Sam Dyson was one of the most productive closers in baseball in 2016.
On Friday, Dyson joined the Giants as their latest bullpen reclamation project.
What a difference a year makes.
The Tampa, Florida native shut the door 38 times for the Texas Rangers last season, but this year, Dyson failed to convert any of his four save opportunities, leading the franchise to designate him for assignment.
“I think with him (Dyson) right now, it’s just getting back on the mound, getting back in a game situation and we’ll see where we’re at,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “Sometimes you get in a rush and you’ve seen it with players here.”
Bochy has a point.
Over the last eight seasons, the Giants have claimed three World Series titles, but to get to that point, they’ve needed to rebuild the careers of a half-dozen or so relievers who ended up playing critical roles in championship runs.
Jeremy Affeldt? He was a converted starter. Javier Lopez? A journeyman who posted an earned run average above 7.00 in three different seasons before he joined the Giants. Santiago Casilla? He was released by the Oakland Athletics.
“You’ve seen it with Casilla for example,” Bochy said. “He’s a really good pitcher, he’s throwing well this year, he just got in a little rut here, you’re human. You can’t ever forget that.”
For Dyson, the rut is extreme.
After throwing five hitless-innings for Team USA this spring, he registered a 10.80 ERA in 16 and 2/3 innings this season, and was responsible for nearly 20 percent of the Rangers’ losses by the time Texas parted ways with him. But the Giants saw something in Dyson, and their new reliever sees something in himself.
“I think it’s just getting back to the basics and using the sinker and stop trying to reinvent stuff to get guys out and don’t second guess the reason that I’m here and get out there and pitch,” Dyson said on Friday, his first day in the Giants’ clubhouse.
When Dyson was at his best –in this year’s World Baseball Classic– Giants catcher Buster Posey was behind the dish. The opportunity to work with the reigning Gold Glover is a luxury for any pitcher, but Dyson said it’s especially reassuring considering he and Posey developed a positive rapport this spring.
“He’s (Posey) seen me obviously at a good time in my life and career, you know, it’s reassuring to have someone behind the plate that is confident in what you can do,” Dyson said. “Not saying that anyone in Texas wasn’t confident, but I had some poor outings so it was tough to reassure everybody day-to-day that I was the guy.”
When trend lines for pitchers break as far as they have for Dyson this season, injuries are often the root cause of a player’s demise. However, Dyson insisted Friday he’s completely healthy, and indicated his struggles were the result of trying to do too much.
Bochy said the Giants had a chance to watch Dyson throw a bullpen Friday afternoon, and he and pitching coach Dave Righetti liked what they saw. The Giants’ skipper said Dyson appears to be in great shape, and said he’s ready to watch the right-hander’s power sinker in action.
“We’ve all looked at him (Dyson) and he’s already thrown today,” Bochy said. “He’s a power sinker with a really good changeup and a slider too, and as I said, we all have our bumps in the road in this game and hopefully with the change of scenery, we’ll get him on track. He’s young and he’s in great shape and he’s excited to be here.”
Bumgarner making progress
Giants’ left-hander Madison Bumgarner was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Dyson on the team’s 40-man roster, but the team’s ace continues to make progress in his rehab from a shoulder injury suffered in an April dirt bike accident.
Bumgarner threw 20 pitches –all fastballs– in a bullpen Friday off of a mound, and Bochy said he’ll throw a simulated game next week in Denver when the Giants travel to take on the Rockies at Coors Field.
“He’ll take a couple of more bullpens and then we’ll do a simulated game in Colorado with him on this next road trip so he’s making progress.”
