Giants expect Johnny Cueto to (mis)fit right in
Johnny Cueto arrived at spring training Thursday and quickly demonstrated he has the sense of humor to feel at home in the zoo quickly.
Manager Bruce Bochy, pitching coach Dave Righetti and especially catcher Buster Posey will get their first up-close look at the 30-year-old in an orange and black uniform, which matches his black dreadlocks tinged with orange on the tips.
Cueto actually colored his hair that way before he signed with the Giants.
The Giants had the best offer and I took it.
On the new protective caps for pitchers, which he otherwise praised: “There are a lot of pitchers who are not going to use them because it makes them look like a bobblehead.”
[...] more seriously, being part of a starting staff that has made the Giants favorites in many eyes to win the National League West: “This is the best, most accomplished rotation I have ever played with.”
Bochy has not spoken with Cueto extensively but said the Giants did their homework before signing him to a six-year, $130 million contract.
“He’s healthy and a guy we really wanted,” Bochy said.
Posey needs to use spring training to learn any new pitcher.
“That’s the one as a catcher you need to be ready for,” Posey said.
No one really knows how effective the fallen ace will be until he faces hitters, but Bochy was satisfied with what he saw.
Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.