Andrew Baggarly-Mercury News
The Giants were disappointed in their left-handed relievers last season, so it's no surprise that Jack Taschner and Steve Kline face plenty of competition this spring.
The group includes two pitchers the Giants are almost certain to lose if they don't make the club. Erick Threets, who has been stashed on the 40-man roster for years, is finally out of minor league options. And Jose Capellan is a Rule5 draftee who must be offered back to the Boston Red Sox if he isn't carried on the major league roster all season.
The group includes two pitchers the Giants are almost certain to lose if they don't make the club. Erick Threets, who has been stashed on the 40-man roster for years, is finally out of minor league options. And Jose Capellan is a Rule5 draftee who must be offered back to the Boston Red Sox if he isn't carried on the major league roster all season.
The Giants also have Pat Misch and Jonathan Sanchez, though Manager Bruce Bochy said both left-handers would be stretched out to pitch multiple innings. Sanchez, in particular, will be groomed as a starter even though Kevin Correia is expected to win the final rotation spot.
"You can't have enough depth in your starting staff," Bochy said.
Kline is under contract for $1.75 million this season but is not guaranteed a job; left-handers batted .318 against him last year. Taschner wasn't much better (.316), and he has a minor league option remaining.
Taschner's biggest problem was maintaining his stuff and command while making a career-high 63 appearances. He was mostly effective when pitching with rest, posting a 4.28 ERA while allowing 33 hits and 22 walks over 40 innings. But in the 18 appearances when he pitched with no rest, Taschner had a 9.90 ERA, allowed 11 hits and walked eight over 10 innings.
Taschner said he never balked at getting warm, even if he was tired or sore. He plans to be more candid this year.
"There's times you've got to say you need a breather," Taschner said. "We're all young guys and it's a new manager. Nobody wanted to back out of a chance to pitch. There were seven guys who did that."
Kline, who dropped 40 pounds over the winter, pointed out that he didn't allow a home run to a left-handed hitter. Of the 27 hits he allowed to left-handed batters, 23 were singles.
"But I've got to prove I can get back to my old stature," Kline said. "I understand that if you don't do the job, it's hard for them to rely on you."
The Giants will give Threets, 26, every chance to win a roster spot. Though his days of throwing 104 mph are long gone, Threets still hits the low 90s and has a major league change-up. He is coming off consecutive solid seasons at Triple-A Fresno and competed well in the Mexican League this winter.
"You never know when it's going to click," Bochy said. "That's why he's here in camp. There's very few guys who have his type of arm from the left side."
Said Threets: "It's time that I show them something."
That's true for all the left-handers, including the incumbents.
"It's not something I panic about," Taschner said. "I don't think I'm far off. Most guys have the luxury to do it at 23, but I've had to do it at 29 because of all the injuries I had. It's something I plan to fix this year."
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