Spring Training Game Wrap 3/9/2018: Giants 10 Mariners 7

Not much pitching in this game as the Giants rallied late repeatedly to pull out the high-scoring win.  Key Lines:

Josh Rutledge 3B- 1 for 2, HR(1).  BA= .286.  Rutledge is having a good spring, but I don't think he is much of a SS so short of an injury to Pablo Sandoval, I would say he does not have much of a chance to make the Opening Day roster.

Hunter Pence LF- 0 for 3, 2 K's.  BA= .067.  OK, time to talk about Hunter Pence.  He's always been streaky.  If he is healthy, this is likely just one of those small sample cold streaks.  I'd almost rather have it now than be red hot all spring and go cold on April 1.  On the other hand, if he is physically broken beyond repair, this may be the beginning of his swan song and close to a full season on the DL.

Chris Shaw LF- 1 for 1, HR(2), BB.  BA= .348.  Shaw is making the case that his bat is for real.  He'll likely go to Sacramento and get ready for a call up if Hunter Pence proves to be done.

Buster Posey C- 3 for 3, 2 2B.   BA= .800.  Buster had not played since 2/25 because his ankle is barking.  He did this out of bed.

Mac Williamson PR/RF- 1 for 2, SB(2).  BA= .379.  I'm going to say Cutch is terrific in RF all season.  Could the Giants field a corner OF tandem of Chris Shaw in LF and Mac in RF in 2019?

Brandon Belt 1B- 1 for 2, HR(1), BB.  BA= .429.  The dinger was barely over the fence in R-CF.  Probably a can of corn in AT&T Park.  Other than that, Belt is having a fine spring and most importantly seems to be completely over the concussion.

Pablo Sandoval 3B- 3 for 3.  BA= .333.  Barring injury, Sandoval will be the reserve corner IF.

Jeff Samardzija RHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 9.82.  Spring training ballparks are less than ideal for Shark's style of pitching, but is there a more frustrating pitcher in baseball?  I mean, you'd think at some point he'd figure out how to not give up so darn many dingers.  Fangraphs tried to make a case that he could easily correct this problem and failed miserably.  Of the 10 dingers they showed videos of, most were either off "good" pitches, which by definition you can't do anything about, or off "mistake" pitches, the kind he's been making for his entire career.  Expect more dingers.

DJ Snelton LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, GO/AO= 2/0.  ERA= 2.08.  After some bad luck in his early appearances, Snelton seems to have settled down.  Another LHP option down the road.

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Giants play a split squad DH today, both games against the Angels.  Tyler Beede and Andrew Suarez are the SP's. Is this the day we get a peek at Heliot Ramos?

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Fantasy Focus: Around the league.

Miles Mikolas, RHP, Cardinals- 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K's, GO/AO= 5/0.  ERA= 10.38.  This is more like what Cardinals fans and fantasy baseball owners had in mind for Mikolas.

Justin Verlander, RHP, Astros- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 0.90.  Verlander is officially back to ace status.  I think this is the longest start of the spring for all of MLB.

David Dahl, OF, Rockies- 2 for 3, HR(3).  BA= .194.  Dahl is one of my breakout candidates.  How much will his playing time be affected by the CarGo signing?

Ryan McMahon, 1B, Rockies- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .368.  Impact Rookie candidate but will he platoon with Ian Desmond?

Cory Kluber, RHP, Indians- 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 3.22.  Kluber usually gets off to a slow start in April and is then lights out after I give up on him.

Francisco Mejia, DH, Indians- 3 for 4, 2B, HR(2).  BA= .444.  Mejia is ready to play in the majors. He needs a position.  Fortunately he plays for an AL team.

AJ Puk, LHP, A's- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Puk may not start the season in Oakland, but he'll definitely be there and probably quite soon.

Jon Lester, LHP, Cubs- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.93.  Lester is an ace.

Robbie Ray, LHP, D'Backs- 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 9.00.  Ray is a strikeout machine, but his other numbers are inconsistent.  Will the humidor turn him into an ace?

Archie Bradley, RHP, D'Backs- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 5.68.  I'll bet the D'Backs go with either Boxberger or Hirano at closer and keep Bradley in his multi-inning setup role.  Still has fantasy value in that role.

Kendrys Morales, DH, Blue Jays- 2 for 2, HR(1).  BA= .261.  Morales keeps getting overlooked in fantasy drafts and keeps on producing nice numbers.

Devon Travis, 2B, Blue Jays- 1 for 4, HR(2).  BA= 316.  Is this the year Travis stays healthy and has his long predicted breakout?

Marco Estrada, RHP, Blue Jays- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 1.13.  Estrada is a flyball pitcher in a bandbox park and division.  If the ball is still juiced, he'll continue to struggle.

Michael Fulmer, RHP, Tigers- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.60.  Tigers are probably biding their time until they get a huge offer for Fulmer.

Steven Matz, LHP, Mets- 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 15.88.  Matz has struggled with injuries.  this 4 inning start suggests those might be behind him.

Chris Sale, LHP, Red Sox- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.25.  He may not be Mr Congeniality, but he sure can pitch.

Dan Straily, RHP, Marlins- 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K, ERA= 2.00. Strailly can be sneaky valuable in a QS league like mine.

Jose Berrios, RHP, Twins- 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.23.  Berrios broke out in the second half last year.  Can he sustain it in 2018?

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FA Signings:

Mike Moustakas took a 1 year deal with the Royals.

The Rockies are bringing CarGo back on a 1 year deal.  A ton of LH bats on that roster.

Jonathan Lucroy reportedly signing with the A's.  No confirmation or terms at this time.