Indians- 4.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 4.73.  Clevenger's ERA doesn't always match his peripherals, but he makes a nice later round draftee.

Jorge Soler OF, Royals- 3 for 3, 2B, HR(6), BB.  BA= .271.  Soler has been coming on over the past week.  Look at those dingers!  He's always had the tremendous ceiling.  Is this the year he finally reaches it?

Tyler Chatwood SP, Cubs- 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 2.81.  A bit of a stumble but I'm still high on Chatwood.

Chase Anderson SP, Brewers- 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 5.74.  Another guy whose ERA doesn't always match his peripherals.  See Mike Clevenger above.

Nick Tropeano SP, Angels- 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K's.  ERA= 3.12.  Not sure I trust him yet.  I'd rank him as a follow at this point.

Martin Perez SP, Rangers- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.80.  This line my bump Bartolo Colon out of the Rangers starting rotation.

Scott Schebler OF, Reds- 1 for 2, HR(3), BB.  BA= .515.  Schebler hit 30 dingers last year and is having a ridiculous spring.

Ketel Marte SS, D'Backs- 2 for 3.  BA= .414.  Sleeper alert!

Amir Garrett SP, Reds- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.   ERA= 1.38.  I picked up Garrett last year.  He was good for like 2 games then was terrible.  I'll probably have him on my follow list to start the season.

Zach Godley SP, D'Backs- 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 2.70.  Still a safe mid-round draftee.

JA Happ SP, Blue Jays- 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA- 3.78.  Happ is statistically very similar to Zach Davies of the Brewers.  He's run off 3 consecutive sub-4.00 ERA's.

Starling Marte OF, Pirates- 2 for 3.  BA= .424.  Marte and Polanco once made Cutch seem expendable.  If they can both bounce back, the Pirates might be OK....except for the pitching.

Jose Martinez 1B, Cardinals- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(3).  BA= .293.  Is Martinez forcing the Cardinals to find a place for him to play?  Matt Carpenter played 3B and 2B in this game.

Byron Buxton OF, Twins- 2 for 3, SB(5).  BA= .265.  Buxton is a potential 50 SB guy.  It's just that he's being drafted more for his ceiling than what you are likely to get right now.

Didi Gregorius SS, Yankees- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .263.  In Didi I trust.

Carlos Gomez OF, Rays- 2 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .304.  Does Gomez have anything left in the tank?  He's not going to be a 30/30 guy anymore, but maybe 30/15?

Ronald Acuna OF, Braves- 3 for 5.  BA= .432.  Acuna will start the season in AAA.  Draft him anyway.

5 comments:

  1. The Giants bench could qcactual be a strength this year. Hopefully won't see a bunch of sub .200 guys on the wrong side of their career coming off it. Pablo could be a great piece as last long as he stays positive and motivated

    Billy Baseball

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  2. Its not like Belt doesnt get injured, so Pablo could find himself manning 1st base for us b4 seasons end.

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  3. If Blanco really is faster now, maybe he can be part of a 3 way platoon between lf and cf with pence and Jackson.
    So then do you want another true cf body in Gorkys , or some power in Parker?

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  4. Count me as an early Sandoval believer!!

    In a bench roll, being able to play 3B and 1B along with PH duties, Pablo will be a very valuable piece, but I agree - How can the Giants get more production out of the guy with Longoria solidly manning his position?? And yeah, not getting rid of Longoria!

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  5. Looking forward to seeing McCutcheon play RF. I know Bucs fans are still upset at management for losing Cutch. Hard to see Panda getting his share of abs with Belt and Longoria manning corner IF. Maybe he'll be the teams top pinch hitter?

    Chase Anderson was doing well for my team last year until he got injured. Good pitching challenging to find during the season due to injuries and disappointing performances, Wainwright, F Hernandez, J Tehran to name a few.

    LG

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