Stellar infield backs Giants’ new aces
Cueto, Samardzija could cash in, too, at pitcher-friendly park
Revamping the rotation was the focal point of the San Francisco Giants’ offseason, as the team spent a combined $220 million on free agent starters Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija.
Much cheaper and just as important to the Giants’ quest for a fourth World Series title this decade will be the four homegrown players behind them, who represent arguably the top defensive infield in the majors.
First baseman Brandon Belt, third baseman Matt Duffy and shortstop Brandon Crawford were among the finalists for the Gold Glove last year, with Crawford earning the award over incumbent Andrelton Simmons. All- Star second baseman Joe Panik, who ranked among the leaders in defensive metrics, probably would have completed the quartet of finalists had he not been limited to 100 games by a back injury.
That infield is not only a strength but a source of savings. Even with Crawford’s six-year, $75 million extension kicking in, the foursome’s combined salary this season adds up to a little less than $13.5 million, or about two-thirds of what Cueto ismaking in 2016, including his $5 million signing bonus.
Moreover, the Giants expect their superb fielding and the move to a pitcherfriendly ballpark will help Cueto and Samardzija bounce back from what was a puzzling season for the first and amiserable one for the second.
“Johnny Cueto pitched in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball most of his career so far,” Crawford said. “To be able to come here to a bigger park and have some of those fly balls that maybe would have carried at Great American Ball Park get knocked down a little bit by the wind, it’s great for us and great for him.
“And the same thing goes for Samard- zija. Both Chicago parks he’s pitched at ... are very hitter-friendly. To come here to a pretty good defense behind him and some of those fly balls maybe getting knocked down, it’s great.”
Cueto thrived while pitching the better part of the first four months for the Cincinnati Reds, logging a 2.62 ERA before a July 26 trade to the Kansas City Royals that eventually seemed to throw him off his game. He went 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA with the Royals, then had an up-and-down postseason that featured two excellent outings — in the Division Series clincher and in Game 2 of the World Series— and a couple clunkers.
Samardzija tied for the American League high in home runs allowed with 29, a big contributor to his 4.98 ERA. Both numbers are likely to shrink when pitching half his games at AT&T Park, which yielded the fewest home runs in themajors last season.
With two-time 18-game winnerMadison Bumgarner heading the rotation, Gi- ants starters figure to improve on last year’s 3.95 ERA, seventh in the league.
“We’ve got three guys who could be No. 1 starters on other clubs,” Panik said.
And plenty of support around them. Not only did San Francisco lead the league in ultimate zone rating and defensive runs saved, but its offense ranked fifth in scoring in the National League and might get a boost with the return to health of Panik and right fielder Hunter Pence, plus the addition of free agent outfielder Denard Span.
However, questions remain about an infield that includes two players— Panik and Duffy — who have played only one full season in the majors.
Can Crawford, 29, replicate last year’s offensive exploits, when he set career highs with 21 homers and 84 RBI? Is Belt, 27, past his concussion problems? Will Panik, 25, be dogged by the back problems that sidelined him for all but four games in the last two months? Is Duffy, 25, as good as he was last season?
“Most of these guys are still early in their careers. The true test when you talk about greatness is the longevity of that greatness,” said Giants bench and infield coach Ron Wotus. “I believe in Matt Duffy, but it’s a new year, it’s a different scenario for him. Now there are expectations. He’s well aware he needs to go out and do it again.”
Duffy, 25 an 18th-round pick in the 2012 draft who hit zero home runs in his college career, went from a candidate for a utility role to the starting third baseman in months, then finished second in NL rookie of the year voting and made fans forget about Pablo Sandoval.
With Sandoval anchoring third base, the Giants have had an all-homegrown infield — plus drafted and developed catcher Buster Posey— most of the time since Panik took over as the starting second baseman midway through 2014.
But the latest iteration came about more by necessity than design. After Sandoval’s free agent departure following the 2014 World Series title, Casey McGehee joined the club as his successor, but he floundered so mightily that he was demoted and eventually released.
Enter Duffy, who played almost exclusively in the middle of the infield in the minors. He became one of the National League’s top defensive third basemen and hit .295 with 12 homers and 77 RBI.
Duffy, listed as 6-2, 170, put on 7 pounds over the winter in an effort to retain his strength throughout the season, but acknowledges he can’t get caught up in trying to increase his power numbers.
“I’d be lying if I said that doesn’t cross my mind, but ... that’s not my game,” he said. “This is a big park. I played in a big park in college and I used to use that as an excuse and try to hit the ball farther, instead of focusing on, ‘Hey, it’s a big park, there’s a lot of room for other hits out there.’ That’smore ofmy focus.”
After missing the playoffs last season, the Giants hope to regain the even-year title magic of 2010, 2012 and 2014. Despite a $251 million offseason splurge, there’s a sense of pride from succeeding with products of their farm system.
“Playing with these guys before we got to the big leagues and going through the same things in the minors, we share experiences together, and that helps us play better,” Belt said.