An injury-plagued season for the SF Giants has continued into September. The team shared updates on several players prior to their 9-8 victory over the Rockies on Friday. Giants manager Gabe Kapler talked to reporters about the progress of several players during his pregame and postgame availability.
Patrick Bailey: Bailey was placed on on the seven-day concussion injured list after a home-plate collision with Jaimer Candelario Tuesday night. As of Friday, he is still in the concussion protocol.
Kapler told reporters, "I don't want to get too definitive here, but my instinct is that he got his bell rung, had some concussion symptoms and the club made the right decision to take care of Pat and hopefully it's no longer than that seven days."
Kapler also added that there was a "silver lining" to Bailey's injury, in that he would get a week of rest that "his body could probably use."
Michael Conforto: While still recovering from a left hamstring strain he suffered on August 23rd, Conforto ran the bases and did outfield drills on Friday. According to Kapler, Conforto "looked great."
"I think he came out feeling good and I know that he wants to really see what it feels like tomorrow before making any further decisions," Kapler said. "But it's a good sign and I don't feel like he's far off at this point."
After missing all of 2022 recovering from shoulder surgery, Conforto has played 111 games for the Giants and hit 15 home runs. He has an $18 million player option for 2024.
Ross Stripling: The Giants right-hander strained his back on August 16, and ended up on the injured list. Friday, Stripling threw a bullpen session at Oracle Park and announced that he felt "ready to return." The team has not announced their own plans and expectations for Stripling, who has a player option worth $15 million for next season.
Alex Cobb: Cobb wasn't on the injury report, but Kapler weighed in the right-hander, whose start was pushed back after a rough outing Sunday - after he threw 131 pitches and just missed a no-hitter in his previous start. The Giants pushed back his scheduled Sunday start to Monday, though it sounds like Cobb is dealing with persistent hip soreness, not fatigue.
"We've been monitoring it now for months. We'll continue to monitor it.," said Kapler. "But even before his Colorado start, he was dealing with some hip impingement, inflammation, things like that. As you mentioned, got a cortisone shot, said he threw yesterday that went really well. I think the game plan is to have him throw again today, pen tomorrow, and then potentially start for us on Monday."
Thairo Estrada: The Giants second baseman was a late scratch from the starting lineup and replaced by Casey Schmitt after Estrada was found to have conjunctivitis, also known as "pink eye." There's no timetable for his eye clearing up.
Austin Slater: Also, a late scratch from Friday's lineup, outfielder Austin Slater was dealing with some dizziness.
Let's hope those are just temporary issues and not the beginning of something more serious. But no matter what, the SF Giants should wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their faces and eyes, and under no circumstances should they share rally caps or smear pine tar on open wounds.
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