Spring Training 2012

[gp956]

From Pavlov's Blog today:

Interesting that Crawford always hits down near bottom of the order, regardless of the rest of the lineup. I’d think they just want him to get used to the eight spot, where he’ll likely be almost all year.

Bochy on Crawford (in Carl Stewards' extrabaggs column today):

“He’s trying to use the whole field and not get pull-happy,” confirmed Bochy. “Sometimes he got a little big with his swing last year trying to hit some home runs. I just want him to shorten it up and stay within himself and he’s doing a great job of it so far. He’s getting good at-bats. It’s not going to be an easy position where he hits in the eight hole but he can handle it.”

 

[gp956]

All your ST stats belong to us!

 

[Stokes1931]

All your ST stats belong to us!

This Lollis kid looks legit. Can we keep him?

 

[gp956]

This Lollis kid looks legit. Can we keep him?

Sure. We need someone to eventually replace Brian Horwitz.

 

[Stokes1931]

Sure. We need someone to eventually replace Brian Horwitz.

He could be related to Nick Lowry. Has anybody checked?

 

[msgkings322]

That's the gap from Schwarzenegger to Flavor Flav

Or from Tim Lincecum to Barry Zito

 

[tzill]

Gotcha, work makes sense for sure. But he hasn't been here at all. Oh well, he's a good dude, and like CC said, too each their own.

 

[tzill]

Giants' split squad hitting them all over the yard so far against the beer makers, 10-0 in the 3rd. Pablo and ToJo with homers. Crawdad with a triple. Crawdad, Theriot, Pablo, and Melky with doubles. Zeets three innings of one hit ball, and no runs (obviously from the score).

In the other split squad game, Angels are ahead 3-0 in the 3rd, Shane Loux getting cuffed around a bit.

Loux looked like he had no movement on his pitches at all. Even his outs were hit hard. It was a sloppy game, with (I think) three charged errors and at least 3 more that could have been. On a positive note: Gregor Blanco looks like he means to be a major leaguer this year and Andrew Susac had a clean single. Angel fans edged away from me when I went all fanboi.

There's a guy playing first base in camp with #99 who looks like he's about 6-6. Ortiz looked good. Huffer hit a long HR to right center off an Angel's pitcher who is about 6-10. Freddy looked fine as a DH.

Today: Finally getting to our "home" park to see ---
Angel Pagan, CF
Melky Cabrera, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Buster Posey, C
Aubrey Huff, DH
Brandon Belt, 1B
Ryan Theriot, SS
Gregor Blanco, RF
Emmanuel Burriss, 2B
(Eric Surkamp, LHP)

I'm very excited to see Posey obviously, but also to see Melky, who's been en FUEGO this Spring. Also, Teh Beard is scheduled to pitch one inning today. I will check in when I get back to SF tonight.

 

[tzill]

Hopefully tzill will give us a report.

I wasn't at the "A" game...I was shlepping out to Tempe to probably the worst ST ballpark to see a bunch of nobodys (AND SUSAC!) play an incredibly sloppy game. Classic LA fans arrived late and left early...even in ST.

 

[tzill]

Sure. We need someone to eventually replace Brian Horwitz.

Easy....easy.....

 

[MarcoPolo]

Posey should be catching 4 innings today.

I don't know if everybody has seen/heard that EXTREMELY annoying "badger" flash animation (Badger, badger, badger, badger. Mushroom, mushroom! Snake!), that is an endless loop (i.e., goes on forever). Just so you all know what I'm thinking about :

Badgers (Badger, badger, badger, badger. Mushroom, mushroom! Snake!) | Flash Videos

I bring that up, because what I have going thru my head is :

Posey, Posey, Posey, Posey, Posey, Giants, Giants! Posey, Posey, Posey, Posey, Posey, Giants, Giants! Opening Daaaaaaaaaaay!

 

[Stokes1931]

Melky 1 for 2 today so far, which has lowered his average.

 

[LuckyNucky]

My WAG before the report comes in...

He ran between 80-82 mph...

^5 Broom.. Where do you see the Giants this year?

 

[the_broom]

^5 Broom.. Where do you see the Giants this year?

Best case? If team health is good and the offense can stay middle of the NL pack they will flirt with 95-100 wins.

If the offense is bottom of the pack they will end up 5 games over .500 and miss the playoffs.

 

[tzill]

I'm a little concerned with Posey. After his first two-inning stint on Friday, he was so sore he could not play on Saturday or even pinch hit. After his 4-inning stint yesterday, he cannot play again today. Watching him hit, it looks like he is afraid to transfer his weight on to that front foot fearing he'll roll the ankle; thus the weak opposite field pop ups and ground outs. He did throw a runner out stealing though.

Wilson looked like his old self. Nice to see.

 

[tzill]

Observations from yesterday:

1. When Chez3 hits a ball...it STAYS hit.
2. Posey looked fine both on defense and running to first. He backed up first on several ground balls and was moving without any hitch.
3. I'm all Melked over.
4. Dunnington didn't look very good; it was my first chance to see him and he looked a little "dead armish."
5. Teh Beard looked like Teh Beard of old. Fastball had nice late movement.
6. Belt looked particularly agile at 1B.
7. Noonan made a HORRIBLE throw into RF on a DP grounder after he shifted from 2b to 3b.
8. This just in: Blanco is FAST.
9. There was a nice moment in the bottom of the eighth where Posey was chatting animatedly with Chez3. I think they were discussing how to receive the ball and be in position to throw to second.
10. Kamp is a good athlete; he threw nicely to third on a sac bunt and got the runner by plenty.

All in all, my pre-ST opinions still hold: Blanco makes it as the 25th guy; Belt will end up in Fresno to start the season; both cajuns make the team as backup MI; Hensley will be the 12th arm; Stewy will be the backup at C.

However, I see Belt and Chez3 being called up by June to stay. It will be interesting to see what the AAA rotation looks like besides Ortiz and Kamp.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Observations from yesterday:
All in all, my pre-ST opinions still hold: Blanco makes it as the 25th guy; Belt will end up in Fresno to start the season; both cajuns make the team as backup MI; Hensley will be the 12th arm; Stewy will be the backup at C.

However, I see Belt and Chez3 being called up by June to stay. It will be interesting to see what the AAA rotation looks like besides Ortiz and Kamp.

1) I've always been a proponent of not rushing guys too quickly, so I would hate to have Sanchez start the season in SF. Sure, Sanchez had a break-out year in San Jose last year but was then was promoted to Fresno, where he completely stalled. He's had less than 170 plate appearances above A ball. He needs to go back to Fresno to improve (show he can hit well in the higher levels, AND improve his "calling the game"). Sanchez can hit the ball a mile when thrown a fastball down the middle. What he needs to prove that he can hit when facing better pitching. He has just a third of a year in Fresno (where he didn't do well). I'd like to see him develop a little bit, see decent curveballs and changeups and sliders in AAA. Because if he doesn't, when he sees GOOD to GREAT curveballs and changeups and sliders in the majors, he's going to flail. There's no reason to rush him. He's just 22.

2) If Blanco makes the squad, then who doesn't? My pick would be Burriss. With Pill and Theriot and Fontenot on the team, I think Burriss is last man standing. I'm pretty sure he has no options left, so there's a risk he'd be picked up on waivers (but I'm OK with that).

 

[SFGRTB]

1) I've always been a proponent of not rushing guys too quickly, so I would hate to have Sanchez start the season in SF. Sure, Sanchez had a break-out year in San Jose last year but was then was promoted to Fresno, where he completely stalled. He's had less than 170 plate appearances above A ball. He needs to go back to Fresno to improve (show he can hit well in the higher levels, AND improve his "calling the game"). Sanchez can hit the ball a mile when thrown a fastball down the middle. What he needs to prove that he can hit when facing better pitching. He has just a third of a year in Fresno (where he didn't do well). I'd like to see him develop a little bit, see decent curveballs and changeups and sliders in AAA. Because if he doesn't, when he sees GOOD to GREAT curveballs and changeups and sliders in the majors, he's going to flail. There's no reason to rush him. He's just 22.

2) If Blanco makes the squad, then who doesn't? My pick would be Burriss. With Pill and Theriot and Fontenot on the team, I think Burriss is last man standing. I'm pretty sure he has no options left, so there's a risk he'd be picked up on waivers (but I'm OK with that).

IMO, Burriss' fate has already been decided. I think that last roster spot is between Belt and Blanco (with Graham having an outside chance).

 

[msgkings322]

I can't say I'm excited to see what Nolan's next handle will be after 'Surinam' gets banned, but it will be mildly interesting. And then again after that, and so on.

Frankly since I blocked his posts I don't care much.

 

[ColinCoby]

IMO, Burriss' fate has already been decided. I think that last roster spot is between Belt and Blanco (with Graham having an outside chance).

I've heard that Burriss looks great: thinner, faster than ever, good eye at the plate. Any chance Theriot is dumped and Burriss gets that last spot?