San Francisco Giants Mailbag: Aoki, Olivera, Bullpen
Sep 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher George Kontos (70) pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
@MaggiePilloton @goldenbaysports Who's battling for a bull pen spot this Spring? #SFGiants
— Keith Adams (@grubulub) February 17, 2015
As of now, the relievers that have secured spots in the bullpen for the 2015 season are Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, Petit (long reliever), and Vogelsong (or Tim Lincecum if he loses his spot in the starting rotation to Vogelsong). Assuming that the Giants keep seven relievers on the 25-man roster in 2015, that leaves one spot open in the bullpen.
The main contenders for that final spot would be Hunter Strickland, Jean Machi, Juan Gutierrez, George Kontos, and Erik Cordier. Brett Bochy, Chris Heston, and Ray Black could also contend for a spot, but they most likely won’t join the Giants until later in the regular season if someone becomes injured or with the other September call-ups.
Of these options, I believe it’ll eventually come down to Strickland and Kontos.
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Strickland was a September call-up last year, and he was absolutely dominant during his short time with the Giants during the regular season. In seven innings at the end of the regular season, he struck out nine, gave up just five hits, walked none, and posted a 0.00 ERA. The postseason was another story though. Strickland gave up six home runs and seven earned runs in 8.1 innings during the 2014 postseason, which gave him a 7.56 ERA.
Strickland’s postseason performance isn’t necessarily indicative of his overall skills, and his ability to throw 100 miles per hour would be highly valuable in the Giants’ bullpen seeing as how no other Giants reliever can do that.
Kontos has more Major League experience than Strickland does, but he, too, has shown some inconsistency. He was a solid option out of the bullpen for the Giants in 2012, and he posted a 2.47 ERA in 43.2 innings and 44 games in the regular season and a 0.00 ERA in 3.2 innings and four games in the postseason. Kontos struggled in 2013, but in 2014, Kontos bounced back with a 2.78 ERA in 32.1 innings and 24 games in the regular season.
Kontos is out of minor league options, and the Giants most likely wouldn’t want to place him on waivers. Therefore, he will most likely win that final roster spot.
If Kontos still had minor league options though, Strickland, or maybe Machi (because of his experience and success in the 2014 regular season), would earn that final spot in the bullpen.