Oof, this was not a great game.  Way out in Surprise, the team didn’t take a lot of regular starters.  They fell behind early, and then almost didn’t hit at all.  Not an easy Monday.

It was cut day, though that doesn’t really affect who’s available.  Everyone going to “minor league” camp pretty much stayed around, since minor leaguers don’t actually show up until April 1st.  So, we saw some of the cut play in today’s game.  The lion’s share of innings, though, will go to those still with a chance to play.

One interesting thing.  As reporters found out after the game, potential starter Alex Wood is hurting, and that may open up another spot for a starter.  Three potential starter candidates all got multiple innings, one of the first times the Giants had multi-inning relievers.  Whether those two tidbits were tied together, who knows with Kapler, but an opportunity is waiting for someone to step up.

Impressions

Anthony Banda – 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO – The first batter he faced reached on an error by the shortstop.  The next batter hit a ground ball down the third base line that got through for a double, putting runners on second and third.  The next batter crushed a double to center field, scoring two runs.  Banda came back to get a fly ball to right for the first out.  The next batter hit a ball into the hole on the left side, off of the shortstop’s diving glove, scoring another run.  Banda got a fly out to center for the second out after a 13-pitch at-bat.  He was lifted after that, but the runner he left on with two outs would score.

Banda returned for the second inning, as is allowed in Spring Training.  The first batter he faced in the second popped out to third.  The next batter flipped a single to shallow right field.  Banda came back to get a strikeout swinging on a changeup.  The next batter singled to left on a high inside fastball.  Banda then caught the runner trying to steal third (who left before Banda had thrown a pitch).

Banda was the actual starter, and he had one of the worst starts the Giants have had in a game, though the leadoff error was no help at all.  The Giants took advantage of the lift-then-return rule in the Spring after Banda struggled through a long at-bat, even though he won it.  Although his second inning was better (helped by a baserunner), this set the tone for the day.

Nick Tropeano – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HBP – The first batter he faced lined a single to second.  The second batter hit a pop fly, but Dubon dropped it intentionally so that he could get the faster runner on a force out at second.  The next batter singled.  The next hitter grounded to third base, ending up in a force out at second, leaving runners on the corners.  He hit the next batter’s jersey, giving him a free trip to load the bases.  He ended the inning with a fly ball to right.

He stayed in for the fifth inning.  The first batter grounded out on a bouncer to short.  The next batter struck out swinging on a slider.  The third batter also struck out swinging, him on a changeup.

The best of the starters, though he didn’t look dominant.  There were a couple of solid hits in his first inning, and a hit batter (well, a hit jersey, at least).  Still, it was a good outing.  Bonus note to Dubon with a heads up play for a guy not playing the infield much anymore, and playing a rare game at shortstop.

Shun Yamaguchi – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2 WP – The first batter he faced hit a ground rule double to the left field corner.  The next batter grounded out to first.  The next batter also grounded to first, but Wade threw it home to catch the runner at the plate, preventing the run.  The next batter struck out swinging on a splitfinger in the dirt, and broke his bat in frustration after.

Yamaguchi got a second inning.  The first batter in his second inning led things off with a single to left.  He threw a wild pitch that let the runner go to second that was in the grass way in front of the plate.  The next batter grounded to shortstop, with the runner moving to third.  He got an infield pop-up for the second out.  He threw another wild pitch that let the run score.  He walked the next batter, but then got a line out to left for the final out.

Yamaguchi gave up solid leadoff hits in both innings, which isn’t a great sign.  Defense helped him in the first.  In the second, though, he showed a touch of wildness with two wild pitches and a walk, though the first wild pitch was one that seemed to just slip from his hand.  Still, the run was a bit of an unforced series of errors on his part.

LaMonte Wade Jr – 0-3, 1 BB, 3 SO – In his first at-bat, struck out swinging on a high fastball.  His next time up, he struck out swinging at a breaking pitch.  In his third plate appearance he walked on a full count.  His fourth time up, he struck out looking on a fastball at the knees.  Defensively, playing first base again, in the 7th got a ground ball with a runner on third.  Wade got the ball and threw it to home to nail the runner, preventing a run.

Good and bad for Wade, here.  The good had him showing off that he could think while playing a relatively unfamiliar position at first, with a heads up play to get the runner at first, which required him to move away from the runner and make an accurate throw in a hurry, which he handled beautifully.  The other side was three strikeouts and a walk in four appearances, as strikeouts continue to haunt him.

Dominic Leone – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO –  The first batter he faced flew out to deep center at the wall.   The next batter struck out swinging on his fastball.  The third batter hit a lazy fly to left.  Fastball: 96 MPH

Of the real relievers, Leone was clearly the best, with a smooth inning, though he gave up some loud contact to the first hitter.  It was still an out though.

Top Prospects

Heliot Ramos – 1-2 – In his first at-bat, grounded into a double play, starting at shortstop.  His second at-bat, he hit a soft ground to the third base side of the mount, which the pitcher fielded and threw away.  It was scored a single, and an error for Ramos getting to second.  Defensively, chased down a fly ball to just right of straightaway center and caught the ball as he gently hit the wall.

Ramos got to show off some of his speed, forcing a bad play on a weakly hit ball.  He also showed off his speed in center, getting to the track on a liner, but still having time to turn around and square up to catch the ball, making contact with the wall in more of a kiss than a crash.

Marco Luciano – 0-1, 1 SO – In his only at-bat in the ninth, struck out swinging on a high fastball.

Others

Austin Slater – 0-2 – Grounded out to first in his first at-bat.  His second time up, he flew out to center field.  Defensively, he was playing center field today, notable since he has been coming off a hamstring injury.

Stay healthy Austin Slater!  Nice to see him in center considering how his hamstring has been.

Jason Vosler – 0-4, 3 SO – In his first at-bat, he struck out swinging on a pitch in the dirt.  He flew out to center in his second at-bat.  In his third time up, he struck out swinging on a changeup.  His fourth at-bat resulted in a strikeout swinging at a high breaking pitch.

Luis Gonzalez – 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR – Came on for Banda with two out and a runner on first in the first inning.  The first batter he faced hit a home run to left.  He came back to get a groundout to second to get out of the inning.

Joe McCarthy – 1-3 – Grounded out to short in his first at-bat.  In his second at-bat, he lined out to center field.  His third time up he lined a single into left field.  Defensively had a shallow fly ball bounce out of his glove, but there was a runner on he got a force-out with at second, to avoid the error.

Jason Krizan – 0-3, 2 SO –  In his first at-bat, struck out on 3 pitches, swinging at a breaking pitch.  His second time up, he flew out to right field.  His third time up, he struck out looking at a slider on the inside corner.

Chadwick Tromp – 0-3 – Swung at the first pitch and lined out to right.  His second plate appearance, he grounded to shortstop but got on thanks to an error.  His next time up was a fly out to center.

Trevor Gott – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO – Walked the first batter he faced.  He struck out the next batter on a foul tip on a high fastball.  The next batter hit a fly ball to shallow right that was dropped by the right fielder, but it turned into a force-out at second base.  The next batter flew out to center to end the inning.

Jaylin Davis – 0-1 Lined a fly ball to center that was caught in his first appearance.