Tag: Mike Tauchman

Offensive Options Aplenty: Giants have what it takes offensively, can their pitching keep pace?

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By Morris Phillips

A look at the Giants’ roster moves on Monday ahead of their two-game visit to Anaheim to face the Angels show the team has the wherewithal to keep its offensive production at a division-winning level.

Now what can they do to bolster their starting rotation and bullpen?

The Giants announced that LaMonte Wade Jr. and Jason Vosler had been demoted to make room for Darin Ruf and Alex Dickerson, who are ready to return to action following recent injuries. Wade was a surprise given his versatility and production thus far in June, but with a minor league option remaining, he was moved where a struggling Mike Tauchman or Austin Slater might have been candidates.

Meanwhile, the club keeps humming. Six wins in a seven-game homestand with five of those games the team producing double-digit hits have the team batting average above the MLB average for the first time this season at .241 (.239). The team’s calling card–majestic home runs–have continued their record pace, the Giants now are tied for the lead in homers with 107 (Toronto Blue Jays). That combination of numbers, along with a very competitive 3.32 ERA (4th best in MLB) for the team’s staff show that winning close games with big hits is a proven formula. 72 games into the season, the Giants continue to lead the NL West and have the best record in baseball.

But with the Dodgers and Padres breathing down their necks, they can’t afford to stand still. Additions to the pitching staff appear to be the best way to improve the club. Don’t expect anything pricey with so many big ticket players available this offseason, and the Giants ready to pounce with many of their heavy contracts expiring, but an additional starter and a versatile bullpen arm appear to be at the top of the list.

Regarding the starting rotation, two things appear clear: the team won’t be patient with Aaron Sanchez, who has biceps issues, but also a reoccurrence of his blister issues that have slowed his production in recent years. And while the club is ecstatic with the 25-year old Sammy Long, he hasn’t won a rotation spot based on one start and three, encouraging appearances.

And don’t expect much movement roster-wise in the coming two weeks. The Giants have an advantage schedule with two days off surrounding their trip to Anaheim, then home games leading up to the All-Star break starting with a visit from the A’s. Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Padres are beating up on each other in a series that starts tonight in San Diego. If anything, a 70-game start like the Giants have had has increased their patience: they’re unlikely to fade even if they struggle head-to-head with their two division rivals.

The Giants open their two-game set on Tuesday with Anthony DeSclafani facing Andrew Heaney at 6:38pm.

Giants day off report: New acquisition makes immediate contribution

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San Francisco Giants Mike Tauchman didn’t waste anytime showing off his hitting talents at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies on Wed Apr 28, 2021 proving to be a good acquisition (photo from nj.com)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 29, 2021

It didn’t take long for newly-acquired Mike Tauchman to make a contribution to the San Francisco Giants offense.

No sooner did Tauchman arrive on Wednesday after a deal with the New York Yankees, he delivered an infield RBI single to help the Giants defeat Colorado 7-3 at Oracle Park. The outfielder was dealt to San Francisco by the Bronx Bombers in exchange for left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta and a player to be named later.

Tauchman was hitting .214 in 11 games with the Yankees. In his five-year MLB career with the Yanks and Colorado, the 30-year-old Tauchman has a .250 average with 26 doubles, 13 home runs, 63 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

Peralta was 2-1 with two saves and a 5.40 earned run average in 10 appearances – all in relief – for the Giants this season. He is 9-9 with a 4.72 ERA and two saves in nine big league seasons with the Giants and Cincinnati. The 29-year-old lefthander joins lefties Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson in the Yankee bullpen.

Tauchman draws a $624,200 major league salary; $301,550 if he plays in the minors. He could eligible for arbitration after this season. Peralta makes $925,000, is eligible for arbitration following this season, and can become a free agent in two years.

The Giants currently have three players on the injured list – Jarlin Garcia (April 21, left groin strain), Donovan Solano (April 22, strained right calf) and Mike Yastrzemski (April 26, strained left oblique).

The Giants travel to San Diego for a weekend series against the NL West third-place Padres. Kevin Gausman (1-0, 2.14) starts for San Francisco on Friday against the Padres’ Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.27). The other Giants probables for the series are Logan Webb (1-1, 4.03) on Saturday and Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.50) on Sunday.

Welcoming Walks: Rockies provide gifts, as Giants roll to a 7-2 win

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Well, it’s like a walk in the park, or even better, like walking your dog.

Just know, when it goes down at a Major League park, it’s only good for the walkers… seeing highly paid competitors on the other side of a walk parade standing around their infield positions, slumped with their heads down, trying to figure out how their big league clubs reverted to Little League all of a sudden will simply make you uncomfortable.

The Rockies did all of that Wednesday night, as Colorado pitchers issued nine walks–and surrendered nine singles–in their 7-3 loss to the Giants. Alex Wood no-hit the visitors into the sixth inning as well, but now we’re just dumping on the dog. The Giants are playing well, but this one was really about how poorly the Rockies competed.

“That’s unacceptable for a big-league pitching staff to walk nine guys,” manager Bud Black said.

Three of the walks came with the bases loaded–that’s only happened three times in the history of the Rockies–and each one sucked the life out of the team starting in the second inning. Starter German Marquez issued a pair of the costly walks, essentially half of a four-run inning that put the Giants comfortably in front.

The Rockies fell to 1-8 on the road this season, one night after they hit three homers after the eighth inning and drew seven walks, all signs of a club being dialed in even with a string of undesirable results. But Wednesday, the Rockies dialed out and the Giants pounced.

In the seventh, Mike Tauchman, in his three-hit Giants’ debut, reached on an infield single that scored Evan Longoria. The next batter, Curt Casali drew the third, bases loaded walk from Yency Almonte, and the Giants led 6-2. Wilmer Flores, not patient enough to see a couple of balls, concluded the scoring with a hard hit single that plated Brandon Crawford.

“He was exactly as advertised,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of Tauchman, acquired from the Yankees in s deal for reliever Wandy Peralta. “Comfortable in the outfield. In the batter’s box, he’s a fighter. Very competitive.”

Wood did what many were anticipating, he added a third, brilliant outing to his brief career with the Giants, improving to 3-0 with 20 strikeouts and three walks. The 30-year old was sharp throughout with his slider, and just needed a near diving catch from Darin Ruf to extend his spell on the Rockies to seven innings. The eighth however was a struggle for Wood, who was lifted after allowing three singles and a walk consecutively.

“I feel like I’m dialed in, and I had all three (pitches) working tonight,” said Wood, no longer burdened by the back and shoulder issues that caused the Dodgers and Reds to lose patience with him in recent seasons. “Just commanding the ball well right now.”

The Giants improved to 16-9, tied with the Dodgers atop the NL West. Pitching continues to be their calling card, they rank second in team ERA at 2.93. But the potential of their offense, with 31 home runs despite an anemic, team batting average of .224 gives them hope for even greater growth once their bats gain efficiency.

After winning 5 of 7 at home, the Giants start a stretch of 20 of 28 on the road starting with a Friday night date with the Padres at Petco Park.

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