For a while I thought I might be able to write a post about how the Giants got lucky, winning with 2 runs scored as a result of kindly Rockies errors - but that was before our bullpen got into the game. Giants lose to the Rockies 7 - 3.
Madison Bumgarner did not allow any runs, but he threw 96 pitches by the end of the 6th, so came out of the game. In those 6 innings, he struck out 6, walked 2 and gave up 4 hits. Madbum was up 2 - 0 and in the 7th, Kontos and Lopez did their jobs, one batter each. Cory Gearrin did not. He gave up a run then gave up a bomb to Nolanfucking Arenado with 2 men on base. You know that guy has 21 rbis this year AGAINST the GIANTS? That's 12 games. Just to put that in context, if he were to continue that pace for the year against every Western Division team, he would have 120+ rbi just against the NL West, and 240+ for the season. Jesus. I'm going out on a limb here, but maybe the Giants should re-think that "throw him a fat pitch to make him swing" philosophy.
So 7 - 3. Could have been worse. Mac Williamson had several diving catches, including one for the third out in a bases loaded situation in the 3rd. Giants had a total of 6 hits, only 3 of them before the 8th inning when they banged out 3 for 1 more run. That was their only legit run, really. What is it about Colorado that makes them so hard to beat? We are totally their bitch.
10 comments:
Bit of a bummer, that one. I kept thinking two runs wasn't going to be enough but I did not expect another Arenado assault. If Gillaspie makes that throw the batter beforehand maybe it doesn't play out the way it did. Gearrin's been the best guy in the 'pen this year.
Just to be clear, Kontos came in and gave up two hits. That sure is not his job! I agree that the Giilaspie throw was a big key (they should have called it an error, the stop was tough but the throw just sucked). I was surprised that MadBum came out. He sure had one more inning left and that is THE inning that we needed to avoid the bullpen. They let him hit, which is kinda dumb since he isn't a good hitter, then they yank him? Even if he just gets one or two more outs we probably survive. Our bullpen LEADS THE WORLD in blown saves so it is OBVIOUS that we avoid them whenever we can, a sad state for sure, but one I thought we all knew. Today, for example, Cueto better the fuck not come out after 96 pitches! MadBum doesn't even pitch again until after the ASG so taking him out was especially stupid. We can not really just sit back and say there isn't much we can do anymore. Something has to be done. A great team with a mediocre bullpen is not a formula that Bochy can deal with. No one can.
This week has featured some of the worst pitches I have ever seen thrown. The one to Arenado was the new Worst Ever. The other team does have to hit them however. They could foul them off or hit them to the warning track ( like we do!). But they always crush them. I think I may have even been able to foul off last night's.
JohnnyC is lined up perfectly for the ASG. If he does well today he might get the start, which is damn cool. We need a CG. I don't want to see any of those guys today.
The radio guys said Bum was going to start Sunday and would not be eligible to pitch in the ASG. Then they would reset the rotation and have Bum start the first game back (Giants have an off-day after the ASB). That's why he got pulled. I think Boch did not want to waste a position player so he let Bum hit--and he's about as good a hitter as a cold guy off the bench. This year he has not hit as well but he hit very well last two seasons.
Yep, I did my math wrong. Cueto is the one that isn't scheduled to go again until after the break. So he can go very deep if needed. When needed.
Jon, you are right about Kontos. The thing about the bullpen is that it seems like different guys are blowing chow at different times. Wasn't just a short while ago when Gearrin was the one bright light in the pen? Osich was great, then sucked, then was sent down, then was great when he came back up, then sucked again, now looks pretty good (for the last couple times out). Strickland, same thing. Law, same thing. Didn't he blow chow just a couple of days ago? But has looked pretty good since then. Last night, he struck out the side, but also walked one and allowed a hit. What to do, what to do?
Other than trading for new talent you have to go with the guys you have. With Romo back I think things will improve some. Lopez will come around. Casilla, despite the torture, is overall very effective. And as you say the guys have not been that bad, just inconsistent. I think that ought to improve as well. Roles will get better settled as they go forward.
It is astonishing the number of blown leads esp. in light of the win total. But some of that is just bad luck--it's not all due to poor performance. And we can't just expect starters to throw CGs, that's just not a feature of today's game. There were six guys last season who had four apiece to lead all of baseball, for example. Right now there are five guys with three apiece. That's it. CGs are rare. Boch has to think about those tough August and September matchups and not burn his guys out early--both Bum and Cueto are among the leaders in IP, batters faced, and pitches thrown. Cueto, for example, historically has done worse in the second half (3.73 ERA v. 2.95, 1.289 WHIP v. 1.097), you have to figure the Giants know that and want to keep him fresh for the long haul. If he can channel Greg Maddux and throw 97-pitch CGs, fine. But who does that anymore?
We may watch this team live and die by the 'pen. It's not what we are used to, but there it is. Even if they do get a fresh arm or two (and I think they will) the rest of them still have to do their jobs. I don't know it there is a super-stud impact guy out there, and even if there is the price may be too high. Seems like Righetti has to start working his magic and get these guys straightened out.
Shows you what I know. Way to go, JohnnyC!!!
You called it JC: CG!
WOW.
And we have the best record in Major League Baseball. We are ahead of the media-darling Cubs ("the best team in baseball"). We are ahead of the hard-ridin' Texas Rangers. And since we played our first thirty-five games, I think, just below .500, at 17-18, we've played the last fifty at a pretty damn fine rate.
"If he can channel Greg Maddux and throw 97-pitch CGs, fine. But who does that anymore?"
It was closer to 120 so I think he might be channeling Juan Marichal. Heehee
The Giants seem to have signed all ten of their top draft choices, plus seventeen others. With the top ten's bonuses now known, the team can see how much money is left to sweeten the offers for some lower choices who were lower because iffy to sign rather than iffy to have a good career.
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