Spring Training 2025

[LHG]

I was leaning that way too, but per Maria Guardado:

Kyle Harrison allowed an RBI double in his first inning of work, but he also hit 95 mph while striking out Max Muncy looking to end the sixth, which is the highest velocity we've seen from him this spring.
And this from Brisbee today:

You saw that line from Birdsong. His stuff looks amazing, and he’s having an impressive spring, just like Landen Roupp. If you want to make the case that the Giants rotation is better with either Birdsong or Roupp in there over Harrison, there’s evidence on your side. Either one of them might be one of the five best starting pitchers in the organization right now. Both of them might be.
It’s one thing to have capable young pitchers in Triple A in the event of an emergency, but it’s another thing to know what constitutes an emergency with any precision. And we’re doing these thought experiments on easy mode because the contrast between Roupp and Birdsong’s dominance and Harrison’s quadruple-digit Cactus League ERA is so obvious. Imagine how complicated it will get with differences that aren’t as stark. Or consider some of the pitchers we haven’t named yet, like Tristan Beck, Keaton Winn, Trevor McDonald and the assorted Carsons. It’ll get confusing if one of them is having an excellent season while someone in the major-league rotation is pitching only slightly worse than expected.
Harrison was expected to be a part of the Giants’ rotation for years to come, and he showed enough promise last year to stick with that plan throughout the entire offseason. Some spring hiccups in 6 2/3 innings shouldn’t undo all of that. The Giants will have more information than we do, especially without Statcast in every park, and they’ll have watched every side session under a microscope. It’s still hard to imagine the decision being easy, though. They have two young pitchers dominating in March and a struggling incumbent who seemed like the future of the rotation just three weeks ago. It might be a sign that the Giants need to pivot. Or it might be a reason to tap the sign that reads, “You should ignore most Cactus League box scores,” especially when the most recent evidence we have is of Harrison throwing a livelier fastball with better command. He allowed runs doing it, but don’t make me tap the sign even harder.

Guess that means we shouldn't be calling the 3 man race for the 5th starter spot so soon.

 

[calsnowskier]

Fuck me and the horse you rode in on…

Jung Hoo Lee MRI Shows No Structural Damage

Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee experienced back discomfort but an MRI showed no structural damage. Read more at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[LHG]

Fuck me and the horse you rode in on…

Jung Hoo Lee MRI Shows No Structural Damage

Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee experienced back discomfort but an MRI showed no structural damage. Read more at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

I saw that he was dealing with back issues a couple days ago but assumed it was minor at the time. Hope that it doesn't keep him out long.

 

[sf1giantfan]

He just needs to do some back stretches, he’ll be fine.

 

[tzill]

Justin Verlander got a loud ovation and tipped his cap after striking out Luis Robert Jr. on a 96.5-mph fastball on his 78th pitch of the game. He gave up 3 hits and struck out 6 in five shutout innings vs. the White Sox, looking like the Verlander of old.

JV is ready

 

[LHG]

Fuck me and the horse you rode in on…

Jung Hoo Lee MRI Shows No Structural Damage

Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee experienced back discomfort but an MRI showed no structural damage. Read more at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[msgkings322]

Justin Verlander got a loud ovation and tipped his cap after striking out Luis Robert Jr. on a 96.5-mph fastball on his 78th pitch of the game. He gave up 3 hits and struck out 6 in five shutout innings vs. the White Sox, looking like the Verlander of old.

JV is ready

Problem is it’s the White Sox of new…historically bad offense. But kidding aside, he has looked great this spring.

 

[tzill]

The Giants might realize some value simply by having Justin Verlander as a second pitching coach. Hayden Birdsong moved more toward the third base side of the mound in camp due in part to a suggestion from Verlander. Birdsong has not walked a batter in 12 innings this spring.

 

[stanford the manford]

The Giants might realize some value simply by having Justin Verlander as a second pitching coach. Hayden Birdsong moved more toward the third base side of the mound in camp due in part to a suggestion from Verlander. Birdsong has not walked a batter in 12 innings this spring.

Wow... that's fantastic, exactly the kinda mentoring you'd hope a future HOF'r bestows on the young bucks. Kudo's Kate's other half

 

[LHG]

INF Casey Schmitt
Injury: Lower back tightness
Expected return: Day to day
Status: Scratched from the Giants' starting lineup against the Padres on March 18. (Last updated: March 18)

 

[tzill]

JHL expected back in the lineup Friday.

Hicks just threw 5 innings of 2 hit ball. One solo shot, one single, zero BB, 2 Ks.

It would appear he's ready.

 

[tzill]

Yesterday, Sabin Ceballos’ single had an exit velocity of 109.4 MPH. He now has 7 hits in 11 at-bats with 4 RBI this spring.

Somebody to keep an eye on.

 

[tzill]

JHL expected back in the lineup Friday.

Hicks just threw 5 innings of 2 hit ball. One solo shot, one single, zero BB, 2 Ks.

It would appear he's ready.

5.2 IP 3H 0BB 3K 1ER....super ready.

 

[tzill]

So, to recap the SP

Webb: 14.2IP 9H 2BB 15K 1.84ERA....ready
JV: 16IP 12H 4BB 15K 1.69ERA...ready
Ray: 9.1IP 5H 0BB 17K 1.93ERA...ready
Hicks just dominated...ready
Roupp: 12IP 8H 1BB 14K 3.75ERA...ready
Bird: 12IP 6H 0BB 18K 0.75ERA...ready
Harry: 6.2IP 13H 1BB 9K...not ready yet

Astonishing to me that these seven guys combined to have 12BB and 93K this spring. Just need a dominant couple of starts from Harry.

 

[LHG]

So, to recap the SP

Webb: 14.2IP 9H 2BB 15K 1.84ERA....ready
JV: 16IP 12H 4BB 15K 1.69ERA...ready
Ray: 9.1IP 5H 0BB 17K 1.93ERA...ready
Hicks just dominated...ready
Roupp: 12IP 8H 1BB 14K 3.75ERA...ready
Bird: 12IP 6H 0BB 18K 0.75ERA...ready
Harry: 6.2IP 13H 1BB 9K...not ready yet

Astonishing to me that these seven guys combined to have 12BB and 93K this spring. Just need a dominant couple of starts from Harry.

These are great numbers but it is spring training. I'd love to see these pitchers throw like this in the regular season.

 

[calsnowskier]

I don’t give a shit about ST numbers. But I do prefer to see good numbers over bad numbers.

Anyone know when the Cactus League Banner is scheduled to be raised at the Cove?

 

[LHG]

I don’t give a shit about ST numbers. But I do prefer to see good numbers over bad numbers.

Anyone know when the Cactus League Banner is scheduled to be raised at the Cove?

In the not too distant future - next someday AD

 

[tzill]

I don’t give a shit about ST numbers. But I do prefer to see good numbers over bad numbers.

Anyone know when the Cactus League Banner is scheduled to be raised at the Cove?

It gets raised at SCOTTSDALE STADIUM, bruh.

 

[tzill]

Some notable strikeout-walk numbers among Giant pitchers this spring
Robbie Ray: 19 SO, 0 BB (14.1 IP)
Hayden Birdsong: 18 SO, 0 BB (12 IP)
Landen Roupp: 14 SO, 1 BB (12 IP)
Spencer Bivens: 13 SO, 1 BB (11 IP)
Sean Hjelle: 11 SO, 1 BB (7 IP)
Ryan Walker: 11 SO, 1 BB (6.2 IP)

 

[tzill]

Luis Matos has had a nice spring, slashing .359/.382/.509 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI in 55 Cactus League plate appearances. He's done enough to make the team with likely a platoon role at the start of the year in right field. His role after that will ratchet up or down...