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SF Giants Press Clips

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

San Francisco Chronicle

Giants Barry Bonds together again

John Shea

The Barry Bonds era is returning to Third and King streets.

The Giants’ icon with the tarnished resume is no longer the organization’s forgotten man. Or

forbidden man, if you will.

He’s now the forgiven man.

After a long and rocky hiatus, Bonds and the Giants reunited Tuesday with the announcement

that the home-run king has been named a special adviser to the CEO.

He’ll report to Larry Baer, at least technically. He’ll really be paid to be Barry Bonds. Except with

the new role, he’ll be in a more public venue as he represents the Giants for the first time in 10

years.

This opens the door for things that didn’t seem possible when Bonds last had a job in the

organization as a player. That was 2007, when Bonds was under investigation in the BALCO

steroids case and about to be indicted on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction

of justice.

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He was booed in visiting ballparks, condemned by columnists and talk-show hosts, and shown

the door by the Giants.

What a difference a decade makes.

Bonds’ obstruction of justice conviction was overturned in 2015, ending an intense pursuit by

the federal government that lasted years, cost millions of dollars and put Giants employees on

the stand. His Hall of Fame candidacy has experienced a spike, thanks to newer voters focusing

more on numbers and older voters softening their stances on drug users.

And he was back in baseball full time last season as the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach. Now he’s

returning to more familiar turf.

Bonds always was welcomed by AT&T Park fans, who stood and cheered every time he

appeared at a game and was shown on the scoreboard — or threw out a ceremonial first pitch

— but he wasn’t fully acknowledged.

If indeed it’s the House That Bonds Built — he helped revitalize the franchise in the ’90s leading

up to the stadium groundbreaking — you wouldn’t know it by walking around the place.

There’s very little in the way of reminders that Bonds hit 586 of his record 762 homers as a

Giant.

Or won five of his seven MVP awards as a Giant. Or led the Giants to four postseasons,

including the 2002 World Series.

That will change. A ceremony will be held this season to include Bonds on the team’s Wall of

Fame, and his number — the same 25 worn by his father, Bobby, a Giants star in the late ’60s

and early ’70s — will be retired at a later date.

And eventually … a statue, though nothing is set in bronze.

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The Giants’ stance has been that only Hall of Famers get their numbers retired and larger-than-

life likenesses unveiled. But times have changed. Bonds is viewed differently by the game and

its keepers, and the Giants are on board welcoming him back to the fold.

Bonds will do community events, the Giants say. He’ll visit minor-league teams to teach hitting.

He’ll be all things Barry, and that’s a far cry from the fall of 2007 when team executives Peter

Magowan and Brian Sabean held a news conference to sever ties with the homers king even

though Bonds wanted to play one more year.

This was at the height of Bud Selig’s commissionership, and there was talk that the owners of

the 30 teams blackballed Bonds on Selig’s command or at least as a favor to a pal, a Milwaukee

guy who was bummed that his friend Hank Aaron’s home-run record fell.

That seems like eons ago. Nowadays, Bonds is perceived in a different light by more people and

might be destined for the Hall of Fame, having secured 53.8 percent of the vote in the last

election. He has five years to reach the 75 percent required for Cooperstown induction.

In his new role, he’ll be in the company of Hall of Famers because no team does nostalgia like

the Giants.

On any given day, Willie Mays is in the clubhouse shooting the bull with players. Up in the press

box, on the broadcast level, Willie McCovey is closely monitoring the on-field action. And

Orlando Cepeda sits with friends behind the plate, taking in the sights and sounds.

All have statues, as does Gaylord Perry. Along with Will Clark, Jeffrey Leonard and Dave

Dravecky, all are assistants/advisers/ambassadors, and now along comes Bonds to join the

party.

The Bonds era is back.

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San Francisco Chronicle

Giants’ Will Smith out indefinitely; Morse has hamstring injury

Henry Schulman

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A baseball season, even in spring training, leaves no time to mourn

injuries.

Reliever Will Smith could be destined for Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow,

and Michael Morse might have lost his chance to make the team out of spring training because

of a hamstring injury.

Management took a few moments to absorb the news, then continued the daily business of

evaluating players on the field, forced to view the potential 25-man roster from a new angle.

Smith’s injury is the bigger blow. The left-handed setup man was diagnosed with a sprain of the

ulnar collateral ligament and a strained elbow muscle. He flew to San Francisco on Tuesday to

meet with team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki.

The typical result of this injury is the Tommy John operation, which would cost Smith the 2017

season and perhaps some of 2018. If the injury is not that severe, Smith could try rest and

rehabilitation.

“The player has to make the call,” said manager Bruce Bochy, who already has replacements in

mind. He said left-handers Steven Okert, Josh Osich, nonroster invitee Michael Roth and

even Ty Blach could pick up Smith’s innings and role.

Blach was to fight Matt Cain for the fifth rotation spot, but the lefty could be more valuable in

the bullpen. Bochy had him relieve Madison Bumgarner in Tuesday’s 5-3 victory over the

Padres. Blach pitched three innings and allowed one run.

Far from sounding forlorn at the thought of relieving, Blach flashed an I’ll-do-whatever-they-

want smile and expressed confidence that he could succeed out of the bullpen, as he did at the

end of 2016 in the regular season and playoffs.

Okert has had the best spring among the lefty relievers. He has not allowed a run in his seven

innings.

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The Giants acquired Smith in an Aug. 1 trade with the Brewers. He was a key contributor down

the stretch last year and ended the regular season with a 18 straight shutout appearances.

He was primed to assume a larger role in 2017 but missed the first three weeks of Cactus

League games with what was described as elbow inflammation. He was making his second

appearance Monday, against the White Sox, when he reinjured the elbow and had his second

MRI exam, which confirmed the UCL damage.

Morse strained his left hamstring a few innings earlier while running out a flyball. On Tuesday,

Morse walked through the clubhouse with the hamstring wrapped. He walked without a limp

and sounded upset about a report that this injury had cost him a chance to make the team.

“I’m good,” Morse said. “I’m not good-good. I’m lower-case good.”

But Bochy said Morse will be out at least two weeks, and the season opener is a week from

Sunday.

“If it was bad, I would have packed up and gone home,” Morse said. “If this happened earlier in

camp, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but it’s crunch time.”

Morse also faces a decision. On the first day of camp, he said if he did not make the team, he

would retire and go home to Florida. Now there is a third option: rehabbing his injury and going

to Triple-A Sacramento to get at-bats. He was not ready Tuesday to commit to that.

Bochy said he hopes it happens.

“He was playing really good ball, seeing the ball well, doing what he needed to do to make the

club,” Bochy said. “It’s not just the way he swung the bat. He was playing a good first base. We

put him in the outfield. He was moving around good. He was in good shape. That should show

him he’s got some baseball left — good baseball.”

Morse believes that and liked the way he has played.

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“It just sucks I had to get hurt,” he said. “I always thought I wasn’t done. I always thought I

could still play. I’ve just been dealt some bad cards the last couple of years. I proved to myself I

can still play.”

Morse’s good friend Hunter Pence also wants to see Morse get healthy, saying, “He’d be a big

help with the bat and in the clubhouse. I hope I get a chance to play with him.”

The left-field reserve options are slim. Mac Williamson is out of consideration for Opening Day

because of a quadriceps injury, and Justin Ruggiano has played terribly in all facets.

Nonroster invite Chris Marrero picked a good day to hit his sixth homer of the spring. The 28-

year-old former Washington National has played his way into contention for a job.

The Giants also could go with a utility player such as Aaron Hill, a career-long infielder who

looked like a natural when Bochy stuck him in left field Monday.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

Giants 5, Padres 3

Notable: Catcher Nick Hundley hit his first two homers of the spring, accounting for four of the

Giants’ five runs. He hit a solo shot against starter Trevor Cahill and a three-run drive

against Kevin Quackenbush. … Madison Bumgarner pitched two shutout innings, then

completed an 85-pitch day in the bullpen, by design. He wanted to face San Diego’s lineup just

once because he pitches against the Padres in the regular season April 8. Bumgarner’s final

spring start will be Monday against the Reds, giving him an extra day’s rest before the April 2

opener at Arizona.

Quotable: “I didn’t have anything else better to do and it’s spring training. Why not?”

— Denard Span on tagging and taking third on a fairly shallow fly to right by Joe Panik. Span

was safe because of a wild Hunter Renfroe throw.

Wednesday’s game: Giants vs. Brewers, at Maryvale, 1:05 p.m.

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San Francisco Chronicle

Giants hire Barry Bonds as special assistant

Henry Schulman

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Barry Bonds is finally coming home.

The Giants on Tuesday made a long-anticipated announcement that they have hired baseball’s

all-time home run leader as a special assistant to Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer.

Bonds will arrive in camp Wednesday to work with players over the final six days. During the

season, he will serve as a team ambassador, alongside other Giants greats of the past, then roll

up his sleeves and travel to the minors to teach prospects how to hit.

Moreover, as part of the agreement between Bonds and the club, he finally will be added to the

Wall of Fame on the King Street side of AT&T Park in a ceremony this season, with the date to

be determined.

The Giants also plan to retire Bonds’ No. 25, regardless of whether he is elected to the Hall of

Fame, the club’s historical threshold for that honor.

“That’s one of the things on the table,” Baer said by phone. “We’ve discussed it. It’s on the

table for coming attractions.”

Bonds and the Giants have not discussed a statue outside the ballpark, however.

Bonds said in a statement that he was excited to join the Giants in an official capacity.

“San Francisco has always been my home and the Giants will always be my family,” Bonds said.

“I look forward to spending time with the team, young players in the system as well as the Bay

Area community.”

This agreement comes 10 seasons after Bonds played his final game. His penultimate contract

with the Giants included a 10-year personal-services contract to be honored after his

retirement, but Baer said the arrangement announced Tuesday is new.

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It also is long overdue, but like everything involving Bonds, the process was complicated.

Bonds still wanted to play in 2008 and beyond and did not officially retire. The Giants also were

reluctant to hand him an role while he faced federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

His lone conviction was overturned on appeal in 2015.

Bonds then wanted to be a major-league hitting coach, which the Giants declined to offer

because they had one in Hensley Meulens. So Bonds became the Marlins’ hitting coach last

season. He lasted one year before he was let go.

All of which led Bonds back to San Francisco.

“Sometimes it’s not a straight line,” Baer said. “It takes a while or it’s a bit circuitous. But I think

it’s the right outcome. It seemed the time was right for both sides.”

Bonds will attend team functions such as the Play Ball Lunch and take part in ballpark

ceremonies. He might spend some time with the big club, like other former Giants such as Will

Clark, but his main focus will be instructing prospects.

“It’s something he’s interested in and something we’re interested in, conveying his knowledge

of hitting,” Baer said. “I don’t think anyone would argue with the fact that he’s a hitting genius.”

Bonds joins his godfather, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda and others as Giants

ambassadors. Mays has been at Giants camp but will leave Wednesday morning and not be

there when Bonds arrives.

Baer would not divulge the length of Bonds’ contract but said, “We don’t see this as a one-year

relationship. We see this as we do with our Hall of Famers, that he’ll be around for quite a

while.”

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San Jose Mercury News

Brandon Crawford scores winning run to send USA to WBC final

Daniel Mano

Brandon Crawford crossed the plate in the eighth inning Tuesday to give the United States the

go-ahead run in an eventual 2-1 win over Japan to make the World Baseball Classic final.

Crawford and fellow Giants star Buster Posey each singled in the semifinal, plus Giants closer

Mark Melancon made his WBC debut Tuesday as the U.S. reached the tournament’s final for

the first time ever.

The United States will play Puerto Rico at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with MLB Network providing the

coverage from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Crawford’s one-out single to right field started an eighth-inning rally, with Ian Kinsler doubling

and Adam Jones getting Crawford home with a ground out.

In the bottom half of the frame, Melancon entered with the 2-1 lead. He struck out one and

allowed a hit and a walk over 2/3 innings of work.

Several Giants not playing took to Twitter immediately after the win to celebrate.

San Jose Mercury News

Giants Notes

Andrew Baggarly

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Madison Bumgarner wanted to face big league hitters. Giants pitching

coach Dave Righetti didn’t want the San Diego Padres, Bumgarner’s opponent in his second

scheduled start this season, to get multiple looks.

So they devised a compromise. Bumgarner pitched two innings and then went to the bullpen to

build up to 85 pitches.

“I was still going through their lineup,” Bumgarner said. “I just happened to not give up a hit in

the bullpen, and I struck everybody out.”

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Bumgarner will have just one more start in the 12 days before he’d pitch the April 2 opener at

Arizona’s Chase Field. The Giants had a tougher time than usual lining up the rotation this

spring, since there were two off days. They’ll have another day off April 3. So Bumgarner will

end up pitching with an extra day of rest each of the next three times he takes the mound.

Not that anyone is suggesting he needs more work.

“He’s ready to go,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We feel we got him where we need

him.”

Bumgarner struck out three in two innings and has a 2.50 ERA this spring. He has been as feisty

as ever, and exchanged some words with plate umpire Ben May when he didn’t get the call on a

curveball.

What if Bumgarner had been ejected? Would he have been allowed to go finish up in the

bullpen?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I could have gone out to the back field, probably.”

—

Left-hander Ty Blach followed Bumgarner in the Giants’ 5-3 exhibition victory over the Padres,

and allowed a run in three innings. Blach has a 5.02 ERA and allowed 19 hits in 12 1/3 innings,

but he’s also struck out 11 and issued just one walk.

Even if Matt Cain opens as the No.5 starter, there are many scenarios in which Blach makes the

team as a reliever – and those scenarios multiplied after left-hander Will Smith sustained a

significant injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.

“I feel comfortable doing that, and I had shorter stints in the playoffs,” said Blach, who was a

difference maker in September when he outdueled Clayton Kershaw in the final regular-season

series and then picked up a win in the Giants’ 13-inning victory in Game 3 of the NL Division

Series. “It’s just staying mentally prepared for any situation.”

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Blach said his curveball has been slow to come around this spring, but he threw some good

ones against the Padres.

“The last couple outings, the timing of everything has felt better,” he said.

—

Catcher Trevor Brown will miss a few more games and is wearing a walking boot after spraining

his ankle away from the field on last Thursday’s off day.

—

Right-hander Bryan Morris will be sidelined for several weeks after he fractured his foot when

struck by a line drive while throwing live batting practice.

—

Nick Hundley hit his first home run of the spring, and five innings later, he connected for his

second one. The backup catcher got off a slow start but has played well in recent days, and is

also making better throws to bases.

—

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins made two nice defensive plays, including a long run to snag a basket

catch in shallow left field. But he also was 0 for 3, he’s batting .094 and he might be holding

onto a locker only until Brandon Crawford returns from the World Baseball Classic.

—

Right-hander Cory Gearrin pitched for the first time since March 8 because of a cracked middle

fingernail on his right hand. He allowed a run on two hits in one inning.

—

Right-hander Derek Law continued his impressive spring while recording the save.

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—

In case you didn’t see it elsewhere, the Minnesota Twins have granted Ryan Vogelsong his

release so he can pursue other opportunities.

—

Maybe Denard Span heard those whispers from a national reporter that he has lost a step. He

hit a double, then challenged Padres right fielder Hunter Renfroe by tagging up on a medium fly

ball. Why did he go? “I mean, I had nothing else to do …” Span said, smiling.

The throw would have beaten him, but it was too high. Span said third base coach Phil Nevin

told him that he was lucky, because Renfroe had the best right field arm he’d ever seen. “He

called it an 8.5 on the 2 to 8 scale,” Span said.

San Jose Mercury News

Giants hope to persuade injured Michael Morse to continue his career

Andrew Baggarly

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Michael Morse had proven himself to the Giants. Before he strained his

left hamstring in a game on Monday, he had done enough impressive and improbable things

this spring to gallop his way onto the opening day roster. Now the Giants are hoping that Morse

proved enough to himself, too. They hope he will forego his pledge to retire in the event he did

not make the club, and instead put in the time to rehab the injury before working his way back

at Triple-A Sacramento.

“This should show him he still has some baseball left – some good baseball,” Giants manager

Bruce Bochy said. “So my hope is that he’ll rehab it.”

The Giants clubhouse had a different feel on Tuesday, after players learned that the MRI on

Morse’s hamstring showed the kind of strain that doesn’t get better in a week or two. The 2014

postseason hero, who negotiated his spring training invitation in a spontaneous conversation at

Hunter Pence’s wedding in November, has buoyed the club with his wide-eyed energy.

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“He worked so hard to get here and made such a big impact and showed what he could do,”

Pence said. “For the body to take a blow after all that, it’s tough.

“I love the guy here and we accomplished some amazing things in the year that we played

together. We have a friendship that will last a lifetime. So who knows? I don’t know what he

wants to do, but I’ll be there for him.”

Morse grabbed his hamstring after he strode aggressively into first base Monday in a game at

Camelback Ranch. A day later, he jumped on a chair in the clubhouse to show that he already

was doing better. He said he felt “good – lower case good,” and didn’t want to rule out being

ready for opening day. He wasn’t prepared to say what his future plans might be.

“If it gets to that point, I’ll think about it,” he said. “But right now, it’s about how I feel every

day. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself.”

Morse, who hit .265 with three home runs this spring, acknowledged that he might have

surprised himself while playing for the first time since the Pirates released him in April of last

year.

“I thought I’d do either really bad or, you know, really good,” he said. “And I thought I played

pretty good. It just sucks I had to get hurt. I don’t think this is something that’s going to stop me

from getting a shot at playing.”

Morse was able to maintain his sense of humor, though.

“I had to prove to myself I can still play,” he said, “and I proved to myself yesterday that I’m not

really a fast runner.”

Morse isn’t the only right-handed hitting outfield candidate knocked out of the competition by

a leg injury. Mac Williamson’s strained quadriceps is no small matter, Bochy said, and is likely to

keep him out a minimum of two weeks.

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Although Aaron Hill, Gordon Beckham and Jae-gyun Hwang have played some left field this

spring, the injuries to Morse and Williamson likely opens the widest opportunity for non-roster

invitees Justin Ruggiano and Chris Marrero.

Ruggiano can play center field in an emergency, which might give him a slight advantage. But

Marrero continued to outperform almost everyone in camp. He hit his team-best sixth home

run Tuesday.

“I just think being aggressive in the zone is keeping me on pitches,” said Marrero, who last

appeared in the major leagues in 2013 but is coming off an impressive season for Triple-A

Pawtucket. “I think they knew I could hit, but being in the National League, you’ve got to play

defense. I’m doing all my early work in the outfield and showing I can be out there without

them having to worry.

“I’ve run the bases hard. You have to do all the things it takes to help this team win. It’s not just

about hitting.”

MLB.com

Bonds joins Giants as special advisor to CEO

Chris Haft

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Barry Bonds made his seemingly inevitable return to the Giants on

Tuesday, when the organization announced that it had hired baseball's all-time home run

leader as a special advisor to club president and chief executive officer Larry Baer.

Bonds is expected to discuss his role on Wednesday, when he's due to arrive at Spring Training

camp to help provide instruction for a week. A Giants news release said that Bonds also will

represent the organization at various community events in San Francisco and will tour the

team's Minor League system to work with prospects.

Until now, Bonds never officially worked for the Giants since they declined to offer him a

contract following the 2007 season. His one-year stint as the Miami Marlins' hitting coach

ended when the team dismissed him immediately after the season ended.

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Meanwhile, casual fans and club insiders alike continued to assume that the Giants eventually

would employ Bonds in some capacity. He gained widespread popularity in the Bay Area during

his 15 seasons with San Francisco, winning five of his seven National League Most Valuable

Player awards and being named to 12 All-Star teams during that span.

The lingering cloud of performance-enhancing drug use that formerly enveloped Bonds legally

evaporated in Aug. 2016, when his conviction of obstructing justice during a government probe

into steroid use was overturned by a U.S. appeals court. That further cleansed the atmosphere

for a Bonds-Giants reunion.

"I think this was something everybody thought would happen as time wore on, that he'd be

part of the organization again," said former shortstop Rich Aurilia, one of Bonds' Giants

teammates for 10 years (1995-2003 and 2007). "There's one place where he's beloved and he'll

always be beloved. It's San Francisco."

Entire generations of Giants stars served the franchise in various capacities after retiring as

active players, from Mel Ott, Bill Terry and Carl Hubbell to Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and

Orlando Cepeda.

Said Aurilia, referring to Bonds, "Look at the names in the history of this organization. He's at

the top or second on that list." Aurilia's unspoken implication, that only Mays conceivably could

supersede Bonds, was clear.

"We are delighted to welcome Barry back home to the Giants," said Baer in the news release.

"As one of the greatest players of all-time, Barry's contributions to our organization are

legendary. He joins Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda and other distinguished

alumni who help advise the club and we look forward to working with him again."

Said Bonds in a statement, "I am excited to be back home with the Giants and join the team in

an official capacity. San Francisco has always been my home and the Giants will always be my

family. I look forward to spending time with the team, young players in the system as well as

the Bay Area community."

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MLB.com

Hundley homers twice, Bumgarner solid in win

Chris Haft

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Nick Hundley, whose hitting skills the Giants coveted, belted a pair of

home runs and lifted San Francisco to a 5-3 Cactus League victory Tuesday over the San Diego

Padres.

Hundley's three-run homer off Kevin Quackenbush in the seventh inning erased San Diego's 2-1

lead. Hundley also homered in the second inning for San Francisco's lone hit in five innings off

Padres starter Trevor Cahill.

Giants general manager Bobby Evans specifically cited Hundley's power as one of the backup

catcher's strengths when San Francisco signed him as a free agent in late January. Hundley hit

10 home runs in each of the previous two seasons with Colorado.

Another notable slugger was non-roster invitee Chris Marrero, who has a team-high six home

runs (including the March 8 Puerto Rico exhibition). Marrero homered in the eighth for the

Giants' final run. Marrero said that despite his power, a quality the Giants lack, he knows he

must master the game's subtler facets, such as defense, to make the team. "It's (part of) being

in the National League. You've got to play defense," said Marrero, adding that he also has

worked on sharpening his baserunning.

Meanwhile, Cahill strengthened his bid for a spot in San Diego's starting rotation while walking

two and striking out seven. Cahill entered the game with a 5.79 ERA, contrasting his opponents'

.216 batting average.

"I've felt pretty good all camp," Cahill said. "It's nice to get a good one under your belt and sit

down and get back up five different times. So I feel like I'm close [to being ready for the regular

season]."

Giants starter Madison Bumgarner worked only two shutout innings against the Padres before

retreating to the bullpen to increase his workload under controlled, simulated conditions. Ty

Blach, competing for the No. 5 starter's spot, worked three innings and allowed one run

on Erick Aybar's fifth-inning RBI single.

Padres Up Next: Jered Weaver will make his third start of the spring Wednesday when the

Padres head to Surprise to face the Royals at 1:05 p.m. PT on MLB.TV. He will be looking to

work up to five innings. Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand -- the trio expected to

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anchor the back end of the Padres' bullpen -- are also scheduled to pitch.

Giants Up Next: Matt Cain, striving to remain in the Giants' pitching rotation as its No. 5

starter, will confront the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday in a 1:05 p.m. PT encounter. Albert

Suarez also is expected to pitch for the Giants.

MLB.com

Protecting Bumgarner a wise move for Giants

Anthony Castrovince

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It was a strange sight Tuesday, the kind of sight the exhibition schedule

tends to specialize in: Madison Bumgarner left a start after just two innings.

Because we're so close to Opening Day, this would ordinarily be a siren-summoning situation

for Giants fans -- especially on a day when the club was already dealing with injuries to lefty

reliever Will Smith and Michael Morse. But in this case, the abrupt scoreless outing, in which

he allowed two hits while striking out three in the Giants' 5-3 win, was a byproduct of

Bumgarner's desire to see some Padres hitters before ceding some innings to Ty Blach and

throwing the rest of his pitches in the bullpen at Scottsdale Stadium.

"I was still doing innings down there and going through their lineup," Bumgarner said. "I just

happened to do it in the bullpen. I struck everybody out."

We'll have to take Bumgarner's word for it on those imaginary outcomes. But what we know is

that the Giants have gotten creative with his schedule in this Cactus League season. Bumgarner

made this brief start on five days' rest. He'll make his next two -- including Opening Day at

Chase Field on April 2 (though San Francisco still hasn't blared the trumpets and made that

obvious announcement just yet) -- on five days' rest as well.

Exactly 1,500 innings into Bumgarner's big league career, counting both the regular season and

his epic Octobers, a little March manipulation makes sense.

"He's been carrying a heavy workload," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We want to take care of

him."

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A question that has arisen often is whether the Giants will take care of Bumgarner financially.

Not that he's strapped for cash, but his current contract -- an extension reached in 2012 --

currently rates as one of the most team-friendly pacts in baseball. Bumgarner will make $11.5

million this year, with two more club options of at least $12 million a season for 2018 and '19.

He can make a little more based on how he fares in the Cy Young Award voting, but still, that's a

bargain.

"In my mind, I wanted to outperform it anyway," Bumgarner said. "I'm not a big gambler. That's

why I did that."

Because the luxury tax is calculated based on the average annual value of in-house contracts

and not the exact figures for a single season, San Francisco could not extend Bumgarner's

current deal at the going market rate -- in the case of an elite starter like this, you're talking

somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million per year -- without it affecting its current

burden at a time when the club is already aligned to pay a 50-percent tax on every dollar north

of $195 million.

That's probably the best explanation why a new deal with the Giants does not appear

imminent.

So what you have instead is a typical spring for Bumgarner. It's the same unique arm angle --

that long, straight arm coming at you at three-quarters angle and then whipping across his body

-- and the same strike-throwing, batter-challenging "let's see what you got" mindset, albeit with

some slight schedule tweaks of late to make sure the workhorse will be ready for his workload.

Every starter in every camp claims to be training to throw 200-plus innings, but only 15 guys

were on that increasingly elusive list in 2016, and Bumgarner has been on it each of the past six

years.

There is an art to the way Bumgarner approaches his craft and earns his outs. At a time when

intel is seemingly everything, this guy goes into his outings without a specific approach in mind

for how to attack a given lineup on a given night.

"You just adjust," Bumgarner said. "If your stuff's different or you're not able to make a pitch,

19

you've got to figure out what you have to get through the lineup that day. That's why I don't

have a game plan when I go out there. I just try to read the situation and see the hitters. If you

have a set plan, a lot of times you miss that stuff and you just get dialed into what you wanted

to do and you end up sticking with it, whether it's working or not."

Bumgarner has said this spring that his mechanics were actually off-kilter the past couple years,

years in which he nonetheless notched the two best strikeout rates of his career. The 2016

season -- when he had a 2.74 ERA, a 149 ERA+ and 251 K's while facing a league-high 912

batters -- was his best yet.

Asked to explain what, exactly, was off, Bumgarner said the answer would require a three-hour

sitdown. So again, let's just take his word for it and assume he knows his body best. Let's also

assume that if Bumgarner performs as well and feels as well in the real games as he has in this

camp, the high standard that is a typical Bumgarner year is on tap.

"He's ready to go," Bochy said.

Even for just two innings, it's an awesome sight to see.

MLB.com

Giants bracing for bullpen without Smith

Chris Haft

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- After experiencing an almost idyllic Spring Training that was mostly devoid

of controversy or adversity, the Giants suddenly must confront injuries to three key performers

who could be sidelined for prolonged periods.

Left-hander Will Smith, considered potentially the top setup reliever for closer Mark Melancon,

has both a sprain and a strain in his throwing elbow that may require surgery.

First baseman/outfielder Michael Morse, who was cheerfully overcoming the odds against him

as he tried to make the Opening Day squad as a non-roster player, injured his left hamstring

while rounding first base Monday and will be shelved for at least two weeks, Giants manager

Bruce Bochy said.

Outfielder Mac Williamson, who was competing with Jarrett Parker for the left-field vacancy,

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also is expected to miss at least two weeks as his injured left quadriceps heals.

Smith's health is a primary concern, given the possibility of surgery and his unique position on

the club. The Giants' mostly young and relatively inexperienced bullpen has no obvious

candidates to perform setup duties besides Smith, a five-year veteran.

Smith, who was sidelined with inflammation in his left elbow earlier in Spring Training,

interrupted what was only his second Cactus League appearance Monday against the White Sox

when he felt discomfort and walked off the mound. Bochy pointed out that a re-injured area

typically requires more recovery time than usual. The Giants' medical staff continued to

examine Smith on Tuesday.

"I see [Smith] being down for a little while, but it's hard to say exactly how long until I find out

what's going on," Bochy said.

Smith's misfortune alters the Giants' left-handed landscape. Rookie Steven Okert, who has not

yielded an earned run in six appearances, almost certainly will make the team. The same goes

for Josh Osich (despite his 7.11 ERA). Ty Blach, a contender for the No. 5 starter's spot, could be

tried in relief. Blach's 5.02 ERA is deceiving, particularly given his 11-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Bochy also mentioned Michael Roth, a non-roster invitee who has big league experience with

the Angels (2013-14) and Rangers (2016).

Morse, meanwhile, was batting just .258 but had compiled an .859 slugging percentage. The

Giants envisioned him as a much-needed source of power off the bench and as a right-handed-

hitting complement to Parker, the left-handed hitter who's likely to be San Francisco's primary

left fielder.

Asked whether he'd consider trying to play himself back into game shape at Triple-A

Sacramento after rehabilitating his injury, Morse told reporters he's not sure. "I don't know. I

don't want to think about that yet," said Morse. "If it gets to that point, I'll think about it, but

right now it's [about] how I feel every day. I don't want to get ahead of myself."

Morse's likely stretch of inactivity widens the opening for other non-roster position players

seeking bench roles, such as Aaron Hill, Jae-gyun Hwang and Chris Marrero.

Williamson, who hasn't played since last Wednesday, is batting .324 with two home runs. Only

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recently has the Giants' staff begun to comprehend the severity of his injury.

"Mac's a little ways away," Bochy said. "He did a pretty good job with that quad."

By "pretty good," Bochy meant that Williamson is hurt pretty badly, which has dampened some

of the enthusiasm of the Giants' spring.

CSNbayarea.com

Barry Bonds joins Giants front office

Alex Pavlovic

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants announced Tuesday that Barry Bonds has joined the

organization as a special advisor to president and CEO Larry Baer. Bonds will join Giants camp

on Wednesday.

Bonds will represent the organization at community and organizational events in San Francisco

and will spend a week in camp. During the season, he will visit the organization's minor league

teams to work with prospects.

"I am excited to be back home with the Giants and join the team in an official capacity,” Bonds

said in a statement. “San Francisco has always been my home and the Giants will always be my

family. I look forward to spending time with the team, young players in the system as well as

the Bay Area community.”

Baer said the Giants are "delighted" to make this move, which had been in the works for awhile.

”As one of the greatest players of all-time, Barry’s contributions to our organization are

legendary," Baer said. "He joins Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda and other

distinguished alumni who help advise the club and we look forward to working with him again.

”

Bonds spent the final 15 seasons of his career in San Francisco, hitting 586 home runs for the

team. He won seven NL MVP awards and made 14 All-Star teams. He spent last season as the

Marlins' hitting coach.

22

CSNbayarea.com

Giants spring training day 37

Alex Pavlovic

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There is no doubt at this point that Jarrett Parker will face Zack Greinke

and the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day. What the Giants do for the leftover left field at-

bats early in the season remains a mystery.

Michael Morse is out at least two weeks. Mac Williamson is also out at least two more weeks

with a quad strain.

"Mac's a ways away," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He did a pretty good job on that quad."

A month ago, Justin Ruggiano would have been the heavy favorite to pick up the slack. But the

veteran lefty-masher is batting just .194 this spring, and even a recent uptick has included some

plays that bothered the coaches. Ruggiano was twice thrown out on the bases Monday and on

Tuesday he double-clutched before making a late throw after a Padre was caught flat-footed

between first and second. The door to a roster spot is wide open, and another right-handed

hitter is trying to charge through it.

Chris Marrero had two more hits Tuesday, raising his spring average above .300. He hit his sixth

homer, and it's no fluke. Marrero slugged 23 homers in Triple-A last season for the Red Sox

affiliate.

"This guy has had an impressive spring," Bochy said. "He plays first base, outfield, he's a right-

handed bat. Mike (Morse), with his injury, it obviously shortens the competition up a little bit.

Chris is just doing all he can. It's been a great spring for him."

Marrero said he comes to the park every day with the idea of leaving the staff thinking, "Look

what Marrero did today." So far, so good.

"I'm just trying to go out there and be aggressive," he said. "I know (the opposing pitcher) is

trying to get ahead, especially late in games. I think being aggressive in the zone is keeping me

on pitches. I think (the staff) knows I can hit. But being in the National League, you've got to

play defense. I'm out there early working in the outfield and showing them that I can do that."

It's hard to tell what the Giants will do at this point. Morse was pretty close to a lock, but it's

wide open now. There are surprises every spring, and with a week left in Scottsdale, it looks like

Marrero might just be that guy in 2017.

ICYMI: A very busy, busy morning down here. The big early news: Barry Bonds has returned to

23

the organization. He'll be in camp Wednesday.

"He's been here before, this is not something that's new to us," Bochy said. "He'll help out just

like the other guest instructors, (currently Will Clark and Rich Aurilia) and those guys. We could

put together a pretty good team with all the instructors. More than anything, he'll work with

Bam Bam and the hiters. We welcome him here."

There are no firm plans yet, but it's expected that this will open the door for a Wall of Fame

ceremony, number-retiring, statue and all that in the coming years.

TRAINER'S ROOM: The Giants will know more about Will Smith on Wednesday, but the early

diagnosis is not good.

FAMILIAR FACE: Ryan Vogelsong was granted his release by the Minnesota Twins. Per their

beat writers, Vogelsong asked for the move. This gives him a few extra days to try and find a

rotation slot elsewhere.

FLASHING THE LEATHER: Jimmy Rollins made the play of the day, running deep into left field

for a basket catch of a flare that came one batter after a similar ball dropped in right-center.

Rollins has proven over the past month that he can still play shortstop. He’s also hitting just

.094.

GAME RECAP: Nick Hundley hit his first two homers of the spring, driving in four runs. He's

batting .323 ... Cory Gearrin (cracked nail) returned to the mound and pitched an inning ...

Madison Bumgarner pitched two innings and then went down to the bullpen to get up to 85

pitches for the day. That was the plan created by Dave Righetti so Bumgarner wouldn't have to

face an NL West lineup three or four times. He'll see the Padres the first weekend of the

season. When he was down in the bullpen, Bumgarner pretended he was facing all the hitters

who were in the San Diego lineup on Tuesday. "I struck everybody out," he joked.

QUOTABLE: There was a national story the other day noting that Denard Span hasn't looked

good. The Giants disagree (Alex Pavlovic does, too) and Span has certainly looked pretty athletic

over the past couple of weeks. He's running much better than he was a year ago, when he was

coming off surgery. It seems Span saw that story. He lined a double off the left-field wall in the

sixth and then tagged up and took third on a medium fly ball to right.

"It was my last at-bat, I was coming out of the game. I didn't have anything better to do," he

said, smiling. "It's spring training. Why not?"

A lot has gone wrong on the injury front the last few days, but most of the damage has been

done to the edges of the roster. The leadoff hitter looks to be much-improved, and that's one

positive to take away from this stretch of ball.

24

Yahoosports.com

Meet the unlikely hero who lifted the U.S. into the championship of the WBC

Tim Brown

LOS ANGELES – Maybe you hadn’t given a lot of thought to Pat Neshek, the journeyman reliever

whose appearances here have been weighty, if quite brief, and whose right-handed delivery is a

hiccup-y sidearm ballet.

“Yeah, I got called really late,” he said of his place on the pitching staff for Team USA. “I think a

lot of guys musta said no.”

He grinned. The U.S. will play for the World Baseball Classic championship Wednesday night

against the firebrands of Puerto Rico, undefeated darlings, flag-wavers and bottle-blondes of

the tournament. Twenty-four hours after Puerto Rico beat the Netherlands at Dodger Stadium,

the U.S. knocked off previously undefeated Japan, 2-1, with an eighth-inning run that was

followed by the most critical pitch for the Americans of the past two weeks.

It was a changeup. Neshek threw it at, oh, 69 or 70 miles an hour. Japan’s cleanup hitter –

Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh, for whom they sang songs from the left-field bleachers – hit it. As the

ball carried into the gloom toward right field, Japanese runners at first and second base

sprinted ahead, and catcher Buster Posey turned his head abruptly, and people in the seats

behind home plate stood with their hands in the air, and Neshek briefly considered his role

here.

“I haven’t really had much room for failure,” he said. “If they get a hit I’m the worst player

ever.”

Indeed, warming up in the bullpen during the eighth inning, Neshek had been told he’d face a

right-handed hitter. So he threw mostly sliders, which is his best weapon against righties. Got it

going pretty good, actually. Felt good. Summoned to the game with two out and those two

runners on base, a one-run lead to guard, the championship game close, he arrived at the

mound to a few instructions from Posey.

“I think changeups,” Posey said.

“I don’t really throw changeups to righties,” Neshek said.

Posey at that point notified Neshek the next batter – that being Tsutsugoh – hits left-handed.

Left unsaid, he hits a lot of home runs, too.

Neshek nodded and thought, “OK, now I wish I’d thrown more changeups.”

The best part of the WBC, or if not the best a really intriguing part, has been the themes of

unfamiliarity. Names that don’t register. Games that have gone un-scouted, or were scouted

once and let be. The tournament is in that way, and at times, an incredibly pure contest. The

night before, on this very field, Rick van den Hurk, Jair Jurrjens, Shairon Martis, Tom Stuifbergen

25

and Loek van Mil very nearly pitched the Dutch past the Puerto Ricans. If nothing else, the

tournament has been a reminder there are a lot of good ballplayers out there, and there’s

maybe an inch or two that separates the good ballplayer who stretches his budget to pay the

rent from the major leaguer, and the stuff that fills that inch or two may be luck or injury or a

tick of bat speed or a secondary pitch that just won’t come or who knows. But it’s there. Or,

more accurately, not there. And so they wait and hope and say yes to putting on a uniform and

playing in the WBC, because maybe somebody will notice and, if not, it’ll be a good time.

Now, Neshek has pounded out a nice career in the major leagues. He was an All-Star once. He’s

earned life-changing money, a couple times over. Then he stands on a pitcher’s mound in the

third week of March, his heart thumping, feeling the weight of the nation stitched across his

chest, staring in at the plate, wondering who the heck this guy is. And then where that ball’s

gonna land.

“Baseball’s a game where you kinda have to have the tools to stick around,” he said. “Then if

you have the tools you have to stick around for 162 games. A lot of guys can do it for a couple

weeks. A couple months.”

So you may drag your finger down a roster of names. From Colombia, say. Or Israel. Or Italy.

Even the Netherlands. Some of those names you know. Others, maybe not. And then you hold

that roster up against the U.S., the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and you shade that with

your own bias of who you know and what you know about the U.S. major leagues and, perhaps,

wonder how all these games got so competitive.

Because there are good players who can do this, because the difference between your favorite

player and a guy playing right field in, say, Mexico is barely noticeable to the eye. And, then,

over three hours or two weeks, that guy might actually be better. That happens in hardly any

other sports.

On the other hand, the two presumed best teams in the WBC – Puerto Rico and the U.S. – will

also play the last game of the WBC. On the other, other hand, this is the fourth WBC and the

U.S. has never before played for the title.

The bright and brassy commotions from the left-field bleachers lit an otherwise grayish Dodger

Stadium, darkened by a heavy sky and puffs of misty drizzle. Fans backed away from the field,

into rows protected from the elements by ledges overhead. Below them, the infield shined in

patches where the dirt began to hold water.

Meanwhile, the tiny band played. There were trumpets and horns and drums. A whistle or two.

Somehow, they filled the ballpark. Some of the musicians played from memory, others played

with one hand while holding sheet music in the other. They belted out their odes to this guy or

that, their heroes from Japan, while countrymen swinging flags of Japan sang along. It was part

WBC, part high school football game, part juke joint.

26

There had not been a rainout at Dodger Stadium since 2000, and the old place gamely slogged

through three hours of umbrellas, yellow slickers and the occasional hydroplaned grounder.

Andrew McCutchen singled home Christian Yelich with two out in the fourth inning. Yelich

reached on a two-base error, when his hard grounder skipped off Japanese second baseman

Ryosuke Kikuchi and into right-center field.

The U.S. led, 1-0, until the sixth inning, when the right-handed-hitting Kikuchi, listed at 5-foot-7,

152 pounds, drove a fastball from Nate Jones over the right-field fence. Dodger Stadium in early

spring does not yield many opposite-field home runs, and certainly not to many 152-pounders.

Redemption’s a hell of a drug.

In the eighth, Brandon Crawford singled and Ian Kinsler slammed a double to left-center field.

Crawford reached third base, only the third U.S. baserunner to do so. Adam Jones hit a two-

hopper to Japan’s third baseman, Nobuhiro Matsuda. Crawford broke to the plate on contact.

Even a decent throw and he was out by 15 feet. Instead, Matsuda dropped the grounder. It fell

in front of him. Crawford scored. The U.S. led, 2-1.

Mark Melancon, the San Francisco Giants’ new closer and a fresh addition to manager Jim

Leyland’s bullpen, got two out in the bottom of the eighth, but also left two runners for Neshek.

When the count was 1-and-2, Neshek threw that changeup, the one he likes against lefties, and

Tsutsugoh pulled it in the air. The music played. The crowd gasped.

“I really wasn’t worried,” Neshek said. “Then I saw people behind the plate stand up. I was like,

‘Wha…?'”

Tsutsugoh had put a good swing on a pitch he’d not seen before, against a pitcher he’d not

seen before. But the ball had crept a few inches toward his hands, enough to take the sting off.

McCutchen caught that ball in the middle of right field. Then he cast it over his head, backward,

into the bleachers. In the dugout, Neshek caught Posey’s eye. He smiled. He raised his

eyebrows.

“Yeah, yeah,” Neshek said, “it’s fun. We win tomorrow, it’s gonna be crazy.”

27

ESPN.com

WBC needs serious commitment or just get rid of it

Buster Olney

Adam Jones's robbery of Manny Machado's would-be home run and Machado's respectful

salute to his Baltimore Orioles teammate will be the highlight of the World Baseball Classic. But

there have been other indelible moments. Such as Javier Baez's no-look tag, as he pointed at

teammate Yadier Molina. Or Machado's seemingly daily series of web gems.

Or Nelson Cruz's home runs. Or the intimidating power of Wladimir Balentien. Giancarlo

Stanton denting Petco Park. The last outs in the surprising wins for Team Israel. The homeland

pride spilling out of the players and the fans in hugs and shouts and smiles. And if you want to

go full circle, Jones's hometown home run.

We wouldn't remember any of these plays if they happened in plain old exhibition games, a

reality that should inform about the potential that the WBC carries and inspire an industry-wide

conversation. The time has come for all sides to go all-in on the WBC or pack it in, because

unless everybody wholly embraces the event -- from the players to the union to Major League

Baseball -- it's never going to become what it could and should be: An annual celebration of the

sport that draws worldwide attention.

As it stands, there are just too many folks who are just half-in. Every four years, a primary WBC

storyline is which stars are skipping the event, mostly for the U.S. team. There is perpetual

conversation about how MLB needs to better market its stars, but in this case, some of the

biggest stars are declining the opportunity to participate.

Some of the teams cope with the WBC passive-aggressively, sending mixed messages to some

players that they aren't necessarily wild about their participation, with club staffers stewing

about how their best players are in somebody else's camps. Some players believe that Major

League Baseball needs to step up its commitment to give the participants the necessary support

they have grown to expect during the regular seasons and postseasons.

"It's like they're running a high school baseball tournament, instead of something special," said

one player.

So it's time for everybody involved to decide if they’re going to ante up with the World Baseball

Classic and forcefully construct something lasting. And if that's not going to happen, if there's

not going to be a full commitment, it's better to fold the event.

If the players association wants to create the best possible product, with the players benefiting

financially, there needs to be more leadership and a change in the culture. The players are full

partners with MLB in the event, taking one-third of the revenue; MLB gets one-third, and the

28

last third goes to the World Baseball Softball Confederation and the federations involved.

If a player is coming back from an injury, hey, it makes sense that he would sit out the

WBC. Max Scherzer has been fighting a ring finger problem and he hasn't been fit to participate,

but a lot of stars have chosen to simply sit out -- and the event would be better if they

participated. If the WBC evolved from mediocre to something really good and lasting, all of the

players would benefit.

It's as if the union agreed to a tug-of-war and some of the biggest, strongest guys walked away

from the rope.

Major League Baseball needs to listen to what the players are saying about improvements in

the event -- how families are handled, transportation, medical treatment, security. Players who

leave their respective teams have to believe that MLB will make arrangements on the par with

what happens in the postseason. If a player is asked to participate and wants to participate, he

should be shepherded all the way through insurance issues, which didn’t happen universally.

The start times need to be more television-friendly, so that an extraordinary play like that by

Jones is seen by more than a small handful of fans.

And if the WBC is to continue and progress, the 30 MLB teams should embrace the

competition. When a player is picked, the teams should promote that the way they do All-Star

selections in July, and treat it as an honor, rather than a nuisance. There is injury concern, of

course, for all teams.

Maybe the teams have too much at stake, too much invested in the players to ever be wholly

comfortable with the WBC; and if that’s the case, well, then end it. But if the WBC is going to

move forward, then the teams need to buy in.

Because it could be great and could be used to fuel interest in the sport around the globe, much

in the same way that hockey is helped by international competition. And the WBC could inject

new life into the All-Star week events.

The bulk of the WBC could be played in spring training annually, with the semifinals and

championship games becoming part of All-Star week in July. On Monday, the Home Run Derby.

On Tuesday, the WBC semifinals. The All-Star Game could be played on Wednesday, with the

managers focusing on player participation, leading up to the WBC final on Thursday. Then the

sport takes a three-day weekend for rest. The players could get more rest in midseason,

something the union has requested. The sport would command the world stage, in what is

generally a sleepy sports week, and checks could be cashed by all sides.

29

The players are in midseason condition at the All-Star break, and the WBC semifinals and finals

every July would presumably be at least as compelling as what we’ve seen in the event this

spring, from Jones to Machado to Stanton. If all sides double-down and the history and the

rivalries between the countries deepen year to year, the players and MLB could shape

something that lasts.