sfgdood
Long time member 
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
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Post by sfgdood on Mar 23, 2018 1:52:55 GMT -5
One week before opening day is when I start paying attention to how sharp players are looking.
Some things to make us smile...
--Stratton looked good. He was up early and had a few balls scorched, but he was mostly sharp
--The bullpen looked very good. Melancon and Strickland both had nice easy 1-2-3 innings. Strickland looks like he worked out bigly in the offseason. His abs and core look trim and strong. Osich still has yet to give up a run this spring, although he did walk 2 guys tonight.
--Buster looks stronger too. He's driving the ball with some oomph while still hitting over 500.
--I'm still not happy about Cutch wearing #22 but I'm expecting a highly productive year from Andrew.
Not so good...
--Samardzija needing to be MRI'd today. As much as you might hate him (Boagie & Boly), he's still a better option than we have on the roster, or who we might get off the scrap heap.
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rog
New Member
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Post by rog on Mar 23, 2018 7:18:33 GMT -5
Why don't we simply look at these guys for who they are?
Samardzija -- Great stuff, pitched dominantly last season with impeccable control, but remained vulnerable to the long ball. Lots of potential, but has rarely reached it during his career. Vulnerable to missing in places the ball can be hit hard. If healthy, a lot to build off from last season. This season could be pivotal.
Belt -- Good all-around player whose power is limited by playing at AT&T Park. Excellent fielder with decent base running for a first baseman. Swings and misses a lot, but has an excellent eye. Weirdly vertical swing at times but hits the ball fairly hard when he makes contact. Too predictable in pulling the ball to the infield even while hitting it a fair amount to the left side in the air. Appears to have returned healthy after multiple concussions. With first base becoming a more and more powerful position, he's a different type of first baseman, one who relies on all-around skills as opposed to simply hitting the ball with power.
Both players are above-average, with Belt particularly being above the norm, if in an unorthodox manner. Moving Belt toward the top of the order seems to take advantage of his greatest ability at the plate -- getting on base.
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rog
New Member
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Post by rog on Mar 23, 2018 7:19:48 GMT -5
Stratton has a very fine curve ball, but he has to be quite fine in order to succeed. He seems to have improved a lot in the past year.
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rog
New Member
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Post by rog on Mar 23, 2018 7:21:57 GMT -5
Giants as a whole: Much improved starting lineup, but question marks abound throughout the pitching staff. Extremely vulnerable to injury. Have put themselves in position to succeed, but things need to go mostly right in order to do so.
Hopefully Samardzija can return soon, as the rotation is already thin. And hopefully Samardzija's injury isn't a precursor of things to come. A healthy Giants team might succeed; an unhealthy squad almost surely won't.
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rog
New Member
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Post by rog on Mar 23, 2018 7:28:52 GMT -5
The good news is that Samardzija will miss only a week, although he might still wind up on the disabled list.
Per SF Giants.com, "I think he's been dealing with it," Bochy said. "He hasn't said anything, but that's who he is. He's such a tough guy and a strong man that he kept pitching with it."
The Giants' schedule has two days off during the Easter week. The Giants could go as far as April 10th before needing a fifth starter. By that time, Samardzija should be eligible to return from the DL should he be placed there. The schedule could mitigate the effects of Samardzija's injury.
Jeff had struggled this spring, and perhaps we now know more about why that has been the case.
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