SACRAMENTO – Giants manager Bruce Bochy isn’t having second thoughts about squeezing an extra start out of Madison Bumgarner prior to the All-Star break.
But Bochy wasn’t happy that the league and NL manager Terry Collins already named Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon as a replacement for Bumgarner on the NL All-Star roster.
“They aren’t supposed to do that until he throws a pitch (on Sunday),” Bochy said. “Something like this can come back to bite them.”
Even though Bumgarner wouldn’t be eligible to compete in the All-Star Game, he’ll be in San Diego for all the festivities – and then he’d take the ball for the Giants at Petco Park on Friday to start the unofficial second half. Bochy confirmed that plan, and gave a glimpse at how the rest of the rotation would shake out.
Although Bochy prefers to keep Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto on back-to-back days, the manager said he could look to give Cueto an extra day depending on the right-hander’s workload in the All-Star Game. Cueto is certain to pitch for the NL on Tuesday, and with Noah Syndergaard no longer eligible because of injury, the Giants’ right-handed co-ace looks to be the leading candidate to start the game.
Starters typically pitch two innings instead of one.
“I’ve got to think he’s the frontrunner,” Bochy said. “That's not being biased, that's looking at the numbers. I don't know what Terry is going to do, but if you look at the numbers, they speak for themselves."
The Giants could move Jeff Samardzija in between Bumgarner and Cueto for next weekend’s series against the Padres.
Bochy also confirmed that right-hander Matt Cain would return to the Giants rotation in the two-game interleague series at Fenway Park, provided a final rehab start goes well. Cain is scheduled to pitch for Single-A San Jose at Lancaster on Friday.
Cain yielded just one hit in six shutout innings Friday night for Triple-A Sacramento. He also covered first base twice and said his twice-strained hamstring has become an afterthought.
“It’s not like I’m trying to trust it,” Cain said. “I can run, cover first, and it feels good. I’ve been throwing all through this, so I don’t feel I’d lost too much. It’s just about getting the competitive juices going again and getting mentally ready.”
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One guy who probably won't rest easier until he sees Bumgarner throw an actual pitch on Sunday: AL manager Ned Yost. He's learned this lesson the hard way, in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.
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Third baseman Matt Duffy is experiencing more soreness in his Achilles tendon, so the Giants are dialing back his program a bit. Duffy is now questionable to return before the next road trip ends July 24, Bochy said.
The same is true for second baseman Joe Panik (concussion) and Hunter Pence (hamstring tendon surgery). Panik is doing more baseball activities and could be getting closer to a rehab assignment. The Giants still plan to announce Pence’s rehab schedule on Sunday.
Infielder Kelby Tomlinson (sprained thumb) continues his rehab work for Sacramento and should be further along, but he’s batting just .160 in seven games. So Bochy put him in the same group with the other players. Infielder Ehire Adrianza (fractured foot) will begin his rehab assignment with San Jose on Wednesday, and stay with them for at least a week before continuing to Sacramento.
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Right-hander Michael Broadway, whom the Giants designated for assignment on Monday, is likely headed for Japan. The Giants were completing negotiations to sell his contract to the Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars. First with the news was @GiantsProspects.
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Andrew Susac doubled and homered while catching Cain on Friday. Don’t count out Susac as someone who could be a second-half contributor with the big league club. It’s been a tough year for him, but he appears to be coming around with the bat.
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I’m told the Giants are optimistic that their Spanish broadcasts will be back on the air very soon. Erwin Higueros and Tito Fuentes haven’t called the action on this homestand because the station that carries their ESPN Deportes broadcasts, KRTB, was sold and changed its format. The Giants and ESPN Deportes expect to find a new home in time to carry the games after the All-Star break.
That is certainly good news, since the Spanish broadcasts are not only professional and entertaining, but they are an important link to the community.
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A reminder that the Giants are holding their eighth annual Junior Giants Stretch Drive over the weekend. Fans who donate $50 to the community fund will receive a Duffy bobblehead.
More info here.
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Lineups feature the two biggest NL All-Star snubs in Brandon Crawford and Jake Lamb:
2B Segura, CF Bourn, 1B Goldschmidt, 3B Lamb, RF Tomás, LF Drury, C Gosewich, SS Ahmed, LHP Ray.
CF Span, LF Pagan, 1B Belt, C Posey, SS Crawford, RF Williamson, 2B Green, 3B Tejada, RHP Peavy
The post Giants notes: Bochy displeased that league announced a replacement for Madison Bumgarner, club dials back Matt Duffy's rehab pace etc. appeared first on Giants Extra.