Baseball The Way It Never Was

Tag: Jason Giambi

TWIWBL 56.13: Spring Training Notes – San Francisco Sea Lions

Spring Training Questions

While Turkey Stearnes will receive a lot of attention during the spring, how roles fall out between Sal Bando, Pedro Guerrero, Dick Lundy, and Roy Hartzell will see some focus as well–someone in that group is likely to end up at SS, and none of them are really naturals at that position.

Injuries

Carl Erskine was a long shot to make the roster; a shoulder injury costing him most of spring training confirmed he will start the season in the minors.

First Cuts

A host of arms were sent down: Red Ehret, Diego Seguí, Frank Barberich, James Shields, Charlie Ferguson and Rube Walberg all hit the minors, clearing quite a bit of space as the Sea Lions try to work out their staff.

Behind the plate, Mickey Cochrane has moved into the lead for the starting spot, with only Jack Warner being sent to the minors. That leaves only 3 full-time backstops in camp, which may mean that San Francisco continues to want to give John Beckwith a longer look. IF Bobby Bragan can also fill in at C if necessary.

With the Sea Lions committed to both John Beckwith and Jimmie Foxx, Don Money, Sid Bream, Bill Sweeney, and Wayne Gross found themselves with tickets to minor league camp, despite performances no worse than Beckwith’s or Foxx’s.

Denny Hocking and Ted Sizemore head to the minors, but that’s not really enough to sort out the middle infield, where Dick Lundy, Ron Hunt, and Roy Hartzell have been quite strong.

The OF is a little clearer as Turkey Stearnes has absolutely blown the cover off the ball, justifying his draft position. Eddie Murphy, Mookie Wilson, Del Unser, Jules Thomas, Darrell Brown, and Patsy Donovan were all sent to the minors while Bob Cerv remains, despite early struggles.

Second Cuts

Dave LaRoche is in danger of being sent to the minors, but for now the Sea Lions staff stays stable.

Just about the only clear message from camp so far is that Turkey Stearnes is for real and, at this point, the 22 year old rookie looks likely to start the season in CF for the Sea Lions. Aside from that … it’s all muddled. Reggie Jackson, Bobby Bonds, and Pedro Guerrero can’t hit a lick; neither Bobby Bragan nor Royce Clayton deserve to stay in camp, but with the team very thin in the MI, both do; Mickey Cochrane is making a play for the starting C spot, but both Brian Downing and Gene Oliver are refusing to claim the backup slot. So it goes.

Teenager John Beckwith heads to AAA for a bit more seasoning, and IF Jack Farrell heads down as well.

Third Cuts

Mickey Cochrane has edged ahead of the struggling Gene Oliver and even more struggling Brian Downing as the likely opening day C for the Sea Lions.

IFs Bobby Bragan and Royce Clayton were sent to AAA, but San Francisco still has some issues to sort out on the infield: too many 1B are mashing the ball (Jimmie Foxx, Jack Clark, Jason Giambi), Roy Hartzell, who finished last season as the presumptive starter at SS, has struggled, and both Phil Garner and Dick Lundy are playing well enough to demand more time.

Walt Williams has hit well, but the Sea Lions OF is pretty crowded and the trio of Frank Howard, Bob Cerv, and Josh Reddick have all hit better, so Williams is off to AAA.

It’s not clear what San Francisco does here: rookie phenom Turkey Stearnes has exceeded all expectations and looks set to play CF, leaving Rickey Henderson, Pedro Guerrero, Bobby Bonds, and Reggie Jackson competing for the corner OF and DH spots.

Final Cuts

Jair Jurrjens had raised some eyebrows in an attempt to make the roster as a swing starter, but it was always unlikely, and a couple late rough outings sealed his fate as Jurrjens heads to AAA. Josh Reddick was sent down along with slick fielding SS Eddie Miller. Miller’s demotion answers several other questions: Dick Lundy looks to be the everyday SS, with Roy Hartzell his backup, clearing the way for Sal Bando at 3B.

RP Dave LaRoche was sent to AAA along with Carl Erskine, which may virtually solidify the pitching staff for the Sea Lions, leaving only 13 arms in camp. Brian Downing continues to look good enough for the WBL until he’s actually given a chance: he’ll head to AAA, with catching duties for San Francisco falling to Mickey Cochrane and Gene Oliver in a likely platoon. Ron Hunt does have a knack for getting clipped by pitches, but that’s just not enough to justify a roster spot: he’ll start the year in AAA as well.

Jim Devlin was the final arm moved out of camp.

Jason Giambi was sent down despite his obvious power, as were Bob Cerv and Matt Holliday. Cerv refused his demotion, and was made a free agent.

That made the final cut a choice between OF Frank Howard, incumbent 2B Jimmy Bloodworth (who has struggled all Spring), and light hitting IF Roy Hartzell (which would leave the Sea Lions without a real reserve at SS). Given the OF depth on the roster, it wasn’t terribly surprising that Howard was the final cut from camp.

TWIWBL 11.4: Notes from Series IX – Marvin Miller Division

#Birmingham Black Barons

The trio of Larry Benton, Greg Maddux, and Warren Spahn have been simply miserable. Benton has only pitched 4 innings, so he may get a pass, but Maddux and Spahn are both on the edge of being sent back down to AAA.

Tim Hudson, on the other hand, has done well enough to, at least for the time being, move into the rotation as the 5th starter.

The Black Barons have finally lost patience with Dale Murphy, whose 137/254/157 line has just refused to improve. Murphy will head to AAA Atlanta, with Del Crandall–who hasn’t hit particularly well, but does offer better defense–moving to the WBL.

#Miami Cuban Giants

Two homeruns from Manny Machado and Alexei Ramirez‘ first longball of the year powered Miami to a 8-4 win over Philadelphia. Tommy Bridges improved to 3-0, reducing his ERA to 2.87.

Bill Landrum was demoted to AAA, with Clay Condrey, who had dominated AAA so far, being recalled to Miami’s bullpen. To make room for Condrey, Tony Fossas was released.

The mix of Charlie Bennett and John Munyan behind the plate has been miserable for the Cuban Giants. Bennett stays in Miami due to his defense, with Munyan and OF Tony Gonzalez both being shipped out to AAA. Alan Ashby was recalled at C and Gary Sheffield–slashing 358/450/621 in Orlando–was recalled as well.

#Portland Sea Dogs

Jeff Burroughs and Fred Dunlap hit their first homeruns of the year, and Buddy Bell added his 8th to support a strong start from Bert Blyleven in a 14-2 blowout win for the Sea Dogs over Los Angeles. Harry Hooper scored 3 times, Bobby Murcer had 3 hits, and Kent Hrbek and Dunlap drove in 3 with Bell driving in 4.

Not only did the Sea Dogs lose 7-5 to the Angels by giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth, they lost both Smokey Joe Wood and Frank Williams to injuries. Both pitchers were put on the 10 day DL, with Pascual Perez and Bob Porterfield coming up to Portland (the moves also cleared the way for impressive 18-year old Rick Wise to move from AA to AAA).

Walter Johnson became the first 6-game winner in the WBL, besting Gerrit Cole in a greatly anticipated pitching matchup. Johnson threw 8 strong innings and Joe Mauer scored 4 runs as the Sea Dogs won, 9-2. Mauer and Hrbek went deep and Murcer had 4 RBI.

The Sea Dogs may have uncovered a gem: Joseito Munoz had sparkled in a few relief appearances, and given his first start, the young Cuban responded with over 6 innings of 1-run ball, winning his first game. Murcer had 3 hits and scored 3 times , and Burroughs homered again to lead Portland to a 6-1 victory.

Even with Munoz’ performance, the Sea Dogs anointed Wade Miller as their 5th starter. Harmon Killebrew was demoted to AAA, with Adrian Beltre joining Portland. Greg Litton‘s ability to cover a half-dozen positions is the only thing keeping him in the WBL, and Burroughs’ recent hot streak has moved him away from the demotion line as well.

#San Francisco Sea Lions

Bobby Bonds pulled up lame, and will spend 10 days on the DL. Veteran Bob Cerv–slashing 339/382/711 at AAA–will be recalled, with the Sea Lions releasing 35-year old Jason Giambi to clear space on the roster.

Unsurprisingly given the quality of his 5 appearances to date, Diego Segui was named to the starting rotation.

Spring Training Preview: San Francisco

  • The final rotation spot is up for grabs between Carlos Carrasco, Cy Falkenberg, Bump Hadley, and James Shields.
    • Only Shields has moved out of contention–and all 4 of the established SPs have held on as well.
      • The SP continues to be fantastic. Hadley has been sent to AAA, but everyone is still in contention. Falkenberg has yet to allow a run, but Shields may be the strongest performer yet. A lot is riding on the final appearances for those 2, Eckersley, and Charlie Root.
  • The 4 pitchers at the top of the bulpen are set, but their roles are not, other than Chad Bradford in a setup role. Spring performances will sort out what Rod Beck, Ken Howell, and Huston Street are tasked with.
    • Street has had a rough start, allowing Beck and Howell to nail down their roles, along with Rollie Fingers, who has been fantastic. Dennis Eckersley has been excellent, but whether he ends up in the rotation or the bullpen is still up for grabs.
      • Roles are still in flux, with only Danny Frisella–who is headed to AAA–set. Street is in danger of not making the final roster as well. Jim Hughes has been recalled as an extra bullpen arm.
  • C is up for grabs between Mickey Cochrane and Gene Oliver.
    • Oliver has a slight edge. Cy Perkins has been called up as well.
      • Oliver has been good, Cochrane abysmal.
  • In all likelihood, only 2 of Jack Clark, Jason Giambi, and Mark McGwire will make the team.
    • Right now, that’s Clark and Giambi. Clark has been fantastic, Giambi decent, and McGwire miserable.
      • There are 8 players in camp who can play 1B, so something will give here. Clark, Beckwith, and Giambi have been the best of the likely 1B, with Jimmie Foxx and McGwire in danger of missing the cut.
  • 2B is open as well, with Jimmy Bloodworth, Dick Green, and Ron Hunt all in the mix. John Beckwith is trying to make the team as well, and his ability to play (albeit poorly) both 2B and 3B may move him ahead of Charlie Reilly on the depth chart.
    • Bloodworth has had a hard time of it, but little else is settled: Beckwith can hit, Green can field, and Hunt is somewhere in the middle. Over at 3B, neither Reilly nor Sal Bando has shown much.
      • Reilly has picked up the pace; the rest is unchanged.
  • At most, 3 out of Rickey Henderson, Wally Moon, Tony Armas, and Reggie Jackson will be on the opening day roster.
    • This has been complicated by Pedro Guerrero‘s struggles, and by none of the above really taking off.
      • Moon has been the best performing OF, with Guerrero, Jackson, and Eddie Murphy all in danger of missing the cut.
  • Eddie Joost looks to be the opening day SS, with the competition between Eddie Miller and Bert Campaneris perhaps being settled by Campy’s greater flexibility.
Near DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
Starting PitchersJim Devlin
Lefty Grove
Eddie PlankCharlie Root
Carlos Carrasco
Cy Falkenberg
James Shields
Dennis Eckersley
Middle RelieversRon RobinsonJim Hughes
SetupChad Bradford
Ken Howell
Rollie Fingers
Huston Street
CloserRod Beck
CGene OliverMickey CochraneCy Perkins
1BJason Giambi
Jack Clark
Jimmie FoxxMark McGwire
2BDick Green
Ron Hunt
John Beckwith
Jimmy Bloodworth
3BCharlie ReillySal Bando
SSEddie JoostBert CampanerisEddie Miller
OFPete BrowningRickey Henderson
Wally Moon
Tony Armas
Pedro Guerrero
Reggie Jackson
Eddie Murphy

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