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The San Francisco Giants offense is coming off a four-game series against the San Diego Padres in which they managed just five runs. Almost the entire lineup failed to produce this weekend, but the focus seems to be on two lesser-known names.
The Athletic‘s Andrew Baggarly joined Murph & Mac to discuss the Giants’ uninspiring series in San Diego, as well as the team’s decision to roll out outfielders Connor Joe and Michael Reed into the starting lineups. The Giants fanbase has questioned the move to add these two players to the final roster ever since it was announced on Thursday before Opening Day. Baggarly believes that it’s not just the fans who are questioning the moves.
“Some guys are going to want (the addition of Reed and Joe) explained to them, while some guys are going to be like ‘Okay, this is my teammate, this is who they think is best, and I have to do my part to take the pressure off them,’” Baggarly said.
Both Joe and Reed struggled in their first series with the Giants. The two combined to go 0-15 with nine strikeouts, while only getting on base once through the first four games. Their lack of production has fans up in arms, but Baggarly expects Joe to have a longer leash throughout the beginning of the season.
“Connor Joe is a Rule-5 pick, Farhan (Zaidi) has traded for him twice, and I think you can carry an experiment like this and see how it goes,” Baggarly said. “He has actually had some good at-bats, and I like that when he swings, he takes an aggressive swing, and I know Bruce Bochy appreciates that too.”
Reed was brought on to split time with rookie Steven Duggar while providing a right-handed bat to complement him in center field. Initially, the Giants had other players in mind for that role, who failed to produce this spring.
“The Reed one is the one that really kind of surprises me,” Baggarly said. “I thought they would have a better right-handed complement who can play center field. Obviously, Cameron Maybin was the guy they brought in that didn’t work out. They had the Rule-5 guy Drew Ferguson who really didn’t work out. They cut the cord on Ferguson after 40 spring at-bats, how long will they give Michael Reed?”
If neither Reed nor Joe pan out, the Giants may find themselves in a tricky situation. With very few options in the system, it’s not clear who could replace those players.
“What alternatives do they have?” Baggarly said. “It’s not like Austin Slater had a good spring. It’s not like Mac had a good spring. Maybe Alen Hanson clears waivers and we see him back up here at some point. That’s a real problem on this team right now; they don’t have somebody that they feel confident in to go out there and play center field and bat right-handed.”
There’s a reason both Reed and Joe were brought on — they get on base, and Zaidi really likes them. Even with their early struggles, they should be given plenty of chances to show they can produce.
“They’re going to give Michael Reed more time, but this is a guy that’s gone through a couple of organizations,” Baggarly said. “It’s not like he’s someone who has flown under the radar.”
The Giants will take on the Dodgers and their red-hot offense Monday night. Both Reed and Joe will search for their first hit in a Giants uniform, while the rest of the offense looks to heat up against their rivals.
Listen to the full Andrew Baggarly interview here:
