San Francisco Giants: The Latest Spring Training Updates
By Neil Povio
Entering Monday afternoon’s game, the San Francisco Giants have completed two weeks worth of Spring Training games. And although their record of 4-10 doesn’t look so good as we approach the halfway point of Spring Training, there are some very positive notes coming out of the Giants’ camp.
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We’ll take a look at those positives as well as provide some current stats, updates on the position battles that are going on for the remaining few open spots on the roster, as well as injury updates in this week’s Spring Training review.
Notable Injuries:
- Hunter Pence (broken left forearm) told Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury last week that he is a “quick healer.” This is excellent news for the Giants, who were told Pence would be out six to eight weeks with the injury. If Pence truly is a quick healer, he will hopefully be back with San Francisco sooner rather than later.
- Tim Lincecum left Wednesday March 11th’s game after pitching one inning — an inning in which he yielded three runs on three hits and a walk due to an apparent neck injury. Giants’ officials say it’s only a sore neck, but Lincecum appears to be healing slowly, and was forced to miss his scheduled start on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. Lincecum is hopeful he’ll make his next scheduled start this coming Saturday against the Los Angeles Angeles.
- Andrew Susac has missed a lot of games so far this spring with inflammation in his right wrist. He underwent an MRI, but the results came back clean — which is good news for the Giants number two overall prospect. Susac has been limited because of his wrist, as well as the fact that he had been sick, registering a fever of 103 to start the spring. The Giants don’t seem exceptionally worried and expect Susac to return to action soon though.
Two players the Giants are hoping to get big offensive numbers from this season are off to a great start.The Giants’ new third baseman — Casey McGehee — has been doing a terrific job of hitting the ball over the first two weeks of spring. McGehee is batting a cool .500 over 22 at bats in 10 games.
Brandon Belt has also been seeing the ball well and has been showing some power of late. Belt is batting .435 in 23 at bats. He has also hit two long home runs over this past week, as well as belting a triple.
The Giants believe that Belt will have a breakout season offensively, and the early indications through the first couple of weeks have Giants fans very hopeful.
Mar 13, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Casey McGehee (14) swings at a pitch against the Texas Rangers at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
In the battle to fill the Giants final slot in the bullpen, we have seen some good outings, rocky outings, and some so-so outings during these first 14 games.
George Kontos is having an “ok” spring so far. Kontos has pitched 5.1 innings, and has allowed three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) and one walk — which, when taken as a whole, works out to be a 5.06 ERA.
On the positive side for Kontos though, is that he has struck out five batters over those 5.1 innings of work. He is also out of options with the Giants.
Hunter Strickland has had some great outings for the Giants this spring, as well as some bad ones. In 6.0 innings of work, Strickland owns a 6.00 ERA, allowing four runs, four walks, seven hits, and two home runs. He has pitched much better during his second week of spring games though. The two homers he has allowed — as well as all four runs — came during the first week of spring. Over his last three outings for the Giants, Strickland has not allowed a run.
Erik Cordier has pitched well in the short amount of work he has been given so far. In just 3.0 innings, Cordier has allowed three hits, has issued two walks, and has struck out four batters. He also has not given up a run. The hard throwing Cordier is another Giant who is out of options.
J.C. Gutierrez has only pitched one inning this Spring because of “shoulder inflammation.” Although his limited work is due to an injury, this might be an early indication that Gutierrez is not likely going to make the Opening Day roster.
Gutierrez is out of options though, so he is another player the Giants would have to put on waivers if he doesn’t make the big club come Opening Day.
Jean Machi has been given the most work so far. Machi has pitched 7.0 innings, and has looked the sharpest of the five guys battling for that final bullpen spot. He has allowed six hits, given up one walk — although it was intentional with Will Ferrell catching for his one and only batter while behind the dish– he has also struck-out five batters, and allowed three runs. But those three runs came in Machi’s only bad outing of the spring. He has also held the opposing batters to a .240 average.
Machi is believed to be the favorite to win that final bullpen spot, as he, along with Kontos, Cordier, and Gutierrez, are all out of options. The Giants would be forced to be put any — or all of them — on waivers if they do not make the Opening Day roster.
Battling for one of the final three bench spots on the roster, Travis Ishikawa has been having a very good first spring so far. Ishikawa has showed a good swing in his first 22 at bats, collecting seven hits (.318) including a triple, home run, four RBI, and an impressive .464 on base percentage.
Also battling for a bench spot:
Matt Duffy has had some great at bats at the plate this spring. Duffy has been receiving a lot of playing time, and has made the most of it. Over a span of 24 at bats, he put together a .375 batting average, with a home run, three doubles, and four RBI.
Ehire Adrianza, who is out of options with San Francisco, has been playing pretty well this spring. If Adrianza keeps playing at the pace he’s at, he will likely make the Giants’ Opening Day roster. Adrianza has six hits in 22 at bats (.273). He has also been playing well defensively at second base, third base, and shortstop.
Juan Perez has played very well this spring. Perez made some beautiful defensive plays in the outfield, and has had some nice hits at the plate. Perez has six hits in 21 at bats (.286), including three doubles, three RBI, and two stolen bases. Perez’s chances of making the Opening Day roster went up drastically the moment Pence was injured, so he’ll need to prove his worthiness of a spot on the team with a strong spring.
But this next gentleman is trying to give Perez a run for his money.
Gary Brown has opened some people’s eyes so far over the first two weeks of spring. Brown has a lot of speed, and has shown it off with two stolen bases and some great running plays in the outfield. Although Brown has just four hits in 23 at bats, He has shown some power by hitting a double and a very long home run, as well as collecting three RBI’s.
The Giants are also giving a long look at some power hitting right handed hitters in Adam Duvall, Mac Williamson, and Justin Maxwell.
Sep 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Adam Duvall (37) at bat in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Maxwell had a slow first week of spring, going 0-10 to start the exhibition season. Since then though, he has collected five hits in 11 at bats, and has stolen two bases in the process. Williamson, expected to be a future power hitting outfielder for the Giants, has looked good this spring, and is currently batting .308. Duvall has had flashes of greatness, but has also shown that he is a player who still needs more time in the minors. He has made a couple of errors while playing third base — a position that is new to him — and he has just five hits in 28 at bats. One of those five hits though, was one of those “Long-Ball-Duvall” specials — he literally hit a home run out of Scottsdale Stadium.
Lastly, in the battle for the back-up catcher role, Hector Sanchez and Susac have both gotten off to pretty slow starts. Susac has had limited playing because of illness and injury. In his limited playing time this spring, he is just 1-10 with four strikeouts.
Sanchez has fared a little better, collecting five hits in his 19 at bats with six strikeouts. So, the back-up catcher role is still up in the air, although many believe Susac is the favorite to win the spot after the strong 2014 he put togehter ina back up role.
With Spring Training games near the halfway mark, we will likely see some more promising production from the players as the ready themselves for Opening Day and the start of real competition. We will also have a much better idea of who has a better shot of making the final cut, and who is likely not going to be on San Francisco’s Opening Day roster.