Since last season, the San Francisco Giants have had a little switcheroo, from poor outfield defense to good, average offense to one projected to be among one of the better lineups in the league, and a strong bullpen to one with question marks.
Have the Giants just shifted problem areas around? If so, one might argue at least they’ll be more entertaining, because they’re set up to score more runs, and Oracle Park will help the pitching even if it’s a little less reliable this year.
The most fun unit, potentially, is the offense, so let’s start there:
Bench: With spring winding down, the battles for the fourth outfield spot and at backup catcher were going down to the wire. Should the Giants wants to try to hang onto Luis Matos because he’s out of options and remains a promising young hitter, that’s one way to go; the other possibility, which appears increasingly tempting, is 30-year-old non-roster player Jared Oliva, who is a plus defender at all three spots and an elite basestealer. Behind the plate, Rule 5 pick Daniel Susac might have the edge over veteran backup catcher Eric Haase, but it’s too close to call. If manager Tony Vitello wants a defense-first backup with experience, Haase it is. Reliable Christian Koss and Casey Schmitt look set as the backup infielders.
Rotation: The only question mark here is if the Giants might skip their fifth starter because of the two games off in the first five days; that would allow Landen Roupp to get in a start at the minor-league complex in Arizona to stay fresh and let the team hang onto an out-of-options player such as Matos or someone such as Haase, who can opt out of his deal at the end of the spring. The rotation’s front duo of Logan Webb and Robbie Ray is good, and new additions Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle looked terrific all spring. Roupp was a little off here and there, all the more reason to keep him sharp elsewhere. Depth? The Giants could use more. Carson Seymour and Trevor McDonald were the best spring performers in the group of youngsters San Francisco is relying on to fill in.
Bullpen: Ryan Walker appears to have accomplished his goal of grabbing his old closer job back, but Vitello seems disinclined to name a closer outright. There’s a good chance Erik Miller will sometimes work the ninth when the matchups are better for a lefty. José Buttó looks set as a late-innings option. Spencer Bivens, JT Brubaker and Tristan Beck are good bets, at some point in the next month or so Sam Hentges and Joel Peguero should be healthy, but until then there’s some mystery. Picking a second lefty is between journeyman Matt Gage and just-signed Ryan Borucki.
Defense: After a year of dreadful outfield defense, things are looking up with Bader in center, and Lee should be better in right, while Ramos is busting his rear to have a better season in left. If Oliva is the fourth outfielder, he’s terrific; so too is Drew Gilbert, likely to be up at some point. The one concern in the infield is second base, where Arráez is working to improve with Ron Washington; if Washington can’t get Arráez up to average, he might become more of a DH. Everywhere else is solid. Devers is a good first baseman and wants to be great, and backups Koss and Schmitt excel afield, too. Chapman and Bailey have lots of hardware for their defense, and the team’s newest Gold Glove winner is Webb, Wednesday’s starter.
Coaching: This is the big unknown. How will a college coach handle the jump to the big, bad NL West? The team played well in the spring, Vitello appears to have no trouble getting and holding players’ attention, and the emphasis on intensity and attention to detail appeared to be put into action. The regular season can be another story, but Washington has been in the pro game 50-plus years, Jayce Tingler managed the Padres and new hitting coach Hunter Mense came over from Toronto, the AL pennant winners. The three-headed pitching coach of Justin Meccage, Frank Anderson and Christian Wonders should combine to provide everything the staff might need. Jesse Chavez, the bullpen coach, is newly retired, understands the league and the players, and has a gift for knowing exactly how to help pitchers.