Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Half a game, half a game, half a game onward . . .
Our Valley of Death was that wretched trip to Chavez Ravine, but last night in the Valley of the Sun we resurrected ourselves, if only to keep the tease alive. Four games back with twelve to play is not a formula for success, but until the math says we are done (our elimination number is NINE) we have to run out the string. We've now completed a trip through the rotation that is perhaps our worst sequence of the season. Matt Cain's 6 IP and 4 ER vs. Colorado at home was the best of a terrible run of starting starting pitching. Neither Sanchez, Penny, Lincecum, nor Zito made it out of the 5th, and all of them gave up at least 4 ER. The fact that we managed two wins in that stretch is amazing. Last night Jeremy Affeldt and Brian Wilson continued what they've done all season--get big outs in close games. Those guys--the whole 'pen, in fact--have been very valuable. Freddy Sanchez left the game with a mysterious knee ailment. Get this: he hurt himself after one of their guys hit a homerun. I don't know how you do that, and I'll admit I don't want to know. I hope, if we decide to keep this guy, we give him an incentive-laden one-year deal for a hell of a lot less than he makes now. Nice to see Mississippi Fred make a positive contribution. "Speed don't slump" is what they say, and it was true in last night. Maybe tonight Matt Cain can give us another one of those 7 IP 2 ER starts we got so used to in July, and the rest of the crew will get back on the beam as well.
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He did not get injured after one of their guys hit a home run, he caught his spike and twisted his knee or ankle catching a throw from Aaron Rowand. One of their guys (Reynolds) hit a home run just after that. Quit picking on F. Sanchez. Escaping Pittsburg to join a team with the kind of potential we have is like winning the lottery. The guy wants to do anything he can to stay on our team. He knows how to handle a bat (!!!), could be immensely helpful and is reportedly a lot harder on himself than anyone else about his missed playing time.
FSanchez COULD be a valuable player, but he's been almost useless since we acquired him. I'm willing to keep him around, but not for more than a one-year deal (and with performance incentives). He's too injury-prone, and frankly, not such an upgrade as Brian Sabean believes. A .751 OPS--his career mark--is league average! I'll admit I'm biased against this guy because we gave up a top prospet for him, and I think we could have done better. I'm also willing to bet we could get a similar performance at 2B next year from Manny Burriss.
F. Sanchez would be a fine 2B in another era, on a team drawing some decent power hitting from the usual normal power spots (1B & OF). Given that we aren't getting much from those postions, we either need a power-hitting 2B or some more power at the other spots. I'm more inclined to let F. Sanchez continue (we know what we're getting, & it's pretty good) & really turn things over to Schierholtz next year, plus obtain a power hitting 1B or OF. There has to be someone out there - we have some $$$ to spend.
I hope that I'm wrong, but I am not convinced that Burriss is ever going to amount to a lot in MLB.
An update on the Bengie Molina Road Trip Watch (or, will Posey get a start?):
So far, 2 for 14 with 1 rbi and 15 outs. Batting average = .143, adjusted for gidp = -.061.
see McCovey Chronicles today.
That's a great piece. He's right.
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