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Hello and happy Monday.
No one has had a good year, but hopefully your last few months were still better than Brandon Belt’s. The San Francisco Giants first baseman started the offseason by having surgery on his foot. Then in January he contracted the coronavirus, and just as he was recovering, he got a bout of mono and was essentially bedridden for a week.
So if you’re wondering why you haven’t yet seen Belt in a Spring Training game — one of only a few Giants who have yet to appear — that’s why. The good news is that Belt is clearly on the up and up, and is at camp doing drills and taking swings. Over the weekend, Belt told reporters that “I feel pretty dang good and every couple of days I’m taking huge jumps forward. I feel like I’m pretty close to getting back to normal.”
He’s still questionable for the Giants season opener on April 1 at the Seattle Mariners. It would be sad to not have him out there for what might be his final opener as a Giant, though it would certainly help temporarily solve the problem of what to do with Jason Vosler if Belt had to begin the year on the Injured List.
Heal up, Brandon. We miss watching you.
Old, random MCC article for you to read
Logan Webb suspended 80 games after positive PED test (May 1, 2019 — Bryan Murphy)
Giants links
- Roger Munter on when we’ll see Heliot Ramos make his debut (There R Giants)
- Susan Slusser on how Reyes Moronta believes his velocity will make a comeback (SF Chronicle)
- Maria Guardado on how excited Aaron Sanchez is to pitch in a game this spring (MLB)
- Kerry Crowley on Mike Yastrzemski’s home run and Reyes Moronta’s velocity worries (Mercury News)
- Mark W. Sanchez on how Conner Menez is throwing his fastball harder, and taking a new pitching approach (KNBR)
- Kerry Crowley on Aaron Sanchez pitching in a simulated game (Mercury News)
- Alex Pavlovic on why Gabe Kapler is excited about the additions of José Álvarez and Justin Bour (NBC Sports Bay Area)
How many days until Opening Day?
There are 17 days until Opening Day. Holy heck.
Have a swell Monday.