The Giants used the long ball and more tight pitching to get back on the winning track in Cactus League action today. The starting lineup looked a lot like it might on opening day except for Fontenot at SS and Zito on the mound: Torres, F. Sanchez, Huff, Posey, Ross, Burrell, Sandoval, Fontenot, Zito. Key lines:
Aubrey Huff- 1 for 3, HR(4). BA= .349. Huffster hasn't gotten much attention this spring but leads the Giants in Cactus League HR's and RBI's.
Buster Posey- 1 for 3, HR(3). BA= .394. Buster has only played in 12 of 24 spring games but trails only Huff in RBI's with 10 to Huff Daddy's 11.
Cody Ross- 1 for 3, HR(3). BA= .308.
Darren Ford appeared once again as a pinch runner and stole his 9'th base of the spring. It seems like Bochy is intrigued by something here.
Emmanuel Burriss made 2 errors. He was ticketed for Fresno anyway, but this probably guarantees it.
Barry Zito- 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K's, GO/AO= 10/2. I haven't seen Zito pitch yet, so can't comment on his stuff, but he's definitely getting far different results in terms of GO/AO. He's always been a fairly extreme flyball pitcher, but is getting far more GB's this spring.
Santiago Casilla- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's, Save. Casilla has closer quality stuff if he can keep it under control.
The Giants announced that Brian Wilson has an oblique strain in his left side. Early indications are that it is mild, but these things have a way of dragging on for much longer than it seems they should. He should recover completely, but the worst thing he could do is rush it back just to make Opening Day.
The Giants split the squad tomorrow taking on the Oakland A's in Scottsdale and the Cubbies at HoHoKam(do they still play in HoHoKam?). Expect to see some minor league hurlers get a taste of big league action as Suppan and Vogelsong both pitched on Friday.
Around the league: Johnny Cueto of the Reds was pulled in the 2'nd inning of their game today after missing 8 days with a forearm strain. That combination often means UCL problems and possible TJ. I was expecting a breakout from Cueto this year. The Reds are pretty deep in pitching so they should be OK though.
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the wilson injury makes me concerned that he may have pushed himself and not allowed his back to totally heal
ReplyDeletethey should shut him down for the rest of the spring
long season, and they can go with closer by committee...or maybe kroon....until he is 100 percent
nice to see zito being solid, as he is usually has less than great first halfs
I'm especially intrigued by Zeets' groundball rates which are totally out of character for him. Has he taken an additional step in re-inventing himself? If so, he sure gained my respect back after the harsh things I said about him after his first spring start.
ReplyDeletedoc,
ReplyDeletemaybe zito got some pointers from affeldt...if he can go 6-7 per game...i will shut up about his contract
bochy now says that he will use jeremy and romo as closers till wilson is ready...i think the team has gotta wait till he is 100 percent....obliques can be nagging injuries...and with this injury, that pretty much ends the worry of the 12th man till either mid april or early may...maybe kroon does make it, with mota and suppan fighting it out for the final spot, and vogelsong going to fresno till the team needs a spot starter
tomorrow, huff and belt share the same field
every pundit is stating that because of rowands contract...ti is odd man out....i dont know...bowtie is not peter the pink...microsoft didnt get to the top by holding onto dead wood
our old friend kfran is still hitting below the mendoza line...but has yet to k in st...and im sure that black is taking that into consideration
Well, it's only a matter of time until Belt takes T's spot anyway so it's all a bit academic.
ReplyDeleteIf Wilson begins the season in the DL, I really want Kroon to be on the team even if he isn't the closer. He does have closer experience in Japan though and reportedly has closer type stuff, although I haven't seen it first hand.