Austin Slater, Thairo Estrada and David Villar were the hitting heroes and the bullpen held the Rockies lineup in check as the Giants guaranteed at least a split of the 4 game series in Coors Field.
Austin Slater LF- 2 for 4, 2 2B, HBP. BA= .270. Slater is arbitration eligible. I think one way or another he is back next season.
Thairo Estrada SS- 2 for 4, 2B, HBP. BA= .268. Estrada is finishing strong. Slash line for September: .317/.411/.508. Leads Giants position players in fWAR by almost a full Win. In one sense this season was his breakout, but it could be just a prelude to an even bigger breakout next season.
David Villar DH- 1 for 4, HR(6). BA= .222. The HR was a monster estimated at 424 ft. Villar's overall BA isn't impressive but he's a different player since being recalled on Sept 2. Sept slash line: .278/.339/.630. His fWAR of 0.8 in 135 PA projects to 3.6 over 600 PA's. Needs a chance to prove he can sustain it over a season. His minor league track record suggests he can.
Joey Bart C- 1 for 3, BB. BA= .222. If you look at Joey Bart's body language on the field, he owns this team! On the other hand, the bat is still a concern as he is hitting just .105 over his last 7 games and .184 over his last 15.
Sean Hjelle RHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, GO/AO= 6/1. ERA= 8.44. Nice bounceback from his disaster appearances against the Dodgers. Resilience is a necessary trait for a MLB pitcher.
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Logan Webb RHP tries for a series win tomorrow against German Marquez RHP.
Slater, Estrada, Davis, Flores, Bart, Villar, Davis, Dean, Longoria, Brinson, Wynns, Ramos, and Johnson are the Giants RHB’s (Johnson bats both) who have AB’s for the Giants this year.
ReplyDeleteWould any be a full-time starter on a WS contender? Or a good team?
Bart, Ramos, Villar, and Estrada, might be valuable starters in the future although the last 2 have defensive issues which will become more important next year and beyond as the 2023 change in base size and limitations on holding runners on first make a good runner on first often a runner on second.
The Giants have many 2023 Rule 5 eligible players that we think might have a Major League Future.
Every questionable player currently on the 40-man roster, including LHBers Gonzalez, YtY, Wade, Pederson, La Stella, Vosler, Belt, and even Crawford puts an eligible prospect at risk.
Tough decisions ahead for SF.
What is more important: trying to get back to .500 in 2023 or being better in 2024 and beyond?