CSN Bay Area

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The five pitchers set to start for the Giants this season have given up 23 earned runs over 22 1/3 innings, but Tim Hudson didn’t need many words to explain why the Cactus League doesn't matter (unless you’re the Dodgers, apparently). 

“You can’t really look at numbers,” Hudson said. “The World Series MVP, I think he gave up a run this spring. That guy sucks. I haven’t even given up a run yet. I think I’ve thrown seven strikes, but …”

Well, it was a few more than seven, but still, Hudson struggled with his command Sunday in his second appearance of the spring. He was pulled with one out and the bases loaded in the second, having given up two hard singles and walked his second batter of the day. Hudson said his command isn’t where it needs to be right now, but that should change after a couple of bullpen sessions. He hasn’t done much mechanical work this spring, and he did not throw any bullpen sessions between his two starts. 

“I just feel like right now, I need some mound work where I’m not trying to get hitters out,” he said. “Physically I feel fine (but) I’m obviously not as sharp as I’d like to be.”

[PAVLOVIC: Lincecum to miss start for Giants with stiff neck]

Hudson will throw a normal bullpen session Tuesday to try to iron out some of the issues. He threw about 40 pitches Sunday and will get to the 45-50 range the next time out. Hudson hopes to be at around 100 pitches by the time the Giants fly home for the Bay Bridge Series. He said he is ahead of his original rehab schedule. 

“I can’t really complain about it, because I didn’t know if I’d be out there as much as I have been,” he said. “I haven’t gotten my cap spun, but you’ve got to throw strikes to do that.”

Other news and notes from the day the Giants finally won a spring game … 

POSITION CHANGE: It’s not official, but it seems very likely that the Giants will move Nori Aoki back to left field, ending the Aoki-in-right-field experiment they’ve been trying since Hunter Pence went down. Bochy said they feel Aoki can handle right, but talked about how AT&T Park’s right field is “quirky.” It really makes much more sense for Aoki to start in left and just stay there the whole year instead of moving back and forth in his first season with a new club. 

Speaking of Pence, he was here today and in good spirits. He was happy to be able to sit out in the dugout and watch a few innings of baseball. 

“Hunter has such a positive outlook and attitude and he really feels he’ll be ahead of schedule,” Bochy said. “We’ve got to be careful we don’t rush it.”

As for a timetable, Bochy did reveal that Pence will have his cast on for a month.

FAMILIAR FACE: Barry Zito got a save for the A’s over in Maryvale against the Brewers. Yep. He threw four innings out of the bullpen, giving up one hit and striking out one. If you miss old Zeets, here’s a GIF of his curveball. 

PROSPECT WATCH: Few players in the organization have the kind of power-speed combo that Mac Williamson possesses. If you watched the NBC broadcast today, you saw Williamson hit a deep shot to right-center late in the game and easily leg out a triple. 

“He smoked that ball,” Bochy said, his eyes lighting up. “He’s a good athlete.”

NOTEWORTHY: Matt Duffy had a triple, raising his spring average to .375 … Casey McGehee is still batting .500 after going 1 for 2 … Ehire Adrianza had a nice day, going 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI … Yusmeiro Petit did Yusmeiro Petit things, throwing 2 2/3 one-hit innings … Cody Hall has quietly had a nice camp, and he threw 1 1/3 scoreless on Sunday … Yasmany Tomas had two hits for the Diamondbacks, but he really doesn’t look like a third baseman, and it sounds like he’ll be trying the outfield soon. It’ll be interesting to see what the Diamondbacks do given that they already have Pollock, Ross, Inciarte, Trumbo and others in the outfield.

QUOTABLE: Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum are the only starters with an at-bat thus far. 

“If my spot came up while I was in the game today, I would have hit,” Hudson pointed out. “Or, at least I would have walked up to the plate.”