You really didn't expect anything different, did you?
Madbum threw a fine game. 7 innings, 100 pitches, 0 runs, 3 walks, 5 hits and several scrapes escaped. He exited with the lead. Brandon Crawford was again responsible for the Giants offense, with a double and the run scored courtesy of Chase d'Arnaud.
Ray Black gave it up in the 8th. He has pitched well, not giving up a run in about 10 outings since his first, shaky debut. Houston hit a home run with a man on base, because, of course they did. The final score was 2 - 1.
Giants failed to score Alen Hanson after his lead-off triple in the 7th, because, of course. I heard the announcers claim that the Giants have more blown saves (25) than any other major league team. I assume they mean blown saves and holds, as today's fail was not technically a save situation. It was not in the 9th inning. No matter.
I like well pitched, low scoring games. I realize that's an anomaly in today's market, where the goal seems to be more runs in less time elapsed. I did not enjoy today's game. As the innings mounted, I expected the Giants to cough it up, and they did. I do not like listening to a game with this feeling.
8 comments:
Giants are 2-4 in August and 7-10 since the Break. Not exactly the second half turnaround we were hoping for. Even the Rockies are putting distance between 3rd and 4th place. The 6-1/2 game deficit (6 in the Wild Card) is, at this point, a monumental climb. With 47 games left they'd have to win something like 30 of them to have a fighting chance, and the odds of them going 30-17 (.638!) are vanishingly small. I just hope they can finish over .500 for the season.
not saying that it can be done by this club, but 6.5 games out at this time of the year has been overcome many time. Worse records have come back to win. You have to wonder that if this team stayed healthy. that the brass did put a team together that could be in it all the way. A healthy bumgarner, and Cueto for the season, plus the addition of D.Rod, looks like a staff that could have been competitive, Even if D. Rod was brought up in the middle of the season, Just cannot seem to get a completely healthy lineup in there either. The Astros did play with a weakened lineup as well. Our relief pitching is much improved since last year, despite a few extremely untimely hiccups. What is worse is the lack of timely hits. Or at times, any hits at all.
The roster was too dependent on complete health. A complete 1-2 Bum-Cueto punch would make a big difference. Belt going down after his terrific start was a huge blow as well. Longoria was expected to hit better, and just when it looked like he was going to he got hurt. They certainly COULD play .600+ ball, I'm skeptical that they will.
FanGraphs gives the Giants a 2.2% chance of making the playoffs and I have to say that seems about right.
538 has a story on the Red Sox and Dave Dombrowski that's worth a look. The Sox had a similar run to the Giants: '04 and '07 and then a miraculous third in '13, like our '10 and '12 and the rabbit-out-of-a-hat third in '14. And they had some losing seasons ('12, '14, '15). They had to say goodbye to aging stars. But now they have the best record in baseball. Is there something the Giants can learn from them to get back to greatness?
The Redsox did Sign Martinez.
Mookie Betts was a 5th-round draft pick. And they got Chris Sale in a trade--3 minor leaguers and Yoan Moncada. That's a 7-WAR player and 6-WAR pitcher RIGHT NOW. Those guys are ridiculous! (And Martinez has a .654 SLG.)
Well, the Giants are tanking. They teased us with a little run there and then fell flat. The Andrew McCutchen rumors are starting up again--do you think the Giants will run him through the waiver/trade process before the end of the month? I note the A's just picked up Fernando Rodney.
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