Monday, November 5, 2012

25 for 16: Angel and the Outfield

Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence are the only two Giants to play all 144 innings of the post-season. They started and finished every game, Pagan in center and Pence in right. Gregor Blanco totaled 135-2/3, missing time in the LDS. His spot in the lineup became the pitchers spot in Game Two, Xavier Nady pinch-hit (and struck out twice) for him in Game Three, and a Sergio Romo double switch with Nady took him out at the end of Game Five. But it was all Blanco after that--every inning of the LCS and World Series in left field. The Giants outfield handled a lot of balls. Pagan had 35 chances, Pence 37, and Blanco 36. Those chances were all putouts for Pagan and Pence. Blanco had one memorable assist (the Prince Fielder play at the plate in Game Two of the Series), and one error (a pop fly by Pete Kozma in Game Six of the LCS). The assist was one of those highlights that will never get old, and the error was a bad call by the scorer, who should have ruled it a hit. Nevertheless, the Giants found their post-Melky OF formula in August and it worked all the way through September and October. All three guys made major contributions with the glove and made most of the rest of the outfielders they faced look positively ponderous. None of the three hit particularly well, but all made key contributions with the bat. Pagan saw the most pitches (287) of anyone in the post-season, and scored 10 runs, had 13 hits (3 2B, 3B, HR), and a clutch steal. Pence had 13 hits (2 2B, HR) as well and scored 7 runs, including the first one in each of the last three World Series games. He also had the most scrutinized broken-bat hit ever, and led the team in steals with two. Blanco chipped in 10 runs with 12 hits (2 2B, 2 3B, HR), 7 walks, and one seriously cool bunt. He also scored on Barry Zito's bunt in Game Five of the LCS. Oddly he never stole a base despite being the fastest guy on the team. The Giants were only 5 for 7 in that department, but led all teams with 14 HR, well above their season average. You see, it's all about pitching and defense!

--M.C.

9 comments:

Ron said...

Apparently confused about which Giants team was actually dominant & showing the general disarray of their front office, the Yankees have resumed their continuing quest to re-construct the SF Giants' 2011 roster, by claiming Eli Whiteside from waivers. Sources say that they are 'in' on Cody Ross, now that Ross has announced his desire for a 3-yr, $25 deal.

M.C. O'Connor said...

They also have Chris Stewart. Giant got George Kontos in that trade. Hey, you can never have enough catchers in your system.

Ron said...

Yes, Chris Stewart was on my mind, when I wrote that. They're building up quite a corps of mediocre Catchers. Not sure whether they're planning to bring back Russell Martin - he generally sucked most of the year, too.

Zo said...

Apparently both Stewart and Martin are free agents. Maybe they wanted Eli to bring a mellow vibe to the Yankees. Maybe they are hoping that it rubs off on ARod. Eli, "Dude, want to listen to some Grateful Dead?"
ARod [blank stare]
Eli, "Dude, you know, like your career, Golden Road, Feel Like a Stranger, Touch of Gray, Brokedown Palace, Loser?"
Arod, "Grateful???"

M.C. O'Connor said...

A-Rod is too easy. Gotta be someone else in baseball as the butt of jokes.

Zo said...

Yeah, but name one other time that you have seen "mellow vibe" and "Yankees" used in the same sentence.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Point, there.

Ron said...

2010: SF Giants win World Series while a likeable Democrat is President. Improbable? Wonderful!!!!!

2012: SF Giants win World Series 10 days before same likeable Democrat is re-elected, including votes by new citizens & first-time voters Susana & Santiago. Improbable? F-ing awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so happy!!!!!

Shankbone said...

I laughed out loud at the Eli & the Dead joke.

Our OF was frickin' awesome this playoff session, even though they weren't exactly consistent at the plate - big time, big situation hits by Senor Blanco. And we'll see what happens with Mr. Pence, he got his mechanics so out of wack, but maybe he was starting to bust out of that. He is so unorthodox its really hard to get a read on him. Unfortunately I think Pagan is going to be gone. He's a great player, but at a price. And that price is gonna be bid up.