(John E. Moore III / Getty Images)
Giants supervisor Bob Melvin acknowledged the coincidence (it is not irony, Alanis) that he’ll make his San Francisco debut in San Diego, town he exited in October with a yr remaining on his contract. The followers at Petco Park made their emotions heard immediately, booing Melvin in pregame introductions.
“It’s a little bit distinctive that we open up right here,” Melvin mentioned whereas assembly with reporters within the visiting dugout. “Even final yr after we did not carry out properly, these guys get your consideration. It’ll be an fascinating 4 days. It’s a very good staff and A.J. (Preller) did an amazing job in turning this factor over. Having to scale back payroll, bringing within the arms he did, mentioning younger gamers within the system, I feel he did a implausible job at building this roster at a lesser cost. It’s a very good staff.”
The Padres pared payroll underneath Preller whereas buying and selling Juan Soto, however traded for strikeout artist Dylan Cease and retain a gifted hitting core that continues to earn Melvin’s wholesome respect.
The Giants, in the meantime, went within the reverse fiduciary course. They have been outspent solely by the archrival Los Angeles Dodgers whereas committing practically $400 million in assured money to a flurry of free brokers together with a commerce for rehabbing former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray. Jung Hoo Lee will make his main league debut when he sees the primary pitch of the season; he is in middle area and batting leadoff. Newly signed designated hitter Jorge Soler, who has an opportunity at turning into the primary Giant since Barry Bonds (in 2004) to hit 30 home runs in a season, is within the No.2 spot. And the free agent Melvin coveted most of all, Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman, is the cleanup hitter towards Padres right-hander Yu Darvish.
Even with shortstop prospect Marco Luciano starting within the minor leagues, the Giants have 4 rookies on their season-opening roster. Along with Lee, right-hander Landen Roupp and left-hander Erik Miller will likely be searching for their main league debuts. It’s additionally the primary Opening Day for touted rookie left-hander Kyle Harrison, who’s scheduled to pitch on Saturday. Catcher Patrick Bailey, who completed third in final yr’s Gold Glove balloting as a rookie, can be on the Opening Day roster for the primary time.
The Giants went with 12 pitchers and would possibly have the ability to wait till Monday at Dodger Stadium, once they want a fifth starter, earlier than ramping as much as 13. In the meantime, carrying an additional position participant permits them to hold Joey Bart, who had an excellent spring however is out of choices and prone to be misplaced on a waiver declare every time a 3rd catcher turns into a roster luxurious that they can not afford.
In addition to Melvin, the Giants have one other 2023 Padre on their lively roster. But Blake Snell, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, will not pitch within the season-opening four-game sequence. Snell was at Petco Park for the opener however will return to Arizona on Friday to pitch in a minor league sport. He’s not injured, so other than volunteering to go on the restricted checklist (and forfeit a prorated portion of his wage), there was no different method for the Giants to navigate this. They’ll play a person brief for so long as Snell requires, which may very well be everything of their seven-game street journey to San Diego and Los Angeles.
