SF Giants Press Clips Monday, May 28, 2018
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SF Giants Press Clips Monday, May 28, 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Giants calling up Dereck Rodriguez, son of Hall of Famer Ivan ‘Pudge” Rodriguez John Shea The Giants need another pitcher for their series in Denver, and the call went to Derek Rodriguez, who referenced the promotion on his Instagram account: “Just got the best call of my life!!!! It’s showtime !!!” Rodriguez, 25, the son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, was 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Sacramento. The Giants were down a reliever in their three-game series in Chicago, after left fielder Mac Williamson took lefty Josh Osich’s roster spot. They’ll need a full complement of relievers in the hitting-friendly confines of Coors Field, where they’ll play their next three games. Rodriguez signed a minor-league contract with the Giants over the winter after spending seven seasons in the Twins’ organization. He converted from an outfielder to pitcher in 2014. Rodriguez’s dad tagged out J.T. Snow at the plate to end the 2003 Division Series, sending the Giants home and the Marlins to the next round. 1 “I was there. I was in the clubhouse,” the younger Rodriguez said in spring training. “When my dad played, I was always in the clubhouse. For sure, it’s one of his best moments. He always says it. He still has the ball.” The Giants will need to create a spot on the 40-man roster and also remove someone from the 25-man roster. With Pablo Sandoval showing Sunday he’s acceptable at second base, it’s possible Miguel Gomez could be optioned. San Francisco Chronicle Giants’ Pablo Sandoval surprisingly impressive at 2nd in latest loss to Cubs John Shea CHICAGO — The adage isn’t a key part of today’s advanced analytics. It’s not the first thing mentioned by advance scouts. But it’s baseball law, and there’s no doubting it. The ball will find you. The ball found Pablo Sandoval — right away, in fact — and that was OK. The multidimensional infielder made his first career start at second base Sunday night, and he wasn’t to blame for the Giants’ 8-3 loss to the Cubs. Actually, Sandoval was an asset defensively, stunningly. He turned a double play, dived to rob Javier Baez and positioned himself as if this weren’t the first time he was making plays at second base, though it was. “First inning, I was a little scared,” said Sandoval, whose only previous experience at second was two-thirds of an inning last year with Boston, after a Dustin Pedroia injury, “but after I made that play (on Baez), I was a little bit more loose and had fun a little bit.” On offense, Sandoval’s show of hustle ignited a three-run rally in the first inning. He legged out an infield single (beating a throw by lollygagging shortstop Addison Russell) that produced a two-out RBI, and Mac Williamson followed with a two-run single. 2 The Giants didn’t lose because Sandoval tried a new position. They lost because starter Ty Blach coughed up five runs on seven hits and four walks in three-plus innings (and didn’t do a very good job fielding his position), because reliever Pierce Johnson didn’t clean up Blach’s mess and because they stranded 13 runners, twice leaving the bases full. Manager Bruce Bochy’s decision to play Sandoval at second was surprising even though Sandoval had been taking grounders there in recent weeks. He has started at third and first and even pitched a perfect inning, but he seemed more of an emergency option at second. With Buster Posey missing his second straight game with hip soreness, Bochy wanted Sandoval’s bat in the lineup against Tyler Chatwood and figured the only open spot was second, where Kelby Tomlinson was getting most of the time but was struggling at the plate. Sandoval “was fine out there. He looked comfortable,” Bochy said. “He was good with the little bit of time he was out there, he got a lot of action.” Sandoval had been working at second since Joe Panik went on the disabled list in late April, and when backup Alen Hanson was shelved in mid-May, the Giants were running out of bodies. Miguel Gomez is on the roster, but it’s possible he might be sent to Sacramento if the Giants decide to add a pitcher for the upcoming series in Denver. Sandoval got immediate action. Leadoff hitter Albert Almora Jr. hit a ball that ricocheted off Blach, and Sandoval made a smooth barehand pickup and throw, but Almora beat it out. Sandoval stopped Baez’s grounder with a dive to his left, did a 360-degree turn and made the throw on one knee. The next inning, Sandoval made a pretty turn on a feed from shortstop Brandon Crawford to double off Almora. The fun didn’t last. Sandoval was removed in the fourth in a double switch when Blach was pulled after putting the first two men on base. Johnson, an ex-Cub, quickly coughed up Baez’s three-run homer, and the Cubs led 6-3. Johnson gave up two more runs in the fifth, and Chicago sent the Giants packing for Colorado with a 1-4 3 record on the trip. San Francisco Chronicle Giants ‘open-minded’ to Madison Bumgarner returning as soon as Friday By John Shea CHICAGO — Madison Bumgarner could be pitching soon at a ballpark near you. As in Friday night in the Giants’ homestand opener. “We’re going to stay open-minded on anything,” manager Bruce Bochy said when asked whether Friday is a possibility for Bumgarner’s return to the rotation. “As good as he felt last night, it was his first time in a competitive situation, so to speak.” Bumgarner was dominant over 47 pitches in his first rehab start Saturday night at Triple-A Sacramento. The lefty pitched 32/3 hitless innings and struck out eight of his 12 batters, saying afterward his surgically repaired hand felt good and he was ready to pitch in the majors. In Bumgarner’s next start, he’d be able to throw 70 pitches. Initially, with the River Cats on the road, he was supposed to start at Class A San Jose. And then at least one more. In the wake of Saturday’s strong outing, the Giants are reconsidering their timetable. “There’s a possibility he could be moved up,” said Bochy, who hadn’t spoken with Bumgarner as of Sunday afternoon and was interested in how he felt the day after. Bochy hinted a decision could come after the pitcher throws a between-starts bullpen session. Obviously, the Giants need Bumgarner, and the question is whether those 70 pitches would be better served in the minors — to build his strength and endurance — or when the Giants open their homestand against the Phillies. “I wouldn’t say I’d be back at midseason form, but I definitely feel I could get some outs,” Bumgarner said Saturday in regard to possibly facing big-league hitters in his next start. 4 Briefly: After missing two games with a sore hip, Buster Posey has a “good chance” of playing Monday, Bochy said. ... Second basemen Joe Panik and Alen Hanson are beginning rehab assignments Monday, Panik with Sacramento and Hanson in extended spring training until he joins Class A San Jose on Wednesday. ... Shortstop Brandon Crawford and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez had two more hits apiece. Crawford is hitting .443 in May, and Hernandez is hitting .417 over his past nine games. San Francisco Chronicle Giants starting Pablo Sandoval at second base in Sunday’s series finale at Wrigley By John Shea CHICAGO — On Saturday, Giants manager Bruce Bochy was asked if Pablo Sandoval would still take grounders at second even though second basemen Joe Panik and Alen Hanson might be close to returning to the roster. Indeed, Bochy said. On Sunday, Bochy’s starting Sandoval at the position, the first start at second base in his major- league career. “It’ll be a challenge for me to prove I can play there and do everything I can to help this team,” Sandoval said. You like a challenge, Pablo? “I love it, man,” he said. “Especially to help the team. It’s going to be good. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to it. Just make the plays for my teammates.” Sandoval will use Brandon Crawford’s 11 1/2-inch Rawlings model, which has the Gold Glove shortstop’s name inscribed across the front. Sandoval has been using the glove working out at second in recent weeks, a big adjustment from his two usual infield positions, third and first. 5 “I started taking ground balls when we knew Panik was going to be out,” Sandoval said. “I’ve been working on double plays and all that kind of stuff, just in case something happens, and today I have the opportunity to be there.” Is he confident? “For sure,” Sandoval said. “It’s the infield. It’s groundballs. You have to work harder out there, know how to do things out there, the cutoffs and relays, covering the base, going to first on bunts. It’s a different position.” Sandoval played one big-league game for Boston on April 21, 2017, replacing injured Boston infielder Dustin Pedroia in the eighth inning. He had no chances. San Jose Mercury News Why Madison Bumgarner could pitch for the Giants on Friday Kerry Crowley CHICAGO–Madison Bumgarner was slated to appear in a San Jose Giants uniform on Thursday.