Bruce Jenkins:
Fans will surely be rooting for Hunter Pence this year.
The Giants got the best out of Tim Lincecum, and although the decline of his career was painfully evident, fans passionately followed his progress through a failed comeback attempt. They just couldn’t help themselves. It’s likely to be the same for Hunter Pence, a beloved ex-Giant, in his home state of Texas.
For a while, one had to wonder if anyone was going to sign Pence, but this is how baseball works today: Everybody’s terrified of a financial risk, too many teams aren’t that keen on winning, and we find Bryce Harper and Manny Machado still unsigned less than a week before the pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Pence, back from a winter-league stint in the Dominican Republic, signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers and will have to prove his worth in Cactus League games.
It won’t be easy. The Rangers are set in right field with Nomar Mazara, who has hit 20 homers in each of his three big-league seasons and drove in 101 runs in 2017. Joey Gallo, who crushed 40 homers last year, is the projected left fielder, and the team has Shin-Soo Choo and some under-25 prospects in the corner-outfield mix. Pence’s best shot is to earn a spot on the bench, and if he has to start the season in the minor leagues, there won’t be a drop-off in his demeanor or motivation; he’s just about the most positive man in professional sports.
Pence went to the Dominican to work on his swing, and it definitely needs some fine-tuning. He couldn’t shake the habit of chasing down-andaway pitches over the past few seasons, and his power stroke just about disappeared. When Pence doubled down the left-field line at Arizona on July 1, it was his first extra-base to his pull side since Opening Day, when he doubled off the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. Pence is known for his opposite-field power, but he’s not the same hitter — the one who proved invaluable to two world championship teams — without cranking a few dead-pull shots.
Wherever Pence may land, people will know how he’s doing. That wasn’t the case with Lincecum, not after his only big-league episode after leaving the Giants (nine starts for the Angels in 2016). He didn’t pitch at all in ’17, signed with the Rangers last March and toiled through a depressing minorleague stint before being released in June and (apparently) retiring for good. Since then he’s been a phantom, largely unreachable by the Giants and media.
If Lincecum were to show up at the Giants’ home opener this season, the roars would rock China Basin. Pence’s return is a guarantee, even if it’s just for some sort of team reunion, and there will be a heartwarming celebration of his indomitable spirit. Such is the residue of unconditional love. It never really dies.
The hot stove
Several media outlets have advocated the Giants signing outfielder Adam Jones, with good reason; he’d be a nice fit in the outfield and in the clubhouse, where his reputation is stellar . ... The man who filled that role last year, Andrew McCutchen, must be delighted about the coming season with Philadelphia. The Phillies also acquired Jean Segura (.304 with Seattle in 2018) and J.T. Realmuto, widely believed to be the best all-around catcher in baseball, while retaining a chance to sign Harper or Machado. The Phillies’ park is a notorious bandbox, and as McCutchen said recently, “I’ve never played an entire season in a hitter’s park. I’m looking forward to that.” ... Phillies manager Gabe Kapler thinks so much of McCutchen, he gave up his uniform No. 22 and switched to 19 . ... Tom Brady doesn’t like being called the greatest quarterback of all time, saying, “It makes me cringe.” Brady’s Super Bowl record pretty much ends the argument, but around the Bay Area, more than a few folks still hold out for Joe Montana. It’s a matter of style, the way he made people feel, not to mention a fairly nice Super Bowl record of his own . ... Jared Goff joined the chorus of unforgiving critics, admitting he had a terrible Super Bowl and saying, “I wish I could have a million plays back.” Without question, Goff was awful. But two plays could have changed everything if properly executed. Goff had an open Brandin Cooks in the end zone in the third quarter but fired too late, and the pass was broken up. Then Cooks had an inexcusable drop, failing to secure what would have been a 27-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. (Safety Duron Harmon was bearing down on Cooks, but he still has to bring that ball in.) In any case, pay no attention to the “Goff ’s a hopeless choker” nonsense. He will be back, stronger in mind and body, leading L.A. right back to the playoffs.
The NBA’s downtrodden teams all target Duke freshman Zion Williamson as the No. 1 pick in the draft, but Murray State sophomore Ja Morant, projected as the No. 2, is more than a consolation prize. Aside from his mind-blowing dunks making the evening highlights, he’s unquestionably the best point guard in the country with uncanny court vision, a terrific handle and an ever-improving 3-point shot. Let’s hope Murray State wins the Ohio Valley Conference and gets this kid into the NCAA Tournament . ... Even if Boston offers Jayson Tatum in a deal for Anthony Davis this summer, I can’t believe New Orleans would get a better offer, from anyone, than the Lakers serving up Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac (since traded to the Clippers), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and two first-round draft picks. It’s almost as if the Pelicans rejected that out of spite, refusing to let LeBron James and his agent, Rich Paul, control Davis’ destiny with that public trade demand . ... And now it gets awkward. The Pelicans would just as soon drop down into the lottery at this point. They find themselves forced to play Davis, lest they draw the ire of the players’ union. And their fans, who could really use some good news, don’t quite know what to think.