Giants Splash: Updates on Pagan’s injury, Hudson’s rotation spot
Giants Splash:
Updates on Pagan’s injury, Hudson’s rotation spot
UPDATE, 11:40 p.m.: I know you've heard this one before, but Angel Pagan's knee injury might not be as bad a first feared.
After Friday night's 8-6 loss to the Rockies, manager Bruce Bochy termed Pagan's injury "a day-to-day thing," saying Pagan is doubtful for Saturday's game.
Bochy said the disabled list was possible, or possibly a "five- to seven-day thing" that might dissuade the Giants from using the DL.
[...] if history is a guide, Pagan still might miss a few games.
[...] Tim Hudson addressed the possibilty that his five-run, 6 2/3-inning effort Friday might be his last start for a while, with Matt Cain scheduled to pitch on Hudson's next turn, Thursday in Miami.
Whatever moves they decide to make, if they feel like it's in the best interest of the club, everybody should be on board with it.
[...] we've got a pretty crowded house in our rotation.
Angel Pagan could miss considerable time with a left-knee injury that occurred when he banged it against the wall in Thursday's 13-8 win against the Padres
had an MRI and X-rays Friday.
A team doctor will review the results later Friday afternoon.
Pagan could be headed to the disabled list.
With Hunter Pence and Nori Aoki already out, the entire projected Opening Day outfield is on the shelf, and the Giants have few internal options to replace Pagan.
If you look at our depth in the outfield, we're a little thin.
(Juan) Perez has had an up-and-down year and he's hurt.
Bochy said if the medical staff projects Pagan being out for five to seven days, the club might not disable him and just play short.
The Giants also promoted left-handed reliever Josh Osich from Double-A to Triple-A for the same reason.
With Jeremy Affeldt going on the disabled list with a left-shoulder strain, Javier Lopez is the only lefty in the pen, and the Giants want to see what Osich can do at a higher level.
The Giants have another lefty at Sacramento, Steve Okert, but his numbers have not been great.
Affeldt has dealt with left-shoulder stiffness for some time, and Bochy said the arm is tired.
Thursday was such a time, when he faced four batters and retired none in the Padres' six-run eighth.
Matt Cain said he felt good in his final rehab start for Sacramento on Thursday night and is ready to rejoin the major-league rotation for the first time in almost a year.
The revised lineup without Pagan:
Belt LF
Jeremy Affeldt has not been right for much of this season, and manager Bruce Bochy has alluded to Affeldt not being physically right.
Affeldt faced four batters and did not get an out in the Padres' six-run eighth inning Thursday.
The Giants open a three-game series against the Rockies on Friday night, with Tim Hudson perhaps making his final start before being removed from the rotation.
Matt Cain, who allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings in his final rehab start for Sacramento on Thursday night, is expected to pitch in Hudson's slot Thursday at Miami (supposedly facing Jose Fernandez in his return from Tommy John surgery).
The Giants are 3-6 against the last-place Rockies, including a three-game Colorado sweep at AT&T Park.
The Giants made a couple of interesting minor-league moves Friday.
Most notably, they promoted outfielder Mac Williamson from Double-A to Triple-A.
The third-round pick from the 2012 draft is batting a very healthy .293/.366/.429 in the hitter-unfriendly Eastern League.
When Nori Aoki went down with a leg fracture, I asked about the possibilty of Williamson coming to the majors and was told that, while he is on the front office's radar, Williamson needs more minor-league at-bats.
At some point, however, the Giants need to see what they have in Williamson, the closest outfield prospect to reaching the majors.
The Giants also promoted two hot-hitting position players, second baseman Austin Slater (Stanford) and outfielder Hunter Cole from Class A San Jose to Richmond.
[...] outfielder Daniel Carbonell and first baseman Angel Villalona were domoted from Richmond to San Jose.
Andrew Susac is back in the lineup, with Buster Posey at first base and Brandon Belt in left:
Belt LF