It’s not the first domino to fall, but the Giants’ decision to call up Kyle Crick on Tuesday morning is the latest indication that the momentum is tilting toward a youth movement in San Francisco.
After suffering their seventh straight defeat –a lifeless drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Braves– on Monday evening, the Giants fell 20 games below .500 and 20 games back of the first-place Colorado Rockies in the National League West.
It’s June 20, and already, a club that’s claimed three World Series titles this decade is playing for moral victories. And right now, those are just as hard to come by as the tangible ones.
In the late stages of a game that was already out of the Giants’ reach, reliever Derek Law offered Braves’ players a free opportunity to boost their batting averages, as he entered and allowed five hits and a walk to the six batters he faced. Through the first month and half of the season, Law carved out a niche as a dependable middle innings arm, a young right-hander who showcased enough promise to help a Giants team bridge the gap between starters and their $62 million closer, Mark Melancon.
Over his last nine outings, though, Law allowed 20 hits and 12 runs, giving up multiple earned runs in each of his last three appearances. As for Melancon, his “closer” tag is irrelevant for a team that’s lost 16 of its last 20 and a pitcher who is still experiencing elbow discomfort stemming from an early season trip to the disabled list.
Through the first 72 games of the season, the Giants have been historically bad with a bunch of veteran players. Now, another domino has fallen, and they’re one step closer to being historically bad with prospects.
After the Braves turned Law’s fastball into a pinata, the Giants’ front office elected to send him back to the Minor Leagues for a tune-up, and turned to Crick to provide a jolt of energy.
The franchise’s second overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft (behind Joe Panik), Crick showcased immense promise early in his professional career, but in 2016, he fell apart faster than a water heater without a warranty. As a starter for AA Richmond, Crick posted a 4-11 record with a 5.06 ERA, and officially cast a dark cloud over his big league dream.
This season, however, a transition to the bullpen has revitalized Crick’s career, as he became one of the most dominant relievers in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League for AAA Sacramento. In 24 appearances, Crick compiled a 39:13 strikeout to walk ratio and allowed just nine earned runs over 29 and 1/3 innings. Armed with a power fastball and a fresh perspective, Crick forced his way into consideration for a call-up faster than the Giants could say “rebuild.”
Crick’s arrival at the Major League level is a result of the Giants’ desperate need for bullpen help coupled with their desperate need for fresh faces. With Law struggling, Hunter Strickland serving a six-game suspension and Melancon’s health in question, there would be an obvious need for Crick, regardless of whether the Giants were on pace to lose more than 100 games. It just so happens his call-up is also taking place in the early stages of an inevitable youth movement.
Earlier this year, the Giants rushed Christian Arroyo to the show, and though the 2013 first round draft pick had his moments, Arroyo’s inability to hit for average with consistency forced him back to AAA. Don’t worry, he’ll be back.
In late May, San Francisco called on 2014 eighth round selection Austin Slater to provide stability in left field, and so far, Slater looks like he’ll stick.
A mature approach at the plate and an ability to hit the breaking ball should help Slater stay in the big leagues in the immediate future, and it should convince the Giants that it’s time to see what their prospects are capable of.
Though there’s still 90 games left on the Giants’ schedule, Crick’s ascension is a sign general manager Bobby Evans and skipper Bruce Bochy are willing to be proactive in their pursuit of future solutions. While certain prospects like pitcher Tyler Beede and outfielder Chris Shaw may not make their debuts until September, the promotion of Crick and demotion of Law should be viewed as a warning signal to Giants’ players: Either perform, or move on.
Pregame notes
- After appearing to tweak his hamstring in the top half of the first inning of Monday night’s ballgame, Eduardo Nunez is out of the lineup for the fourth time in five days. Nunez stayed in the game last night after beating out an infield single and extending his Major League-leading on-base streak to 30 games, but missed the previous three games in Colorado after suffering a hamstring strain hustling up the first base line. Kelby Tomlinson will start in Nunez’s place, making his eighth career start at third base.
- The Giants will turn to left-hander Matt Moore, who allowed eight earned runs and 11 hits in just three innings of work against the Colorado Rockies in his last start. Moore enters Tuesday evening’s contest with an ERA of 6.00, and is one of a slew of Giants’ players who have emerged as potential trade candidates. Moore has a 10.42 ERA on the road over his last nine starts away from AT&T Park, and the Giants have lost five consecutive starts he’s made.
- Monday evening’s loss to Atlanta marked the first time since August 2, 1995 that the Giants have allowed nine-plus runs in a game in which their starting pitcher lasted 7.0 innings and gave up two or fewer runs.
