Logan Webb had a major letdown coming off the intensity of the WBC but the lineup picked him up and the Giants took a high-scoring game from the Rockies on the road. Key Lines:
Drew Gilbert DH- 3 for 5, 3B, BB, 2 R. BA= .259. Gilbert got a late start due to injury but stated his case today. Is it too little, too late?
Jared Oliva CF- 2 for 5, 2 2B, SB(13), 2 R, 2 RBI. BA= .351. Oliva has shown he is capable of winning a game with his speed alone. No other player in camp or in recent memory could claim that. And what is the old saying? Speed never slumps? He is also a strong defender in CF. The rest may not matter but he also hit well.
Daniel Susac C- 2 for 3, HR(2), 2 R, RBI. BA= .333. Susac is here as a Rule 5 Draft pick. If he doesn't make the team he must be either traded or offered back to the A's. He came to camp hitting the ball hard and never let up. It's very hard to imagine they would let him go after the spring he had and after trading for his rights.
Eric Haase C- 1 for 1, BB, R, 2 RBI. BA= .286. Haase has had a good spring too. He has an opt-out. Is there a way for the Giants to keep both him and Susac?
Victor Bericoto 1B- 2 for 3, 2B, R, RBI. BA= .474. Bericoto was the best hitter in camp, wire-to-wire.
Jerar Encarnacion 1B- 2 for 2, 2B, R, 2 RBI. BA= .319. Encarnacion is out of options. With the way he came on late I doubt the Giants want to lose him to waivers. With Eldridge's option, Jerar may have won himself a roster spot as a DH and Reserve OF/1B.
Luis Matos RF- 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI. BA= .283. Matos says "Hey! Don't forget about me!"
Casey Schmitt 3B- 2 for 5, RBI. BA= .311. Schmitt had a strong spring.
Christian Koss SS- 2 for 5, HR(1), 2 R, 2 RBI. BA= .417. Koss may be on the bubble simply because of the numbers game but he has certainly done everything any player could do to make the team. FWIW, he is probably a little better defensive SS than Casey Schmitt. One problem for the Giants is all the players who appear to be in line for reserve roles on the position side bat right handed.
Logan Webb RHP- 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 K's, 8/1 GO/AO. We'll chalk this one up to a letdown coming off the WBC in which Webb performed very well.
J. T. Brubaker RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 2.45. Brubaker appears to have won himself a swingman/long reliever role.
Juan Sanchez LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 0.00. Sanchez had a perfect spring but with Erik Miller apparently healthy again and Joey Lucchesi LHP signed late, is there room in the bullpen for him?
While we talked about the Cactus League in the past tense there are 3 more games to go, a split squad tomorrow and a game on Saturday. Adrian Houser RHP starts the home game against the Royals and Spencer Bivens RHP gets the ball for the road game against the Rangers tomorrow.
As we mentioned, Bryce Eldridge was optioned to the minors. Theoretically he could be called back for Opening Day but it would appear he will start the season in AAA to work on strike zone management.
Eldridge is 20 years old and played in only 66 games in AAA. Don't blame them if they want Eldridge to have everyday reps in AAA. He is still way ahead of schedule and scouts say he'll need maybe a month in AAA before coming back to the majors, he's gonna be a good player.
ReplyDeleteWith 7 probable batting starters not playing at all and a likely 8th (Encarnación is surging) entering mid game, the yuts are making it tough for Vitello and management to make the "who makes it" decisions.
ReplyDeleteAre they unlikely to let Matos and Encarnación go?
Is there room for both Schmitt and Koss?
Those 4 and Susac fill the roster, don't they?
They are going to have to keep the ones they would lose if they send them down. Then, they can DFA them later if they slump. And, at least with Matos, Jarar, and Koss, they will slump (and Schmidt will get HBP), and the FO will have the yutes still available to come back up and fill in. That said, Matos did not do himself any favors when he turned the wrong way and got himself picked-off first. Mental error…that may cost him.
ReplyDeleteWith the pre-season Giants ranked tied for 15-16 in HRs and 3rd in OBP (behind LAD and Tex), is that what Buster wanted?
ReplyDeleteGiants are 6th in OPS (3rd in the NL).
Pitching stats are interesting, too. All are sortable.
See:
https://www.mlb.com/stats/team/ops
I am not a fan of the Giants OF depth at all but I really do like that all the players vying for the those last two OF spots (and DH possibilities)have put their best foot forward and are having good springs. Super hard decisions given the variety of these players and their strengths, their experience (Oliva and Brennan) and their waiver status (i.e., Matos and Encarnacion). Same holds true for how well Schmidt and Koss have performed. Maybe a trade can be arranged with a team that has LHB logjam???
ReplyDeleteNow, the BULLPEN is another story...
SteveVA
Oh..and I totally agree with the ELDRIDGE decision even if he is a LHB....needs more seasoning and learning at AAA...Maybe he pulls a POSEY and is ready by JUne? But more likely later...
ReplyDeleteSteveVA