Tyler Fitzgerald's 2-run homer in the third inning jumpstarted the Giants scoring and Jordan Hicks looked sharp in his final preseason start. Key Lines:
Tyler Fitzgerald 2B- 1 for 2, HR(2), BB, SB(1). BA= .283. Fitz shook off his 2 K's and rough interview from last night by going deep to LF to drive in Mike Yastrzemski RF who drew a leadoff walk. Kruk and Kuip commented on an interaction between Fitz and Batting Coach Pat Burrell in the dugout after the HR. Something about body language. I didn't catch enough to understand what it was about. He later singled, stole 2B and scored on Grant McCray's single to CF.
Christian Koss SS- 1 for 1, 2B. BA= .341. Cristian Koss drove in what proved to be the winning run on a booming double into the L-CF gap. He also put a nice tag down to nab a runner at 2B. OK, team. Here's what the tea leaves are telling me. Through the entire second half of spring training, Christian is the only utility IF candidates to play SS. I think he's going to make the team. Don't be shocked if McCray is the 4'th OF because he is the best defensive CF, but maybe since Encarnacion's injury both McCray and Matos make the team?
Jordan Hicks RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 10/1 GO/AO. ERA= 5.19. Hicks got through 5 innings in under 60 pitches and his FB sat at an easy looking 99 MPH. He came out for the 6'th inning and labored through a leadoff walk and was taken out for Joel Peguero RHP. A single by Riley Greene who advanced on a throw trying to get the lead runner at 3B put runners at 2'nd and 3'rd with no outs. The runner then scored on a sac fly. In his last two starts Hicks did a good job of depending on his stuff, pitching to contact, getting groundball outs and keeping his pitch count down. Still, he should be able to throw more than 60 pitches without tiring.
Camilo Doval RHP(2.00) allowed 3 hits and a run in an inning of work. Randy Rodriguez RHP(1.74) capped off a fine spring with a scoreless frame. Ryan Walker RHP(4.15) got the Save with a scoreless 9'th inning.
The Giants travel to Cincinnati tomorrow and face the Reds on Opening Day with Logan Webb RHP facing Hunter Greene RHP.
My real problem with Hicks is that he's a five inning and done starter. Very reminiscent of Alex Wood. One of two lines is typical for him.
ReplyDelete5 IP, 5 H, 2-3 ER
or, once his arm gets tired for the season.
3-4 1/3 IP, 6-9 H, 4-6 ER
Each is ultimately harsh for the bullpen. Neither really dependable.
I am pretty sure as long has he pitches like he did his last two starts the Giants will be very happy to keep him in the #4 SP role.
DeleteDepending on how you look at him, Jordan is the proverbial half full/half empty cup of coffee...
DeleteA Google AI study suggests that Americans are 58% half full and only 16% half empty.
A humorous study of Canadians' feelings about half full/half empty can be found at
https://cultureatz.com/is-your-coffee-cup-half-full-or-half-empty/
i would love to see hicks pitch more offspeed so he can go deeper into games
DeleteINHO the area that has me concerned is hitting for the Giants. So I think it will be in the best interest of the team to have Luis Matos on the active roster.
ReplyDeleteSo far it looks like Buster is sticking to his word that he will prioritize pitching and defense.
DeleteDrB..By design and/or necessity, I guess we will see, like in the good old days, how far Pitching, defense. more aggression on the base paths, and chemistry takes them.....It's better then relying on hitting and outscoring...In the meantime, Buster and GMZM need to already be scouting for POTENTIAL improvements at the plate for OF/1B/DH, where every slot has questions offensively, as the season moves along. I really like the rest of the team (except for a missing LHRP--which they also should be looking for).
DeleteSteveVA
The Athletic’s Eno Sarris published his annual bold predictions column on Tuesday, dropping 10 incredibly spicy takes about the season to come. And one of those was that the Giants would have the best bullpen in all of baseball.
ReplyDeleteFangraphs had the Giants at No. 23.
Sarris nailed half of his 10 predictions in 2024.
https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/sf-giants-prediction-best-bullpen-baseball-20240885.php
Look like Koss has made the team, according to KNBR interview with Krukow this morning. Big news, and congratulations to him! He apparently had the lion's share of SS sub appearances this spring I read somewhere.
ReplyDelete