The Giants have placed 31-year old righty starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer on the 15-day disabled list with a right quad strain. Wellemeyer has pitched in 12 games (11 starts) for the Giants this year and he is 3-5 with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has given up a stunning 12 homers while walking 35 batters in only 58 2/3 innings pitched this year. The Giants have called up 27-year old righty starting pitcher Joe Martinez to replace Wellemeyer on the pitching staff. Martinez has started 11 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He got his first taste of the majors last year for the Giants working in 9 games (5 starts) in which he is 3-2 with a 7.50 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. I would have to think that Martinez’ stay might only be until Wellemeyer’s spot comes up in the rotation with Madison Bumgarner getting a call.

Lefty swinging 1B/LF Willie McCovey didn’t need steroids to put up huge numbers unlike some other players on the Giants. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1986 and he was a six time All-Star with the Giants in his 19 years with the team. McCovey was the N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1959 despite only playing in 52 games that season. McCovey played in 52 games for the Giants in 1959 and he was 68 for 192 (.354 avg, 1.085 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 13 homers, 38 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. McCovey won the N.L. MVP Award in 1969 with the Giants when he appeared in 149 games in which he was 157 of 491 (.320 avg, 1.108 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 45 homers and 126 RBIs. He also walked 121 times that season while only whiffing 66 times which showed what a great eye he had that year. McCovey played in 2,256 games in his 19 years with the Giants and he was 1,974 of 7,214 (.274 avg, .900 OPS) with 1,113 runs scored, 469 homers, 1,388 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. McCovey is #3 all-time in Giants’ history in games played (2,256). He is also #4 in hits (1,974), #6 in OPS (.900), #6 in runs scored (1,113), #4 in homers (469), #4 in RBIs (1,388), #5 in doubles (308) and #4 in walks (1,168). Now you know a little bit more about the man that McCovey Cove was named after.

Wow that didn’t take long. 33-year old righty swinging outfielder Pat Burrell has been called up by the Giants. He played in 5 games in AAA-ball for the Giants and he was 5 of 16 (.313 avg, .972 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. Burrell will likely initially be coming off the bench for the Giants. To make room on the roster for him the Giants designated 30-year old righty reliever Brandon Medders for assignment but he already cleared waivers and has been sent to AAA. Medders has pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Giants this year and he was 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP.

The Giants have sent 26-year old lefty swinging RF/1B John Bowker to AAA. He played in 41 games for the Giants this year and he was 17 of 82 (.207 avg, .609 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. In parts of three years with the Giants, Bowker has played in 183 games in which he is 113 of 475 (.238 avg, .678 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 15 homers and 58 RBIs. Bowker’s demotion clears a path for the Giants to call up Pat Burrell soon if he continues to hit in the minors.

With Todd Wellemeyer struggling this season for the Giants they might give Madison Bumgarner a call at some point this year. Bumgarner came into this season as the Giants’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. But he had a rough spring training and he was not too good in AAA early this year. Bumgarner has gotten into a groove for his AAA team as his numbers continue to improve. Bumgarner has now started 11 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 5-1 with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has given up 66 hits in 62 2/3 innings so far this year but he has minimized the damage a bit by only walking 19 batters. Bumgarner looked good at the end of last season with the Giants working in 4 games (1 start) in which he was 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.