The A's had 7 XBH's to the Giants none, so the final score was probably closer than it should have been. Key Lines:
Joe Panik 2B- 3 for 3. BA= .571. Panik was leading off so 3 singles was doing his job.
Brandon Belt 1B- 2 for 3. BA= .375. If Belt is making contact, he should hit his share of dingers, so this is good too.
Cameron Maybin CF- 1 for 2, SB(1). BA= .143. DUI or no DUI, if Maybin makes this team and they send Drew Ferguson back to the Astros, I'll be disappointed.
Drew Ferguson CF- 1 for 1. BA= .133. Ferguson has been slow to get untracked at the plate, but has done other things well and really these things should not be decided by spring training performance.
Madison Bumgarner LHP- 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 11.57. I didn't tune in until the 4'th inning but I am watching the 3'rd on video during Zaidi's interview. Bum seemed to be working more on offspeed stuff in this game. Kruk praised his use of the changeup during his quick game wrap on the MLB broadcast. I did see at least one pitch that registered 92 MPH.
Mark Melancon RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR. ERA= 13.50. Oh my! This was not good! Pitches with no life. Dingers flying out of the park. Farhan's brain has to be in overdrive thinking about how he can avoid just chalking Melancon's contract up to sunk cost. In today's game, you can't afford to carry a guy you can only use in garbage time on the roster. That's what Pablo Sandoval is for!
Sam Dyson RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 3.00. Dyson looked sharp in his inning of work.
Tyler Beede RHP- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 1.29. Beede walked his first batter and it was "here we go" time, but he settled right down erasing that runner on a strike-out/throw-out and generally dominating for 2 more innings. He once again had the mid-high 90's FB that was sawing off bats and backed it up with a diving curveball and even broke out a few good change-ups. Where was this guy last year? What a transformation! The guy who had this name on the back of his uniform last year had 8 pitches none of which were "out" pitches. This year he has 3 pitches, but all 3 are "out" pitches! I still think he'll start the season in Sacramento, but if he keeps this up, he'll definitely be pitching in Oracle Park before the season is over.
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The Giants travel to Goodyear for a 5:00 PM game against the Indians with Drew Pomeranz getting his third spring start.
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Lots of chatter sprung up in response to some Farhan Zaidi comments about looking for an OF or two on the trade market. MCC did a nice breakdown of what might be available. For me, if he can figure out how to get Wil Myers, OK but otherwise, I'd be just as happy to roll with the Motley Crew and see what happens.
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2019 is NOT the year to have a very short-term, very maybe, very bust-probable Cameron Maybin or Adam Jones or Geraldo Parra at the expense of Drew Ferguson.
ReplyDeleteIf the Giants were even a little close to contending in 2019, OK, maybe grab an old vet to ride out the year with Bochy, but those guys aren't bringing a ring without a few more shrewd moves and a lot of luck.
Ferguson may well be nothing, but he at least has a chance of being good when the Giants are good -- whenever that might be, but it won't be this year -- this is the 2010 nucleus grown old.
I'm not quite THAT doom and gloom for this team. I'm still driving the California Dreaming bandwagon. I'm all for an OF upgrade if Farhan can find one, but Cameron Maybin is not an upgrade. Like you said, barring a better upgrade option, I am happy to take the chance that Ferguson is a bust to find out if he might be more than that.
DeleteSame here - the Giants COULD be good this year. Panik, Belt, Longoria, Parra, Duggar are all hitting, Posey will hit don't worry, Williamson is waking up. Only Crawford is a bit quiet at the plate. Beede is looking great, so if Samardjiza can just look good through Spring Training maybe we can contract swap him for Wil Myers and still have a deep starting rotation. Melancon aggghhhhh what an expensive BP pitcher - Bochy says they're waiting for the cutter to start breaking. Well, the hitters aren't!
DeleteLOL, my outlook mostly comes from YOU!
DeleteAnd I do hope the stars align one more time (for Boch and the vets) but this is the last time I have hope for the 30+ guys to regroup TO average.
Except, Crawford did well until injuries dragged him down, Posey was good but less power until injuries ended his season, Belt was up and down but injuries overcame him, Panik was OK except when he wasn't, Longoria never got on the track but still was arguably the best of the bunch.
California Dreamin': The Five plus Mac and Dug all plus at least 2 in WAR and Panik/Longoria 3, SP stable, and 89 wins to squeeze into the WC.
Then, see how far Bum carries the load to the finish line with a closer at last.
I'm all in, but ...
So I've actually stayed a bit quiet as the Giants have been going through this. I'm with you on Ferguson. And Beede (with Suarez, Anderson and Rodriquez is starting to look like 4/5 of a nice young staff, maybe to the point where Cueto and Bumgarner have support). I also am kind of happy with the bullpen (other than Blach getting roughed up).
ReplyDeleteTo me I think the Giants biggest decision will be the same as always--7 v. 8 in the pen. With openers, maybe they go heavy--maybe you lean Stratton and Blach. My guess on 25 man is:
Posey, Belt, Panik, Crawford, Longo, Williamson, and Duggar in OF. I think last one comes down to Parra v. Maybin, and neither is lighting the world on fire. I go Parra just because he's hitting better. Still think there is time their for Slater to make a move, but he has options so probably not.
Starters will be no surprises--Shark, Pomeranz, MadBum, Holland and Rodriquez.
Pen--Melancon (unless he goes to DL again), Dyson, Black from the right (Moronta should have options so they will set him up as closer in AAA), Smith, Watson and Bergen (who has now passed Okert both because he's better and younger) for the left. Blach v. Stratton if they take one, and given 3 lefties, they don't have any particular need for it to be Blach.
Reserves: I'm open here other than Ferguson. He seems like the perfect utility guy. If they go with two long in the pen, then obviously we only get 3 more--one catcher and 2 IF. I would still like to see Aramis play the back up and he some versatility. I am thinking Avelino as the back up SS bc with Panik and Crawford hitting, we can afford to carry a defensive shortstop. That would leave Panda v. someone else for the rest.
Last one's cut: Stratton/Blach/Slater since I think they're somewhat tied.
Future doesn't look bad--we have 4 young starters in the wings, plus a few others who showed well. Pen seems very deep to me. Catcher is set. Shaw could move to first no? Panik is young. We have some younger guys in OF too. Seems like 3b/SS are the bigger holes but also some potential
PiLamBear
ENOUGH! Time to pull the plug: let's see what Andreoli, Ferguson*, Gerber, Solarte got to play OF with Mac* and Duggar.
ReplyDeleteGiants d-Rupp-t one Cameron today. Does that make 39 more to go?
melancon will likely be relegated to mopup to start the year and zaidi may have to consider eating his contract if he can't get it together this season. vincent and black would be two guys who could take his spot.
ReplyDeleteI am not doom and gloom as most nor am I am hell bent on playing players just becasue they are young..and only caring about the future...I dont want to give up any kids for vets to save this season..but I see nothng wrong with trying to win with your best players (not your youngest) this season..and if that fails..you sell..sell sell...
ReplyDeleteProbably being a bit too optimistic or "californian dreamin" but I see some decent potential in a starting 5 of MadBum, a healthy Shark, DROD and Holland..as for the 5th spot a, let the best pitcher win amingst Stratton, Pomerantz (or darkhorse Beedee!!)..I also think the Bullpen is loaded with good arms (both young and vets), from both sides (Smith/Watson/Bergen/Venditte..Vincent/Moronta/Black/Dyson/Beede/Adon/Gott///Venditte...Only MELANCON sours this..
As for the INF (Posey, Belt, Panik, Craawfrd and Longoria and including Solarte on the bench--will be a mistake in the OF!)..cant do anything but go with these vets..and hope they are able to give their best and have damn good seasons..I do not think that it is an impossibility..
I can honsetly see the INFs ,SPs and RPs putting together a good season with, Of course, the main question and determining factor being the OF. I think DUGGAR and PARRA (as a one year stop gap) are your only locks...I would say MAC also, but these rumbling of FARHAN looking to trade for another OF would most likely be to replace Mac..I hope not!..I am not a huge fan of Maybin but despite the bad start, he is not chopped liver.and I may also be the only one that really couldnt care less what happens to the likes of Fergurson, ANdreolli, Gerber..If one of them can contibute more than MAYBIN.and earn a spot on merit and not age..then they stick...If not, bide their time in the minors (maybe a deal can be worked out with HOU on Fergurson to keep him if the Giants are that enamored with him?)
And what do you lose IF, and it's a big one, the vets put forth a good, competitive and entertianing year in Bochy's last hurrah? The kids, especially the top ones and the ones close, just get more valuable expereince in the minors..making them more ready for what is coming....The one fly in the ointment of vet success is if they are somehow able to stay in contention thriugh AUgust..you lose the chance to deal MadBum and Smith for what could be a decent prospect haul for the futuer..But right nw that is only a hypothetical and that decison can be put off till later!
SteveVA
Wil Myers: owed $74M through 2022 (includes $1M buyout of $20M 2023 contract). At $8M/WAR he would need to average 2.3/year for 4 years which is very close for his last 4 years (bWAR), but that was age 24-27 with 28-31 coming up. Might work if he hasn't peaked, but Giants would need to get rid of a big salary: Cueto?
ReplyDeleteWhy would the Giants need to dump salary to take on Wil Myers? They just offered Bryce Harper over $300 M.
DeleteIn-artful wording!
Delete"Dump salary" not for CBT, for what Myers is not worth!
Not that Harper is worth $330M, but Wil Myers isn't Harper.
His 2020-2022 pay is almost Harperian: $22.5M, $22.5M, $22.5M, and $1M club option buyout of 2023's $20M.
Myers has 1 season with a bWAR > 3, Harper has 4 of 7.
Perhaps it would have been better worded if it was said that Myers should come with $5M/year scholarship, which would be covered by 2019's payout to Cueto.
Then that could come back to bite the Giants in 2020 and 2021!
Yes, it would be an overpay, but the Giants have the luxury of being able to overpay.
DeleteSorry, I think I hit a wrong button. One of Stratton or Blach plus a non-roster reliever and a lower level prospect should be more than enough to get Myers if the Giants take on his full salary obligation.
Delete