San Francisco Giants Morning Minute: Osich’s Improvement, Adrianza’s Rehab

On this edition of the San Francisco Giants Morning Minute, we discuss the continuing improvement of Osich, and a rehabbing infielder’s success.

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Good morning, San Francisco Giants’ fans, and welcome to another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. On Sunday, the Giants fell to the San Diego Padres for the third straight day, 5-3, being swept for the first time since April. Edwin Jackson earned the win in his Padres’ debut, taking a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. Johnny Cueto took just his second loss of the year. Brandon Maurer finished things off for his third save.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also lost on Sunday, falling to the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5. Despite being swept, the Giants only lost one game from their lead in the National League West, which is now at 5.5 games.

Here’s what went on Sunday.

1 – Healthy Advice for Osich

Positives were hard to come by for the Giants in the past series, but Josh Osich looked very good as he begins his redemption tour in the second half. In the series against the Padres, Osich faced five hitters, and retired four of them. On Saturday, he entered in the seventh inning to a bases loaded jam, but forced pinch hitter Adam Rosales to ground out on one pitch, a nasty sinker.

On Sunday, he began the eighth inning with the Padres ahead two runs. He struck out the first hitter he faced, Ryan Schimpf, who was a Giant killer in the series. He allowed a hit to the next batter Alexei Ramirez, but Gregor Blanco badly misplayed the blooper, turning a single into a triple. Osich bounced back, striking out Derek Norris and Travis Jankowski, to keep the deficit exactly where it was.

Since Osich talked to Jeremy Affeldt on July 2nd, he’s been a new pitcher. Affeldt’s advice to Osich was attack the zone and be aggressive, and he’s heeded the advice with great results.. Prior to the call, Osich was throwing only 58 percent of his pitches for strikes. Since then, he’s pumped that up to 69.2 percent. It’s only a five-game sample, and three games have been one-batter appearances, but this shows what Osich is capable of when he trusts his stuff.

When thinking of Osich and his pitch repertoire, it’s easy to envision an incredible future. His main pitch, a two-seam fastball with extreme downward bite and high velocity, is very reminiscent of one of the game’s best closer, Zach Britton, and his go-to pitch.

Armed mainly with that two-seam sinker that nearly reaches triple-digits on the radar gun, Britton has transformed from fringe starter to elite closer. Since being inserted to the closer’s role for the Baltimore Orioles for the 2014 season, he owns a 1.54 ERA, 0.919 WHIP, has saved 102 games in 110 chances (92.7 percent), and has stranded 94 percent of inherited runners. Though he strikes out a good share of hitters (9.3 per nine innings), he has an incredible groundball rate. His groundout-to-airout ratio over the past three seasons in 6.88:1.

Osich has that kind of potential, if he can get his command back in order. Britton had a similar problem early in his career, walking 3.9 batters per nine innings in his first three seasons, but has cut that way down since 2014 started, walking 2.5 batters per nine. Osich is at four walks per nine so far this season, but has already shown much better command since his talk with Affeldt. This could be a sign of great things to come for the young left-hander.

2 – Rehabbing Infielder Enjoying the Scenery

Matt Cain‘s rehab start for the San Jose Giants didn’t go so well on Friday. Pitching in the high elevations, 30-plus mile per hour winds, and thin air of Lancaster, California, Cain gave up nine runs in four innings in his last rehab start. It’s safe to say that those conditions are not conducive to a strong pitching effort. But at the plate, his teammate Ehire Adrianza has taken complete advantage of those hitter friendly conditions.

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In six games with San Jose, Adrianza is hitting .381 (8-21) with two doubles, three home runs, and seven RBI. On Friday, he hit two home runs in an effort to back up Cain. Most importantly, he seems to have kept his strike zone, and is not chasing pitches very often. He has struck out only once in 23 plate appearances. That discipline was paramount in Spring Training, when Adrianza stood out for the Giants and earned his opening day roster spot.

With San Jose, Adrianza has been allowed to play in some great hitter conditions. Lancaster’s stadium, the Hangar (fitting name, considering the park is a lunching pad), and the High Desert Mavericks’ stadium, Heritage Field at Maverick Stadium, are both places built for home runs. Even still, this is an encouraging sign for a young man that was playing very well before being hurt.

Adrianza is still likely a ways away from big league action. He’s played shortstop in three games, but hasn’t played all nine innings in the field yet. The San Jose portion is probably nearing its end, as he is slated to play with San Jose over the rest of the current roadtrip, which ends Tuesday. After that, he should be up to Sacramento, and he’ll have two weeks before the clock ends on his rehab stint. And then the Giants have a decision to make.

Next: Giants Morning Minute: Midseason Awards

And that will do it for another edition of the Giants Morning Minute. Up next, the Giants have an off-day in Boston on Monday before beginning another quick two-game set with the Red Sox. Jake Peavy starts for the Giants, and Rick Porcello goes for Boston.