In the latest SB Nation Reacts poll, we learn that San Francisco Giants fans have a pretty sober view of the roster:
This question was asked before the Giants optioned Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A Sacramento; and, as you can see here, the majority saw which way the wind was blowing, given the performance of the top prospect. Maybe it didn’t take the powers of a fortune teller to foresee what was going to happen with a guy who needs some experience, but it speaks to some degree of integrity for voters
that they didn’t vote what they wanted to happen.
Then again, maybe Giants fans don’t want a struggling prospect to struggle at the major league level right now. Maybe they want to see what the more experienced guys can do. That’s a perfectly reasonable perspective, and it’s plausibly what 63% of the voting body believes. Indeed, if you scan through the comments thread here on McCovey Chronicles after the SB Nation Reacts poll went live, you’ll see this sentiment:
PGBreaker
I’m leaning against Eldridge breaking camp with the big squad. Half a season or more of AAA at-bats, then bring him up (if ready). I’m guessing Matos hasn’t done enough in Spring Training to make the 26-man. Ce la vie…11
I said before Spring Training that he might start the season in AAA and I don’t think he’s done enough to make the roster. He has to cut down the K’s.roberto96
I wish I could say I am sold on Eldridge, but I am not. When he’s not striking out he’s making loud outs. Great. Not at the expense of Matos or Encarnacion who are out of options not making the team. And with his speed and defense don’t wanna see McCray going down either.RU_Sirius
No. He’s not ready. He shouldn’t have been on the team last season. Felt like they brought him up just to get some fan interest because the Giants had slipped out of contention. I still believe he could be a really good player. Let him start at AAA – it makes other roster decisions easier, too.
With the regular season about 51 hours away, fans who called this Eldridge move and others throughout the Spring might be feeling confident enough to see if they can try their luck. It’s one thing to wager on an untested and very young prospect whose position(s) is (are) easily duplicated with literally Rafael Devers and a hodgepodge of experienced hitters, it’s quite another to see if there’s money to be made gambling on the rest of the team. How will the Giants do this season? Is there another Ryan Boruckiesque move coming up just before they finalize the Opening Night roster? This is the test of every fan every season. Is your gut on to something?
However you feel, at least the Giants are on the same page as the fandom in some respects. It would be quite something if the team was committed to making Bryce Eldridge stick at the major league level despite strong evidence at the moment to the contrary.
The latest national poll questions were about the World Baseball Classic, which saw such a viewership increase that it might’ve been a contributor to the stark decline in ratings for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony (which had popular films up for major awards). But enough about ratings. Here were voters’ thoughts:
Who knew that baseball fans liked to see competitive baseball during what’s normally quasi-competitive Spring Training?
