San Francisco Giants: Week 3 Spring Training Update
By Neil Povio
The San Francisco Giants enter Monday afternoon with three weeks of Spring Training games in the books, which means we’re all that much closer to Opening Day, and for these games to officially start counting. In this week’s review, we’ll discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly that’s come out during these three weeks of Spring games.
Let’s start off with the good — We’re seeing some great battles for the last few remaining spots open on the 25-man roster. In the battle for the back-up catcher role, it appears to be a very tight race. Hector Sanchez has gotten a lot of playing time behind the plate, as well as 35 at-bats, where he has nine hits (.265) with four RBI.
Andrew Susac missed a lot of playing time early on in Spring due to being sick and a wrist injury, so Sunday’s game was only the eighth game Susac had appeared in, along with only his 11th at-bat. Although Susac only has one hit in those 11 at-bats, Susac has looked more crisp behind the plate in his limited playing time. For example, in his first game in two weeks on Sunday, Susac threw out Mike Trout trying to steal second base, and then an inning later he picked off a runner at third base.
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Also competing for those final three bench spots:
Matt Duffy continues to have an excellent Spring. He’s looked great wherever the Giants play him in the infield, as well as during his at-bats. Duffy owns a .387 batting average in 31 at-bats, with two home runs, six RBI, and a .424 on-base percentage.
Probably Duffy’s biggest competition for the utility infielder role is Ehire Adrianza, who is out of minor league options. Adrianza is having a fairly poor Spring. He hasn’t looked better than average on defense, and offensively Adrianza is only batting .200 in his 30 at-bats with one RBI. Although Duffy is having a far better Spring, it’s very likely that Adrianza will make the Opening Day roster because the Giants’ like his abilities, as well as the fact that he is out of options.
Travis Ishikawa has slowed down a lot this past week. During the first two weeks of Spring games, Ishikawa was batting close to .400, but his average has nearly been cut in half now, as he is now only batting .222. Ishikawa does have one home run on the Spring as well as five RBI and six walks in his 36 at-bats.
Juan Perez, who’s battling for a back-up outfielder role, has continued to play well all Spring Training. Perez has made some very fine plays in the outfield, stolen a couple bases, and has a .273 average on the Spring.
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Justin Maxwell, also battling for a back-up outfielder role, had a slow start to his Spring, but has started to hit a little better. During the first two weeks of Spring, Maxwell was 5-21. In this past week, Maxwell went 4-15 (with a home run) to help improve his overall batting average this Spring to .250.
Gary Brown and Adam Duvall seemed to be in the running at first for a possible spot on the Opening Day roster, but they both have really slumped after they both had a great first week of Spring Training. Brown is now batting just .176, and Duvall is batting .150.
Update on the battle for the last bullpen spot:
Erik Cordier has not been given a lot of pitching opportunities this Spring at the Giants’ major league camp. In just 3.0 innings, Cordier has allowed three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts, without yielding any runs. Cordier is one of many guys battling for the final bullpen spot who is out of minor league options.
J.C. Gutierrez (Juan Gutierrez) appears to be out of the race for that final bullpen spot. Gutierrez has been experiencing shoulder inflammation all Spring. He is out of minor league options, but he likely would not be claimed by anyone when he is put on waivers, due to his injury and lack of playing time this Spring.
Hunter Strickland, the only pitcher in the battle with a minor league option available, has had an up and down Spring. Strickland has either been unhittable, or he can’t seem to get an out, whether it be some bad luck, or guys are hitting him hard. Strickland owns a 8.59 ERA this Spring, and is likely destined to start the 2015 season in Triple-A Sacramento.
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With just a week and a half of Spring Training left, it appears that the battle for that final bullpen spot is between George Kontos and Jean Machi.
Kontos owns a 3.68 ERA in his 7.1 innings of work, allowing eight hits, one walk, one home run, and three earned runs. Opposing batters are hitting .296 off Kontos this Spring as well.
Machi has been given the most work among the five players battling for that one open spot. Machi has pitched 10.0 innings, allowing four runs (3.60 ERA), two home runs, two walks, and nine hits. Machi has been able to hold opposing hitters to a .250 batting average though.
Injury Updates:
- Tim Lincecum made his first appearance on Saturday since his “stiff neck” injury last week. Lincecum’s neck appears to be better, as he went 4.0 innings while allowing two hits and one run.
- Angel Pagan, still trying to recover from “severe back spasms” has not played a lot at all this Spring, but he’s still hopeful he’ll be ready for Opening Day. The Giants are hopeful Pagan will be back in the lineup early this week.
- Susac’s wrist has healed, and he has resumed play. Susac attributes the injury to not stretching out properly while catching pitchers in bullpen sessions early on in Spring Training.
Although the Giants’ own the worst record in all of Spring Training (6-16 entering), the Giants have begun to play a whole lot better as a team. The starting pitchers this past week have all looked very good, as well as the hitting from the projected starting position players. This last week of Spring Training games is where you really hope to see players ramp it up a bit more, and look more like they’re regular season ready. We’ll hope the Giants continue to play well during this upcoming week, as well as more importantly, avoiding any more injuries.