Friday, August 22, 2014

Seventh Inning: 9-9

The Giants have 36 games remaining. They are 67-59 after seven seasonal innings (126 games). Believe it or not, the team has played .500 ball over the last 36 games. Here's how the season has gone so far:

First inning, 10-8,
Second inning, 13-5,
Third inning, 12-6,
Fourth inning, 8-10,
Fifth inning, 6-12,
Sixth inning, 9-9
Seventh inning, 9-9.

They've got two innings left to decide their fate. At .532 they are on a pace for 86 wins. The Cardinals are two up in the Wild Card and at 69-57 (.548) they are on an 89-win pace. The Dodgers lead the West by 3-1/2 games and at 72-57 (.558) are on a 90-win pace. So I think shooting for 90 wins is reasonable if we want to see the Giants in the post-season. That will take 23-13 or .639 ball. That would be a recapitulation of the first (10-8) and second innings (13-5)! At least we know it's possible. In 2010, the Giants were 70-56 and 5-1/2 back of the Padres after 126 games. So there's always hope.

Tim Hudson gets the ball in D.C. tonight.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

1 comment:

Zo said...

The Giants need to focus on winning the division - winning the wild card is too big of a crap shoot, and not something that is in our control. We have 6 games left with the blue goo that is currently in first place. A sweep or 5 of the 6 would be great, of course, but think in terms of winning each series, 4 of the 6. In that case, we pick up 2 games. Which leaves us 1.5 games back - so we have to play 1.5 (or, really, 2) games better than the doggers to tie, 3 to avoid a one-game playoff. A little better than a game every other week. In that context it is doable, of course predicated on winning each series. The Giants have to control their destiny. Remember how Mattingly set up the rotation to face SF? Well, unless he switches it around again, that rotation is no longer set up that way. Not sure who we would face next time around.