The draft is both intense and nothing. Intense because there’s life-changing money involved and the hopes of a franchise are sewn into the career trajectory of some of these players. Joey Bart follows in the footsteps of Will Clark (perhaps in more ways than one!) as a #2 pick with franchise-altering expectations. Nothing because Who knows if any of these players will make the team and when you get right down to it and given the span of time from draft day to Spring Training or whatever, there’s no urgency, so it feels like paperwork.
But that’s not the most important news of the day.
MADISON BUMGARNER MAKES HIS SEASON DEBUT TONIGHT.
That’s all that really matters.
Kerry Crowley put it nicely:
30-30 through 60 games. Did what they had to do.
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) June 5, 2018
Now, it's Madison Bumgarner time. https://t.co/t0UvoFTlMh
His return comes in the midst of a 5-game winning streak, which should push that excitement into a frenzy. The Giants’ best pitcher is coming back when things are going well. It’s the ideal situation. Bumgarner will need to carry them at some point, but the desperation level isn’t so high that it has to be today. Imagine how much better it could get.
The offense might have figured some things out all by getting Joe Panik back and moving Buster Posey up to the 2-spot. In the hilariously small sample size of 5 games, the Giants are averaging 6.2 runs per game with Posey hitting there.
The bullpen might have figured some things out all by getting back Reyes Moronta, Will Smith, and Mark Melancon and lowering Cory Gearrin’s leverage situations. As Grant noted two nights ago:
Reyes Moronta after a two-walk outing at the beginning of May: pic.twitter.com/fVHm6ktYeK
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) June 4, 2018
And now the Giants get back their ace. Their missing piece.
Not LEGO piece, you idiot. Piece of... ah, forget it.
Poll
How many innings will Madison Bumgarner pitch tonight?
This poll is closed
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1%
1.2
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1%
3.1
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5%
4.1
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52%
5
-
38%
7