McCovey Chronicles - All PostsWe want to continue to create opportunities for payroll flexibility.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50879/mcc-fav.png2024-03-28T19:31:15-07:00http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/rss/current/2024-03-28T19:31:15-07:002024-03-28T19:31:15-07:00Reality bites
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<img alt="San Francisco Giants v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KpWQTkF6QLQnUwoq2HWJwt0j70A=/0x0:4156x2771/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73240493/2113295553.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>How does it already feel like July?</p> <p id="ADRqBM">Ah, Opening Day with its clean laundry smell, its pomp and unfurling flags and unblemished stat sheets and fresh cut grass and fresh faces. The excitement, the promise of unwrapping a new season. All of it Easter egg sweet and redolent of a pastel rebirth. A baseball mirage—but it never lasts. </p>
<p id="PKMea9">The Paradiso of Spring Training complexes, of concrete and clearly laid-out paths to improvement, of Scottsdale! culminate in that initial triumphant “Play Ball!” But after the first pitch is thrown, it doesn’t take long for the sobering realities of the game to remind fans and players alike how the cookie <em>actually</em> crumbles. </p>
<p id="cRGkfn">Reality didn’t waste much time making itself known to the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> in their 6 - 4 loss against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a>. </p>
<p id="YLut35">Yu Darvish and his kitchen sink mix will crease a hitter’s duds pretty quickly. Jung Hoo Lee ripping the first pitch he saw…<em>just foul; </em>Jung Hoo Lee ripping a 100 MPH line drive…right into the first baseman’s glove; Jung Hoo Lee dropping his first career hit into centerfield…</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jung Hoo Lee's first MLB RBI puts the Giants back on top ‼️ <a href="https://t.co/aa9a7b3SSz">pic.twitter.com/aa9a7b3SSz</a></p>— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSGiants/status/1773472346650931649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="OS6GoJ">...only to be picked off <em>seconds </em>later to end the inning. Yeah, that will do it too. </p>
<p id="J89lp2">Ah, yes. Reality…kinda <em>sucks. </em></p>
<p id="nZnNBL">Just ask Luke Jackson, who had his 2023 season delayed after missing the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, only to have his 2024 season—all shiny and new—do face-plant off the mound 12 pitches into it. </p>
<p id="T7ZZD4">Called from the bullpen to preserve San Francisco’s newly acquired 3-2 lead in the 7th, Jackson surrendered two weakly-struck hits before walking the number-9 hitter with an errant and discomforting slider that warranted immediate dugout attention. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Luke Jackson exited the game after sustaining an apparent injury on this pitch <a href="https://t.co/4P7Pp29O72">pic.twitter.com/4P7Pp29O72</a></p>— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSGiants/status/1773475365098525069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="gcAEDa">Frustratingly weak-yet-effective contact, overly-aggressive throws down to second with a runner at third, injuries, poorly-located fastballs—yeah, reality came hard for the Giants’ and its bullpen in the 7th. The lead Jackson and Ryan Walker were brought into protect was erased and flipped before the first out of the season was recorded by the relief corps. By inning’s end, the Padres had answered San Francisco’s two runs with four of their own. </p>
<p id="5XhDQB">Starter Logan Webb had his bubble popped too—our collective exasperation already in midseason with another quality start spoiled.</p>
<p id="a4FKoK">Maybe a little too predictable with the change-up, and then leaving it a little up on occasion, but there’s not much to gripe about in terms of the right-hander’s performance. Webb’s first trip through the San Diego lineup was as clean as ever with 4 strikeouts and 3 ground outs, led by his change-up and a slippery two-seam-sinker-screwball that defied physics along with definition. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">that's a screwball <a href="https://t.co/CZzTcT1cNS">https://t.co/CZzTcT1cNS</a></p>— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantBrisbee/status/1773457980836745323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="Dh7CSm">Still, in terms of run support, the offense came up short for the club’s ace. They took the lead with a pair of doubles from Michael Conforto and Nick Ahmed in the 3rd, but couldn’t put up a crooked number, nor were they able to convert lead-off singles from LaMonte Wade Jr. and Matt Chapman into more run support for their ace. Even with a six-month hiatus, the team hadn’t missed a beat. </p>
<p id="mtEuj6">Four pitches after a lead-off walk to Manny Machado in the 5th, the Padres had tied the game with consecutive singles from Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar. Add in another doink-single and a RBI groundout, and San Diego had taken their first lead of the night while reality had officially re-taken its form as a monkey draped over Webb’s back. </p>
<p id="CBteez">Luis Campusano’s 2-strike flare with an exit-velocity of 71 MPH somehow found grass in right and set up Tyler Wade’s 55 MPH dribbler, so perfectly and poorly struck up the first baseline to plate the Padres’ second run while advancing runners into scoring position with less than two outs. The inning might’ve broke Webb’s spirit for good if not for an accurate throw from Thairo Estrada and firm tag by Patrick Bailey to nab Profar trying to score on another grounder.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A lot has happened, but we want you to know that WE HAVE THE LEAD! <a href="https://t.co/DOQdSPYvlC">pic.twitter.com/DOQdSPYvlC</a></p>— San Diego Padres (@Padres) <a href="https://twitter.com/Padres/status/1773464497711419669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="1Gh5hz">And when did reality come for us fans? </p>
<p id="h0Ku0R">That rapid succession of singles against Webb to start San Diego’s scoring?</p>
<p id="5b6N8K">Or maybe the fact that the night’s offensive flame was almost entirely sparked and stoked by the much-maligned Michael Conforto going 3-for-4 with a cheeky 2-outs-in-the-9th solo shot and the veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed who replaced Brandon Crawford, leapfrogged top-prospect Marco Luciano and then went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs hitting out of the nine-hole?</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Conforto's Opening Day:<br><br> 3-for-4, 2B, HR <a href="https://t.co/4N5H2gdadZ">pic.twitter.com/4N5H2gdadZ</a></p>— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSGiants/status/1773483842244124839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="Davn4F">Or was it that a sacrifice bunt was called for? Or was it the fact that the sac bunt actually worked, setting up Ahmed’s second RBI of the game and Lee’s sacrifice fly—a deft piece of situational, 2-strike hitting that gave a meaningful, though ephemeral, late-inning lead. </p>
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<p lang="ko" dir="ltr">메이저리그 첫 타점<br><br>Jung Hoo Lee’s first MLB RBI <a href="https://t.co/pwqjz3DW4F">pic.twitter.com/pwqjz3DW4F</a></p>— SFGiants (@SFGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1773474144417649086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="Blulf1">No, the shine of Opening Day never lasts. A couple of innings in, and the umpire’s strike zone is making us talk to ourselves, a defensive miscue has us on our feet and pacing. Somehow I’m already sour and sore, feeling spurned and burned and cranky and anxious. What if Mike Yastrzemski strikes out 384 times and what if Patrick Bailey throws out 0 runners and what if Jorge Soler hits 0 homer runs while Michael Conforto hits 50—but all of them are solo shots that come in the 9th inning in a blow-out and do nothing but increase his dollar price during free agency next season and are the Padres actually going to be good this year and is there really 161 more of these? </p>
<p id="yh8YaT">Take a deep breath, drink a cool glass of water...reality doesn’t <em>suck</em>, it just hurts when it barrels into you like that. I know that it’s OPENING DAY, but, yeah, it’s just opening day. Save the grumble-and-guff for later. Air your grievances in April! You can panic in May! Any takeaways gleaned from this 6 - 4 loss should be positive because it’s a long season and I care about your well being, friend. So repeat after me: Logan Webb is still really good and is still really fun to watch; the infield of Chapman, Ahmed, and Estrada is going to be airtight; Lee’s bat-to-ball skills are for real; Conforto might be finally recovered from his shoulder injury; and there’s going to be a tomorrow. </p>
<p id="5XKbC2">Yes, there’s really 161 more of these. </p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/28/24115154/mlb-giants-padres-3-28-2024-recap-opening-day-is-hardSteven Kennedy2024-03-28T12:41:04-07:002024-03-28T12:41:04-07:003/28 Gamethread: Giants @ Padres
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<figcaption>Set Number: X162562 TK1</figcaption>
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<p>Logan Webb vs. Yu Darvish</p> <p id="fgt901">The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> kick off the 2024 season this afternoon with game one of this four-game opening series against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> at Petco Park.</p>
<p id="md26SL">Getting the Opening Day start for the Giants will be right-hander Logan Webb. Webb finished second in the 2023 Cy Young Award voting, ending the season with a 3.25 ERA, 3.16 FIP, with 194 strikeouts to 31 walks in a league-leading 216 innings pitched. </p>
<p id="jE2Far">He’ll be facing off against Padres right-hander Yu Darvish, who ended his 2023 season for the Padres with a 4.56 ERA, 4.03 FIP, with 141 strikeouts to 43 walks in 136.1 innings pitched. </p>
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<h3 id="6j23bH">Lineups</h3>
<h4 id="DZYcJr">Giants</h4>
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<li id="s2Z871">Jung Hoo Lee (L) — CF</li>
<li id="AqtZiS">Jorge Soler (R) — DH</li>
<li id="ziOVlZ">LaMonte Wade Jr. (L) — 1B</li>
<li id="dhPRzD">Matt Chapman (R) — 3B</li>
<li id="nhMsBf">Mike Yastrzemski (L) — RF</li>
<li id="Ou2WMk">Thairo Estrada (R) — 2B</li>
<li id="aYDjbT">Michael Conforto (L) — LF</li>
<li id="F9vFCM">Patrick Bailey (S) — C</li>
<li id="NbVDEh">Nick Ahmed (R) — SS</li>
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<p id="Mkvxtb">P. Logan Webb — RHP</p>
<h4 id="rwnjve">Padres</h4>
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<li id="pkxGzS">Xander Bogaerts (R) — 2B</li>
<li id="Hpvq37">Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) — RF</li>
<li id="2ilbn9">Jake Cronenworth (L) — 1B</li>
<li id="nGhJtG">Manny Machado (R) — DH</li>
<li id="yukPIv">Ha-Seong Kim (R) — SS</li>
<li id="5MbptN">Jurickson Profar (S) — LF</li>
<li id="cbUXYN">Luis Campusano (R) — C</li>
<li id="QMQvtr">Tyler Wade (L) — 3B</li>
<li id="JxkITt">Jackson Merrill (L) — C</li>
</ol>
<p id="ILmacR">P. Yu Darvish — RHP</p>
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<h3 id="5iEOcy"><strong>Game #1</strong></h3>
<p id="VgLoZb"><em><strong>Who: </strong></em>San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres</p>
<p id="NM8ByK"><em><strong>Where:</strong></em><em> </em>Petco Park, San Diego, California</p>
<p id="C3zgtl"><em><strong>When: </strong></em>1:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="bAZ1c5"><em><strong>Regional broadcast: </strong></em>NBC Sports Bay Area (<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?xcust=___sb__p_23660150__t_w__r_mccoveychronicles.com__d&id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://www.fubo.tv/welcome?subId2=[]sb[p]23050400[t]w[r]mccoveychronicles.com[d]D&u=https://www.fubo.tv/welcome?subId2=[]sb[p]23048065[t]w[r]mccoveychronicles.com[d]D&sharedid=sbnation.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/8/4/23291367/mlb-2022-san-francisco-giants-los-angeles-dodgers-how-to-watch-jakob-junis-clayton-kershaw" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>available on fuboTV</strong></a>)</p>
<p id="DEkeAD"><em><strong>National broadcast: </strong></em>n/a</p>
<p id="szi5AG"><em><strong>Radio: </strong></em>KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM</p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/28/24113361/mlb-2024-san-francisco-giants-san-diego-padres-how-to-watch-opening-day-logan-webb-yu-darvishSami Higgins2024-03-28T10:41:55-07:002024-03-28T10:41:55-07:00Giants announce 2024 Opening Day roster
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<img alt="Blake Snell walking alongside Patrick Bailey. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Kf0tMA2ay2Dgy1x_tZvLRZN07tA=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73239374/2097704595.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Joey Bart, Blake Snell, Landen Roupp, and Tyler Fitzgerald are in! </p> <p id="pzveQJ">Opening Day is <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/28/24113353/mlb-2024-san-francisco-giants-opening-day-celebration">officially here</a>. And the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a>, after months of moves and weeks of speculation, have announced their Opening Day roster. </p>
<p id="T5RNB4">There are a few notable inclusions and exclusions, which I’ll cover here. If you want to uncover them for yourself, scroll to the bottom of the article to see the complete roster.</p>
<p id="plOFqi">Perhaps the biggest note is that the Giants are starting the season with three catchers. While it felt clear from the day the team signed Tom Murphy that Joey Bart, who is out of options, would be waived or traded, Bart impressed all spring and made the team. It’s not feasible to carry three catchers (or just 12 pitchers) long-term, unless one is a regular designated hitter, so this isn’t a long-term play. Bart, as beat reporters Andrew Baggarly and Alex Pavlovic had suggested earlier this week, will likely be waived in a few days, but the Giants figure there’s a better chance of him sneaking through waivers <em>after </em>the season begins than <em>before </em>it, and they’ll be able to reassign him to AAA Sacramento if he goes unclaimed. </p>
<p id="lGJjlV">Blake Snell made the roster as well. While it’s unclear if the Giants will have him pitch the first time through the rotation, this suggests that they know he’ll be ready sooner rather than later, and didn’t want to place him on the 15-Day Injured List. Since they’re only carrying 12 pitchers, I wouldn’t put it past them to add a 13th — such as Mason Black — the first time through the rotation.</p>
<p id="fGDW7m">Speaking of adding pitchers, Landen Roupp made the roster after being the talk of spring. Roupp has never pitched above AA, and injuries limited him to just 31 innings last year, but he was clearly ready for the Majors based on his spring results. It will be interesting to see what role he’s used in ... I would assume that at some point they try to see how he does as a starter, but he can work his way up there in a bulk innings role for now.</p>
<p id="kEVWYD">Marco Luciano did not make the roster, <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/22/24108031/giants-opening-day-roster-marco-luciano-tyler-fitzgerald-nick-ahmed">against my desires</a>. Nick Ahmed will be the Opening Day shortstop and Tyler Fitzgerald — a tremendous story in his own right — will be the do-everything infield backup. </p>
<p id="Kxr0hU">Austin Slater was healthy enough to make the Opening Day roster, so Luis Matos was optioned ... but Mike Yastrzemski is going on paternity leave tomorrow, so I’d expect Matos to be up for game two. </p>
<p id="6mr3Ua">Erik Miller, despite being optioned early in March, made the team as the second lefty reliever. He had a strong spring and gives the team a high-octane strikeout option in the bullpen.</p>
<p id="qlGsdp">In non-active roster news, Pablo Sandoval was released, rather than reassigned to AAA Sacramento. Pitcher Daulton Jefferies, who seemed a near-lock to make the roster, did not, but was reassigned to AAA. To make room on the 40-man roster for Ahmed and Roupp, the Giants designated Cooper Hummell for assignment and placed lefty Ethan Small on the 60-Day IL. Pitchers Alex Cobb and Sean Hjelle will start the year on the 15-Day IL, retroactive to Monday. </p>
<p id="9YVeTR">And that’s the news! Here’s the Opening Day roster!</p>
<h3 id="Xolzim"><strong>Catchers (3)</strong></h3>
<p id="achE5T"><em>Patrick Bailey</em><br><em>Joey Bart</em><br><em>Tom Murphy</em></p>
<h3 id="wU8CRH"><strong>Infielders (6)</strong></h3>
<p id="lOmg54"><em>Nick Ahmed</em><br><em>Matt Chapman</em><br><em>Thairo Estrada</em><br><em>Tyler Fitzgerald</em><br><em>Wilmer Flores</em><br><em>LaMonte Wade Jr. </em></p>
<h3 id="0SNf7a"><strong>Outfielders/DH (5)</strong></h3>
<p id="BMuq3G"><em>Michael Conforto</em><br><em>Jung Hoo Lee</em><br><em>Austin Slater</em><br><em>Jorge Soler</em><br><em>Mike Yastrzemski</em></p>
<h3 id="RmfmmX"><strong>Right-handed pitchers (8)</strong></h3>
<p id="v8rQ1V"><em>Camilo Doval</em><br><em>Jordan Hicks</em><br><em>Luke Jackson</em><br><em>Tyler Rogers</em><br><em>Landen Roupp</em><br><em>Ryan Walker</em><br><em>Logan Webb</em><br><em>Keaton Winn</em></p>
<h3 id="oaH8nO"><strong>Left-handed pitchers (4)</strong></h3>
<p id="BG3bdZ"><em>Kyle Harrison</em><br><em>Erik Miller</em><br><em>Taylor Rogers</em><br><em>Blake Snell</em></p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/28/24114754/giants-opening-day-roster-blake-snell-joey-bart-landen-roupp-pablo-sandovalBrady Klopfer2024-03-28T06:00:00-07:002024-03-28T06:00:00-07:00Can Jordan Hicks help power the Giants’ rotation through April’s question marks?
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<img alt="San Francisco Giants Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aq-86EDXETjpHCYHUULmAHS03Ow=/0x570:4000x3237/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238490/2054035313.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Adam Glanzman/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Giants <strong>should</strong> have a great rotation this season, but not even the team expects that to happen in April. Unless...</p> <p id="xsARo9">We all know the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a>’ <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/19/16829958/san-francisco-giants-pivotal-offseason-complete-success-jung-hoo-lee-blake-snell-matt-chapman-soler">impressive offseason</a> has set them up to eventually have three Cy Young-caliber pitchers in the rotation (<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-mlb-cy-young-award-voting-results">Webb</a>, Snell, Ray), but “eventually” carries a lot of uncertainty in both timeline and effectiveness. After Logan Webb, what does the rotation look like, and can it be effective until Blake Snell finishes his Spring Training and Robbie Ray completes rehab from Tommy John surgery? </p>
<p id="oG7XFB">Last season, Logan Webb didn’t quite storm out of the gate (4.10 ERA in 37.1 IP) and the back of the rotation was unreliable while the bullpen was bad, so it was up to Alex Cobb and Anthony DeSclafani to provide quality innings — and they delivered (2.56 ERA in 63.1 IP). This season, Cobb — despite rehabbing from hip surgery on a timeline akin to Wolverine’s healing factor — will miss at least the first couple of rotation turns while DeSclafani is no longer on the team. That leaves rookie Kyle Harrison and convert Jordan Hicks as quality innings guys. </p>
<p id="TJbRGC">Let’s start with Jordan Hicks, because he throws 97-100 mph and his journey from reliever to starter might be the epic quest the Giants rotation needs to hit the ground running in 2024. If you watched his final Spring Training start this past Monday night — 5 IP 0 H 10 K — then you got a world building prologue. </p>
<p id="A9UvXq">Here’s Pitching Ninja’s gif-tage of 7 straight Ks recorded by Hicks in innings 3 through 5:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordan Hicks's 7 Consecutive Strikeouts. <a href="https://t.co/ZPj5IEojfL">pic.twitter.com/ZPj5IEojfL</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1772594667688697922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="QphA0n">He finished the Cactus League with 28 K in 17 IP (8 BB, 5 ER) and if you don’t want to buy in based on spring numbers, fair enough. But consider all this: he flashed a lot more command than he had as a reliever, the velocity didn’t diminish, and Bob Melvin & Bryan Price just did a reliever-to-starter conversion last season with the Padres in Seth Lugo. </p>
<p id="i0VBpX">It’s not a perfect comp, of course, because Lugo had been a starter with the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> before they converted him to reliever; however, Hicks was a starter in the minors the Cardinals gave him 8 starts in the bigs in 2022. The always interesting Eno Sarris <a href="https://twitter.com/enosarris/status/1745895414694625465">had this to say</a> back in January after the Giants <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/12/24036117/giants-free-agency-jordan-hicks-contract-starter">signed him and announced him as a starter</a>:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Theoretically, Jordan Hicks has the arsenal to be a successful starter now. The splitter looks pretty legit as 3rd option. But as a sinker-first guy, there's going to be pressure on his fastball command (particularly against lefties) & that's never been above-average by Location+ <a href="https://t.co/bhwyT4yxKh">pic.twitter.com/bhwyT4yxKh</a></p>— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/enosarris/status/1745895414694625465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2024</a>
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<p id="4KAXPn">Brian Bannister and Andrew Bailey might’ve left the building, but if you’ve been a fan of the franchise for any length of time then you know that the team — in combination with Oracle Park — has a solid track record with pitchers. If Hicks works out immediately, it will feel both like a validation of history and of the current front office’s scouting acumen. </p>
<p id="hb7ToF">He might struggle, too, but even then, he’s just as likely to show flashes of what he can do like he did against the A’s. Sure, the first 15 games the Giants play (roughly his first 3 starts) will be against <em>not the A’s</em>, but you don’t need to squint to see the upside. </p>
<p id="PN9dDN">Hicks gives the opposition a different look from the Giants’ other rotation arms, too: overpowering velocity on a heavy sinker paired with a dynamic sweeper and interesting splitter. He’s like a past (splitter), present (sinker), and future (sweeper) of major league pitching all in one package. This is <em>the </em>pitching story to watch in the first month. </p>
<p id="Ro7Nb3">But! Kyle Harrison is just getting started. The rookie lefty has been named the #2 starter to kick off the season and the team <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/03/27/sf-giants-fans-and-teammates-pinning-high-hopes-on-hometown-hero-kyle-harrison/">has been eager to put pressure on him</a> to see if he rises to the many challenges that come with facing major league hitters. His ascent isn’t guaranteed, but it is expected — just not right away. </p>
<p id="GZfJHn">Walks were still a problem for him in the spring and combined with his <em>not Jordan Hicks</em>-level velocity, you can see the problem of needing to deceive and locate to be dominant. You don’t have to squint to see his upside, but don’t hold your breath when it comes to him figuring it out. He’ll get plenty of runway, but it still could be a while before we see the team’s #1 prospect make the leap. </p>
<p id="k9GL9i">The Giants have, either by intention or luck, managed to create some mentorship situations between veterans and younger players: Alex Cobb with Logan Webb, Wilmer Flores with Thairo Estrada, and now perhaps Robbie Ray with Kyle Harrison. In all three of these pairings, the players have similar skill sets/arsenals. <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/24/7422895/the-robbie-ray-blake-snell-comparison-chart-san-francisco-giants-maximize-flexibility-with-big-trade">I once compared Blake Snell to Robbie Ray</a>, but the Kyle Harrison-Robbie Ray comp works better: Ray, predominantly a 4-seam fastball (93-95 mph) & slider guy, and Harrison, a 4-seam fastball (93-96 mph) & slurve guy. Maybe Ray can sprinkle some Cy Young dust on Harrison? </p>
<p id="osGnk4">Of course, talent matters most, and it’s clear the Giants have talent up and down their staff, healthy or injured. Relationships and experience could be unquantifiable factors that push achievement. In other words, players being able to relate to each other — encouraged to, even — might actually help the talent reach the best possible projections. </p>
<p id="fWWoUK">It says <em>a lot </em>to me that Alex Cobb is fighting so hard to make it back on the field ASAP. That extra effort gets noticed by veterans and rookies alike. Cobb is down there rehabbing in Arizona — you don’t think he’s pushing Keaton Winn, who’s there with him, too? He’s done it before. Blake Snell credits Cobb with helping him <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/snell-reveals-cobb-big-reason-210733702.html">become a major leaguer:</a></p>
<blockquote><p id="SF4MQz">He raised me, taught me how to be a pro. [...] He helped build me into the player I am, the man I am.</p></blockquote>
<p id="KwuWS7">He’s an inspiration, sure, but his actions could just by example act as a push or a nudge for players to maintain their focus whether it’s rehab or Spring Training. Cobb’s not instilling player passion, he’s reinforcing it. There are a lot of passionate pitchers on this team. </p>
<p id="G9vRbp">The Giants have loved Kyle Harrison’s doggedness and if you listen to Logan Webb for any length of time you see and hear that same tenacity. Tom Murphy <a href="https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/jordan-hicks-athletics-spring-training/1716951/">talked up Jordan Hicks’ intensity, too:</a></p>
<blockquote><p id="GPdLUZ">The first thing I think you can spot out with Jordan is his attitude [...] You’re getting a closer out there for six innings, or seven innings — wherever he ends up going this year.</p></blockquote>
<p id="lpuEPG">Are the Giants aggregating personality types? Is that their secret sauce? Probably not, but acquiring talented pitchers who might have an obsession with their craft seems like a terrific foundation for a great pitching staff. </p>
<p id="V0mcdp">There were many questions about the rotation heading into the offseason. It took patience (Snell) and courage (Ray, Hicks), but the Giants answered them all. They did this because they already had Logan Webb, Harrison, Winn, Tristan Beck, Mason Black, and a positive prognosis on Cobb. That’s a projectable floor of a not terrible staff. In their mind, they weren’t trying to go from bad to good but from good to great and gave themselves pitching depth with high upside potential. </p>
<p id="kLPTDg">The 30,000-foot view of the pitching plan seems pretty obvious in that respect. Two months ago, <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/26/17677170/do-san-francisco-giants-have-enough-pitchers-to-make-it-through-2024-alex-cobb-robbie-ray-injuries">I worried about how the team would cover its innings</a>, but I’m much less concerned now. Jordan Hicks might not have the stamina to make it through the entire season, so there’s Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck. Alex Cobb is a reliable injury guy, so even when he returns it’s not reasonable to expect he stays healthy for a full season. Winn, Beck, and Mason Black could step up in that case. If Harrison tires out, Robbie Ray will arrive later on. They’ve given themselves some insurance after Logan Webb and Blake Snell. </p>
<p id="OIrms3">They won’t start the year with Snell, Cobb, Ray, Winn, or Beck, but none of those eventual arrivals will be a white knight situation. Especially Blake Snell’s. He won’t need to save the day; he’ll be there to put the word out that the Giants have the best rotation in Baseball. At least... that’s the plan. </p>
<p id="9jyCFJ">With Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks backing up Logan Webb, and Alex Cobb and Keaton Winn waiting in the wings, things seem to be going according to plan. </p>
<p id="auArGC"></p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/28/20751111/can-jordan-hicks-help-power-san-francisco-giants-rotation-after-logan-webb-until-blake-snell-debutsBryan Murphy2024-03-28T05:00:00-07:002024-03-28T05:00:00-07:00Thursday BP: OPENING DAY
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2aSB-6EsZEDLwONvqPeIVY7iFxY=/0x7:3072x2055/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238340/577613698.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Derrick Tuskan/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We’ve made it through another off-season, and baseball is back!</p> <p id="h8UkYy">Good morning, baseball fans!</p>
<p id="PUF4lY">You’ve done it. You have survived another offseason. The cold, dark, stormy winter has passed, and the hot stove has been put out for now. </p>
<p id="9pyYa2">Baseball is back. </p>
<p id="qhrMgx">The <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> will kick off the 2024 season today at Petco Park, as they take on the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> in a four-game series. </p>
<p id="nBlJ1J">There’s a lot to be excited about! We’ve got a lot of new players and staff alike. It’s been a while since we’ve gone into a season not really knowing what to expect. Sure, Gabe Kapler and his staff were new in 2020, but the world was incredibly weird and different, so any baseball happening at all was a bit of a return to some normalcy. </p>
<p id="ewWaaS">This will be the first Opening Day in over a decade that I’ll be able to watch, and I’m really excited about that. It’s not fun to be in between day jobs, but I’ll take these silver linings with joy. </p>
<p id="bnTiPA">Here’s a little music to get you ready for today, and we’ll see you in a few hours for Giants baseball!</p>
<div id="RVN2nY"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xq3hEMUeBGQ?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
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<h3 id="yXipLH">What time do the Giants play today?</h3>
<p id="D2155b">The Giants and Padres kick off this four-game opening series from Petco Park at 1:10 p.m. PT.</p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/28/24113353/mlb-2024-san-francisco-giants-opening-day-celebrationSami Higgins2024-03-27T13:27:23-07:002024-03-27T13:27:23-07:00Community Prospect List No. 40
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<img alt="Jimmy Glowenke in the batter’s box. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zREgcwer5ea_ZvHCtdpBH063CXc=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73237215/1239836189.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Who is the 40th-best prospect on the Giants farm? </p> <p id="UXQSfJ">We’re only one day away from the start of the 2024 MLB season, but we’re a few chapters away from finishing off the 2024 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List, in which we’re coming together as a community to rank the top 44 prospects in the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> organization. We’re so close!</p>
<p id="DcsuOQ">The next name added to the list is infielder Jimmy Glowenke, who has been voted as the No. 39 prospect in the system. It’s a return to the CPL for Glowenke, who snuck in at No. 43 two years ago, but was omitted on last year’s list following a disappointing 2022 season.</p>
<p id="rLavzL">It was not a disappointing 2023 season, however, for the right-handed hitting infielder who was taken with the 68th pick in the 2020 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>, with the Compensation Round pick that the Giants were granted when Will Smith signed with the <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/">Atlanta Braves</a>.</p>
<p id="2zrn22">Glowenke started the year in High-A Eugene, repeating a level he had spent all of 2022 at (save for some rehab stints in the Complex League). When the Giants have prospects repeat levels, they’re usually asking for them to show notable improvement in certain areas, and Glowenke did that to an extreme: he lowered his strikeout rate from 31.2% all the way down to 14.3%, while increasing his walk rate from 8.2% to 12.4%. His batting average jumped a staggering .101 points, from .212 to .313, with his on-base percentage running from .301 to .413, and his slugging percentage from .412 to .542. The result was a .956 OPS, a 154 wRC+, and a summer promotion to AA Richmond.</p>
<p id="WdGLjf">Glowenke played 75 games with the Flying Squirrels and hit solidly, finishing the year with a .744 OPS and a 110 wRC+, with a still-fairly-low 21.1% strikeout rate. Those numbers are (mostly) even more impressive when you account for acclimation time. In Glowenke’s first month of AA, he hit just 11-71 with no home runs, three doubles, and 16 strikeouts. After that stretch, he hit 51-and 176 with seven home runs and 10 doubles, albeit with 45 strikeouts. He spent the bulk of his time at second base, but also spent a decent amount of time at third base and shortstop. </p>
<p id="qUQ21a">We also saw Glowenke do some nice things in a few Spring Training games this year, so that was fun. AAA Sacramento might have a crowded infield, so it will be interesting to see whether the Giants give Glowenke a promotion to start the year, or have him iron out a few things in Richmond first.</p>
<p id="3PQPhz">Now let’s add to the list! </p>
<h3 id="Bh0nHZ"><strong>The list so far</strong></h3>
<ol>
<li id="7eM1vS"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/15/24003014/giants-prospects-rankings-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Kyle Harrison — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="QHptUi"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/18/24006470/giants-prospect-rankings-kyle-harrison"><strong>Marco Luciano — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="NptDN1"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/20/24009759/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-marco-luciano"><strong>Bryce Eldridge — 1B</strong></a></li>
<li id="CchZy6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/22/24012434/giants-prospect-rankings-bryce-eldridge"><strong>Carson Whisenhunt — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="ZzMmIE"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/27/24016645/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-carson-whisenhunt"><strong>Rayner Arias — CF</strong></a></li>
<li id="91aT5m"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/29/24018936/giants-prospect-rankings-rayner-arias"><strong>Keaton Winn — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="JF4miM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/1/24021653/giants-prospect-rankings-keaton-winn"><strong>Walker Martin — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="dd3USP"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/3/24024055/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-walker-martin"><strong>Reggie Crawford — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="J74UtR"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/5/24026994/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-reggie-crawford"><strong>Hayden Birdsong — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="orXid5"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/8/24030311/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-hayden-birdsong-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Mason Black — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="1wYH3x"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/10/24033284/giants-prospect-rankings-mason-black"><strong>Wade Meckler — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="dms4Is"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/12/24036491/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-wade-meckler"><strong>Grant McCray — CF</strong></a></li>
<li id="amX0ik"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/17/24041844/giants-prospect-rankings-grant-mccray"><strong>Heliot Ramos — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="6cGmkF"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/19/24044357/giants-prospect-rankings-heliot-ramos-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Aeverson Arteaga — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="LfT7zV"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/22/24047054/giants-prospect-rankings-aeverson-arteaga"><strong>Tyler Fitzgerald — UTIL</strong></a></li>
<li id="H1Zpf9"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/24/24049306/giants-prospect-rankings-tyler-fitzgerald-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Joe Whitman — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="TqMMm5"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/26/24052007/giants-prospect-rankings-joe-whitman-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Vaun Brown — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="9d1J1k"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/29/24054660/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-vaun-brown"><strong>Landen Roupp — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="4lnEop"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/31/24057247/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-landen-roupp"><strong>Victor Bericoto — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="Y6YKho"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/2/24059433/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-victor-bericoto"><strong>Trevor McDonald — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="sXS6ob"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/5/24062477/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-trevor-mcdonald"><strong>Diego Velasquez — 2B/SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="oB5GxH"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/7/24065142/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-diego-velasquez"><strong>Carson Seymour — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="g4DAU3"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/9/24067820/giants-prospect-rankings-carson-seymour"><strong>Kai-Wei Teng — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="GoAk1c"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/12/24070769/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-kai-wei-teng"><strong>Onil Perez — C</strong></a></li>
<li id="B01Bpf"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/14/24073084/giants-prospects-rankings-onil-perez"><strong>Adrian Sugastey — C</strong></a></li>
<li id="HKNTuO"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/16/24075275/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-adrian-sugastey-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="UBfGFz"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/21/24077560/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-gerelmi-maldonado"><strong>Maui Ahuna — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="fhEqWA"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/23/24081538/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-maui-ahuna"><strong>Erik Miller — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="riuysW"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/26/24084121/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-erik-miller-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Jairo Pomares — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="6Y7h07"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/28/24085842/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jairo-pomares-minor-leagues"><strong>Cole Foster — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="riXTFM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/1/24087876/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-cole-foster"><strong>Jack Choate — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="y4vgYM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/4/24090548/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jack-choate"><strong>Carson Ragsdale — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="YmGBJm"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/6/24092428/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-carson-ragsdale"><strong>Randy Rodríguez — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="hE9BQ6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/8/24094726/giants-prospects-minor-league-rankings-randy-rodriguez"><strong>Cole Waites — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="y1Hz5E"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/24102182/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-cole-waites-minor-leagues"><strong>Ismael Munguia — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="iepqxr"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/18/24105020/giants-prospect-rankings-ismael-munguia-minors"><strong>Juan Sánchez — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="iYAtgc"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/20/24106994/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-juan-sanchez"><strong>Manuel Mercedes — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="KPmLFy"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/22/24108854/giants-prospect-rankings-minor-league-baseball-manuel-mercedes"><strong>Jhonny Level — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="vGSH7F"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/25/24111635/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jhonny-level-minor-leagues"><strong>Jimmy Glowenke — INF</strong></a></li>
</ol>
<p id="C1KSuT"><em>Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.</em></p>
<p id="skEyw1">On to No. 40!</p>
<h2 id="gBQlwQ"><strong>No. 40 prospect nominees</strong></h2>
<p id="U3BS52"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bostic000jos"><strong>Josh</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/louis-bostick/sa3022857/stats?position=P"><strong>Bostick</strong></a> — 22.5-year old RHP — 3.86 ERA/3.23 FIP in ACL (4.2 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dabovi000rj-"><strong>R.J.</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/roderick-dabovich/sa3014431/stats?position=P"><strong>Dabovich</strong></a> — 25.2-year old RHP — 20.25 ERA/8.45 FIP in AAA (2.2 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=diaz--001lis"><strong>Lisbel</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/lisbel-diaz/sa3022399/stats?position=OF"><strong>Diaz</strong></a> — 18.8-year old OF — .841 OPS/124 wRC+ in DSL (88 PA)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=murphy005rya"><strong>Ryan</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ryan-murphy/sa3014871/stats?position=P"><strong>Murphy</strong></a> — 24.5-year old RHP — 4.36 ERA/4.72 FIP in AA (107.1 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=silva-002eri"><strong>Eric</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/eric-silva/sa3017965/stats?position=P"><strong>Silva</strong></a> — 21.5-year old RHP — 5.92 ERA/4.76 FIP in High-A (76 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=simon-000lia"><strong>Liam</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/liam-simon/sa3020256/stats?position=P"><strong>Simon</strong></a> — 23.5-year old RHP — 3.86 ERA/2.96 FIP in Low-A (21 IP)</p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/27/24113935/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jimmy-glowenkeBrady Klopfer2024-03-27T05:00:00-07:002024-03-27T05:00:00-07:00Wednesday BP: Pablo Sandoval appreciation post
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Vno5DftN30kMLXercSPVOSx8P7s=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73235839/2074382502.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Pablo Sandoval returned to Oracle Park last night to play for what might be his last time. </p> <p id="JFGDo1">Good morning, baseball fans!</p>
<p id="8sfs2r">For those who might have missed it, the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> had their final exhibition game of the pre-season last night, losing 3-1 to the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a>. However, that wasn’t the story, not even remotely. </p>
<p id="dCRNic">No, the story was Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval, for clarity’s sake, is not retiring. He had been hoping to battle for a spot on the roster for this season, but with the addition of Matt Chapman, that is not in the cards at the moment. But Sandoval has said he would be willing to play in Triple-A Sacramento to continue to work towards a return to the team. </p>
<p id="kcf4z5">However, never ones to miss out on an opportunity to celebrate one of the major stars of the championship era, the Giants did just that in Tuesday’s exhibition game. In what could potentially be Sandoval’s last appearance playing in a Giants uniform in front of fans at Oracle Park, the stage was set to celebrate Sandoval at every opportunity. </p>
<p id="usxwkp">And the fan-favorite did not disappoint. </p>
<p id="wOUIYK">After striking out in his first at-bat in the sixth inning, Sandoval came up in the ninth and with a two-two count, and hit a broken bat single over the head of the A’s infielders. He was pulled for a pinch-runner, which allowed fans and players alike, from both teams, to give him yet another round of applause and standing ovation. </p>
<p id="pUzS5f">We love you, Pablo. </p>
<div id="3rlzP6"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/50xIdy2SkvE?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
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<h3 id="STzeGN"><strong>How many days until Opening Day?</strong></h3>
<p id="oJ5Y9G">ONE MORE DAWN, ONE MORE DAY, ONE DAY MORE!</p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/27/24113351/mlb-2024-san-francisco-giants-pablo-sandoval-ovationSami Higgins