3 takeaways from San Francisco Giants spring training

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports activities

Scottsdale, Ariz. — After a roller-coaster offseason, the San Francisco Giants have settled into spring training with a lineup that can embrace new faces who must contribute in huge methods.

Looking on the projected Opening Day lineup for the Giants reveals Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto slotted in to take the locations of Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria, each of whom depart loads of expertise within the Bay Space behind. Nonetheless, whereas there’s loads of deal with the brand new arrivals, Brandon Crawford enters his age-36 season because the longest-tentured member of the franchise, beginning his thirteenth season within the orange and black.

Together with the adjustments within the clubhouse come the adjustments within the guidelines as effectively, and the disappearance of the shift might influence Crawford each within the area (as shortstop) and on the plate (as a left-handed hitter).

San Francisco Giants spring training: Brandon Crawford might make the most of shift rule

Ask Crawford in regards to the new shift rule and he’ll reply the query from each side of the diamond.

“I clearly appreciated it from the defensive facet as a result of we as a workforce often did a reasonably good job of figuring out when to do it and be in the suitable spot,” Crawford mentioned. “However as a left-handed hitter, I’m undoubtedly okay with there being two guys on either side to not take away these hits as a result of I really feel like lefties are usually affected a little bit bit extra by the shift.”

When dealing with the shift final season, Crawford’s wOBA (Weighted On-base Average) was .280. When the shift was not employed, the quantity crept as much as .294.

And what about as a shortstop with double performs with the shift not in play this season?

“It ought to be a little bit bit higher for double performs I believe,” Crawford mentioned. “With the shift, you bought some floor balls that turned powerful to show the place possibly, prior to now, if the fellows had been enjoying straight up, we turned it fairly straightforward.”