The Giants started their spring today in case you missed it. It isn't a spring for fanfare, that's for sure. Expectations for the club are low and off-season activity has involved, mostly, the fringes of the 40-man. Gerardo Parra signed a minor-league deal, for example. He's got a shot to make the team as a corner OF. No disrespect to Mr. Parra, but that's the state of things.
The big fellows like Bum and Buster and the Brandons, as well as the free agents, haven't produced to expectations in the last few seasons.They are still here. Either management believes they'll bounce back or they are too financially constrained to do anything about it. Neither gives hope to the odds-makers. The consensus is that the '19 Giants will be much like the '18 Giants.
I think we'll see improvements from the big fellows, actually. A mostly full season of health from that group of players will mean a lot. The Giants are replacing Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton with Jeff Samardzija and Drew Pomeranz. I think that will make the rotation better. And we already know they have a deep and flexible bullpen. That should be a team strength. Stephen Vogt, Cameron Rupp, and Rene Rivera have all been signed to minor-league deals. Backup catcher will be a key position with Posey coming off surgery and I suspect they will all be in camp along with Aramis Garcia. Joe Panik and Evan Longoria round out the infield, and it is anyone's guess what they will deliver, but I'm going to be an optimist and look for them to be more valuable to the team this season. Abiatal Avelino, Alen Hanson, and Pablo Sandoval are still around in utility and backup roles. Obviously there are serious questions in the outfield, all we can be sure of is that Stephen Duggar, Mac Williamson, Austin Slater, Chris Shaw, Drew Ferguson, Henry Ramos, and Anthony Garcia are in the mix. And the aforementioned Gerardo Parra, of course. I expect there to be a few more additions to the outfield group before the season starts.
Giants fans are still in the crash that followed the great binge of World Series euphoria. We've crashed and come down hard. Teams rise and teams fall and fans take the ride with them. I've been on the train this long, I'm not going anywhere. The Giants are in a weird place. They have to rebuild but they don't want to admit it! And they have a lot of talented fellows around who could indeed play better and have a competitive team but it is now back-to-back stinkers and the natives are restless.
Exhibition games start on the 23rd of this month and the real thing kicks off on the 28th of March. Much can happen in the next few weeks.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
p.s. 25-year RHP Jose Lopez was claimed off waivers. Josh Osich was let go to make a spot.
8 comments:
health was a major issue last year. The giants were not out of it until September. Yes the could have another bad season, but this team could just as easily compete for the playoffs. Health of course, being a key issue.
We have our 2nd Gott in franchise history!
Trevor Gott, RH reliever, no apparent relation to Jim Gott, 26-years old from Univ of Kentucky, 75 IP MLB experience (LAA and WSN). Cueto goes on 60-day DL to make a spot.
We are stockpiling Infielders - now, Yangervis Solarte. Maybe we plan to convert one of them to an OF?
Really? Craig Gentry? He's like a right-handed Gregor Blanco, but older.
At this point Gentry is probably a better fielder than Blanco, as much as it pains me to say that. Stockpiling guys, that's a good thing, esp. outfielders. And you know how I love Yangervis--that's ALL NAME TEAM ALL-STAR stuff, man! All we need now is Rougned Odor and Ender Inciarte.
We had Engelb Vielma, but let him go.
Abiatal Avelino has that covered.
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