Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about last night's 5-3 loss against the Padres. After there was some controversy about why Jeff Samardzija didn't appear in the opening series against the Dodgers, he finally made his season debut last night and it was easy to see why the Giants held him back. From the very first pitch, Samardzija lacked stuff and command, and eventually the Padres got the best of him. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a three-run, opposite-field home run early in the game, and it prompted many to wonder whether Oracle Park is playing differently because the Giants have closed off the openings in the right field wall to prevent fans from gathering on the boardwalk in right to catch a glimpse of the game.

Shortly afterward Wil Myers, who has played extremely well at Oracle Park in his Padres career, launched an impressive two-run homer to center field against Samardzija, which gave the Padres a lead they would not relinquish. The Giants got an impressive three-inning relief appearance from Conner Menez, who retired every batter he faced, but the could not capitalize on some late rallies. Former Giant Drew Pomeranz shut the door in the 9th for the Padres.

Ben discusses the fact that the Giants could call up Joey Bart today, but that remains unlikely for a number of reasons. Among them is the fact that Tyler Heineman has been one of the Giants' lone offensive bright spots, so production at the catcher positions has not been one of the Giants' many early season issues. Also, catcher Chadwick Tromp was called up yesterday and the Giants would like to see what they have in the 24-year-old Arubian. He'll likely play mostly in a platoon with Heineman for the time being, but it's worth monitoring the organization's position on the readiness of Bart, who's arguably their best prospect.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks with Javier Reyes from Locked On Padres. The two discuss the teams' upcoming three-game series. The conversation is wide ranging, from MLB in general to the pitching matchups in the series. Ben discusses why the Giants are a confident team after splitting a tough four-game road series against the Dodgers to open the season, and Javier talks about how the Padres' pitching and a new lineup has propelled them to a 3-1 start. The two also talk about how both teams have new managers. Ben details the way Giants fans reacted when Gabe Kapler was hired as the new manager. All that and more on today's episode of Locked On Giants.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' unlikely series split against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. After losing the first two games by a combined score of 17-2, the Giants were looking like a team that was already unraveling. But against two lefty starters on Saturday and Sunday, the Giants were able to put out a more competitive lineup that was heavy on right-handed hitters. Despite all the criticism this team has taken from pundits and fans, the righty lineup is competitive, and the Giants' pitching proved to be instrumental in two big wins against the Dodgers.

On Saturday, Logan Webb made is season debut and pitched great. He was filling up the strike zone with all of his pitches, and he proved to be tough on Dodgers hitters. The Giants' offense put consistent pressure on lefty Alex Wood, and they were able to jump ahead to a 5-1 lead in the early innings. This got a bit dicey for the Giants in the late innings. Donovan Solano committed a two-out error that directly led to two runs, and Trevor Gott allowed a leadoff home run to Will Smith in the bottom of the 9th, but the Giants held on for a 5-4 victory. It was their first of the year and the first for new manager Gabe Kapler in a Giants uniform.

On Sunday, a nationally televised ESPN game, the Giants again put consistent pressure on left-handed starter Julio Urias. They weren't able to put too many runs on the board though, and it was a tight game throughout. Starting pitcher Drew Smyly pitched well through 3.1 innings, mixing in a mid-90s fastball, a big curveball, and a cutter. All three pitches were competitive and kept the Dodgers in check. He got into and out of trouble in a long third inning. Shaun Anderson looked dominant again in relief (as he did on Saturday), and the rest of the Giants' bullpen again held tough against a potent Dodgers lineup. Mauricio Dubón and Donovan Solano delivered clutch two-out hits, which ultimately gave the Giants a 3-1 lead that would be the final score. Trevor Gott earned his second save in as many days, pitching through a leadoff double and a 3-1 count on the next hitter. He retired Mookie Betts on a fly ball and blew a fastball past Max Muncy to finish out the game.

Next the Giants come home for a six-game homestand against the Padres and Rangers. All eyes, however, are on the situation with the Miami Marlins, who have had an outbreak of Covid-19 on their team. Fourteen players and coaches have reportedly tested positive in the last two days. Their game against the Orioles and the Yankees-Phillies game (the Marlins were in Philadelphia when the outbreak occurred) have been postponed.

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On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick analyzes the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants had a couple of big opportunities early in the game, including bases loaded no outs and a first and third no outs, and came away with just one run total. The Dodgers announced just hours before the game that expected starter Clayton Kershaw was being placed on the injured list, and the young flame thrower Dustin May would start in his place. The Giants figured to have a totally different lineup against Kershaw, one that was in a pretty good position to give him trouble. The Giants' lineup against the righty May, however, was different, and included several right-handed hitters by necessity.

Johnny Cueto got the start for the Giants and was impressive through four innings. He escaped a bases loaded jam in the 4th, and was pulled before he could face the top of the Dodgers' order for a third time with Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Cody Bellinger due up. It was clearly an appropriate time to pull Cueto from the game, but he didn't seem happy about it in his postgame interview. That being said, Drew Smyly pitched a scoreless fifth and Rico Garcia pitched a scoreless sixth, so it's not like the Giants' pitching unraveled immediately after Cueto left the game. On the contrary, the Giants did very well to hold the Dodgers to one run in six innings.

But things came unraveled in the 7th. Tyler Rogers, who figures to have a high leverage role this season, opened the inning with a quick out against Muncy, but Betts single and Bellinger doubled to make it second and third with one out. With the infield drawn in, Justin Turner hit a ground ball to Donovan Solano at second base, and Mookie Betts beat the throw home. There wasn't much more that Solano and the Giants could do; it was just a great display of athleticism by Betts. Kiké Hernandez ended up delivering a back breaking two-run single with two outs, and Dany Jiminez and Conner Menez each allowed a couple of runs once the game was essentially out of reach.

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On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from fans on Twitter. Among the questions answered, Ben talks about when the Giants may (or may not) call up top prospect Joey Bart. The team must wait until July 29 if they want to ensure that Bart won't gain a full year of service time in 2020, which could allow him to reach free agency after the 2025 season as opposed to the 2026 season. However, even if the Giants call up Bart on July 29 or later, if the 2020 season ends up getting cancelled afterwards, it is possible that Bart would be granted a year of service time anyway.

Another question asked and answered is about Jeff Samardzija. While his ERA was good in 2019, his peripheral numbers suggest that massive regression could be coming, and this could be an issue as "The Shark" hopes to work as a traditional starter who pitches deep into games. This could cause conflict with new manager Gabe Kapler, who probably won't let a struggling starter eat innings that could be more effectively managed with relief pitcher alternatives. Kapler has expressed a willingness to respect his players' wishes, while balancing an analytical approach. It will be fascinating to watch how it plays out in Samardzija's case.

Ben also answers a question about what the Giants are likely to do at this year's trading deadline, which is August 31. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was extremely active at last year's deadline, and fans should expect the same in 2020, assuming the season is still being played. The Giants could have desirable trade pieces in Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, in addition to under-the-radar, controllable bullpen arms like Trevor Gott and Tyler Rogers. As Ben explains, bullpen pieces on a retooling team are non-essential, and if those players can be flipped for starting caliber position players or starting pitchers, that may benefit the Giants in the long run. In essence, bullpen arms can help contending teams win in the postseason, but they don't necessarily lead teams to the postseason.

Also discussed is the bullpen hierarchy. Although many annointed Tony Watson the heir apparent to Will Smith when he departed in free agency, the Giants may have more talented relievers in Trevor Gott and Tyler Rogers. Rogers's 2019 season was spectacular, and he was looking sharp again in spring training and summer camp. He "opened" a game against the Oakland A's on Tuesday, and it's possible he could do the same on occasion during the regular season. The Giants are likely to go with a bullpen by committee approach at least to start the year, as they don't necessarily have a bunch of established guys in the 'pen. However, that doesn't mean they can't match up and make things difficult on their opponents.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' exhibition win over the Oakland Athletics. It was the Giants' second straight victory over Oakland, and they played very well in both games. The Giants used nine pitchers for one inning apiece in both games, and almost everyone was sharp. On Tuesday, submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers started the game and overmatched the top of the A's lineup. The fact that the Giants used a so-called "opener" is probably a sign of things to come this year under manager Gabe Kapler and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. Both are known for their innovative and forward thinking baseball minds. On the offensive side, Mike Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the first with a booming home run to right-center, and Alex Dickerson led off the second with a home run to the opposite field gap. Both Yastrzemski and Dickerson figure to be key players this season, especially against right-handed pitching.

Ben also speculates about how the Giants will finalize their 30-man roster ahead of Thursday's season opener in Los Angeles. The Giants have quite a few decisions to make, including deciding which catchers will make the roster. As it stands now, the Giants don't have any active catchers on the 40-man roster. They'll also have to decide the fate of non-roster invitees like Yolmer Sánchez, Darin Ruf, and Pablo Sandoval, all of whom are likely, but not guaranteed, to make the team. Another player who's probably under strong consideration to make the roster is Joe McCarthy, who had good at-bats last night despite not having any hits to show for it. McCarthy, Ben argues, is likely to make the team because of the injury to Brandon Belt, who's dealing with heel pain.

Also of note, several Giants players and coaches kneels again during the nation anthem played before the game. Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval joined those who had kneeled the night before in Oakland.

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On today's Locked On Giants Podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about yesterday's historic game for the San Francisco Giants. This game was significant enough already, being the Giants' first non-instrasquad game in a major league stadium since last September, but something else entirely ended up stealing the show.

Manager Gabe Kapler, two staff members, and several Giants players, including their only African American player Jaylin Davis, knelt for the national anthem. Kapler became the first manager of any major North American sport to kneel for the anthem, a peaceful protest against police brutality and discrimination against Black Americans. Kapler and the Giants had conversations with other teams around the league about how to approach the issue in a way that promoted inclusiveness and unity instead of divisiveness. Giants players were invited to have open conversations about these issues and were encouraged to speak their minds and do what they thought was best. They were encouraged to listen to their teammates and support their decisions. The Giants' peaceful protest caught national attention and was retweeted with a supportive message by Major League Baseball's official Twitter account, which is significant. Beyond the historic protest, the Giants also made history when Alyssa Nakken, the first female coach in MLB history, coached first base during the game. It was a proud and special moment for Nakken, who will hopefully be the first of many female coaches in the game.

Moving onto the game itself, the Giants went with an almost exclusively right-handed lineup against lefty starter Sean Manaea, and they were tough on him from the first inning on. Batting in the leadoff spot, Austin Slater, who has been above average against lefties but below average against righties in his career, had three hits and drove in five runs. The Giants' use of platoons figures to give them an edge that they've lacked in recent seasons.

Prior to the game, the Giants announced that Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt will start the season on the injured list. In their place, Wilmer Flores started at third base and Pablo Sandoval was at first base last night. It seems likely that, when the season gets going, Darin Ruf may be at first base against lefties with Hunter Pence as the designated hitter.

Several questions remain about how the Giants will finalize their 30-man roster. We still don't know which players will make the team as catchers, and it could go a number of different ways. Significantly, Chadwick Tromp got the start last night against the lefty Manaea, and he had two hits. Tromp may very well be on the Giants' roster, and be the starter against left-handed pitchers.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick takes a stab at predicting the San Francisco Giants' 30-man Opening Day roster. There are several non-roster invitees who are likely to make the team, which will force the Giants to shake up their 40-man roster. Catching prospect Joey Bart is unlikely to make the team, which will come as a big disappointment to a lot of Giants fans, but the team is justified in its rationale that Bart needs more time to develop. Darin Ruf, Yomer Sánchez, Pablo Sandoval, and two catchers (probably Tyler Heineman and Rob Brantly) will need to be added to the Giants' 40-man roster, which currently has 37 players on it. The Giants can probably get away with carrying only 40-man pitchers, although non-roster pitcher Trevor Cahill may be added at some point after he recovers from a fingernail issue on his pitching hand. Outfielder Billy Hamilton is another non-roster player who will likely be added to the major league roster as soon as he's ready (he reported late to camp beause of "medical reasons"). All this to say the Giants' 40-man roster is going to be shaken up this year, and that's probably not a bad thing. The 40-man roster has been transformed under Farhan Zaidi, and that trend will continue in 2020 as new players and prospects arrive on the scene.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick covers numerous topics, including Evan Longoria being diagnosed with a moderate oblique strain. All offseason, Ben has talked about how the Giants have better depth than in previous years, and it will be tested if Longoria and first baseman Brandon Belt, who's dealing with a heel issue, have to miss time to start the season. Behind Longoria and Belt on the depth chart at first and third base, the Giants have Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, Pablo Sandoval, Donovan Solano, Yolmer Sánchez, and others capable of filling in at the corners.

Also discussed on today's show is the Giants' intrasquad game from yesterday. Left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson looked healthy and sharp, and figures to be a key member of the pitching staff this year and next, as he is controllable through the 2021 season. Lefty reliever Caleb Baragar also had a standout performance, exhibiting a fluid delivery with good life and carry on his fastball. After the game, manager Gabe Kapler and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski heaped praise on Baragar, who could quietly be a contender to make the Giants' opening day roster.

Finally, Ben discusses the Giants' position on the FanGraphs Positional Power Rankings at third base. It's a timely conversation given the recent injury to Longoria.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about why Joey Bart should not be thrust into the major leagues to start the 2020 season. Bart's only played 22 games above A-ball, and questions remain about his hit tool and plate discipline. The Giants are not in a position to risk harming the development of their top prospects for short-term gains. And while they're not allowed to say it, service time absolutely should be a consideration. Players called up after just about a week of MLB games this year will leave teams an extra year of control over their prospects. The advantage of having Bart for a week on the MLB roster (which may not even be an advantage if they believe he needs more developmental time) is not worth losing an entire year of club control. And what if the 2020 season gets cancelled midway through? It's another example of a lose-lose for Farhan Zaidi and the Giants: If they don't start the season with Bart, fans are frustrated. If they do start the season with Bart, some fans will be frustrated by the loss of team control. Thus, they should do what they think is the right call, which is having Bart start the season on the alternate site squad. Which is exactly what they'll do.

Also discussed on today's show is the FanGraphs positional power rankings at second base. Headlined by Mauricio Dubón, who made an impressive catch in center field on Wednesday and is being viewed by management as a utility player who will see time at premium positions like short and center, the Giants rank 27th in MLB at the keystone according to the rankings. However, Ben argues, a young player with upside like Dubón has the potential to outperform the rankings. Ben also notes the impressive major league-caliber depth behind Dubón, including Yolmer Sánchez, Donovan Solano, and Wilmer Flores.

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