Is starting pitching again a concern?

Even before seeing Johnny Cueto take a shot off his dome on Monday, it was hard to see the efforts of the Giants pitching staff as anything resembling encouraging.

Note to Bochy: More ducking practice, please!

Cueto’s first pitch to the Athletics’ Billy Burns was scalded. Fortunately Cueto slowed the ball down with his forehead. It bounded into left field and Burns ended up on second, the first blow in what was a three –run rally punctuated by Josh Reddick’s majestic blast onto the grassy knoll.

God, we hate grassy knolls.

Cueto was taken the hospital for tests but only after he completed three innings of work. He’s reportedly in concussion protocol, but the mere fact that he pitched semi-effectively after the rough start (2Ks, 1BB and no further scores), would indicate the move is just precautionary.

Oh, and the Giants got obliterated, 10-3.

It was Cueto’s second outing and his second to be decidedly unimpressive. His free-agent counterpart, Jeff Samardzija, has looked alternately awful, awesome and meh. Madison Bumgarner is dealing with foot and rib injuries, Matt Cain has yet to throw a pitch, and Jake Peavy has been, well, Jake Peavy.

It’s certainly arguable that the best “starting” pitcher so far has been a guy not expected to be in the rotation. In fact, many (including this blog), have expressed a desire that Chris Heston not even be on the roster. Go figure.

Cueto’s ERA in two starts is 16.62 and foes are hitting .409. Peavy, he of the six-inning ceiling, is only slightly better at a 10.38 ERA and .475 average against over three games. Bumgarner has gone to the hill twice, logging a 7.20 ERA and .300 opponent average. And Samardzija is actually the highlight with a .361 average against and an ERA at an even 5.0.

Heston, why did it have to be Heston?

 

Heston: The Savior?

You know the story. He was pressed into service last year and sparkled in the first half, highlighted by his no-hitter at the Mets. Then he fell off a cliff. The Giants blamed the infamous rookie wall and gave him an extended break. He came back, and still got shelled like the target on a mortar range

Heston was 12-11 overall but 3-6 after the All-Star Break. He lives and dies by the sinker, and in the second half he died with it. Hitters laid off the good ones and spanked the bad ones, which bore a striking resemblance to BP fastballs. He was projected as the new Yusmeiro Petit in 2016.

But his 8-plus innings in Scottsdale have produced solid numbers, most notably a 0.69 WHIP. He’s definitely set himself up as the “break glass in case of emergency” starter you hope never has to be used – no small role considering recent history.

It’s a small sample size, Peavy leads this list in innings pitched and he hasn’t reached a full game’s worth of action yet, but the slow start of pitchers overall  is troubling. But there is hope. Cain is expected to debut on Friday, and Bumgarner’s ailments aren’t expected to be an issue come Opening Day.

We’ve heard that before.

However, with Opening Day just three weeks away, fans are hoping to see some better outings. It was about this time a year ago when you stated to get that sense that something wasn’t quite right. Soon it was apparent that the rotation wasn’t going to be whole, and as it turn out never would be.

A repeat in 2016 would be disaster.