Saturday, July 27, 2019

Panda Power!

SF 2  SD 1 (11)
No, that's not a re-run of a previous game. It's a whole new extra-inning win on a Sandoval homer. And five shutout innings from the bullpen. That's just the way these Giants roll! They won a bunch of games earlier in the month by clobbering the ball and scoring a heap o'runs. Lately they've struggled to score but are still managing to win games. Neither team could do much last night. The Padres had three singles, a double, and a solo homer. The Giants had two singles, two doubles, and a solo homer. If you like low-scoring pitching duels, you are in the right place. Jeff Samardzija bounced back with a good start and has put together an impressive July: 32-2/3 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 30 K, and 6 BB with the Giants winning four of the five games. Mark Melancon has also looked good, over his last six appearances (7-2/3 IP) he's allowed only two hits, one walk, no runs, and whiffed seven. Both of them are signed through next season (and are free agents in 2021) so let's hope we continue to see good health and quality work from them.

The Diamondbacks lost so the 53-51 Giants are all alone in second place. Shaun Anderson starts today at a funny time, 5:40 Pacific. Go Giants!

--M.C.

4 comments:

Barbara said...

This was an important game because it is going to be a real bummer when we finally lose two games in a row.

nomisnala said...

Anderson's approach just seems to bother me a bit when I watch the games. He just does not seem to finish his pitches the way his talent makes it appears as if he could. Perhaps as a starter he is holding back a little so he can go longer. Hopefully he can figure out how to be ready in the first inning. Glad that Beede at times seems to be pitching with confidence. Would like to see the same thing from Anderson. If his coaches could give him any advice, it might be to stay focused. Every pitch is important. Sounds hokey, but watching him pitch seems to bring out that advice.

M.C. O'Connor said...

FanGraphs'David Laurila talked to Anderson and he supplied some interesting thoughts.

Here's the bulk of it:

Asked about his approach, Anderson described it as “attack.” Undaunted by big-league hitters in the box, he’s all about mixing and matching, and working down in the zone.

“You never want to pitch to the bat,” Anderson told me recently. “But you do want to miss barrels. I am trying to pitch to contact, but with the intent of making good pitches and staying away from balls in the air. Balls in the air can go out, so you want them to hit it into the ground. That’s what’s going to lead to success.”

Anderson’s 44.8% ground-ball rate is second-best among Giants starters (Tyler Beede is at 46%), and he’s been taken deep a not-too-often seven times in 64-and-two-thirds innings.

The righty’s repertoire includes two- and four-seam fastballs, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup. His slider is generally regarded as his best pitch, although he was hesitant to say as much when queried on the subject. The way he sees it, being able to throw any of them, at any time, is perhaps his greatest strength. The long-maned hurler professes to do a lot of homework on opposing hitters, and on fellow pitchers as well.

“I watch a lot of baseball,” said Anderson. “I watch guys we play against, and I also watch our guys. I like to find pitchers who are somewhat similar to me, and look at how, and why, they’re successful. Zack Greinke, for instance. He does a really good job of throwing the ball down in the zone, and getting guys to swing early. He pitched against us recently, and I watched the way he went about his business. You can obviously learn a lot by watching somebody like that.”




Zack Greinke is a beast. Emulating him is a worthy endeavor.

M.C. O'Connor said...

Ty Blach DFA'd and Logan Webb takes his spot on the 40-man. Webb had been suspended for banned substances. He returns to AA. Baggs speculates he's a good candidate for a September call-up.