Giants bullpen keeping up its end of bargain

Andrew Baggarly - MercuryNews
It doesn't show up on the back of their baseball cards, but few statistics are as important to Giants relievers as stranding inherited runners.

After doing a miserable job last season, the bullpen has been a champ at cleaning up messes this year. Giants relievers have stranded 35 of 39 inherited runners; their 89.7 percent rate is the second-best among National League bullpens.

The Diamondbacks rank first, having stranded all 10 of their inherited runners. But Giants have been much busier. Their 39 inherited runners are the third most in the majors, behind Boston (43) and Florida (41).

"For those of us that may never get a chance to be a closer, that's the role we want," said left-hander Jack Taschner, who has stranded all 10 of his inherited runners. "It's my favorite role and I hope it's one I continue to have because you get that satisfaction of picking up your teammates. It's a big part of what I believe in."

Said right-hander Tyler Walker, who is 7-for-7: "Even if you're losing bad, those runners belong to someone else and they affect his numbers. So it's always a point of pride."

Last year, the Giants stranded just 61.1 percent of inherited runners, the worst mark in the NL and better than only the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the majors.

What's the difference? Aside from the obvious things like pitch execution, Walker said the bullpen's settled roles allow relievers to plot out each inning. By getting plenty of notice on who they'll be facing, they can visualize a plan of attack.

"We're doing a good job of that," Walker said. "When the phone rings, the guy they want is already up and stretched out. The preparation is definitely important."

Manager Bruce Bochy agreed, saying the bullpen has taken shape quickly - especially compared to the five months he needed to shake out roles last year.

"Really, there's not a weak link now," Bochy said.

• Matt Cain will start today after allowing a career-high nine earned runs in his previous outing. He'll oppose the San Diego Padres' Greg Maddux, who allowed a career-high nine earned runs in his previous start, too.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time two major league pitchers will match up after allowing at least nine runs in their previous start since June 4, 2001, when the Cardinals' Andy Benes faced the Reds' Osvaldo Fernandez. (The Cards won behind Benes, 5-2.)

• Shortstop Omar Vizquel remains stalled with a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee. It could be two days or five before he can start playing in extended spring games, Bochy said. His return to the active roster is at least two weeks away.

"It could be longer," he said. "We really don't know."