Tag: Taylor Rogers

Giants release J.D. Davis to clear 3B job for Chapman

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Former San Francisco Giants third baseman JD Davis rounds the bases during an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers in Scottsdale AZ on Fri Mar 1, 2024. Davis was released by the Giants on Mon Mar 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants released third-baseman J.D. Davis to clear the way for the recently-signed Matt Chapman to be the team’s everyday third-baseman.

This move was inevitable after the Giants signed Matt Chapman to be their everyday third-baseman on March 3. The Giants placed Davis on waivers on Saturday, and then outright released him Monday. This was despite the fact that Davis was 6-for-15, hitting .400, this spring.

There was also some drama between the Giants and Davis over the off-season. Davis took the Giants to arbitration, and while the Giants offered him $6.55 million for the 2024 Season, Davis was awarded $6.9 million by the three-person arbitration panel.

“We negotiate[ed] all of our arbitration cases in good faith, and tried to reach an agreement with all of our arbitration-eligible players, [Davis] included,” said Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi. “Sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn’t.”

Due to a clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Giants will not have to pay Davis the $6.9 million that he won in arbitration. The clause stipulates that players are guaranteed the pay in negotiated contracts, but are not guaranteed the pay in contracts decided by arbitration until Opening Day.

With the release coming prior to Opening Day, the Giants will not have to pay Davis the $6.9 million, but they may have to pay him over $1.1 million in termination pay. The CBA states that termination pay applies to players who “failed to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability.” With Davis’ .400 spring thus far, the Giants stand a good chance of not having to pay Davis the $1.1 million-plus.

After Chapman signed with the Giants, it was speculated that Davis could have been traded, but with the Giants unable to find a suitable deal for him, they opted to release him instead.

The Giants acquired Davis from the New York Mets on Aug. 2, 2022 at the Trade Deadline in exchange for Darin Ruf. Davis hit .263 with eight home runs in 49 games for the Giants in 2022. He then hit .248 with 18 home runs last season, but he struck out 152 times.

Teams that are looking for a power bat could benefit from signing Davis, who will now become a free agent.

Other Notes:

With Opening Day in San Diego on March 28 now two and a half weeks away, the Giants are making cuts.

Among the cuts was Heliot Ramos, who at one point was not just one of the Giants’ top prospects, but one of the highest-ranked prospects throughout Baseball. However, Ramos has struggled mildly in recent years, especially over the last two seasons.

Ramos was called up by the Giants to start their second game of the 2022 Season against the Miami Marlins on April 9. Ramos went 2-for-3 in that game, and scored a run. However, over the rest of that stint, as well as three others later in the season, Ramos did not record another hit, and ended up hitting .100 in nine games.

Last season, Ramos saw a bit more time with the Giants, and he appeared in 25 games. However, his stats did not improve the way the Giants would have liked, as he hit .179.

Ramos came into camp this spring hoping to bounce back, and he hit a home run against Jordan Hicks in live batting practice. However, once games began, Ramos’ struggles continued, as he was just 2-for-16 in nine games.

The Giants have some competition for bullpen spots this spring. With Camilo Doval set to begin his third season as the Giants’ closer, as well as Taylor and Tyler Rogers set to precede Doval late in games, there are battles for other spots in the bullpen.

The Giants cut left-handed relief pitcher Erik Miller, who despite yet having to have his major league debut, was considered a candidate to make the team. Miller appeared in three games, and gave up four runs, but just one earned run in three innings.

Manager Bob Melvin has stated that he would like one more left-handed reliever to accompany Taylor Rogers in the bullpen. Ethan Small, who is on the 40-man roster, remains an option. Juan Sanchez, and the veteran Amir Garrett, who are in camp non-roster invitees, are also potential options.

While the Giants have not announced their rotation, Logan Webb is set to make his third-straight opening day start, and Kyle Harrison, the Giants’ top prospect, is set to be the number-two starter.

Webb and Harrison talked to NBC Sports Bay Area. The two starters discussed working out together over the off-season in Arizona, as well as how despite being two completely different pitchers, have the same attitude when they compete and take the mound.

With Jordan Hicks being transitioned from a reliever into a starter, and Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray not set to join the rotation until later in the season, Webb and Harrison are expected to be the Giants’ top two starters.

Harrison was called up late last season on Aug. 22, when the Giants were in Philadelphia. He gave up two earned runs over three and a third innings against the Phillies in his major league debut. That was followed by an 11-strikeout, six-and-a-third-inning shutout performance against the Cincinnati Reds in his home debut at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Aug. 28.

Harrison made five more starts for the Giants, including the final game of the season against the Dodgers on Oct. 1, in which he pitched five shutout innings, but also hit three Dodger batters.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Posey answers questions about managing partner Johnson political donations; plus more

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Former San Francisco Giants catcher and part owner Buster Posey talked about team managing partner Charles Johnson and his donation to some controversial politicians this week. (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Former San Francisco Giants catcher and current part team owner Buster Posey was thrown into the political forum and was asked by the press about managing partner Charles Johnson whose donations in the past have been questioned when Johnson had donated to such controversial Republican politicians as Herschel Walker, US Rep Lauren Boebert, and Rep Scott Perry to name a few. Buster answered saying that while Johnson is a nice fellow he met him just a couple of times.

#2 With the new position as part owner this puts Posey in a new light and with Johnson who donated to extremists, those who supported the insurrection, and Q Anon supporters. Posey told Andrew Baggerly in a Athletic interview “I have only been around him a couple of times. They’ve been wonderful. That’s all I’m going to say about it. I can only speak to my own interactions.”

#3 Michael, talk about some of the young prospects that you’ve seen. Catcher Joey Bart has had a good spring at the plate and calling pitches and working with the pitchers.

#4 Turning to another subject that the players on the field are trying to solve the baseball clock and Giants starter Alex Cobb was no different he talked about working on his rhythm on either the 15 second clock with the bags empty or a runner on for 20 seconds. Cobb was called for a clock violation after pitching to the San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr when the clock ran out. Cobb is not used to pitching as he puts it a bang bang style of game.

#5 With the new rules in place Michael and just using pitchers in the past who pitched in quick games could a Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Juan Marichal. or Sandy Koufax could have kept up with the today’s pitch clock?

#6 Not ready to see double yet: Pitcher Taylor Rogers pitched in his first spring game on Tuesday and struck out two hitters while twin brother Tyler sat because of a scratched finger that was reported to be minor.

Join Michael for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Bills Hamlin vitals normal on breathing tube; Nevin acquired by Tigers for cash; Plus more news

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Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin (right) takes a hit from the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (left) in Cincinnati on Monday Night Football Mon Jan 2, 2023 (still photo from ESPN Monday Night Football)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Amaury, We’ll start the podcast with the tragic Monday Night Football story as last night the Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin took a hit that appeared to be in head and upper body area from Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins who was charging full speed on a carry. Hamlin got up after the hit and then collapsed, medics applied CPR and he was taken immediately to a local Cincinnati hospital where it was learned that Hamlin listed in critical condition and was out to sleep to have a breathing tube down his throat according to his marketing agent Jordan Rooney.

#2 Staying with football Amaury, this a rough and tumble game if you stand on the sidelines no matter what league it is the CFL, Arena football, high school, college, or the NFL it’s a collision sport and guys know a serious injury can result and medics have to make quick decisions how to treat a player such as the case in Damar Hamlin last night.

#3 We switch to MLB, the Detroit Tigers have acquired infielder Tyler Nevin from the Baltimore Orioles for cash last Saturday. Nevin hit .197 in 58 games for the Orioles hit two home runs and 16 RBIs. Nevin is the son of Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin.

#4 San Francisco Giants team president Farhan Zaidi said that the move to end their agreement with the Carlos Correa was not an 11th hour decision and that the Zaidi said the Giants that as soon as the Giants had the information regarding Correa not passing the physical he shared it with the media.

#5 The Giants are ready for the Taylor and Tyler Rogers bullpen show to begin. Taylor who did a introduction call with the media on zoom said that this was a too good to be true situation and that this just so happens to be with the Giants and he said that if happens great if not great too.

#6 New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge named as the 16th captain in Yankees history has been voted the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for 2022. Judge who set the American League record for the most home runs with 62 edged out other pro athletes Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Angles who finished second and Golden State’s Stephen Curry finished in third.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Two out ninth inning Hit By Pitch leads to A’s 5-4 victory over the Twins

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

7-21a
Photo/Graphic: @Athletics

by Charlie O. Mallonee

In the top of the ninth inning, the Oakland Athletics trailed the Minnesota Twins 4-3 with two outs when Mark Canha came to the plate to face Taylor Rogers. Rogers threw Canha a slider that hit the batter on the back foot to give the A’s a runner to keep the inning alive.

Ramon Laureano hit a double to left field that moved Canha into scoring position at third base. That set the table for Khris Davis who hit a line drive to the right side of the infield that deflected off the glove of first baseman Ehire Adrianza that allowed Canha and Laureano to score. The A’s took the lead 5-4.

The Twins did not go quietly into the night

The A’s brought in Liam Hendriks to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth. It was clear right from the first batter that Hendriks was not as sharp as he usually is on the mound. He had pitched on Friday night and that may have taken a toll on his effectiveness.

Hendriks ended up loading the bases with just one out. Mitch Garver came to bat and hit the first pitch from Hendriks on the ground to the shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien underhanded the ball to Profar who had plenty of time to make the throw to Olson at first to complete the double play. Just that quickly, the A’s had won the game 5-4.

A’s Spotlight

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Liam Hendriks celebrates the save Photo: @Athletics

  • Blake Treinen (3-3, 4.46) was credited with the win. Treinen pitched 0.2-innings giving up one hit and walking two hitters.
  • Liam Hendriks picked up his eighth save of the season while working his way out that ninth-inning jam.
  • Starting pitcher Brett Anderson did not figure into the final decision and had to leave the game due to a blister on the left middle finger. His status is listed as day-to-day.
  • Matt Olson extended his hitting streak to 15 games which is now the longest active streak in baseball. Olson is now hitting .295 (18-for-61) with four home runs over the 15 games.
  • Ramon Laureano recorded his 29th multi-hit game and fifth consecutive contest on Saturday night. The young outfielder has hit 20 home runs this season.
  • Mark Canha hit his 16th home run of the season on Saturday night. He is now just one home run short of tying his career-high of 17 which he set last season.

Twins Notes

  •   Taylor Rogers (2-2, 1.97) was the losing pitcher. Rogers was also charged with a blown save – ouch!
  • Minnesota starting pitcher Jose Berrios worked 5.2 innings and gave up no runs, but he did not figure into the final decision.
  • This was the first loss this season for the Twins when they were leading after eight innings. They are now 53-1 when leading after eight innings.
  • The Twins have hit 181 home runs this season tying them with the Dodgers, Brewers, and Braves for the most home runs hit in the Major Leagues.
  • Miguel Sano hit his 14th home run of the season in the game, but it was just his second round-tripper at Target Field this year.
  • Nelson Cruz hit his 379th career home run on Saturday night which allowed him to pass A’s coach Matt Williams on the All-Time list.

Up Next

The A’s and Twins wrap up this four-game series on Sunday at 11:10 PM PDT. Oakland will send RHP Daniel Mengden (5-1, 4.21) to face the Twins RHP Michael Pineda (6-5, 4.38).