Giants add Longoria, Mccutchen as they try to bounce back
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO — Bruce Bochy’s first glimpse at his overhauled roster gives him hope the Giants will feature a lineup much like the ones of several seasons ago — back when his club was capturing World Series championships every other year.
He will be managing a new outfield. Well, with Hunter Pence moving from left to right to make room for Andrew Mccutchen. And a new third baseman in Evan Longoria. And that’s not to mention all the reliable returners such as Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford, aces Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto, and closer Mark Melancon eager to have a bounce-back year.
Bochy is confident he has the roster, depth and talent to rebound right away.
“We feel like we can play with anybody,” he said.
Longoria isn’t sugarcoating anything as the Giants try to rebound from a 64-98 season and www.recorderonline.com overtake the World Series runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the past five NL West crowns.
“It’s tough to win only 64 games, it really is. That’s a tough year,” Longoria said. “Of all the years, we’ve had some bad years, that’s a bad year. So I think the feeling is we’ve made the appropriate changes along with having the mainstays who are here for a long time and are committed to this organization ... just (having) that belief that last year was not what this organization is all about.”
Here are some things to watch for with the Giants:
NEW LOOK: While San Francisco signed Austin Jackson as a center-field option, the Giants envision him as more a utility outfielder. That means to fit with the Giants mainstays. That means 24-year-old prospect Steven AP PHOTO BY PAGE 1B Duggar could get a chance in center.
“It’s good when you see the kind of turn over that has happened this year, positive turnover, not getting rid of anybody that’s been here a long time and you’re adding some players that you believe can make an impact right now,” Longoria said.
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