After
Same goes for individual performances. But a few numbers, and a few eyeball reports, can at least add some data to a rounder evaluation of a player. For example, Dan Runzler has struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings. That's silly stuff, and of course it's not reproducible over the long term in the big leagues. But a tiny sample sized 17.6 K/9 rate is more impressive than the hitting equivalent -- the guy who hits over .500 in 15 or 20 at-bats -- because hitters can go on a lucky streak. Two or three bloopers or seeing-eye dogs can turn 4 for 14 into 7 for 14 and get the attention of batting-average queens everywhere. But it's harder to get "lucky" with strikeouts. You either miss bats or you don't. I guess it's possible Runzler has thrown a few late-game innings against the rawest of camp attendees, but I prefer to have my preconceived notions confirmed, thank you very much.
Speaking of hitting .500, Darren Ford is showing a lot of talent, not just with batting average but with speed and D, too. The guy is 24 and hasn't cracked Double-A ball, so optimists are calling him a late bloomer, but I won't get excited until he blasts through Double-A Richmond this summer.
A few other numbers of note:
* Before he got spiked, Pablo Sandoval had 33 at-bats without a walk. Buster Posey has 36 at-bats and one walk. Kevin Frandsen has 35 at-bats, no walks. This doesn't mean Panda will start the season backsliding from his plate discipline improvement from last year, or that Posey has suddenly contracted hackitis by hanging out in Giants' camp. Other Giants are walking quite a bit, notably Bowker, Torres, Huff and Crawford. With all the talk about hitting coach Bam Bam Meulens preaching selectivity, and the new team approach, it's something to keep watching. We've already seen Nate Schierholtz fall back on old habits, as Baggs pointed out today.
* The noted competition between Bumgarner, Wellemeyer and Pucetas for the fifth-starter role is well-documented, with Bumgarner probably out of the picture for now. [TUESDAY AM UPDATE: It's official. He'll start the year in Fresno.] One of the remaining two will get the job, and I'm fine with either. If the Giants can squeeze a half season, maybe more, of karmic magic mojo out of Wellemeyer, why not? Pucetas can pitch long relief or start every fifth day and continue to hone his craft in Fresno for half a season or so. But beware: Both pitchers have survived low strikeout rates this spring that, unless you're Kirk Rueter, won't keep you in big-league chew for long. I'd love to see a few more Ks on each pitcher's ledger before the season starts.
One thing the 15-6 W-L record says is that the team is playing decent ball, something they couldn't pretend a couple springs ago when they sucked in March, they sucked in April and sucked right on through until August.
This is the last I dwell too long during spring training on this or that player looking great, showing promise, or doing anything other than making roster news. It's simply not worth it. It's simply too speculative.
More interesting is all the Cactus League attendance records being set. This guy smells conspiracy, but even if the totals are being tweaked, it seems plain that the ballparks are full this spring. Last spring's booming-attendance meme was "recession-proof." How about this year we call it the leading indicator of an economic recovery? Ah, now there's a spring training projection I can get behind: The higher the attendance, the more likely the Democrats are to keep their solid majority in both houses. Betcha Nate Silver never thought of that.
