La Stella takes short turn at first base
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Consider the top first basemen in the Giants’ West Coast history.
Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Will Clark, J.T. Snow and Brandon Belt.
All 6foot2 or taller. In McCovey’s case, 64.
On Tuesday night at Scottsdale Stadium, in a Cactus League game against Texas, the Giants started a sub6footer at first base, Tommy La Stella, and intend to continue getting him time at the position.
With Belt still shelved, players are taking turns at first, and La Stella is an intriguing option because he bats lefthanded, like Belt, and could get significant time if Belt opens the season on the injured list.
La Stella is 511. “Tommy falls more in the category of a guy like Carlos Santana at first base, who’s done a really nice job in his career,” Kapler said of the Royals’ 511 first baseman who played in 2018 for Kapler’s Phillies. “But it’s not the same wingspan, it’s not the same height. We just have to factor that in.”
La Stella is shorter than Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf and LaMonte Wade Jr., all of whom have played first during camp. But with La Stella and Flores in the same lineup Tuesday, Kapler decided to use La Stella at first base even though first likely is Flores’ best position.
When Donovan Solano is in the lineup with La Stella and Flores — if third baseman Evan Longoria gets a day off — Tuesday’s alignment could be seen some more
“Nothing definitive. Nothing in concrete,” Kapler said. “But that’s something we’re considering.”
⏩ Johnny Cueto and catcher Joey Bart had communication issues last season — and again Tuesday. Bart, playing for Buster Posey, who was scratched with hip tightness, struggled to get on the same page with Cueto, who took extra long between pitches waiting for a sign he wanted. “I think we just have to get in sync. It seems like we’re always lost.” Powerful quote from Cueto, though he did express faith in Bart and suggested the young catcher eventually will adjust to him.
⏩ Cueto did something you don’t see every day. He was pulled with the bases loaded in the third inning — and pulled again with the bags full in the fourth. That’s because, under new spring training rules, a pitcher can reenter. So after Cueto threw 52 pitches, he took a breather and returned to pitch 19 more. Neither outing turned out well.
⏩ Cueto was bailed out in the third when Rico Garcia struck out two straight batters, stranding all three runners. But in the fourth, Wandy Peralta gave up a grand slam to Nick Solak.
⏩ Cueto’s line: six runs on six hits and four walks in 21⁄3 innings. He was working on throwing a changeup a bit more but said, “To be honest, it wasn’t my night. I couldn’t place pitches where I wanted to.”
⏩ Longoria was the designated hitter and swatted two homers, one to left and one to right. He hasn’t appeared at third base yet because he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis. He’s hoping to get his first defensive reps Sunday.
⏩ The latest on Belt, who was supposed to ease into spring training after heel surgery but then got the coronavirus, then mononucleosis: He continues to hit off pitchers. Take reps at first base. Run on the treadmill. “We’re not considering him rehabbing from an illness anymore,” Kapler said. “It’s a matter of building his volume, and we’ll continue to do that as quickly as we can.”
⏩ Before Belt can get clearance for the regular season, he’ll not only need to play nine innings with four plate appearances in multiple games, but he’ll need to report to management that he can produce on a daily basis.