It’s amazing what a little roster shake up and about 30 hours can do for a team. The Giants limped into Wednesday night’s third game of a four game set with the Padres licking their wounds. Especially up and down the lineup. But Tuesday turned to Wednesday, and with it came reprieve. San Francisco stacked back to back wins to split the four game set with the Padres and send fans into the weekend feeling alright about the club.
A pair of excruciating losses on Monday and Tuesday night left an awful taste in the mouths of fans and those within the organization, so much so that President of baseball operations Buster Posey initiated a seismic roster shift ahead of Wednesday’s contest.
LaMonte Wade Jr, one of the Giants’ longest tenured players, was designated for assignment after two brutal months at the plate. Backup catcher Sam Huff was also cut loose. Utility infielder Christian Koss was designated for assignment, and the Giants called up journeyman outfielder Daniel Johnson. Sf also signed First baseman Dominic Smith to a major league deal.
It was time, but that doesn’t mean it’s not emotional.
In the wake of this shake up, Posey met with reporters ahead of Wednesday’s game to discuss the rationale and what can be expected from the Giants’ new additions. One thing that made the Wade Jr. DFA difficult on a personal level is the fact that Posey and Wade were teammates.
It also sounds like Posey was just about as fed up with the Giants’ offensive futility as most fans.
You can never get enough Buster Posey content on your timeline, or in this case in your Thursday afternoon Giants bulletin. The Giants’ legend and current POBO joined Murph & Markus on Thursday morning for the second straight week. Luckily, it came after the Giants’ much needed Wednesday night win via six run “Outburst.”
He highlighted the ways the lineup cna benefit from shuffles, and how each roster move the team made on Wednesday had a distinct rhyme and reason. He also was of course asked about prized prospect Bryce Eldridge, whose promotion from Double-A to Triple-A on Tuesday was overshadowed by Wednesday’s events. At the beginning of the season, Posey told Murph & Markus not to expect to see Eldridge in the Majors this season. His tune has changed, even if just a little. Eldridge is on the doorstep of the big leagues, and more big time success at the Triple-A level could force the club’s hand.
Posey also took time to explain what he meant on Wednesday when he poignantly said to reporters, “it’s time to go.”
Wednesday’s six runs to come back and beat San Diego 5-4 must have felt to the Giants what the taste of rainy freedom felt like to Andy in Shawshank Redemption. Here’s how it sounded on KNBR when Heliot Ramos smoked a game tying seventh inning double.
The Giants have effectively righted the ship after a two game gut punch that could have sent them spiraling. They won’t have much time to celebrate, as the Braves come to town for a three game set beginning Friday night.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the stars were out in full force at Oracle Park on Thursday afternoon.