Giants finalize contract with Melvin Upton, Jr.
Giants finalize deal with Melvin Upton Jr.
SAN FRANCISCO – The question after Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks wasn’t whether Denard Span could have caught that three-run triple near the center field wall.
It’s whether Melvin Upton Jr. could. And maybe throw Drew Stubbs into that conversation, too.
Gorkys Hernandez is the right-handed portion of the Giants’ hazy platoon in center field, and Hernandez is the one who couldn’t catch Jake Lamb’s drive with the bases loaded in the third inning. He appeared to have the ball tracked down as he approached the wall, but he mistimed his little hop and whiffed on it as three runs scored.
On Wednesday morning, the Giants finalized their minor league contract with Upton Jr. and he has reported to extended spring training in Arizona, GM Bobby Evans said.
It’ll be a few days before Upton Jr. would join Triple-A Sacramento. He strikes out a ton, but he also hit 20 home runs last season – most of them against NL West pitchers with the San Diego Padres.
Is it too early to acknowledge the Giants must make a change in the outfield? Their left fielders are 2 for 32 with 13 strikeouts. Hernandez is 2 for 25, with most of his at-bats coming in center.
Bochy said after the loss that he would keep faith in Hernandez.
The Giants obviously have positive evaluations of Hernandez’s defensive ability, although I’m not sure we’ve seen it in a brief glimpse over two seasons. I don’t think they will give up on him just two weeks into the season.
But roster decisions are all about your alternatives. We’ll find out soon enough if Upton Jr. (or Stubbs) could be better than what they have.
Arizona’s A.J. Pollock made the catch that Hernandez could not near the wall, taking extra bases away from Aaron Hill in a play that saved at least one run in the third inning. Perhaps everyone underestimated how much his absence hurt Arizona last year, and what kind of a difference he could make this season. The Diamondbacks certainly have the look of being a contender so far.
Hunter Pence quietly had an outstanding defensive game in right field. He couldn’t have played Lamb’s single off the bricks any better if he had a squash racket in his hand.
It’s a good thing that Pence has come around with the bat after his colossal struggles this spring. If he were batting under .200, then the Giants would be getting next to nothing out of all three outfield spots.
A positive sign that Buster Posey’s concussion symptoms really are minor: he watched Tuesday’s game in uniform from the dugout. When Brandon Belt had his concussion, he couldn’t do that. The noise and the lights bothered him.
I do think that Posey would’ve remained on the active roster if he played any position other than catcher. The combination of needing two available catchers on the roster, and the risk of a foul tip to the mask, made the concussion DL move automatic.
Jeff Samardzija needed Lamb’s ball to be caught to avoid a big inning, but he really did have powerful stuff while throwing 112 pitches in 6 2/3 innings.
Paraphrasing him here, but he said it was important that he take advantage of the opportunity when allowed to stay out there for a few extra hitters. He wanted to show the coaching staff that they can have faith in him to face a lineup a third time, and stay effective past the 100th pitch. Maybe he’ll get the same amount of rope, or more, the next time.
No need to paraphrase Samardzija’s answer when asked if he hit Paul Goldschmidt on purpose.