SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–Johnny Cueto’s pickoff move is in midseason form, but it’s not his ability to slow down baserunners the Giants are worried about.
After posting a 4.52 ERA in an injury-riddled season last year, Cueto is optimistic he and his teammates will enjoy a bounce-back campaign. But as the right-hander said Saturday, he has plenty of work left to do before he’s ready for another 162-game schedule.
Cueto made his Cactus League debut Saturday, allowing three hits and two runs in 2.0 innings against the Rangers. He ended the first inning by picking off designated hitter Drew Robinson from first base, but Cueto struggled to command his cutter against hitters at the top of Texas’ lineup.
Rangers’ center fielder Delino DeShields led off the game with a double down the right field line, and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo followed with a two-run homer that landed on the lawn in left center field.
“It’s not the air, I was trying to throw the back door cutter and it just stayed there floating and that’s what I need to work on,” Cueto said.
Cueto said he didn’t throw any curveballs and mixed in just one changeup, indicating he has plenty of time to tune up his various offspeed offerings. That’s a different approach than other Giants’ pitchers, who aren’t holding much back and are also a week ahead of Cueto from a timing standpoint.
The 11th-year Major League veteran battled the flu in the Dominican Republic before arriving in Arizona, so he delayed the start of his spring training throwing program. Cueto began five days behind his peers, but he sounded confident he’ll have plenty of time to build up strength before the Giants’ opening series at Dodger Stadium later this month.
With Madison Bumgarner slated to make his fifth career Opening Day start, Cueto is in line to pitch the second game of the year against Los Angeles. Though it’s almost a foregone conclusion he’ll bridge the gap from Bumgarner to Jeff Samardzija in the Giants’ rotation, Cueto hasn’t discussed his role with manager Bruce Bochy.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be the No. 2 starter,” Cueto said. “I know there is a long time between now and the first game. I mean we have 26 games left, I’m just going to do what I need to do in terms of getting ready and the manager will have the decision.”
Giants’ general manager Bobby Evans and vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean elected to allocate resources to improve the team’s lineup this offseason, leaving a starting staff that experienced several setbacks last year without any reinforcements. The Giants expect the acquisitions of Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria will help stabilize the club, but for San Francisco to achieve its goal of contending for a playoff spot, Bumgarner and Cueto must remain healthy.
Like many pitchers, Cueto battled blister issues last year and those complications forced him to the disabled list in mid-July. Forearm tightness extended his absence to six weeks, but he says neither injury has impacted his preparation this spring.
“I’m not even thinking about (blisters),” Cueto said. “Right now, I just want to continue practicing and getting myself ready for the season.”
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