The Giants were 55 - 0 in games in which they led after the 8th inning. Until last night, they were the last team in the National League with a perfect record in that regard. The Pirates, however, scored 4 in the 9th to win by a score of 6 - 4.
Madison Bumgarner started the game. He pitched well, although I think his concentration may be a bit better when something big is on the line, like the wild card spot for the playoffs. He threw 7 innings, gave up 2 runs (1 on a fat pitch that left the park) on 6 hits, struck out 5 and walked 2 in 99 pitches. In the 5th, 6th and 7th innings, he gave up extra bases to the lead-off Pirate (the 5th was the home run) but then pitched through that, giving up his 2nd run in the 6th. Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless 8th. Then came the 9th. The Giants were up 4 - 2, mainly thanks to Brandon Belt's 3 hits and 2 rbi. Will Smith was unavailable due to back tightness. Trevor Gott and Tony Watson and Reyes Moronta are all hurt. So Boch turned to Fernando Abad and Jandel Gustave, who gave up 4 before the Pirates closer, Felipe Vasquez, shut us down. No win number 1996 for Bochy. Abad and Gustave were excellent against LA, but they are inexperienced in a 9th inning shut-down role. The Pirates had a look-what-we-found looks on their faces as they routed the Giants. That included Brian Reynolds, possible Rookie of the Year, who had the gwrbi. He's a 4.1 WAR rookie who was drafted by the Giants.
3 comments:
Reynolds was traded to the Pirates for McCutchen. He was drafted in the 2nd round of 2016, five spots ahead of likely ROY Pete Alonso.
I hate to say it but the wins aren't as important at this point. Player development and evaluation and building next year's club are more important. Guys like Gustave and Rogers have to be given big chances. The club has to find out what kind of players they have.
I had all kinds of hopes for a winning record (and I mean 82-80!), and it might have been possible for a bit there, but it's not happening, so I've moved on. Let's see the young talent and get a sense of who might stick around next year.
It is clear that the Giants agree with you. Abad and Gustave were in the 9th inning not because they wanted to give them a chance to develop into a closer, but because there are so many unavailable right now, they were at the top of the list. But the playing time given to guys who seem to me not to be ready is apparent. I would include Davis in that list - plenty of tools, but seems to be guessing at the plate (poorly). Note that Solano and Slater have hardly seen any action but pinch hitting lately. Joseph is another guy who does not look to me like he is major league-ready. OTOH, Dubon and Rogers look like they belong. Johnny Cueto pitches tonight!
Abad is an old pro. He came up in 2010. He's probably mostly a LOOGY at this point, but of course next year LOOGYs will be left-handed three-batter guys. No more one-and-done. I see him mostly as a depth piece--he came to SF on a minor league deal.
Rogers is a rookie. Gustave had some time in the majors before this season but he's still technically a rookie. Those guys may not be auditioning for closer but they are auditioning for a spot on next year's roster, that's for sure.
It should be noted that Will Smith is a free agent after this season. He makes $4.2M and he's really good. There is no guarantee he will be in orange-and-black, in fact there's a good chance he'll get an offer that's too-good-to-refuse from somewhere else.
One of the young guns may have to step up. Moronta's injury has complicated things, too.
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