San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Unconventional Method Works, Right Field

On this edition of the San Franicsco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss an unconventional method paying off, and the right field platoon.

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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Thursday, the Giants salvaged the final game in a four-game set, beating the Oakland Athletics 12-6. Madison Bumgarner earned the win, his ninth of the year, while Dillon Overton was hung with his first career loss.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also won on Thursday, keeping the National League West deficit at six games. As it has been for a long while now, the Giants and Dodgers are the only two teams with a winning record in the division. The Colorado Rockies sit third at 37-41, 11.5 games back.

Here’s what went on Thursday.

1 – Bochy’s Unconventional Ways Pay Off

Thursday’s game was a monumental one, as manager Bruce Bochy voluntarily forfeited the designated hitter, letting Bumgarner hit for himself in an American League park. It was the first time since 1976 that a DH was intentionally unused. Bumgarner made that decision pay off.

In the third inning, Bumgarner got a big rally started, lining a double to center field just out of reach of Billy Burns to begin the inning. That was just the beginning, as Denard Span and Angel Pagan followed with a walk and a hit, respectively, to load the bases. Brandon Belt followed with a two-run double (his NL-leading 25th two-bagger), and Buster Posey one-upped him with a three-run home run, his ninth of the year. On the next pitch, Brandon Crawford also went yard, hitting his seventh home run. A six-run third inning was just what the doctor ordered.

The Giants added two more runs in the fourth, and later four extra runs in the ninth, thanks in large part to five walks during the inning.

2 – The Right Field Platoon

With Hunter Pence out, and staying out for the foreseeable future, Bochy has had to try to fill his shoes. In the last week or so, it’s mostly been a platoon of right-handed hitting rookie Mac Williamson, and left-handed hitting rookie Jarrett Parker.

For the most part, that platoon hasn’t been as successful as the manager would like it to be. Neither Williamson nor Parker have been able to really get solid footing in the big leagues, and the back-and-forth between the field and the bench can be blamed partially.

The “matchup game” was a little worse than usual on Thursday. Williamson received the start against the lefty Overton, but was pulled back for Parker as a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning against a right-handed reliever.

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Both are very unexperienced big league ballplayers. Parker has 147 plate appearances, while Williamson has just 85. This season, Williamson has started three or more days in a row twice, getting four consecutive starts from June 8th to June 12th, and a current string of three straight starts that likely ends with an opposing right-hander pitcher going Friday. Parker has had two such streaks, getting four starts from May 24th to May 28th, and getting seven from June 2nd to June 10th.

This consistent back-and-forth, from bench to lineup and back to bench again, isn’t good for either player’s development as big league hitters. If Bochy is going to ride with the rookies, and it seems that he is, it might be best to stick with one for a while, and give him a longer chance to prove that he can handle everyday duties.

Let one of them play for a week or so, no bouncing in and out of the lineup because of matchups, just consistent starts. If they aren’t successful in that week, switch them out and let the other rookie play. Give them another week or so to prove themselves. If one of the two comes up hot, let them get that experience and prove they are ready to play, while riding the hot hand.

That method won’t be good for both players, but at least one of them gets that consistent opportunity to develop. It seems that would better than stunting both of them.

Next: Giants Morning Minute: If It's Not One Thing, It's Another

And that will do it for another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants continue their road trip, heading to Phoenix for a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Game one will feature Johnny Cueto for the Giants, and Shelby Miller for Arizona.