San Francisco Giants 3 Up, 3 Down: First San Diego Series

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Apr 7, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Mtt Cain (18) walks to the dugout after being taken out during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

3 DOWN

1 – Leadoff Batters Aren’t Getting On Base

San Francisco just isn’t getting enough guys on base to start innings. And no, that’s not just the guy hitting leadoff in the batting order. That includes everyone that bats to start an inning. On average, leadoff hitters reach base about 33 percent of the time, or three times in a nine-inning game. They reached that mark on Friday, getting three leadoff hitters on and scoring them twice. Over the final two games of the series, only two out of 18 leadoff hitters reached. That includes a big, fat zero during Saturday’s game.

Through seven games, only 21 percent of Giants’ leadoff guys are reaching. That’s 13 out of 63 chances. The good news is that, when they do reach, they are scoring 70 percent of the time (normal is about 45 percent).

2 – Jarrett Parker is Still Searching

Marrero has an average (yes, .071 is an average), but his platoon mate is still looking for that first hit. After an 0-7 in the season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, his five at-bats against San Diego all came up empty as well. The contact was a little better, but it just wasn’t enough to find a hole and give him an average.

Combined, Parker and Marrero are 1-26 (.039). It’s got to get better, right?

3 – Matt Cain Didn’t Surprise Anybody

No, Matt Cain didn’t surprise anyone and go out to have a great outing in the series opener on Friday. Instead it was more of the same, with Cain surrendering four runs on six hits (two home runs) and three walks in just 4.1 innings. Cain’s fastball velocity sat in the upper 80s, and while it’s possible to succeed with that kind of velocity, Cain can’t succeed when he isn’t spotting it well. He didn’t spot it well.

Next: Giants 3 Up, 3 Down: Opening Series

The leash should have already been short on Cain, and after top prospect Tyler Beede‘s Triple-A debut on Sunday, the leash needs to get a bit shorter. Beede went six stellar innings against the Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate), giving up just one run on five hits (all singles) while not walking a batter in six innings. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

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