A nitwits' tidbits from the weekend

It’s foolish to read much into Spring Training contests. After all, they aren’t really games. They sell tickets and hot dogs and it's still three outs to a side, but basically these are glorified workouts for players who’ve already grown tired of facing teammates in the ever-popular “simulated game”.

It’s even subjective when you see someone doing well because the level of competition is suspect. Players you expect to see on an opposing team’s 25 can deceive you because Hurler X is working on a new pitch and gets belted around, but you know you’re not going to see the same arsenal come April. He looks bad, hitters look like Mark McGwire with an double dose of andro, a grounder sneaks past a guy who still has wet ink on his high school diploma … and none of that is gonna hold up in four weeks.

But good is good, and the Giants are showing some good.

 

The Shark: Do I hear a tuba?

The Giants found out just how solid Jeff Samardzija can be when he’s on in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to The Hated Dodgers. The game got away late when LA took advantage of a not-ready-for-prime-time hurler (baseball been berry berry good to me), but Samardzija held the line early.

“The Shark” struck out five, whiffing the side in the first including a laugh-inducing sit-down of Yassiel Puig, who bailed out faster than a test pilot who just discovered he’s flying a brick. Over three frames Samardzija allowed a run on five hits and didn’t walk a batter.

The WH/IP wouldn’t make sabermatricians giddy but the lack of freebies and the ability to get outs on his own had to make the Holy trinity of Bruce Bochy, Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans grin like they’d just seen Clayton Kershaw face plant on the Santa Monica Pier. Project that over a seven-inning start and he starts to look downright John Motnefusco-ish with more Ks. How many times did we see The Count give up ten hits but only a tally or two over seven? Answer: a lot.

 

It's not Kershaw, but just imagine...and smile.

It was an improved effort for Clayton Blackburn, who managed to get outs without trying to go all Henrik Lundqvist on comebackers. He took the loss, but through two appearances he’s thrown 4 2/3 innings with a .235 opponent average to go along with assorted bruises. Barring catastrophe he won’t make the club, but he may not be too far from ready.

The hope is that catastrophe won’t involve Johnny Cueto, who was scratched from his scheduled start in a loss to Texas on Saturday. Through an interpreter Cueto said he’s fine physically, it’s just the team being cautious with a guy who had a heavy workload (237 IP) last year.  Gotta wonder if Madison Bumgarner hasn’t already suggested an offseason of chopping wood for the 30-year-old, newly-minted gazillionaire.

The Giants will hope for a Samardzija-esque bounce back from Jake Peavy on Monday. His first outing had about the same level of success as the Titanic’s maiden crossing, but he gets the chance to redeem himself against Texas. San Francisco can also expect to get Matt Cain back before breaking camp. Recovering from cyst removal, he’s playing catch is expected to throw off a mound soon.

 

It's a bird, it's a ... etc., etc.

The long ball has shown up, with Mac Williamson pounding two round-trippers against Texas and Brandon Crawford hitting his first on Sunday. Crawford’s shot came as the DH; a sore shoulder has kept him off the field.  He’s expected to be back at short this week as Bochy continues to ease his projected starters into action. Hunter Pence continues to rehab an inflamed Achilles tendon. Denard Span has seen time at DH but his debut in center field might have to wait until late next week.

Five different Giants have homered this spring: Kyle Blanks, Andrew Susac and Conor Gillaspie being the others. Interesting in that none of the trio is a lock to be in uniform on Opening Day. 

Blanks is a competent First Baseman and Mike Morse in the outfield, and the Giants have other options to back up both.  Gillaspie could spell Matt Duffy at third base, but there are only so many reserve spots. Kelby Tomlinson can also play up the middle and top prospect Christian Arroyo took balls at third on Sunday. Susac found out his name was on the roster in pencil, not pen, with upstart Trevor Brown giving him a push for the reserve catcher position.

BTW: as if anyone cares, the Giants’ 3-3 Spring record puts them ninth in the 15-team Cactus League. The Dodgers are unbeaten but have only gone to the post three times. Arizona is 3-2 while San Diego is, well, San Diego at 1-5. But hey, good beaches down there and there are plenty of tasty eats at Seaport Village.

Note: If you'd like to know more about Clayton Blackburn and his attempt to regain form after struggling through 2015, click here for inspiration.