|
|
| Final Spring Preparations Underway |
|
By Joe Ritzo 3/30/2009
Rosters At Major And Minor League Levels To Be Finalized Soon
Joe Martinez continued his impressive
spring last weekend with four scoreless
innings against the Padres
(photo by David Godinez) |
Monday marked the beginning of the final week of spring training and there are several uncertainties in both major and minor league camps. At the major league level, decisions still have to be made as to which players will fill out the 25-man roster, including who will start at second base in addition to who takes the final few bullpen spots. Meanwhile in minor league camp, the front office continues to shuffle the rosters with final determinations on who will start at which levels expected to be made later this week.
The San Francisco Giants have made more roster cuts with three players – John Bowker, Osiris Matos and Buster Posey – sent to minor league camp on Sunday. Bowker, a San Jose Giant in 2005 and 2006, struggled offensively this spring hitting just .211 with two home runs while also striking out a team-high 15 times. He quickly became a longshot to make the team with Travis Ishikawa’s stellar spring output to strengthen his hold on the first base position while Nate Schierholtz, Eugenio Velez and perhaps Andres Torres are higher than Bowker on the back-up outfield depth chart.
Matos continued to show promise this spring when he didn’t allow a run in nine of his 11 relief appearances, but will return to the minor leagues where he figures to be a key member of Fresno’s bullpen.
Finally, Posey’s long stint in big league camp came to an end, but the former first round draft pick impressed on many levels. In 30 at-bats this spring, Posey batted at a .300 clip with one double, two home runs and seven RBI’s while also showing nice skills defensively behind the plate. Multiple sources in recent weeks have indicated that Posey will begin the 2009 season as San Jose’s starting catcher, but an official announcement won’t come until the roster is released.
After the roster adjustments last weekend, including the trade of major league reliever Jack Taschner to the Philadelphia Phillies, only 32 players remain in major league camp. Manager Bruce Bochy has still yet to declare a starting second baseman with the two former San Jose Giants, Emmanuel Burriss (.362 AVG in 69 AB’s) and Kevin Frandsen (.286 AVG in 70 AB’s) battling for the spot.
Out of the bullpen, Merkin Valdez, a San Jose Giant in 2004, is making a strong case to be included among San Francisco’s relief corps. Valdez is out of options, so the Giants risk losing him to another team if he does not make the major league roster. Remaining healthy though is seemingly Valdez’s only obstacle. The 27-year old right-hander made the opening day club last season and compiled a 1.69 ERA in 17 appearances before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Then after getting off to a slow start this spring, Valdez has not allowed a run in five straight relief appearances (spanning five innings) while he’s held the opposition to a paltry .161 batting average overall.
Former San Jose Giant Alex Hinshaw also remains a strong candidate to make the opening day roster, especially with the recent trade of Taschner. Hinshaw, who would become a much-needed second left-handed pitcher coming out of the bullpen (along with free agent acquisition Jeremy Affeldt), enjoyed a solid rookie major league season in 2008.
San Francisco will conclude the Arizona portion of their spring training schedule on Wednesday afternoon before returning to the Bay Area to play four exhibition games against the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers from Thursday through Sunday.
MARTINEZ MAKES HIS CASE
Joe Martinez continued his impressive spring training on Sunday when he started against the Milwaukee Brewers and fired four scoreless innings. The 2007 San Jose Giant yielded three hits with two walks and three strikeouts while lowering his spring ERA to 4.12. Martinez, who was added to the 40-man roster last November, will likely begin the season as a starting pitcher for Triple-A Fresno. However, a major league team will always need a spot-starter at some point during the season and it appears Martinez would be the leading candidate to fill that role.
Additionally, San Francisco has indicated they need someone in their bullpen to act as their long reliever. It remains to be seen whether Martinez would be considered for such a role on the opening day roster.
MINOR LEAGUE MOVES
It’s a busy time at minor league camp this week as the front office begins to solidify the rosters for the four farm teams beginning their seasons next month. Among the players recently released include former San Jose Giant pitcher Justin Hedrick. Hedrick pitched in San Jose during the 2005 and 2006 seasons before two years with Connecticut. Despite a 1.37 ERA with the Defenders last season, Hedrick was let go this spring. He quickly signed a minor league free agent deal with the Boston Red Sox.
NEWS AND NOTES
* Three pitchers from the 2008 San Jose Giants were called up to major league camp for a day when San Francisco traveled to Peoria to play the San Diego Padres last Saturday. Kevin Pucetas started the game on the mound, but was tagged for five runs and eight hits over just 2 1/3 innings. Pucetas, who began spring training in big league camp, saw his ERA balloon to 8.04 over 15 2/3 innings. Dan Otero and Steve Edlefsen then both saw action out of the bullpen. Otero worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed two runs while also collecting one strikeout. Edlefsen, who was making his second appearance in a major league exhibition game this spring, retired the only batter he faced. Otero and Edlefsen will likely play important roles out of the Connecticut bullpen this season.
* Pablo Sandoval is the only player from the ’08 San Jose squad that remains in big league camp. Sandoval continued his torrid spring at the plate last week picking up two hits each in games last Thursday and Saturday. Overall, Sandoval is batting an amazing .467 having knocked out 28 hits in 60 at-bats. He’s also committed just two errors while playing exclusively third base.
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|