The Giants’ recent struggles can be traced directly to their inability to put together consistent at-bats at the plate, but that doesn’t mean the team is solely focused on improving its hitting.
On Wednesday, manager Bruce Bochy indicated the team is closer to having ace Madison Bumgarner on the hill as Bumgarner continues to progress from a shoulder injury suffered in late April.
Bumgarner threw a bullpen prior to the Giants’ matchup with Kansas City on Wednesday and Bochy said if the left-hander feels healthy, he’ll throw in a simulated game in Colorado on Friday.
With San Francisco sitting 14 games under .500 and 14 games back in the National League West, the Giants are encouraged by any positive news at this point in the season.
Bumgarner was injured in an early-season dirt-biking accident and has made just four starts this year, but the Giants are hopeful with the progress he’s made that they’ll have him back sometime during the second half of July.
After throwing all fastballs in his bullpens at AT&T Park on Friday and Sunday, Bumgarner threw all of his pitches during Wednesday’s session, another sign of the progress he’s making.
The Giants’ lefty isn’t the only player on the disabled list expected to compete in the simulated game Friday, as Bochy said outfielder Jarrett Parker will travel with the team and is scheduled to take some hacks against Bumgarner.
“He (Parker) is, he’s going to go to Colorado with us,” Bochy said. “He’ll be one of the hitters in Bumgarner’s sim game and from there, my guess is he’ll go somewhere to start his rehab.”
Parker injured his collarbone crashing into the outfield wall in April, and his injury has handcuffed the Giants’ outfield depth.
The Giants have struggled to find any semblance of consistency in left field until very recently, as rookie Austin Slater has emerged as a bright spot. Slater was called up from AAA Sacramento ahead of the Giants’ road trip to Philadelphia and Milwaukee, and since he’s returned home, Slater has swung the hottest bat in the Giants’ lineup.
Even though San Francisco managed just five hits against the Royals in Tuesday evening’s 8-1 loss, Slater put together his third straight multi-hit game, and impressed Bochy with his ability to sit back on breaking balls and go the other way.
“Well he’s (Slater) certainly trying to be the guy, isn’t he,” Bochy said. “You have to love the way he’s come around and swung the bat and he does a good job in left field. This is a hungry player that looks like he doesn’t want to go back to AAA and that’s what you want. I’ve been very pleased with how he’s been playing and how he’s been settled in.”
Strickland still waiting
As of 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the Giants had yet to hear a verdict regarding reliever Hunter Strickland’s suspension appeal.
Strickland had a two-hour appeal hearing on Tuesday morning and the Giants were told Major League Baseball would reach a verdict on Strickland’s status either Tuesday or Wednesday, but Bochy said the club is still in the dark.
Strickland was suspended six games for hitting Nationals’ star Bryce Harper in a May 29 loss to Washington, and the club is hoping his suspension is reduced by a game.
Bochy said that if the Giants didn’t hear a verdict, that he intended to use Strickland again on Wednesday against Kansas City.
Strickland threw an inning of relief in Tuesday’s ballgame, and when I asked Strickland about his availability for Wednesday, he said he’ll pitch every game he can until he hears one way or the other.
The Giants are hopeful that infielder Conor Gillaspie will rejoin the club soon, but Bochy said Strickland’s impending suspension will restrict the team’s ability to make a move on their 25-man roster.
Gillaspie is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with AAA Sacramento on Wednesday, but it’s unclear when he’ll be able to join the team again.
“The Strickland situation is playing a part in this because we’re going to be a player short and we really can’t go down another pitcher,” Bochy said. “Can’t go down another position player so we’re in the box a little bit right now.”
