PHILADELPHIA -- The last four innings of Thursday's 10-2 loss to the Phillies were pitched by Sam Selman, Jandel Gustave and Sam Coonrod, which certainly was something new for the Giants. A day after they traded nearly half of the bullpen, the Giants turned to three players with a combined eight games of big league experience in their organization.
That doesn't concern Farhan Zaidi, and it actually helps explain Wednesday's action. The front office felt so much relief depth existed in the organization that Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black could be traded for help in other spots. The talent is certainly there, but the Giants will have to quickly fit it together.
"We'll be asking some guys to bump it up a little bit in higher-leverage innings," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We think we have the arms to do that."
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While Wednesday was about mop-up work, Tuesday's win showed the new normal. Tony Watson pitched the seventh and Reyes Moronta the eighth before Will Smith came on. Moronta is likely to get all of Sam Dyson's role, although Bochy said Watson could pitch the eighth sometimes depending on matchups.
That means everyone else will have to move up, too. Trevor Gott will take Moronta's old spot before the final three innings and soak up some of Melancon's innings. Coonrod, who has allowed one run in nine outings, could also make the case for that role.
The rest may be more day-to-day. Andrew Suarez pitched as the long man Thursday but has options and could go back and forth to the minors depending on the big league club's needs. Melvin Adon and his 102 mph fastball are expected to be seen at some point, and the Giants still have Rule 5 pick Travis Bergen, lefty prospect Conner Menez, veteran Fernando Abad and others who can fill in.
It will take a bit for all of this to come together. The previous bullpen was one of the best in the Majors and players credited chemistry while talking about their success. Everyone knew their roles, and that didn't change much throughout the first four months.
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The Giants go to Coors Field next and it's always all hands on deck there. But on the ensuing homestand, some new faces should start to carve out more regular work. Zaidi is confident it will not harm the team's chances, saying the stockpile was a major reason why he was able to sell a bit Wednesday.
"I would say this (trade deadline) is in some ways an endorsement of the depth that we have right behind the guys who have done so well at the Major League level," he said. "Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of demand for our relievers. I think it would have been difficult to make some of these deals without the feeling of confidence that we have in the guys who are coming up right behind them who have been pitching so well in Double-A or Triple-A."