SAN FRANCISCO – On a day of farewell waves and emotional news conferences, Ryan Vogelsong sent a much different message.
“I’m playing,” Vogelsong said. “I’m playing somewhere. That’s first and foremost. I don’t think I’m done and today proved that.”
Vogelsong spit fire in four shutout innings, allowing just one walk while striking out six in the Giants’ 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It might have been his final appearance with the team that drafted him, developed him and then rode his career renaissance as a key contributor to the 2012 World Series title.
Vogelsong almost didn’t re-sign with the Giants last winter. He assumes he won’t be back next year.
“The last month, not getting a lot of time on the mound, I’m probably not high on the priority list – which is something hate to say, as much as I love it here and love everybody in the clubhouse,” said Vogelsong, who made his last start Sept. 3 and has made three relief appearances since then.
“As much as I’ve seen the field in this last month, it pretty much puts the writing on the wall. That said, crazier things have happened.”
It happened that way last winter, when Vogelsong had a deal with Houston that was pending a physical only for talks to break down at the last moment. Now 38, Vogelsong said he’s hoping for a chance to crack someone’s rotation.
“I really don’t have any expectations now other than I want to play and I’d like a chance to start and I still feel I can take the ball for 32 starts in a season,” he said. “We’ll see where the wind blows me. Physically I feel as good as I have. My arm feels good. I still feel I have a lot to offer to somebody, and we’ll see who that is.”
Vogelsong went from a non-roster invitee to an NL All-Star in 2011 and was a key contributor to winning a ring the following season. His signature moment as a Giant might be Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Cincinnati, when the Reds were on the cusp of a three-game sweep. Vogelsong found a way to match Homer Bailey even though the Reds right-hander held the Giants to one hit and struck out 10 in seven innings.
And Vogelsong’s day-of-game intensity – along with his habitual Rally Enchiladas -- will always have a place in franchise lore.
But on a day when Tim Hudson made the last major league start of his 17-year career and Jeremy Affeldt announced his retirement in an eloquent and emotional news conference, Vogelsong had a different kind of statement to make.
“I know I’ve said this a few times, but that’s definitely the best I’ve thrown this year,” Vogelsong said. “It’s a mixed bag because I’m really glad I did it, but I wish I’d have done it a lot more this year.”
Vogelsong was solid at times this season – he was 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in five starts in May – but not consistent enough to hold a place in a rotation that the Giants will seek to renovate over the winter. He was 8-10 with a 4.55 ERA in 22 starts and also struggled to a 7.20 ERA in 10 relief appearances before Thursday.
But he maintained plus stuff most of the season, and routinely hit 94 mph while flashing a moving curve and changeup Thursday. His last pitch was a 92 mph fastball for a called third strike to Carl Crawford.
Although he Giants want to get younger in the rotation, it’s not hard to envision Vogelsong being valuable in a long relief role – especially since Yusmeiro Petit was used even more sparingly in the second half, had a poor season and is a prime candidate to be non-tendered because his salary will rise through arbitration.
Vogelsong handled right-handed batters all season (.250, three home runs in 288 at-bats) but struggled against lefties (.295, 14 home runs in 227 at-bats).
He is hoping to pitch again in the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies.
“But if this was the last one, it’s been a fun ride, an amazing ride,” Vogelsong said. “Things happened to me in this city that I never thought would happen. The fans have been so great to me. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
The post Ryan Vogelsong set on pitching next year, but says "writing is on the wall" that it won't be with the Giant appeared first on Giants Extra.
