What We Learned In Week 3

 The Giants spent the entire week on the road and more than held their own despite no favors from the weather in New York.  Here's what we learned from the week:

1.  Joc Pederson OF is making Farhan Zaidi look like even more of a genius than he already was.  I'll be the first to admit, I was one of many Giants fans who were disappointed when I realized Peterson was THE bat upgrade of the Hot Stove season.  So far, FZ is having the last laugh on that one as Peterson is off to a blazing start.  He's been one of the league leaders in average exit velocity from Opening Day but now those barreled balls are finding gaps and going over fences.  His 2 HR's today tied him for second in MLB HR's with 5, one behind Ozzie Albies, Byron Buxton and CJ Cron.  He is 6'th in OPS for players with 30 or more AB's and 3'rd for players with more than 40.  Maybe FZ is not the genius here.  Maybe it's Brandon Crawford SS who reportedly reached out to Joc and recruited him to sign with the Giants.  Maybe BCraw is angling for a future GM job?

2.  The Giants really aren't going to follow no unwritten rules.  The funny part of this one is the play that got the Nationals tails in a knot was actually a bad play where Thairo Estrada was running on the pitch from 1B in a bloop hit and got thrown out by several feet at home plate. But this was the second team in two weeks that took exception to the Giants continuing to play to win with a big lead.  There will inevitably be a game where a team runs up the score on the Giants and rub their(and our) faces in it.  I'll just turn off the game and look forward to the next one.

3.  The Giants bullpen is really good!  I'm not counting Jakob Junis RHP who did not start the game he appeared in but as used as a "bulk innings" guy.  Even without those 5 shutout IP, The Giants bullpen had an ERA of 1.35 on the week and is at 2.01 on the season with 5 Saves and just one Blown Save. The guy with the biggest contract in the bullpen is Jake McGee LHP who is making just $2.5 M this season with an option for $4.5 M for next year.

4.  The injuries are piling up.  In just one week the Giants had 2 SP's go on the IL as well as Steven Duggar OF who is going to miss at least 60 days due to on oblique strain.  The good news is it sounds like Alex Cobb RHP's adducter strain is mild and he's starting to throw again.  Also, Lamonte Wade Jr OF started a rehab assignment with the Sacramento River Cats and is expected back by next weekend.

5.  The kids are not alright.  Joey Bart C is struggling a the plate.  He's drawing a few walks and seems to be mostly selecting good pitches to swing at but he's swinging through way too many of those.  Heliot Ramos OF had a big day at the plate in AAA Sacramento yesterday but is otherwise off to a slow start.  He was passed over in favor of Luis Gonzalez OF in the latest round of call ups and LuGone even had to be added to the 40-man roster.