I think the bullpen will be a strength of the team. I really like both righty Ryan Walker and lefty Erik Miller. Walker threw 80 innings last year and only allowed 50 hits and 18 walks while striking out 99. He even had 10 saves! Miller wasn't quite as dominant in his rookie season and had some command issues (38 BB in 67-1/3 IP) but whiffed 87 and only allowed 50 hits. Both these guys will be hugely important in 2025.
Veteran stalwarts Tyler (righty) and Taylor (lefty) Rogers will be back. The twins are 34 and both are coming off 1+ WAR seasons. Tyler is one of my favorite ballplayers. He's led MLB in appearances three times in his last five seasons and still manages to baffle hitters with his weird delivery. Last year he walked only six batters in 70-1/3 IP!
Camilo Doval was an All-Star closer before last year's disastrous campaign. He's 27 and immensely talented, it's not hard to believe he will bounce back and be a dominant pitcher again.
There are a host of other relievers and we saw all of them in 2024. The top four in IP were Sean Hjelle (27), Randy Rodriguez (24), Landen Roupp (25), and Spencer Bivens (30). There should be some useful arms there. In 2025 they'll need to get more innings out of the starters so they don't wear down the bullpen. I'll look at the rotation in the next post.
--M.C.
5 comments:
The bullpen has potential to be a strength. I have one issue with Erik Miller, as for me I can tell what pitch he is throwing by his motion. I would think that other teams have figured this out, but that he is still difficult to hit, or they just have not figured it out yet. It seems to me that the giants pitching coaches need to make sure that he is not tipping his pitches. Seems we have a lot of right handed pitchers other than Miller and Taylor R. I still think that Hjele's position on the mound it still too perpendicular and perhaps this is what works for him, but I think if his body was a little more sideways in position when he delivers he could easily add a few miles per hour on his pitches. But I will let Sean and the Pitching coaches do their jobs.
Here's some positive news:
https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/young-sf-giants-hitter-destroyed-winter-ball-20018720.php
Saw that article. Seems as if Matos has had the potential to be really good. Just waiting for him to break out. He is young, and I would not give up on him.
I'm reading that the Giants have signed a new pitcher. We'll, not a new pitcher, an old pitcher. Justin Verlander on a 1 year 15 mil contract. Not sure quite how enthusiastic I am, but I think a short contract is the right move (Sasaki excepted).
Just got the Verlander news. They were talking about Scherzer earlier. They need another starter. We'll see if JV has anything left.
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