Jerar Encarnacion's 3-run home run provided more than enough runs as Robbie Ray and the Giants pitchers came within one out of a combined perfect game. Key Lines:
Matt Chapman 3B- 3 for 3, 2 2B, R. BA= .448. Chapman keeps hammering the ball. 6 doubles and 2 home runs out of 13 hits on the spring.
Grant McCray CF- 2 for 2, BB, 2 SB(3), R. BA= .267. One of his hits was a perfect push bunt down the 3B line that rolled to a stop on the grass. An otherwise sparkling performance was marred by a pickoff from 2B.
Bryce Eldridge DH- 1 for 2, 2 BB, R, RBI. BA= .250. 413 OBP, .913 OPS. But that comes with a 36% K rate. I think the Giants would happily take that line for the season but is it sustainable?
Jerar Encarnacion LF- 1 for 3, HR(2), R, 3 RBI. BA= .302. Jerar is coming on like gangbusters and might just be the odds on favorite to start the season as the primary DH. Option situation is a 2-edged sword. Probably slightly increases chances of making the Opening Day roster. If he doesn't he hits the DFA roulette wheel.
Christian Koss 2B- 1 for 2, BB. BA= .429. Koss continues to look good at the plate and made a circus catch in shallow RF but got picked off 1B.
Robbie Ray LHP- 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 1.23. Sparkling performance by Ray. Are the stars aligning for a huge season? He's pitching for a new contract and he's an additional year away from surgery.
Carson Seymour RHP, Tristan Beck RHP and Matt Gage LHP combined for 3 more perfect innings. Gregory Santos RHP got two outs in the 9'th but then gave up a walk and a double to end the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout within 2 batters.
Tyler Mahle RHP makes his fourth start of the spring today against the Padres in Peoria.
Bad news for Hayden Birdsong RHP but maybe not surprising in retrospect. Grade 2 UCL and forearm strain. Seeking a second opinion. It appears a long layoff is in his future no matter what the recommended treatment.
Sour grapes department:
ReplyDelete21-yo non-roster spring training invitee Cooper Pratt (7 for 27) walks on 5 pitches, someone maybe you could throw the 3-1 pitch right down the middle?
OTOH, it IS Spring Training and a win-is-a-WIN...
I was thinking the same thing as I watched it unfold.
DeleteI suspect the 36% K rate would drift uncomfortably above 40 % during the real season.
ReplyDeleteI would agree. Eldridge is awesome, but too green and with too many holes in his swing.
DeleteI think a guy who's 6-5 needs to really, really get a sense of how to avoid swinging at sliders am curve balls on his back foot, and how to hit for average with a manageable K rate. 30-35% K rate in AAA is not going to work in the Majors.
I think kid still has some things to prove in AAA this year.
Encarnacion's also playing really good defense this spring. He and Koss might push Eldridge to Sacramento to start the season. Fortunately, we won't have to wait too much longer to see who makes it into the regular season!
ReplyDeleteTwo factors align here - Encarnacion and Matos are both out of options, and Eldridge strikes out too much. Teams generally don't risk exposing decent players to the waiver wire, and I think the Giants will give Bryce additional seasoning at AAA until he forces the issue by increasing his contact rate.
ReplyDeleteIts not surprising when any young pitcher has an elbow injury these days. Birdsong is a big loss since he's talented and it means the Giants lose a key pitching depth piece. Do they go out and look for more pitching.? You can make a good argument either way on Eldridge on sending him down or making the roster. Hope they make good decision . Jesus Rodriguez is interesting he can hit and play catcher among other positions. Good chance we see him this year?
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so — mlb.com downgrades Jesus Rodriguez's potential power and his fielding, but he can hit — everything that he can reach!
Delete"Rodriguez has met few pitches that he won't chase, yet he sports a career .309 batting average and 14 percent strikeout rate. His aggression has yet to cost him because he has uncanny hand-eye coordination that enables him to put most balls in play and generate high exit velocities. He'd be more productive if he were more selective about which pitches he puts in play, because his penchant for ground-ball and opposite-field contact may limit him to 10-15 homers per season."
Blocked at 3B, SS, & 1B, if C doesn't work out, after Arráez in 2026, might Rodriguez fit at 2B?
Like reading Susan Slusser's Giants coverage since she likes to include scouts takes. Most scouts think Eldridge should spend a little more time in the minors, but not much. One scout added "Eldridge is going to be good, no question". Excited to read that!
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