SAN FRANCISCO — As the National League All-Stars were unveiled on television in the Giants clubhouse, the biggest gathering of viewers was from media members. Most players knew the results already: Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto in. Brandon Crawford out. Belt … maybe.
The Giants’ MLB-best 53 wins translated only to three All-Stars, and possibly four if Belt can win off the Final Vote ballot. He said he’d feel weird voting for himself, but he’s already begun pushing his friends to land him atop the voting by Friday at 1 p.m.
“If I could sneak in there,” Belt said, “it’d be an awesome experience and something I’ll never forget.”
“Sneak” is a relative term, as the Giants first baseman has pieced together an impressive three-month resume. Belt leads the NL in doubles and his .398 OBP is the seventh-highest in the league. He’s confident in the Giants’ tech-savvy fans, and of course has the backing of his manager. Bruce Bochy was happy for the elected trio of Giants, all of whom have been to All-Star Games before. Belt has not. Bumgarner and Posey are now four-time All-Stars, and Cueto is making the midsummer trip for the second time.
Bochy knows better than any active manager about the challenge of picking the All-Star rosters. There’s always going to be snubs, and even managers who have stipulations on how their elected players are used. That’s why MLB introduced a rule to prevent starting pitchers from participating in the All-Star Game if they started the game before the All-Star break. Bochy all but confirmed that will be the case with Bumgarner.
But Cueto will be available for NL manager Terry Collins, and despite leading the league in innings, Bochy would love for the right-hander to start the game.
“I think it’d be an honor,” Bochy said. “I would never not want one of my players to be the starting All-Star pitcher.”
“I’d love it,” Cueto said about the opportunity through translator Geoff Head. “If there was an opportunity, I’d take it.”
If Cueto does start the game, there’d be an extra layer of familiarity for him. Despite Addison Russell at shortstop instead of Crawford, and Anthony Rizzo at first instead of Belt, Posey would catch all of Cueto’s pitches.
That’s a significant benefit for the right-hander, who has a 2.33 ERA when throwing to Posey (as opposed to a 4.50 ERA in two starts with Trevor Brown). Posey’s familiarity with Cueto goes beyond just pitch selection. He might be the only one equipped to handle Cueto’s shoulder-shimmy and quick pitch.
“It’d be the best,” Cueto said when asked about throwing to Posey in the All-Star Game. “He’s my favorite catcher … (I don’t) need to teach (my) new tricks to some other catcher.”
Because Bumgarner is starting Tuesday night, he wasn’t available before the game to comment on his All-Star selection. Safe to say he’s happy for himself, Posey, Cueto and even Belt. Safe to say he’s also unhappy about Crawford, who’s saved Bumgarner and the Giants’ staff countless times with his defense. He was leapfrogged Russell and Corey Seager.
“It sucks not to see Craw go in,” Belt said. “He’s as deserving as anybody else that made the team.”
**
Aside from All-Star comments, Bochy engaged in his daily ritual of injury updates. Regarding all of the Giants players on the DL, the manager said none of them will be back before the All-Star Break.
That excludes Denard Span, who sounds like he might be able to avoid the disabled list. The center fielder has been shelved with neck discomfort, and received trigger-point shots to alleviate his pain. Bochy said Span could start as soon as Friday, and spent Tuesday afternoon hitting off a tee in the batting cage.
Matt Duffy took batting practice for the first time in his comeback from a left Achilles sprain. He looked comfortable, but isn’t on the doorstep of a return. The same holds true for Kelby Tomlinson (sprained left thumb), who will DH for Triple-A Sacramento tonight after being hit by a pitch on Monday. He’ll play in the field for the rest of the week in Sacramento.
Ehire Adrianza (fractured left foot) is set to begin his minor league assignment on July 13, and the Giants even think they’ll have a rehab plan for Hunter Pence by this weekend.
There were two lineup changes before Tuesday’s first pitch at 7:15 p.m. Gregor Blanco was scratched as he continues to deal with a sore left knee. Angel Pagan was then moved from left field to center, and Jarret Parker from center field to left.
Giants lineup vs. Tyler Chatwood (8-4, 3.15 ERA)
CF – Angel Pagan (S)
LF – Jarrett Parker (L)
1B – Brandon Belt (L)
C – Buster Posey
SS – Brandon Crawford (L)
3B – Conor Gillaspie (L)
2B – Ramiro Peña (S)
RF – Mac Williamson
LHP – Madison Bumgarner
Rockies lineup vs. Madison Bumgarner (9-4, 2.20 ERA)
CF – Charlie Blackmon (L)
2B – D.J. LaMahieu
3B – Nolan Arenado
RF – Carlos Gonzalez (L)
SS – Trevor Story
LF – Ryan Raburn
1B – Mark Reynolds
C – Nick Hundley
RHP – Tyler Chatwood