Friday, March 16, 2012

Spring Training Update: Game Wrap Giants 3 Cubs 2

The Giants played, well, a pretty typical Giants game today edging the Cubbies 3-2. Key LInes:

Buster Posey- 1 for 2, BB. BA= .182. Hopefully Buster is starting to get his timing and swing down. He has a HR, single and BB in what, his last 5 PA's?

Emmanuel Burriss- 2 for 2, 2B, SB(4), CS. BA= .414. The GIants appear to want Burriss to win a job this spring. So far, he has done everything he could to make them happy. Cut down day is going to get mighty interesting!

Eric Surkamp- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 4.78. Surkamp got roughed up a bit in his first spring start, but has been solid since with 11 K's against just 2 BB with 3 ER in 10 IP. Very encouraging that the Giants have a solid 6'th starter option in the wings.

Jeremy Affeldt- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 1.50. Affeldt got hit a bit in his first 2 appearances of the spring but has been solid in his last 4 outings.

Clay Hensley- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 2.25. Hensley is a lock for the last bullpen slot. I have a feeling he is going to play a big role in the Giants' success this year.

The Giants play a split squad pair tomorrow with Tim Lincecum facing the A's in Scottsdale in the afternoon and Brian Burres facing the Dodgers at their complex in the evening.

There are some nice interesting Fanposts over on McCovey Chronicles by Shankbone on draft eligible college players and another about a recent Fangraphs chat by Mike Newman in which "Nivra" asked a whole lot of questions about Giants prospects which Newman obviously did not know much about. He failed to scout Augusta last year because a buddy told him there were no prospects there.

There's a nice article in BA about international signings by NL West teams. Good to read that the Giants are still active on that front. Speedy CF Carlos Valdez($325 K) and power hitting 3B Anthony Gomez($200 K) sound interesting. Royel Astacio($150 K) also got a mention. We all know about Adalberto Mejia($350 K), but I had not heard of RHP Keury Mella($275 K) who is 6'2", 190 lbs and throws 92-93 MPH.

Around the League: Chase Utley(Phillies) has yet to play in a game this spring and continues to have severe arthritis issues of the knees.

David Wright(Mets) seems to have a torn abdominal muscle. He missed time last year with those can take forever to heal. I'd stay away from him in fantasy drafts.

Scott Baker(Twins) is reportedly having a recurrence of elbow issues that sidelined him for much of the second half last year.

Sleeper Alert: Garrett Richards struck out 6 batters in 4 innings for the Angels today. He's trying to win the 5'th starter spot in the Angels rotation. Richards was another of the high velocity-low walk pitchers in the recent Fangraphs article about projecting future success. Pitching in front of the Angels' lineup could result in a nice number in the W column as well as the other stat categories, even from a #5 starter!

6 comments:

  1. surkamp looks bigger than last season...good thing...cuz we all know, he is gonna be needed...and i think he knows that too

    and when that zito contract is finally done...surkamp will have the edge for the 5 spot...

    gotta keep 4-5 inexpensive

    i know that vogie is gonna face hitters on saturday and is supposed to throw some innings this week....im just wondering if he will have in enough work to break camp....they only need 4 starters for the first 2 weeks...i wonder if he will end up in extended

    i know that freddie is gonna start the season on the dl, so that should allow manny to start the year with the big club

    but with the way things are panning out at first, i have a real bad feeling that nate is gonna get traded before they break camp

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    1. I'm guessing Vogey won't be needed until April 15 and he should be ready by then.

      Nate seems like a good candidate to be the odd man out. Love Nate, but I won't feel bad if they get a decent prospect and if him leaving is to make room for Pill/Belt/Burriss who are also homegrown players. Yeah I know, Huff is the guy we'd all like to see traded, but that ain't gonna happen, and he did win a WS for us.

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  2. Should the Giants sign D. Willis?

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  3. I have been holding out hope that Burriss would make the team. With Freddy Sanchez probably starting the season on the DL, I think Burriss should be the starting second baseman. I am very excited to see what Gregor Blanco will contribute to the Giants in 2012. He is definitely making a case to be on the 25 man roster. I haven't been able to see his speed but I have heard it is impressive. Sounds like a hard worker. Nate the Great and Pagan have had horrible springs. I am wondering if Blanco could get a lot of playing time due to this. Pill is hanging in there but I am guessing he will start off in Fresno unless some miracle happens and Huff is let go or traded. I do not see that happening.

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