Unsurprisingly, Pat Misch and Guillermo Rodriguez were the latest to get the cut.
Misch wasn't making the rotation and, having a horrible spring, meant that he would not relieve either. That's OK, I want him in AAA and starting, ready to come up should the need arise. And you never know. Rodriguez didn't help himself by hitting so poorly, an even decent spring would have beaten Alfonzo handily who is actually doing worse, but has more MLB experience. Plus Taschner has secured a job in the bullpen with his new pitch that has worked wonders this spring.
Alfonzo can't sit easy either, though, as the Giants are keeping Steve Holm, a power hitting catcher who probably was slated for AAA this season. I recall him being among the few HR power-hitters in Dodd Stadium. Plus the Giants are looking at other catchers. Reportedly, they spoke to the Angels about 1B Kotchman and C Mathis. Either would be a good catch, but they probably then want one of the elite pitchers, and we don't have any to spare.
It also sounds like Chulk will probably go on the DL for at least the first series, which would mean that both Valdez and Threets would start the season with the Giants, and perhaps Yabu too. The speculation is that by doing this, after the rosters are set for all the other teams, they could make the move to waive one of them (probably Threets) and squeeze him through. I doubt he would make it through, though. At minimum the Marlins are looking for bodies, else they would not have made the trades to jettison their best players, heck, they even picked up Linden and tired of his act quickly and let him go.
Ortmeier's either getting the message or finally is hitting again, that is good news for him, he has 5 hits in the last 3 games, plus some power to boot. Then again, the rule is that switch-hitters take longer to round into hitting conditions.
Lastly, Peter Magowan is asking the Giants fans to show some patience in light of the younger team now. Good luck with that!!!
Martin, do you know the waiver rules? I believe, but am not certain, that the players who don't make the 25 man must be placed on irrevocable waivers, meaning they're lost if claimed. Does that rule change once the season starts? i.e. if a player is sent down after the season starts, are those waivers revocable, meaning, if the player is calimed, he can be brought b ack (off of waivers) if the team elects not to send him down?
ReplyDeleteI also wonder if Matt Palmer might have moved ahead of Misch as the
ReplyDelete#6 SP
I don't KNOW them, but what you say sounds right and it doesn't change once the season start.
ReplyDeleteThe hope is that once the season start, another team would not go through the trouble of sending down one of their current 25 man roster in order to pick up, say, Threets, if we waive him when Chulk comes back off the DL. Because, if they claim him, he still has no options and they must also carry him on their 25 man in order to keep him.
You know, good point, yes, I recall that teams in September waive players and routinely bring them back if they want to keep them. So, yes, it does seem like the rules does change, at least in August/September, it seems. If I get a chance to another day, I will research it, or maybe someone will kindly offer this info if they know it cold. I assume it is somewhere on ESPN's website, but not sure exactly where. It should be on MLB.com but they are kind of sad about linking to important things like that. Else I would say they have a pretty internet operations overall.
No, I don't see how Palmer has moved ahead of Misch based on one nice spring training. Besides small samples and Misch's much superior career stats up to now, I think that Misch can be a nice back of the rotation pitcher, if not maybe move to mid-range if he can figure out how to throw consistently well.
If he appears to have moved ahead, perhaps the Giants hope to trick another team into accepting him in trade. ;^)
What about the Giants picking up Jose Castillo? Yawn, seems more like low-rent insurance if Durham is traded and Frandsen isn't ready after all for 2B.
If he goes down to AAA, I assume the Giants would move him around in an utility role because they should be wanting to start Denker at 2B at Fresno.
He seems more like insurance in case Velez goes down for any reason, whether injury or need for more minor league play (i.e. fail in majors).
Castillo has a modicum of power, but no speed at all and horrible at hitting for average or taking a walk, though he seems to be better on the road than at home in taking walks and hitting for homers, so there is that.
And he would be a nice throw-in if any trade happens, he's an OK utility guy, capable of playing a number of positions and hits OK for a backup.