Two weeks after Giants’ reliever Hunter Strickland hit Nationals’ start Bryce Harper in the hip with a 98-mile per hour fastball that led to a benches-clearing brawl, Strickland is still waiting to serve his suspension.
The good news? Major League Baseball finally heard Strickland’s appeal hearing on Tuesday morning, which means the Giants’ pitcher should hear a verdict soon regarding whether or not his six-game suspension will be reduced.
The bad news? It’s unlikely Strickland’s suspension will be reduced by more than a game or two at most, and when he does end up serving it, the Giants won’t have much roster flexibility.
Strickland said Tuesday that his hearing with MLB lasted roughly two hours, and that he thought the hearing went as well as it could have. He also said he regretted putting his team in a compromising position, and regrets that kids had to witness such a violent brawl.
When MLB reaches a final verdict, the Giants will be forced to play with a 24-man roster for the duration of Strickland’s suspension. San Francisco is currently carrying 13 pitchers, including eight relievers, and 12 position players, and when Strickland serves his suspension, manager Bruce Bochy said the club will carry 12 pitchers and 12 position players.
“We really can’t make any moves of that sort and bringing up a pitcher because we can’t go down another position player,” Bochy said. “We’d just like to get the news as soon as possible. And I’ll be honest, I’m hoping to get the news today. Because with the day off, we’re fresh in the bullpen so that would allow us to use guys how we want to and kind of keep things in order as soon as possible the next two days before we hit Colorado.”
The Giants’ skipper said if the club doesn’t receive a verdict on Strickland’s suspension by this evening, then Strickland will likely pitch tonight so that the team can take advantage of his arm before he’s unable to contribute.
“I’m not going to lie, that’s part of the deal,” Bochy said. “I figure he’s going to know today or tomorrow. If it’s not today, then you’ll probably see him pitch tonight.”
One possible move Bochy hinted at making while Strickland serves his suspension is swapping out infielder Conor Gillaspie with a position player when Gillaspie finishes his rehab assignment with AAA Sacramento. Bochy said Tuesday that Gillaspie is expected to start his rehab assignment on Wednesday.
