The Giants lineup outscored the Guardians on the final day of Cactus League competition of the spring. Key Lines:
Jung Hoo Lee 2 for 3, HR(1), 2 R, RBI. BA= .455. Lee seemed to figure out his path to major league stardom after the All-Star break last season. He's had a big spring. Interesting he batted leadoff in this Cactus League finale which is where I think he should bat on Opening Day.
Matt Chapman 3B- 1 for 3, 2B, R, 2 RBI. BA= .405. This was Chapman's 7'th double of the spring. He consistently drover the ball into the gaps all spring.
Rafael Devers DH- 3 for 4, 2B, R, RBI. BA= .172. Is Devers bat heating up just in time for the season to start?
Will Brennan LF- 1 for 1, 2B, R, RBI. BA= .325. If the Giants want a lefty bench bat on the roster, it appears Brennan won the spring competition over Drew Gilbert.
Patrick Bailey C- 2 for 3, R. BA= .286. Bailey has had a fine spring. If he can just hit somewhere in the mid-.200's WAR should skyrocket.
Jared Oliva CF- 2 for 3, HR(2), 2 R, 3 RBI. BA= .375. Oliva is getting a long look. His game-changing speed and CF D could just win him a roster spot which complicates things for Luis Matos who is out of options. Can Tony Vitello live with an all right-handed bench?
Robbie Ray LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 1.37. Ray is another year removed from an extended absence for elbow surgery and he's pitching for a contract. He looks ready to start the season.
Joey Lucchesi LHP(3.00) and Erik Miller LHP(0.00) pitched scoreless innings. Matt Gage LHP had a strong spring. Their situation suddenly became a lot less certain with the signing of Ryan Borucki LHP to a major league contract. Miller is the only member of that quartet with options.
The Giants break camp and head north and west to Sacramento where Tyler Mahle RHP will get his final tune-up start before the season against the Giants AAA squad.
Realistically, Doc, are these Giants seven wins better then last year, possibly the minimum to make the last NL playoff slot?
ReplyDeleteDoes it depend on Devers delivering, a healthy Chapman, a steady Adames, a 2024-level Ramos, a better than average Bader, and Lee doing what was expected of him, to say nothing of healthy SPs and reliable RPs?
Is that expecting too much?
There is a reason why they play the games.
DeleteA full season of Devers "might" make them better.
DeleteOtherwise, perhaps a better outfield, Arraez is a batting average betterment at 2B, but are they better off without Rogers, YtY, and Doval?
With a little luck, 86 wins.
That's what I put 'em on. 86-76. 10 over.
DeleteIs Ryan Borucki a big signing? Does he have options?
ReplyDeleteBorucki does not have options. The only LHP contender for a roster spot with options is Erik Miller. I assume this is a classic FZ churn move at the edges of the roster and they will try to sneak someone through waivers.
Delete.....and the Giants just released Joey Lucchesi so they must like Borucki better.
Deleteif asked to guess our season's W-L, i would place it only a game or two different from recent years. i think the hitting will be better and after Webb and Ray, the pitching will be worse. -es
ReplyDeleteThe SPs this year, after Webb and Ray, is minus Verlander and Birdsong, but up more starts with Roupp (last year's 3rd best SP by wins, ERA, ERA+, 4th IP), plus a two new SPs who may well make Verlander and Birdsong forgettable.
DeleteIs it a great staff? No.
I think we are at least 5 games better. Ray is a full season out from Tj and Roupp is a second season so less fatigue. Birdsong really was never replaced after he hit his wall. So I think Mahle and Houser upgrade the last two spots.
ReplyDeleteOffense / D Hader makes the whole Of better. Arraez helps offense and we hope doesn’t hurt Defense. Devers seems healthy and more comfortable. Chapman and Adames just have to get back to average.
Bench is better and more stable. Especially Susac.
Pen is only question for me but with 3 lefties more balanced. And I think Kilian makes the squad and he and Miller make great set up guys with Walker apparently back.
Interesting lineups for the Giants/RiverCats today.
ReplyDeleteIt's not certain, who has the better of it!
SF starter, is "better" then Bertrand...
What's up with Bader ... is he still suffering from hammy?
ReplyDeleteAre the Giants better without LHP Joey Lucchesi than with him?
ReplyDeleteLooking at last year's pitching after removing pitchers they won't have in 2026 (Verlander, Birdsong, Rodriguez, Rogers, Hicks, Doval, Teng, Harrison, Hjelle, & Trivino), Doesn't Lucchesi seem like a keeper?