Changes coming after trip ends with win
DENVER » At the end of a long and mostly unforgiving eight-game trip, the Giants expect reinforcements to arrive in the clubhouse on Friday.
After salvaging the final contest of a three-game set with a 7-4 win over the Rockies on Wednesday, the Giants roster is scheduled for a much-needed adjustment after the team returns to San Francisco. Manager Bruce Bochy indicated the team plans to activate second baseman Joe Panik, outfielder Hunter Pence and closer Mark Melancon on Friday when the club begins a sixgame homestand.
“We’re going to have some action going on this weekend with the roster,” Bochy said.
Starter Jeff Samardzija landed on the 10-day disabled list with a shoulder injury, but Bochy said it’s possible he’ll only miss one start.
While the Giants limped through May with an injury-riddled starting staff and a porous defense, they achieved an important feat with a victory. By salvaging the final game of their three-city trip, the Giants finished five games under .500 for the month while actually narrowing their gap in the standings.
“The ups and downs that we’ve had both on the injury side and even playing, we’re still in the middle of this thing,” Bochy said. “That’s what we hoped to
do, and we are going to get some guys back. That’s going to be a shot in the arm.”
Despite ending April 5 ½ games behind Arizona, a collapse by the Diamondbacks and a win in the series-finale against Colorado leaves the Giants four games out in the National League West heading into June.
Evan Longoria pushed the Giants ahead for good with a go-ahead triple into right-center in the tworun fifth inning. Longoria paced the club’s offense in the series, driving in six runs over a three-game set. The hitter who paced the offense throughout the month was Brandon Crawford, and
he followed Longoria’s triple with an RBI single to record his 42nd hit in May.
The fifth-inning rally rewarded starter Derek Holland, who allowed a threerun home run to Nolan Arenado in the first inning before rebounding with four innings of quality work.
“We don’t have our full roster yet,” Holland said. “Wait for these guys to come back, there’s no panic for us. I think everything is going to be fine. The main thing is, the guys that were here, we kept us close.”
Relievers Reyes Moronta, Tony Watson, Sam Dyson and Hunter Strickland finished the game, but the
bullpen pecking order could be adjusted as soon as this weekend. Because Melancon was placed on the 60day disabled list, the Giants will need to clear a 40-man roster spot for him. Bochy said the right-hander will be evaluated by the club’s medical staff today, but as long as Melancon is healthy, he’ll be activated and able to appear in relief on Friday.
Ace Madison Bumgarner is scheduled to start for Class A San Jose today and is expected to rejoin the Giants rotation on Tuesday, which means the club will need to free up a pair of 40man roster spots within the next week.
The Giants already designated Triple-A reliever D.J. Snelten for assignment Monday to provide rookie Dereck Rodríguez with a major league opportunity, but several other pitchers such as Steven Okert and Jose Valdez are in danger of losing 40-man roster spots when Melancon and Bumgarner are activated.
To make room for Pence, the organization may consider placing Gregor Blanco or Austin Jackson on the 10day disabled list because there aren’t many options in the outfield. Mac Williamson has a minor league option left, but he’s started regularly in left field and recorded three doubles over the final two games of the road trip.
Pence does have minor league options available, but Bochy sounded confident the Giants will find a way to add him to the 25man roster ahead of their three-game set against Philadelphia.
For a team that’s had the first two months of its season derailed by injuries, the Giants are eager to have core players Bumgarner, Panik and Melancon readying for returns to the active roster.
Though management has a flurry of difficult decisions to make, the Giants are encouraged by the fight they’ve shown.
“The guys that came in, they did what they were supposed to do, and they kept us in this race,” Holland said. “With that being said, getting these guys back, it’s going to be outstanding.”