Stretch schedule no issue

Mark Melancon said he was in on moving back the bullpen’s 3:30 p.m. stretch time, explaining that a later stretch gives relievers more time to receive treatment, work in the weight room and eat before taking the field.

The Giants’ closer was reacting to a Fox Sports report that he “rubbed some teammates the wrong way early in the season by putting an end to the bullpen’s 3:30 p.m. stretching session before night games, a practice that the relievers began in 2012.”

“I’m shocked,” he said Monday before the Giants opened a series with the Rockies at AT&T Park. “But honestly, if this is the thing we can point at and say this is the reason for the bad year so far, then please bring it on. We’re talking about stretching, right? Stretching. I feel like Allen Iverson talking about stretching. We’re still talking about stretching. I don’t want to talk about stretching, but we’re talking about stretching.”

According to Melancon and reliever George Kontos, the relievers met in the seasonopening series and agreed to the change. Manager Bruce Bochy said pitching coach Dave Righetti and strength and conditioning coach Carl Kochan were on board.

Bochy noted it’s not rare for relievers to change pregame routines and said of the story, “I think we’re pole vaulting over mouse turds, to be honest.”

Melancon, who signed a four-year, $62 million contract, had four blown saves and a 4.58 ERA through Sunday. He’s one of many problems on a team that is on pace for 100plus losses.

“I haven’t pitched well,” he said. “That’s first and foremost. We should blame it on that.”

Bochy wanted to clarify that a meeting he called that was referenced in the story was about the team’s stretch, not specifically the bullpen’s stretch.

Melancon wanted to point out he’s in the bullpen by the fifth or sixth inning, earlier than the story suggested. Briefly: Madison Bumgarner, who pitched three hitless innings in an Arizona rookieleague game Sunday, will start Friday for Triple-A Sacramento. How well is he progressing? He took on-field batting practice Monday . ... Left fielder Austin Slater (hip flexor) was deemed available to pinch hit the first two games of the series and possibly start Wednesday’s finale. He was hurt turning and twisting while catching a line drive Sunday.