San Francisco Giants: Blach, Duggar Get First Crack at Open Jobs
When the San Francisco Giants take the field in the Cactus League opener, Ty Blach and Steven Duggar get the first crack at open jobs.
There’s really no reason to read too far into lineups on the first day of Cactus League play. Most times, it doesn’t mean anything. But when the San Francisco Giants take the field on Friday, two players competing for high-profile jobs will get the first crack at securing the spots.
When Ty Blach toes the rubber for the Giants’ first exhibition game, Steven Duggar will be behind him, manning center field. Though neither are locked in to their respective positions, Blach is a favorite to earn a spot in the rotation coming out of camp. Duggar has a lot more work to do if he wants to make the initial 25-man roster.
Duggar may not be the Opening Day center fielder, but he will get the opportunity to play alongside Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Pence in Arizona. That is an outfield configuration the Giants will obviously want to see at some point this season, and a good showing during the Cactus League schedule from Duggar will only accelerate that process.
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Everything the team has said recently points to them wanting to give the job to Duggar, if he earns it. They realize that Austin Jackson is best used in a utility role, handling the right-handed portion of a platoon while also providing depth in the corners. If a platoon is the way they want to go, they’ll need a lefty to split the at-bats. Duggar fits that mold.
Brian Sabean is known to be very high on the young outfielder, going as far as saying that “he right now is an above average major league center fielder” in a radio interview on Thursday.. While that remains to be seen, Duggar can make a big impact right out of the gates with his glove and his legs. He’s known for his ability to cover ground out in center, and he can make noise on the basepaths as well. Duggar stole 10 bases in 44 games last season in the minor leagues, and added nine more in 20 Arizona Fall League games.
The bat is still a bit behind for Duggar, but with his advanced approach and eye at the plate, there’s a lot to like. If he can keep that approach during the spring, maybe he can force the Giants to make a choice.
In front of him, Blach is looking to make his second straight Opening Day roster, but in a different role. He cracked the 25-man roster last April in the bullpen as the lone lefty, but was soon propelled into the rotation following Madison Bumgarner’s injury. This year, he’s trying to start the year in the starting five.
Blach started the year very well, but wore down in the later months. In his last eight appearances, he pitched to a 7.07 ERA and 1.598 WHIP after posting a rather respectable 4.15 ERA and 1.289 WHIP in his first 26 games. He has to prove that his extreme “pitch to contact” mentality can still succeed, and it all starts in Arizona.
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Both Blach and Duggar, as well as so many others, have something to prove before the season opens on March 29th. They’ve got 38 games to show their stuff, and it all starts Friday.