More Splash Hits emerges from baseball hibernation
MoreSplashHits is alive!!!
After a long, cold, quiet winter, we’ve decided that it’s time to start blogging baseball again.
And with Opening Day still three weeks away, there is plenty of time to get back into regular-season form.
So let’s start first by getting caught up.
The Giants had a busy offseason with three major free-agent signings: pitcher Jeff Samardzija, pitcher Johnny Cueto and outfielder Denard Span.
Gone are pitchers Mike Leake, Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Lincecum, Tim Hudson (retired), Jeremy Affeldt (retired), Yusmeiro Petit, outfielders Marlon Byrd and Alejandro de Aza and catcher Hector Sanchez, among others.
Despite all of that flux, the Giants came to spring training with much of its 2016 roster decisions already in place.
Starting lineup: 1B Brandon Belt, 2B Joe Panik, SS Brandon Crawford, 3B Matt Duffy, C Buster Posey, CF Denard Span, RF Hunter Pence, LF Angel Paga/Gregor Blanco.
Starting rotation: LH Madison Bumgarner, RH Jeff Samardzija, RH Johnny Cueto, RH Jake Peavy, RH Matt Cain.
Even the bullpen looks pretty firm with RH Santiago Casilla, RH Sergio Romo, LH Javier Lopez, RH George Kontos, LH Josh Osich, RH Hunter Strickland and RH Chris Heston.
One of the five bench spots is held down by the Pagan/Blanco platoon.
At least one other spot will go to the backup catcher: Andrew Susac, Trevor Brown or journeyman George Kottaras.
At least two other spots will go to reserve infielders. Ehire Adrianza and Kelby Tomlinson are the leading candidates to claim those jobs, but veteran Conor Gillaspie was brought in to compete for a spot.
That leaves the final bench spot potentially for a fifth outfielder. The Giants brought in veteran Kyle Blanks to provide some right-handed pop on the bench, something they were missing last season. Rookie Mac Williamson has been solid this spring, hitting .344 with four home runs and 11 RBI. Left-handed Jarrett Parker is another option.
But the Giants could decide to keep three catchers, allowing them to use Susac as the RH bench bat.
Those are things to be watching in the closing weeks of spring training.
More Splash Hits 