Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com says (via twitter), infielder Charlie Culberson dropped a weight on the tip of his finger and broke it. He’s out indefinitely, says Baggarly.
In another tweet, Baggarly says Ryan Vogelsong was sent home today with an illness. Vogelsong seems to have bad luck as he’s already out with a back injury. Manager Bruce Bochy says it’s best to get it all out of the way now.
Jaymee Sire of CSNBayArea.com says (via twitter) closer Brian Wilson is on track to pitch in the 2nd week of Spring Training games.
That’s really good news as some Giants fans were a little worried about Wilson since he was shut down early towards the end of the 2011 season.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says Pat Burrell could be back in a Giants uniform as an instructor down in Scottsdale like Will Clark, Robb Nen and Shawon Dunston.
What’s your thoughts on Culberson’s injury, Vogelsong’s bad luck, Wilson on track to pitch the 2nd week of Spring Training games and Burrell back in uniform as a coach?
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Technorati Tags: Brian Wilson, Bruce Bochy, Charlie Culberson, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali, MLB Rumors Giants, Pat Burrell, Robb Nen, Ryan Vogelsong, SF Giants Rumors, Shawon Dunston, Will Clark
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Montellano
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, Ryan Vogelsong strained his back while lifting weights (squats). Vogelsong is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks.
It’s not time to worry, as the San Francisco Giants still have over a month to get Vogelsong back in rhythm. He should be 100% by his Opening Day (game 4 of the season).
Trying Something Different
Barry Zito has made some changes to his pitching in the stretch. Zito is now using more of a crouched delivery. He’s hoping to generate more momentum and thus more arm speed, says Schulman.
Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com says Marc Kroon has decided to hang up his spikes. A lot of Giants fans wanted to see Kroon get another crack in the big leagues, but it never happened. He started the year in Fresno, and never got the call. Baggarly says Kroon had trouble throwing strikes down the stretch, which took him out of consideration for a September call-up.
What’s your thoughts on Vogelsong’s injury, Zito’s new delivery, and Kroon announcing his retirement?
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Chris Haft of MLB.com says outfielder Justin Christian cleared waivers and has re-signed with the San Francisco Giants organization. Christian has received a non-roster invitation to camp.
Haft also says the Giants have signed LHP Travis Blackley to a minor league deal. Blackley will also get a non-roster invitation to camp.
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says Angel Villalona‘s work visa has been approved by the U.S. Immigration Service. Villalona is expected to report to Scottsdale Stadium on February 23, when position players report to camp.
Villalona has been away from the game for a while since the 2009 murder charge. It’s not clear as to what kind of player he will be when he’s back in uniform. It’s very likely that he will start back in single-A, and have to work his way through the minor league system.
Villalona hit .267 with 9 homers and 42 RBI in 47 games for the San Jose Giants in 2009. Villalona’s future with the Giants isn’t clear, but he’s far to good of a talent to give up on. If the Giants don’t see Villalona in their future plans, he’s a nice trade chip to keep in their back pocket.
Bullpen Arm
According to the Associated Press, the San Francisco Giants and reliever Guillermo Mota have finalized a one-year ($1 million) deal. Both sides had already agreed to terms in December. Mota was used primarily as a long-relief guy, and did an outstanding job. Mota went 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 52 outings (80 1/3 innings).
What’s your thoughts on Villalona attending Spring Training, and Mota’s deal now being finalized?
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Do you want more quotes from the San Francisco Giants Media Day? I knew you did, so here are a few I was able to get from closer Brian Wilson (will post Q&A with Wilson soon). Everyone always wants to ask questions about his beard, so I wasn’t going to disappoint. I asked Wilson if he plans to keep his beard for the entire 2012 season.
“I don’t really have plans with it. It’s just there and it’s fun. It’s just facial hair at the end of the day. It’s just become a part of an everyday routine now. Some people wake up and shave before going to work, I don’t, and I’m keeping it that way. So yeah I think it wouldn’t be out of the question to say it would be there for the whole season” said Wilson.
Have you ever wondered what awesome stuff Wilson likes to do other than playing baseball? He tells SF Giants Rumors that he likes to do paddle boarding and Yoga. Yes, he really does like to do Yoga, and after hearing him tell me about it. I think I might try it myself!
“I enjoy doing Yoga, but not in sense of saying hey guys look at me I like to do Yoga. I actually enjoy the way my body feels after a workout. It feels very strong, powerful and yet my mind feels really calm and I don’t know, it’s something that people should probably consider once or twice,” said Wilson.
What’s your thoughts on Wilson’s quotes? I will be posting the full Q&A with him soon!
~King of Cali (Steven)
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While at San Francisco Giants Media Day, I was able to interview reliever Sergio Romo (will post that soon). He was a very fun guy to chat with and interview. I could feel his passion that he has for the game. I asked Romo what personal goals he has set for himself this year, and his answer shocked me a bit. It’s like he wanted to send a message out to all the doubters out there.
“To be honest, my career hasn’t been a fluke, and I want to prove not just to my teammates, people out there, to myself. I feel I am competitive enough to be able to compete at a high level here, and not look back. My confidence in myself is there. I want to be able to maintain that. I want to be able to stay healthy all year long, and put in a solid, solid season from beginning to end,” said Romo.
If you’ve seen Romo pitch, you know he has pin-point control, and a devastating slider. I’m sure people have doubted him because of his size, but he can flat out pitch.
What’s your thoughts on Romo?
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Technorati Tags: 2012 Giants Media Day, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali, MLB Rumors Giants, San Francisco Giants, Sergio Romo, SF Giants Rumors, Steven Robles
Here are more nuggets from the sit down session with San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean at Giants Media Day. I had a chance to ask Bochy who would be plan B if closer Brian Wilson can’t go at the start of the season. Bochy said you can start with Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez. He also said everyone in the bullpen can move up a spot.
“It’s nice to have a luxury of having five or six guys who aren’t afraid to pitch in that ninth inning,” said Bochy.
Sabean also chimed in on their ace pitcher Tim Lincecum.
“Timmy likes San Francisco. He’s been treated very well here. He’s been compensated very well along the whole way. As it turns out, I think it was a win-win to get these two years out of the way. To kind of give us a base-line for how we can go forward,” said Sabean.
“Our budget can hold both Lincecum and Cain (Matt Cain), and try to get more offense in here,” said Sabean.
I asked Sabean if the Ryan Theriot signing means Brandon Crawford would be on a shorter leash.
“I don’t think so. We all want Crawford to be the shortstop going into Spring Training. No matter really what kind of Spring Training he has. We think he’s that talented with the glove,” said Sabean.
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Chris Haft of MLB.com answers fans questions in his inbox article. Haft expects Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants to reach a deal during Spring Training.
This would put a lot of Giants fans at ease since Tim Lincecum is in a two-year deal, and Giants fans wouldn’t be able to stomach the possibility of losing both pitchers to free agency. There is still two years to convince Lincecum that San Francisco is where he belongs.
When asked about Conor Gillaspie, Brett Pill and Justin Christian fighting for one of the last spots on the roster. Haft believes Pill has the best chance among this trio of making the club, because the Giants might need an extra right-handed bat.
Pill showed us his power last season, and it’s nice to have some pop coming off the bench. If he can show consistency at the plate, he could even force the issue that he should be getting some starts at first base. Let’s see if the 2010 version of Aubrey Huff shows up to Spring Training, cause that would guarantee Pill’s playing time will be off the bench.
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Technorati Tags: Aubrey Huff, Brett Pill, Conor Gillaspie, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, Justin Christian, King of Cali, Matt Cain, MLB Rumors Giants, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Rael Enteen of CSNBayArea.com says Ryan Vogelsong isn’t concerned about the San Francisco Giants offense heading into the 2012 season.
“Not concerned at all. We’re getting two really good players back from injury (Buster Posey, Freddy Sanchez) so it’s almost like we signed two free agents,” said Vogelsong.
Vogelsong is going to be the number four starting pitcher in the Giants rotation. He’s coming off a spectacular 2011 season, and this is what Vogelsong said when asked about proving that 2011 wasn’t a fluke and it was legit.
“That’s the main goal right now. I’d be lying if I said it was different then that because it’s not. I know that as soon as I take one bad step or have a bad game. That’s what’s going to be said and I’m going to have to try to keep that down to a minimum and put up as many quality starts up as I can,” said Vogelsong.
What’s your thoughts on the Vogelsong not worried about the Giants offense, and do you think he can relive his 2011 magic?
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Technorati Tags: Buster Posey, Freddy Sanchez, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, King of Cali, MLB Rumors Giants, Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has published the Top 10 Second-Base Prospects List. You know I wouldn’t be posting this for no reason right? Yes, there is a San Francisco Giants prospect on the list. Okay, there is actually two!
Number 7 on the top 10 list is Charlie Culberson. Below is what Mayo had to say about Culberson.
“Culberson made the big jump up to Double-A in 2011, and his numbers definitely suffered in the Eastern League. There’s still plenty to like about his bat — he has some legitimate extra-base ability — but he needs to work on his pitch recognition and plate discipline so he can tap into those tools more consistently. In Culberson’s second year as a full-time second baseman, he got more comfortable defensively. He may have Joe Panik coming up from behind him soon, so this season could be a big one for his development.”
The 2nd player from the Giants organization that made the top 10 list is Joe Panik at number 10. Below is what Mayo had to say about Panik.
“A shortstop at St. John’s, Panik rewarded San Francisco’s faith in him (many didn’t see him as a first-rounder) by leading the Northwest League in hitting. Then he headed to the Arizona Fall League and more than held his own against the advanced competition. Panik also played second base regularly for the first time in the AFL, with scouts being impressed with his overall game and his baseball IQ. Even if he plays some shortstop during his first full season of pro ball, the right side of the infield looks like a good long-term home.”
What’s your thoughts on Culberson and Panik making the list, and who do you think will be the Giants second baseman of the future?
~King of Cali (Steven)
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Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com says (via twitter), infielder Charlie Culberson dropped a weight on the tip of his finger and broke it. He’s out indefinitely, says Baggarly.
