Sandoval's walk-off homer in Game 162 costs Giants No. 1 pick in 2018 draft

[Yavin4]

The Giants went into Sunday's season finale with baseball's worst record at 63-98, and the Tigers were right behind them at 64-97. Here are the various No. 1 pick clinching scenarios: Giants clinch No. 1 pick with a loss or a Tigers win. Tigers clinch No. 1 pick with a loss and a Giants win. What happened Sunday? The Giants won, thanks to Pablo Sandoval's walk-off home run against the Padres in Game 162 (SF 5, SD 4).


https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/pablo-sandovals-walk-off-homer-in-game-162-costs-giants-no-1-pick-in-2018-draft/

Hahaha!!!!!!

[TheDebbieDee]

1. When did Pablo Sandoval get traded back to the Giants?

You are talking about game #162 of the 2017 season, right?

[Yavin4]

2. Sandoval was cut by the Red Sox and the Giants picked him up.

Yes, game #162 of the 2017 season

[TheDebbieDee]

4. Wow! I totally missed this... I must've been in a coma the week this happened!

Boston must have even DEEPER pockets than I thought to be able to cut Sandoval.

[Iggo]

3. That's gotta hurt.

[nocalflea]

5. And this Giants fan weeps.

Enjoy my tears y'all.

[Brother Buzz]

6. I hear that No. 1 pick in 2018 would have been a third baseman to replace him....

so there was a method to his madness for tagging that homer.

He hit .220 in 2017, baby, so the Giants optioned him for 2018; the grand rehabilitation experiment continues.

[Auggie]

7. Funny ...

I think management values him as an inexpensive bench player.

Maybe new hitting coach Alonzo Powell can work some magic. I think they should bring Barry Bonds back as a guest hitting instructor too (don't laugh -- Sandoval had productive seasons when Bonds coached him).

[Brother Buzz]

8. Bruce Bochy really, really likes him

And admittedly, he's an entertaining player to watch, but unless he turns things around, he's gonna be playing in Sacramento trying to tune up his stick. Hell, I believe there are a couple of young player in Sacramento that would offer more versatility just chomping at the bit to take his slot. Can Sandoval play anything besides 1st and 3rd base?

And as far as southpaw pinch hitters hitters goes (AT&T park is built for left handed hitters), pitching ace, Madison Bumgarner would be my go to choice, but that's why Bochy is making the big bucks.

[Auggie]

9. Can't risk a pinch-hitting injury to Bumgarner

Broken finger? Sprained wrist? Concussion? It's a disaster -- not worth it to lose your ace that way.

[Brother Buzz]

10. Bruce Bochy HAS used Bumgarner as a pinch hitter a few times

Admittedly, it was always late in the game when the bench was all but empty.

On edit: Doesn't he risk injury every time he comes to bat when he's pitching?

[Auggie]

11. More at-bats increases the odds of something bad happening, no?

I like to watch him bat too but he can't be a go-to unless the circumstances are really special.

We might see Pence and Sandoval/Span on the bench more next year -- solid options for right handed / left handed pinch hitting.