Manager backed:
Zaidi expresses support for Kapler after tough Dodgers series.
Bruce Bochy was secondguessed plenty as the Giants’ manager, including in all three World Series championship seasons, so it was only a matter of time before his successor, Gabe Kapler, was a target of criticism for his ingame management.
Kapler’s moves were questioned more and more as the weekend series at Dodger Stadium progressed, specifically on pulling starting pitchers.
President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi appeared on The Chronicle’s “Giants Splash” podcast and expressed his support for Kapler and provided background on his decisionmaking.
“We have a roster that’s going to require some active management,” Zaidi said. “That puts the manager under the microscope. You look at some of the wins we’ve had this year, he’s done a great job navigating some lateinning situations and really helped win some games for us.
“Sometimes you get your hand caught in the cookie jar. That’s what happens when you go to the bullpen. I think the big thing as we sit here is, we’re 710. We could’ve easily won one or two more games, if not more.”
On Friday, Jeff Samardzija threw 81 pitches through four innings and gave up three home runs, and Kapler stuck with him for the fifth when Samardzija put his first three men aboard. The Giants lost 72. He went on the injured list Saturday with a shoulder impingement.
Zaidi said the team had no indication of a shoulder issue for Samardzija entering the game and mentioned that in conversations, Samardzija had expressed his desire to pitch deep into games.
“You’re in the first game of a threegame series against the Dodgers,” Zaidi said. “You’ve got to go to Houston and play three more after that against a tough lineup. Whoever your starter is in that first game, even if he falls behind, he’s probably got to eat up outs and save the bullpen a little bit. I think that was the thought process on Shark.”
On Saturday, Johnny Cueto pitched five hitless innings, and after left fielder Hunter Pence lost a flyball that fell behind him for the first hit, a triple, Cueto issued walks to two of his next four batters. Cueto also appeared bothered by what he later called a blister on the big toe of his right foot.
Kapler left him in to face Justin Turner, who hit a threerun homer on Cueto’s 93rd pitch. However, the Giants got some splendid relief and prevailed 54.
“It was a tough call. In a lot of ways, Cueto still had a nohitter when he gave up that homer to Turner,” Zaidi said. “I think that was another case of a veteran guy who has had conversations with the manager about wanting the ball, wanting to get through innings and get the big out.
“Look, ultimately, it’s still a judgment call. You leave a guy in, and he gives up a homer, you’re going to be judged for that. That’s the gig of being a majorleague manager.”
On Sunday, Kevin Gausman was removed after 80 pitches in the seventh despite leading 20 and having an explosive fastball that was still reaching the high 90s. Tyler Rogers, after throwing 20 pitches in two scoreless innings Saturday, gave up a threerun homer to A.J. Pollock, who had faced Rogers the previous night. The Giants lost 62.
“I know people will make the point, ‘Well, they’ve seen him a lot. He’s a submarine guy,’ ” Zaidi said. “But he was also one pitch away from getting out of that inning, and if that last curveball had a little more break on it, we’re probably not having this conversation.
“But I think our big takeaway is Gausman over the last two starts has shown really impressive stuff. The stuff we saw from him (Sunday) is as well as he’s thrown the ball in his career. I think that’ll certainly earn him more rope and the chance to go deeper into games going forward.”