Giants right fielder Hunter Pence is DL-bound after an MRI revealed an oblique strain, reports Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area (Twitter links). The team’s hope is that Pence will only be sidelined for a couple of weeks (though that’d make a very quick recovery from an oblique injury). For Wednesday’s game, they’ll play a man short, with Nori Aoki slated to return from the seven-day DL on Thursday.
The loss of Pence is the latest addition to a long list of injuries incurred by the Giants in 2015 as they strive to keep pace with the Dodgers, who currently lead the NL West by two and a half games. The Giants have been without Aoki since last week after he was diagnosed with a concussion — marking the second DL stint of the season for Aoki, who missed more than a month with a fractured fibula. Joe Panik is also on the shelf and isn’t expected back until September, which has prompted some interest in Philadelphia’s Chase Utley (though it looks like Utley will be staying put).
For Pence, this marks the third DL stint of an otherwise productive season. He’s slashing .275/.327/.478 with nine homers in 223 plate appearances this season, but the absence of his bat has sapped the Giants’ lineup of some notable punch. San Francisco has been tied to outfield bats on and off over the past month or so, and given the thin state of the club’s outfield depth — Angel Pagan is also presently on the disabled list — some form of move to fortify that area of the roster wouldn’t be all that surprising.
Our entire starting OF on DL :/
Thankfully, it is only August..
This is why you trade for legit major league depth at the non-waiver deadline when you have none on your roster if you are in a pennant race. Justin Maxwell, Ryan Lollis, and Juan Perez aren’t going to cut it.
Hello Mr. Fowler. He would be a great fit for the Giants. If they can add Utley also they would be stacked… But the latter seems unlikely
Mr. Fowler? Please tell me this isn’t referring to Dexter Fowler… Cause if it is, I woudn’t even know how to respond
Especially when you’re chasing the Cubs and Pirates for the WC, and the Dodgers in your own division..
Wasn’t Juan Perez starting in the World Series last year for them? Either him or Travis Ishikawa, who also isn’t good. They’re kinda use to this.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they find some 2015 version of Pat Burrell or David Ross to help the team in the final stretch.
*Cody Ross.
The Giants’ outfield will be OK as long as opposing pitchers stop beaning Aoki. Maxwell is a fine reserve OF. I’d rather see Blanco starting in CF every day and keep Pagan on the bench.
In my mind I said Cody, but I guess it came out as David. Glad you knew what I meant.
And I agree with you on Blanco. He has done nothing but prove he deserves the starting role in CF. Defensively, offensively, health-wise… he’s the better player, by a long shot.
I agree with you on Blanco. If Pagan is gets another start in center this year I’m really going to start questioning Bochy. Maxwell, on the other hand, is totally worthless with the bat. All his production came in the first month or so of the season. He is a late defensive replacement at best. They need to add a Marlon Byrd type like today.
Maxwell’s glove has been very good as of late. Yes, his bat isn’t good, but he offers the Giants defense. Stick him in the #8 slot and let him be of value in the field.
I didn’t think about a guy like Byrd, although he’d still need to likely pass through waivers (advantage for SF is that other teams lower than the Giants don’t have a reason to claim him at this point).
At this point Maxwell isn’t even the big concern. It’s the fact than Ryan Lollis is on the big league roster and starting baseball games. That’s a no go no matter how you slice it.
Not much of a choice but to start him right now. He got one start, and even got a hit (although that doesn’t justify anything).
Aoki is expected to be activated tomorrow… so Lollis, I’m guessing, will be optioned back to Sacramento.
Garrett Jones would be an ideal pick up for the Giants.. He could be signed for the prorated portion of the league minimum and would provide more offense than other options that are available.. As far as shopping on the scrap heap he is probably the best choice..
Dexter Fowler cleared waivers. Maybe he can fill in?
Why on Earth would the Cubs trade a guy to a team that is chasing them? Not to mention, they don’t have anyone else to play CF for them if they do. Silly comment.
^This is why the ‘thumbs up’ system is moronic. This guy gets 3 thumbs down? God, this comment section has gone to hell.
Agreed. This new commenting system is brutal and most of the post are just as bad. I feel like 90% of people on here are trolls now
Comments like these clearly help raise the level of discourse on this site….
Maybe the Giants should have put in a waiver claim on Will Venable…
Papa Max would have been proud.
DeAza might be a good trade candidate. He has played well for the RSox ; he is rumored to be going elsewhere however. Hey maybe Hanley could help you—I’m sure Dombrowski could make you an offer you couldn’t refuse.
An offer they can’t refuse… so, his contract paid for and Hanley magically cured of all fielding woes?
Where does Sabean sign?
Marlon Byrd is available