One of the bullet points that headed the Giants’ proverbial offseason to-do list was to improve the bullpen, especially middle relief. Thankfully, they signed Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry to set up Brian Wilson, but there are still four spots available, making the ‘pen one of the more interesting spring training battles to watch.
We know that the three late inning guys don’t have much to worry about in terms of their roles, but everything is up in the air for the rest of the pitchers.
List of pitchers who have a chance of earning a spot:
Alex Hinshaw
Osiris Matos
Luis Perdomo
Kelvin Pichardo
Sergio Romo
Billy Sadler
Jack Taschner
Merkin Valdez
Justin Miller
Brandon Medders
Keiichi Yabu
Ramon Ortiz
A few disclaimers before we move on: Pichardo and Yabu were optioned down to AAA today, and Romo is sidelined for at least another week with an elbow sprain. Ortiz, whom the Giants signed from the Orix Blue Wave in Japan, has not impressed at all. Hinshaw and Taschner have been erratic so far, and Valdez is still recovering from his offseason surgery and hasn’t thrown off a mound yet.
Considering Romo’s successful bullpen stint in 2008, he was probably next in line for a spot this season. Now that he’s out for a while, this opens up the competition for the remaining pitchers. NRI Justin Miller has a good chance of winning that spot, as CHONE’s predictions make him one of the Giants’ top-tier relievers this season. Additionally, he has some control, something that most of the bullpen lacks. If Rule 5 draftee Perdomo continues his nice outings for the rest of spring, he’ll earn a spot on the 25-man roster as will. Matos also has a good chance considering a clean couple of spring outings and a decent performance in 2008 as a call-up from AA, but he still has an option and would be better off pitching in AAA.
So, my Opening Day bullpen lineup:
Wilson
Affeldt
Howry
Romo (I’m banking on his coming back)
Miller
Hinshaw (You could put Sadler here, seeing as he’s a hard thrower with no control, too)
Perdomo
Bring up Yabu in the event that Hinshaw or Perdomo implodes.
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Update: I forgot to mention that the Giants
released Dave Roberts so that, according to Sabean, they can take longer looks at Nate Schierholtz and Eugenio Velez. Plus, since he's been released this early in spring, Roberts has a chance to join another club. The Giants will have to eat the $6.5 million he would have made this season.
I thought Roberts was a cool and likeable guy, and he was effective when he wasn't battling injuries like he was the majority of last season, but it was clear that he didn't really have a place on the team anymore. I hope he gets picked up by another team.
In more exciting news, Merkin Valdez is
available to pitch on Friday! He's not going to look as sharp as he was when he started in place of Lincecum in that funky rain-delayed game last season, but here's hoping he's recovered fully from his surgeries. If he pitches well, I'm going to have to shuffle my predictions a bit.
