The Giants played a close, hard fought game tonight in San Diego but could not get the big hit and ultimately lost to the Padres. They were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Darin Ruf just missed a pinch-hit grand slam in the 7th, and in the 8th they loaded the bases again but could only score one run. The Giants had the matchup they wanted--Evan Longoria against Drew Pomeranz--but he hit a double-play grounder on the first pitch. It was a game of agonizing near-misses. Logan Webb pitched well, kept the ball in the park, and deserved better. Buster Posey hit a homer off Yu Darvish in the 1st, but a poor play by Tommy La Stella in the bottom half let the tying run score with two outs. La Stella's fielding has not been stellar so far, and his bat is not making up for it. Let's hope he gets it going soon. The Padres rallied in the 6th for the two runs that ultimately decided the game. The Giants worked hard against Darvish but he got the big outs when he needed them.
Final line for Webb was 6 IP, 7H, 3R, 1 BB, 4 SO, with 26 BF on 96 pitches. Darvish (6-1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 12 SO, 27 BF, 107 p) is one of the best in the league and Webb, subbing for Kevin Gausman, really stepped up and gave the team a chance against him. Call-ups Zack Littell and Sam Selman each threw a scoreless inning in relief. Brandon Crawford was hit by a Darvish pitch in the lower leg and was pulled in the 5th, let's hope he's back soon. The Giants finish the month of April 16-10, in first place in the NL West. With all the hype over the Dodgers-Padres matchups so far this season, it's worth noting the Giants-Padres games have had plenty of drama themselves. Here are the scores (SF-SD): 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, and tonight's 2-3.
Anthony DeSclafani goes tomorrow against Blake Snell, 5:40 Pacific.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
p.s. The Giants were 18-7 in April of 2003, the best start since they've occupied the new park. They were 16-11 in April of 2014, so 2021 looks pretty good!
6 comments:
The first run should have been charged to a LaStella error and not to Webb's era. Would have worked out better if Dubon just started at second base. Wilmer Flores was screwed by the umpire in the 9th inning. Terrible.
Buster keeps doing it !! Very cool
Longoria's DP was a close call, too. A microsecond quicker and it was a base hit--it was really a low-liner that one-hopped the SS. It was a very close contest and every little thing added up.
The variation in strike zones is becoming more and more obvious. Catchers "framing" strikes is so blatant now they even have stats for it! Umpiring behind home plate is getting too hard. The players have much more advanced strike-recognition skills and pitchers are throwing trickier pitches than ever. Not to mention fans have hi-def replays and statcast data and can see how much variation there really is.
The robo-ump or robo-ump assist is coming, ready or not. What used to be the "human element" of the game is increasingly obsolete, or at least quaint. No one wants their guy to get robbed of swings or their pitcher to be hosed on calls anymore. There's enough randomness in sports as it is!
Buster is 9-for-14 in his last three games with 2 doubles and 2 homers! I like the way he is being used--Casali has made 9 starts and come in late to finish 3 other games, that's almost half of the 26 games the team has played. Buster looks fresh when he is out there. They are talking about using him at first base again, and I could see that happen with a lefty starter now and then to keep his bat in the lineup. The problem right now is the dropoff with Casali's hitting is huge. And having both catchers out there at the same time is always dicey. Maybe Dubon can practice back there and be ready for emergencies!
Right...catcher/CF/ SS No problem
Giants were very high on LaStella. So far he is not as advertised. I hope he turns it around fast.
Yeah. 3-year deal. In fact, he's the only player FZ has signed for more than two years. Wilmer Flores got a 2-year deal last season (plus club option for '22), and Jake McGee got a 2-year deal this season (w/ club option for '23).
I used to say I'd take on any player if it was for only three years. I liked La Stella last year and thought he'd be on the Giants radar. Then he came to the A's and I thought FZ missed out on him but then he was a FA and signed with SF.
Like Flores he's versatile, but a lefty. Wilmer has more pop but La Stella has the low-K high-BB numbers. Neither of them are hitting for squat so far.
La Stella gets his big payday in 2023 ($11 M) and I think the team expects him to take over 3B from Longoria then. They'll buy out Longo for (he has a $5M option) at that point, I think.
Usually guys like Flores and La Stella who have lasted this long in the bigs don't stray too far from "who they are" as players. That is, they should "regress" to their career means as the season goes on (assuming they are healthy, of course).
So, like all things in baseball, patience is required!
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