Post by garyd on Mar 13, 2014 19:55:38 GMT -5
Giants -Reds . Hudson started and threw easily in a 3-2 win. He had 4 runners in 3 innings but kept them scoreless with 3 strikeouts. Sandoval who looks about 30 pounds slimmer hit the longest HR of the 4 games working a 3-0 count, taking one on the corner and then attacking the ball. He also made 2 great plays at third base which he couldn't get to last year. Affeldt had a 1-2-3 inning. Romo struggled a bit.
Giants -Mariners...one of those games where everything went wrong. Seattle came in hitting poorly but got rich quickly. They belted Vogelsong for 2 HRs and 7 of the 9 runs they scored in the first 3 innings. Affeldt was the one decent pitcher and then they tagged Romo for 5 runs. Romo is working on adding a new pitch and it hasn't been effective at all. 18-3 was the final. Only Ardianza looked good.
Giants -Royals...this was interesting because the scoreboard had the speed gun readings. Ventura started for the Royals and threw gas...several 100MPH Pagan was overwhelmed with 2 straight strikeouts. Pence hit a towering HR later. Lincecum looked good , best I've seen him in a recent spring training. Never higher than 91 MPH but his off speed pitches were a low 71 and he had 3 solid innings. Derrick Law came in and threw 94-95 MPH and blew away the three batters (2 by strikeout). I think he has a good shot to stick around this year. The Giants won 5-0 giving up but 4 hits. Morse hit to deep right for an out but shows consistent opposite field power.
Giants Dodgers...Escobar was a surprise starter and pitched well though wildly , 3 walks in the first, but only one hit and one run in 3 innings. In fact he outpitched Kershaw who was tagged for 5 hits and 2 runs in 5 innings including back to back to back hits by Arias (1B), Hicks (HR), and Abreu (2B). The Giants eventually won 3-2. Hicks had all 3 RBIs. Announcer Vin Scully was upset because the Giants had Bumgarner start in another split squad game instead of showing the sellout Dodger crowd a pitching duel with Kershaw". Vinny...really these games don't count!
Other--the Giants were really rotating second basemen with Scutaro hurt. Brandon Hicks , Noonan, Abreu and Adrianza. The latter has added muscle and has some pop besides his good fielding. Of all newcomers the most outstanding batters were Hicks and Minicozzi, the latter a 31 year old first baseman at bat and in the field likely won't stick. Law had a good outing and the pitching with the exception of Romo could start the season today. Sanchez also dropped weight and improved his catching.
