D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
The Bart train will be delayed.
Joey Bart is getting a mental reset. The young catcher was left out of the Giants’ lineup on Sunday, replaced by Chadwick Tromp for a game started by Tyler Anderson, a day before Johnny Cueto is scheduled to pitch.
With Tromp being Cueto’s personal catcher, the struggling Bart will get a few days off before the last dash of the season.
“I don’t think a couple of days down for Joey will hurt him,” Gabe Kapler said over Zoom before the Giants’ series finale in Oakland. “In fact, I think it might give him a nice mental refresh and have him come back stronger.”
After three straight games with an extra-base hit to begin his career, Bart has just one (a triple) in his last 75 plate appearances. He’s struck out 30 times and walked just twice this year, slashing .241/.302/.304 through his first 25 games as a major leaguer.
While he hasn’t always been on the same page as the pitching staff, which will take time, his catching defense has been solid.
On Saturday, Kapler said there are parts to Bart’s game that “are getting exploited,” breaking pitches down and in sending him back to the dugout over and over.
“I know that he’s going to be doing some additional work with our hitting coaches,” Kapler said, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if Bart spent the next few games in coaches’ ears.
Kapler said the Giants “have the expectation” that Alex Dickerson could be back with the club Monday.
Dickerson is away on paternity leave. It is unclear if his wife, Jennifer, has had their first child yet.
While Kapler said Trevor Gott (right elbow inflammation) is “progressing nicely,” he did not know whether the reliever would be able to return this season. Previously, he had been optimistic the righty could throw again this year.
The Giants still consider Mike Yastrzemski (calf) day to day.