Giants call the Law; Romo to the DL

The Giants have put reliever Sergio Romo on the shelf with a flexor tendon strain, and have brought Derek Law to the big leagues for the first time.

Let’s look at this on two levels:

Level One: Abject terror. The Giants have yet to term Romo’sinjury as anything but a nuisance, but it’s the same injury that put Matt Cain on hiatus for 94 games last year. So is Romo gone for two weeks? Two months? The season? Who the heck knows?

Level Two: Curiosity. Law is currently listed as the number-26 prospect in the Giants organization. Yea, 26. That’s a “2”, followed by a “6”. In MLB.com’s compilation of the best bets, he does make the list … barely.

Law was considered one of the brighter stars in the SF galaxy just a few short years ago. He seemed destined for the Bigs back in the Word Championship year of 2014 only to blow out is arm in June, requiring Tommy John surgery that cost him a full year.

Before the injury he had swing-and-miss stuff. He still does.

Law averages more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings, and that’s through five pro seasons. He’s got two quality pitches, headlined by a sick breaker, and he can still hit the mid-90s with his fastball on occasion. He’s got a funky delivery that sees him lock his front leg and pivot straight over the top, and he’s got a bit of a shimmy to his wind-up a al Johnny Cueto.

Ever seen one of those perpetual motion goose toys; the one that bobbles on its beak. Watch one for a while, it’s a good preview.

Says MLB.com:

“His high arm slot helps Law stay on top of his best pitch, a curveball with sharp downward break. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 96 with good sink, and he also can mix in an average slider. He has the potential to become a setup man and could join San Francisco's bullpen in the near future.”

Apparently the future is now.

Law sounds like a heck of a guy, so why #26? Of the 25 guys rated ahead of Law, 15 are pitchers. What gives?

One has to assume it has something to do with the injury. Tommy John surgery has become commonplace but it still makes folks jumpy. He could wind up being stronger; or he could turn into a beardless Brian Wilson who never quite makes it back.

It’s also true that some of the guys ahead of him are being groomed for other roles. Law is definitely a short man, and that’s the role the Giants need to fill.

So far he’s looked good in limited action at Sacramento. He’s been in three games and thrown three innings, giving up one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.

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