One week from today, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and found exactly three alumni I recognized: NFL retirees John Mobley and Andre Reed, and Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong. With all apologies to James Delgrosso, the mayor of Bethlehem, PA, from 2003 to 2004, seeing anybody come out of Kutztown of such a high stature is highly unlikely.
However, given his pitching history, it's not unlikely that he'll be a crucial part of this Giants rotation. Since returning the Big Time with the Giants in 2011, Vogelsong has allowed only 3.0 walks per nine innings while only 17 percent of his balls hit into play were solid line drive contact. Both those numbers indicate a solid pitching performance and that his 27 combined wins weren't a fluke.
Considering his three years as a full-time starter have come in 2012, 2011, and 2004, it's completely possible that we don't have enough data to know what Vogelsong's going to do. He's highly variable; he could bomb like Bonds on Bonds for ESPN. As the fourth starter, though, the Giants can take the risk.
Barry Zito
| IP | W | K | BB | SV | ERA | WHIP | nF Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 9 | 96 | 53 | 0 | 4.41 | 1.39 | -2.31 |
He finished 15-8 last season! He went 2-0 in the playoffs! He had a win over the Tigers in the World Series! I'm almost at my exclamation mark quota for this article!
All of those things are true (especially the last one). Also true? Barry Zito had a career-high 9.1 hits per 9 innings allowed, a career-low 5.6 strikeout per 9 innings achieved, and a 1.389 WHIP that was his second-highest in his six full San Francisco seasons. Wins are an unreliable stat, my friend, especially in the face of this other data.
So pardon me if I'm a tiny bit skeptical that he's worked through his Olivia Munn-sized kinks. With only a projected 151 innings pitched, we wouldn't be surprised if the Giants went elsewhere (either the farm system, a trade, or a signing) for help part way through the season.
The Bullpen
One of the strengths of this recent Giants run, the Giants bullpen appears to be in tip-top shape once again for this season. Well, at least part of it does.
Sergio Romo at the back end of the bullpen is the key, but with a projected 2.53 ERA and 1.23 strikeouts per nine, we think he'll be just fine. The same goes with Santiago Casilla at a 3.01 ERA and 1.17 Ks/9.
Past that, though? We're a bit bullish on both Jose Mijares (3.65 projected ERA) and Javier Lopez (3.57 ERA, 0.76 K/9). George Kontos could be solid, but we just haven't seen enough to suggest that he'll receive adequate time out of the pen or be able to keep up his solid numbers.
The rotation for the Giants is fine, even with the Zito lead weight dragging down the back end. If they're going to repeat, though, someone will need to step up out of the bullpen. Three trophies in four years is indeed a crazy notion, but after a quick look, this staff's efficiency is just plain insane as is.