As many of our listeners know, I don’t miss many Giants games.  This season Boise native Josh Osich has moved into a prominent role in the San Francisco bullpen.  Last season the primary lefties that manager Bruce Bochy used were Jeremy Affelt and Javier Lopez.  This season Affelt has retired and Lopez hasn’t been that effective, clearing the way for more meaningful innings for Osich.

While watching games this season, I want Osich in there at the key times against the tough lefthanded hitters.  Through Saturday, Osich is 0-1 with a 1.84 ERA and has pitched in 14 2/3 innings over the span of 21 games.  He has eight strikeouts and opponents are batting just .163 against him.  Lopez is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA.  In 18 appearances he has thrown 7 1/3 innings and recorded five strikeouts.  Osich is 27 and Lopez is 38.  All of this is adding up to Osich entrenching himself on Giants team that is contending in the National League West.

In his first full season in the Majors, Osich pitched in San Jose, Richmond, and Sacramento, from 2012 thru 2015.  He played his collegiate ball at Oregon State, where the Giants made him a 6th round pick in 2011.  He graduated from Bishop Kelly in 2007, where he was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year.  He is just the 29th player in Major League history to be born in the state of Idaho.

Watching him pitch last year and comparing it his efforts this year, he looks so much more confident on the mound.  He looks like someone who could be getting some big outs late in games in the post season if the Giants can make a run.