FTR, Hunter Strickland's homer-free this season
You might remember Hunter Strickland from your television set last October.
Strickland wound up pitching 8⅓ innings during the Giants’ championship run, and gave up six home runs. We’ve never seen anything like it before, and might never see anything like it again.
In one sense, we might have suspected that Strickland wasn’t quite ready for the big time. At 26, he’d never even pitched in Class AAA. He spent most of last season in Double-A before debuting with the big club on the 1st of September.
On the other hand, Strickland gave up only 3 homers in 36 Double-A innings, then no homers at all in seven September innings with the Giants.
But October meant a Hunter Strickland Homer Watch in spring training. In five innings, Strickland gave up two home runs.
So that was that! Off to the minors to learn ... how not to give up home runs?
Well, mission would seem to be accomplished. Strickland, a 6’4” right-hander who throws a million miles an hour, has thrown 18 innings for Triple-A Sacramento and hasn’t given up a home run. Oh, and he’s also got 20 strikeouts and 2 walks.
With the exception of Jean Machi, the Giants’ bullpen has been perfectly fine this season. Which is a good excuse for letting Strickland marinate a while longer. But if he’s still in the minors because of what happened last fall, some other general manager should hop on the phone with Brian Sabean and make a deal.
