San Francisco Giants Morning Commute: B Game Planned with Chicago Cubs

Jul 20, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt (41) pitches during the sixth inning in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are on Day 5 of Spring Training games and are set to go head-to-head with the San Diego Padres at 12:05 pm this afternoon in Scottsdale. This time next month, we’ll be nearly through one week of regular season baseball. Time is flying down in Arizona. Right now, they are split with two wins, two losses, and one cancelled game.

However, Alex Pavlovic reports that the Chicago Cubs and Giants are planning to make up that game as a “B” game this morning in a roster that includes “non-regulars.” That lineup with include pitching by Mike Kickham and Kyle Crick, so keep an eye on that one.

"“I guess I’m going to Mesa,” Andrew Susac joked. Actually, he’s not. The mostly-prospects lineup: Brown, Panik, Dominguez, Villalona, Williamson, Adrianza, Arnold, Hicks and Kickham. It’ll be the first appearance of the spring for Kickham, and he’ll be followed at some point by top prospect Kyle Crick. Jeremy Affeldt will also pitch an inning tomorrow, after sitting out a few games because the staff wanted him to ease into the spring following last year’s groin issue."

There are a lot of Affeldt jokes to make right here, but instead, I’ll let you write your own: [INSERT AFFELDT INJURY JOKE HERE]

Remember Dan Runzler? Henry Schulman of the SF Chronicle does. Well, he’s back with the Giants after being cut in Spring Training last season. How did he feel about being cut? Let’s hear Schulman’s take on it.

"Reliever Dan Runzler did not walk out of the Scottsdale Stadium clubhouse when the Giants cut him in the final days of spring training last year. He stormed out, blowing past reporters and teammates with an angry visage."

And yet, he’s back. Schulman wrote a piece on him last night, and it’s worth the full read. It’ll be interesting to see if he makes it out of camp this season. Dan Runzler seeks another shot with Giants.

Michael Morse continues to have fun on Twitter. Maybe he’ll get his first hit today.

Finally, Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area wrote about Affeldt’s struggles last season and why he has to be at 100 percent this coming season.

"Affeldt also posted the worst mark in the Giants bullpen by allowing 53 percent of his inherited runners to score. Of NL pitchers who inherited at least 15 inherited runners, only the Padres’ Anthony Bass was worse."