WAS 4 SF 0
The Giants left their bats somewhere back in July and need to find them again. They've scored 14 runs in their last 5 games--all in August--and have one win in the bunch. Tonight the Nationals benefited from eight walks and a lot of long counts as Giants pitchers (other than Trevor Gott) were sloppy and could not get it done. The hitters had no luck with some hard hit balls that found gloves and not ground, but they have to do better than zero.
Rookie Conner Menez gets the start tomorrow night (6:45). 35-year old Anibal Sanchez, who pitched against the Giants in the 2012 World Series, goes for the Nationals.
--M.C.
Showing posts with label crap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crap. Show all posts
Monday, August 5, 2019
Friday, May 17, 2019
TTOP
AZ 7 SF 0
There is this thing called the "Times Through the Order Penalty." It is a favorite topic among the saberistas. There is a fellow by the name of Mitchel Lichtman who is very smart and writes exhaustive analyses of baseball situations and he says this:
MadBum goes tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
There is this thing called the "Times Through the Order Penalty." It is a favorite topic among the saberistas. There is a fellow by the name of Mitchel Lichtman who is very smart and writes exhaustive analyses of baseball situations and he says this:
As you can see, the “times through the order” penalty is a significant effect that should be incorporated into a manager’s decision about when to remove a starting pitcher. In fact, it would behoove managers and pitching coaches to be much more mindful of a starter’s “times through the order” than his pitch count.Obviously you have to read the whole piece to catch his drift. (I italicized the first sentence.) I remember being in a computer science lecture decades ago where the prof really got into some deep shit and lost half the class and then whipped out "as you can clearly see" before launching into a new arcane tangent. Even among that nerdy bunch there were chortles of derision. That's how I feel about some of this saber-stuff. But they are on to something. I'm not saying Boch should have pulled Smardj after five, but it's worth thinking about. I suspect Boch knows more than me about baseball, so I'm not complaining, just noticing that the game is always changing and I'm learning new things all the time. Here's more from Lichtman:
In an article I wrote two years ago about the benefit of “quick hooks,” I showed that a typical NL team could add from a half to a full win per season simply by removing a starting pitcher who is not an ace whenever he comes to bat in a high-leverage situation after pitching at least five innings, even if his replacement is a league-average reliever.In the end, the players gotta play better and the coaches gotta coach better, and well, the goddamn owners gotta own better! (Thank you, George Scott.)
MadBum goes tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Yuck
LA 10 SF 3
That was no fun. Ty Blach gave up seven runs in his return to the majors. He relieved Drew Pomeranz who gave up three on a weird homer to RF by right-hander David Freese. It's a juiced ball, man! Anyway, the Giants got clobbered.
Madison Bumgarner tomorrow at 6:45 PDT.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
That was no fun. Ty Blach gave up seven runs in his return to the majors. He relieved Drew Pomeranz who gave up three on a weird homer to RF by right-hander David Freese. It's a juiced ball, man! Anyway, the Giants got clobbered.
Madison Bumgarner tomorrow at 6:45 PDT.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Ugly, Ugly, Ugly, Ugly
Put Philly in the rear view mirror and step on the gas. Jeez. The Giants got swept in Philadelphia, losing the final game by a score of 6 - 3. That hasn't happened since 1982, when Mike Krukow was on the mound in game 4 for the Phillies and Duane Kuiper led off for the Giants.
In the 1980's, the Giants were mostly bad. Real bad. It remains to be seen how good the Giants are in 2018. They looked terrific in Atlanta, but got the crap beat out of them, repeatedly, in Philly. Philadelphia has some good, young players that appear to not have any fear. They have one veteran hitter, Carlos Santana, who hit 3 home runs against the Giants in the series and picked up 13 rbi. They have one veteran pitcher, Jake Arrieta, whom the Giants did not face. Not that Arrieta could have been more effective. The Giants struck out 15 times today and a grand total of 55 times in the series. 55 times! Given each team has 3 outs, or chances, an inning, that is 1.5 chances each inning the Giants' hitters are giving away. 3 outs every 2 innings! From some guys named Velasquez today (7 starts before this season), Pivetta (in his 2nd year), Nola (in his 4th year who is actually from Baton Rouge, not New Orleans), and Eflin (parts of 2 previous seasons). The Giants were outscored 32 to 8.
Ty Blach had the honor of picking up the L today. The Giants actually led the game until the 4th, that's the first time that's happened this series. So I guess that's positive. Also, the Giants, after some sloppy play in the field, committed no errors. The road trip that started out 3 - 0 is now under .500 at 3 - 4. On to Pittsburgh. Hit the ball. Get some wins.
In the 1980's, the Giants were mostly bad. Real bad. It remains to be seen how good the Giants are in 2018. They looked terrific in Atlanta, but got the crap beat out of them, repeatedly, in Philly. Philadelphia has some good, young players that appear to not have any fear. They have one veteran hitter, Carlos Santana, who hit 3 home runs against the Giants in the series and picked up 13 rbi. They have one veteran pitcher, Jake Arrieta, whom the Giants did not face. Not that Arrieta could have been more effective. The Giants struck out 15 times today and a grand total of 55 times in the series. 55 times! Given each team has 3 outs, or chances, an inning, that is 1.5 chances each inning the Giants' hitters are giving away. 3 outs every 2 innings! From some guys named Velasquez today (7 starts before this season), Pivetta (in his 2nd year), Nola (in his 4th year who is actually from Baton Rouge, not New Orleans), and Eflin (parts of 2 previous seasons). The Giants were outscored 32 to 8.
Ty Blach had the honor of picking up the L today. The Giants actually led the game until the 4th, that's the first time that's happened this series. So I guess that's positive. Also, the Giants, after some sloppy play in the field, committed no errors. The road trip that started out 3 - 0 is now under .500 at 3 - 4. On to Pittsburgh. Hit the ball. Get some wins.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
.167 Road Trip
1 win in 6 games. The Giants went to Arizona and San Diego, two NL West division rivals and they had to throw a complete game shutout to get a win. The final loss, in San Diego, assured them of a losing record for the season. It was their 83rd loss of the year. They could sweep September and still not crack .500.
Ty Blach threw the rubber match in San Diego yesterday. He threw 5 2/3 innings, 99 pitches, and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. 2 of those hits were home runs, including 1 to Travis Wood, San Diego's pitcher. The Giants lost 5 - 0. Kyle Crick allowed an inherited runner to score and Josh Osich allowed an unearned run in the 8th.
Although I have argued and will still argue that the Giants biggest pressing need is relief pitching, this road trip highlights their second biggest need, one that is harder to fix, offense. Buster Posey has been out a couple games, and was clearly injured before that, and Brandon Belt has been out, but: 1 for 10 yesterday with runners in scoring position. The Giants got 6 hits and 6 walks. Ty Blach got 2 of those hits. No one scored. 3 for 21 on the series, and 4 for 33 on the road trip. 4 for 33. That's not good. The Giants got shut out 3 times in 6 games. They scored only 10 runs in 6 games.
Buster Posey and Brandon Belt notwithstanding, the Giants have to do better than that to compete in the major leagues. Plenty of time to discuss particulars once the blessed offseason finally gets here. At this point, I don't even know why it upsets me so much to have this kind of performance out of this team. I should expect it, or at least be numb to it by now.
Ty Blach threw the rubber match in San Diego yesterday. He threw 5 2/3 innings, 99 pitches, and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. 2 of those hits were home runs, including 1 to Travis Wood, San Diego's pitcher. The Giants lost 5 - 0. Kyle Crick allowed an inherited runner to score and Josh Osich allowed an unearned run in the 8th.
Although I have argued and will still argue that the Giants biggest pressing need is relief pitching, this road trip highlights their second biggest need, one that is harder to fix, offense. Buster Posey has been out a couple games, and was clearly injured before that, and Brandon Belt has been out, but: 1 for 10 yesterday with runners in scoring position. The Giants got 6 hits and 6 walks. Ty Blach got 2 of those hits. No one scored. 3 for 21 on the series, and 4 for 33 on the road trip. 4 for 33. That's not good. The Giants got shut out 3 times in 6 games. They scored only 10 runs in 6 games.
Buster Posey and Brandon Belt notwithstanding, the Giants have to do better than that to compete in the major leagues. Plenty of time to discuss particulars once the blessed offseason finally gets here. At this point, I don't even know why it upsets me so much to have this kind of performance out of this team. I should expect it, or at least be numb to it by now.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Congratulations Warriors!
I was away for a couple of weeks. Saw some beautiful scenery, some awesome wildlife and was out of touch with the innertubes for a good part of it, which is a good thing. On my return, not much changed. I find the Giants still playing shitty, sub-mediocre baseball. They haven't won a series in my absence and won't win one against Kansas City. I have to consider the possibility that my presence or absence has little effect on this team.
I heard the Giants 13 - 8 win on the radio as I was driving through heavy traffic and a terrific electrical storm between Sacramento and Vacaville. Real rain in June? But today, the Giants lost again, back to the 1 run offenses that we have become accustomed to seeing. Kansas City now has a better record than the Giants, that didn't used to be true. Thank goodness for the Filthies and the Pudres. Those teams, by the way, are the only 2 teams with a worse record than the highly paid, World Series winning Giants SINCE THE LAST ALL STAR BREAK. We're almost up to one year of a record vying for the worst in baseball. Some accomplishment for this overpaid team. Let's face it, no slump goes on this long. Get ready for the fire sale.
Kansas City's Jason Vargas against Ty Blach. Ty Blach managed 5 2/3 innings, gave up 7 runs. He pitched well and not so well in the last couple weeks. Is he about spent for the season? Did everyone figure him out? He was kind of a bright spot for awhile, now, I'm not so sure. About much of anything.
How 'bout those Dubs, though!
I heard the Giants 13 - 8 win on the radio as I was driving through heavy traffic and a terrific electrical storm between Sacramento and Vacaville. Real rain in June? But today, the Giants lost again, back to the 1 run offenses that we have become accustomed to seeing. Kansas City now has a better record than the Giants, that didn't used to be true. Thank goodness for the Filthies and the Pudres. Those teams, by the way, are the only 2 teams with a worse record than the highly paid, World Series winning Giants SINCE THE LAST ALL STAR BREAK. We're almost up to one year of a record vying for the worst in baseball. Some accomplishment for this overpaid team. Let's face it, no slump goes on this long. Get ready for the fire sale.
Kansas City's Jason Vargas against Ty Blach. Ty Blach managed 5 2/3 innings, gave up 7 runs. He pitched well and not so well in the last couple weeks. Is he about spent for the season? Did everyone figure him out? He was kind of a bright spot for awhile, now, I'm not so sure. About much of anything.
How 'bout those Dubs, though!
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
The Beat Goes On
MIL 6 SF 3
Well, the beat-down, anyway. Giants get beat-down in Milwaukee for the second night in a row. It looked good for a little while, what with Buster Posey giving the team the lead in the 3rd with a two-run homer, but in the end the Brewers were better. They scored in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th and got three scoreless innings from their 'pen. Ty Blach had a rough night with nine hits and five runs in his six innings. George Kontos kind of summed up the season in his two innings of relief: struck out four but allowed a homer. Can't have the good without the bad, I suppose.
JohnnyC tomorrow to finish the series and the road trip.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Well, the beat-down, anyway. Giants get beat-down in Milwaukee for the second night in a row. It looked good for a little while, what with Buster Posey giving the team the lead in the 3rd with a two-run homer, but in the end the Brewers were better. They scored in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th and got three scoreless innings from their 'pen. Ty Blach had a rough night with nine hits and five runs in his six innings. George Kontos kind of summed up the season in his two innings of relief: struck out four but allowed a homer. Can't have the good without the bad, I suppose.
JohnnyC tomorrow to finish the series and the road trip.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Blach-ed Out
Well. That pipe dream, the one where the Giants win every series in May, sure went in the crapper in a hurry. The doormats of the National League dropped another one in Cincinnati, 14 - 2. And you thought yesterday's blow-out was bad.
Ty Blach was the bad news bearer of hit-able pitches this time. I guess you can forgive a rookie, he is awfully new and has been great so far, even though he has only pitched in a winning game once in 10 2017 appearances (April 18 at KC). Ty gave up 10 runs on 11 hits. 8 of them were earned. He lasted only 3 innings. He was followed by Kontos (2 IP, 2 runs), Morris (1 IP, 0 runs), Okert (2/3 IP, another 2 runs), Osich (1 1/3 IP, 0 runs). Our bullpen is getting chewed up because our starters are only putting in cameo roles.
I guess it's approaching time to ask whether this team, loaded with All Star talent, with a starting rotation that should be the envy of any team and a newly minted closer that we paid top dollar for, will actually put in a competitive season. Hell, it's about time that we ask whether they can get to .500. Or even .400. I'm sure everyone associated with this team is scratching their heads in wonderment at this team's stinkitude, just like we are.
Ty Blach was the bad news bearer of hit-able pitches this time. I guess you can forgive a rookie, he is awfully new and has been great so far, even though he has only pitched in a winning game once in 10 2017 appearances (April 18 at KC). Ty gave up 10 runs on 11 hits. 8 of them were earned. He lasted only 3 innings. He was followed by Kontos (2 IP, 2 runs), Morris (1 IP, 0 runs), Okert (2/3 IP, another 2 runs), Osich (1 1/3 IP, 0 runs). Our bullpen is getting chewed up because our starters are only putting in cameo roles.
I guess it's approaching time to ask whether this team, loaded with All Star talent, with a starting rotation that should be the envy of any team and a newly minted closer that we paid top dollar for, will actually put in a competitive season. Hell, it's about time that we ask whether they can get to .500. Or even .400. I'm sure everyone associated with this team is scratching their heads in wonderment at this team's stinkitude, just like we are.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Shut Down
In this short 2 game series, we held Kansas City to 3 runs in 23 innings. That's decent pitching and defense. Unfortunately, we could only win 1 of those games. Boo.
Madison Bumgarner on the hill. He was far from dominant but seemed to be finding a way to get it done and held Kansas City scoreless though most of his 7 innings. He had several rough innings, though, and KC pushed a run across in the 5th. It was enough. Madison lasted 7, gave up 7 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4. For the Royals, Jason Vargas was on the hill. He spent most of the last couple years dealing with Tommy John surgery. He was only throwing his 3rd start in 2017, but has only given up 1 run in his previous 2 (13 2/3 IP). After 7 tonight, his ERA is 0.44. The Giants got 4 hits only.
Gosh, I feel like I typed this before.......not very long ago.......is my mind going? Oh wait, here's why. Last time Madison was on the mound, the Giants scored 1 run and lost. The time before that, the Giants scored 1 run, and lost. Tonight, they exceeded their previous crappiness, scored none and lost 1 - 0. That sucks. Our lineup featured Aaron Hill in left and Gorkys Hernandez in center. They were hitless. Should there be a tag that supercedes "anemia offensivia?" "Offensivia horribilis?" After a day off tomorrow, they show up in Colorado, where they need to score closer to 1 run an inning, not 1 run every other game.
Madison Bumgarner on the hill. He was far from dominant but seemed to be finding a way to get it done and held Kansas City scoreless though most of his 7 innings. He had several rough innings, though, and KC pushed a run across in the 5th. It was enough. Madison lasted 7, gave up 7 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4. For the Royals, Jason Vargas was on the hill. He spent most of the last couple years dealing with Tommy John surgery. He was only throwing his 3rd start in 2017, but has only given up 1 run in his previous 2 (13 2/3 IP). After 7 tonight, his ERA is 0.44. The Giants got 4 hits only.
Gosh, I feel like I typed this before.......not very long ago.......is my mind going? Oh wait, here's why. Last time Madison was on the mound, the Giants scored 1 run and lost. The time before that, the Giants scored 1 run, and lost. Tonight, they exceeded their previous crappiness, scored none and lost 1 - 0. That sucks. Our lineup featured Aaron Hill in left and Gorkys Hernandez in center. They were hitless. Should there be a tag that supercedes "anemia offensivia?" "Offensivia horribilis?" After a day off tomorrow, they show up in Colorado, where they need to score closer to 1 run an inning, not 1 run every other game.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
:-(
5-2 loss in NYC
The Giants continue to play their worst baseball of the season. Perhaps coming home will snap them out of their funk.
The Reds come to town for three, then the Nationals for four.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The Giants continue to play their worst baseball of the season. Perhaps coming home will snap them out of their funk.
The Reds come to town for three, then the Nationals for four.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Turn Out The Lights
A realist could have, should have written this title a while ago. A delusional fan who witnessed this piece of shit game could now not help but agree.
Madison Bumgarner was on the mound. He threw 117 pitches in 8 innings, struck out 7, walked 3 and gave up 2, only 1 of them earned. That's pretty good, but a perfect 9 would have netted him exactly nothing. Rubby DeLaRosa, Cy Young candidate that he is, held the Giants to 1 fucking hit. ONE. Buster Posey added one with Brad Ziegler on the mound in the 9th.
So this is how our season as reigning world champions ends - not with a bang, with a game that makes a whimper sound loud. We might not wind up in 2nd place. Madison Bumgarner will not get his 20 wins. The Arizona Diamondbacks have now beaten the Giants in 7 out of 8 meetings in OUR OWN PARK this season. Fuck. I can't wait for this season to end.
Madison Bumgarner was on the mound. He threw 117 pitches in 8 innings, struck out 7, walked 3 and gave up 2, only 1 of them earned. That's pretty good, but a perfect 9 would have netted him exactly nothing. Rubby DeLaRosa, Cy Young candidate that he is, held the Giants to 1 fucking hit. ONE. Buster Posey added one with Brad Ziegler on the mound in the 9th.
So this is how our season as reigning world champions ends - not with a bang, with a game that makes a whimper sound loud. We might not wind up in 2nd place. Madison Bumgarner will not get his 20 wins. The Arizona Diamondbacks have now beaten the Giants in 7 out of 8 meetings in OUR OWN PARK this season. Fuck. I can't wait for this season to end.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
The Lost Weekend
Not the movie with Ray Milland. I mean this weekend in San Francisco at AT&T Park. Although that 1945 film was about an alcoholic and in one scene he experiences the delirium tremens. That was what it was like watching the Giants play against the Diamondbacks today. Heston didn't pitch badly, he just got no help. It's a lost weekend, lads. But now it's over. Fresh start tomorrow.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Good Guys Lose
All the way around. G's lose to M's. The Giants struggled with the surprisingly competent Florida Marlins and the Golden State Warriors got crunched by Memphis. It's cold as hell and we're running out of water fast.
Madison Bumgarner was on the mound for the Giants. He threw 99 pitches, and that netted him 10 strikeouts. Unfortunately, the 3 runs in 5 innings was enough for an L as the Giants could only score 2. The Giants put up 10 hits but could only net 2 runs, in contrast to the Marlins who could only put up 8 hits, but wound up with 6 runs. Miami bunched their hits in the 4th off of Madison, and then bunched a few more in the 8th off of Jean Machi. The Giants meanwhile, sprinkled their hit allotment throughout the lineup and across the game. What can you say? Madison had 10 strikeouts and only 5 hits, but they resulted in 3 runs. After the other day's win, they were at .500 again, but now have to win today to split with the Marls and get back to even.
Madison Bumgarner was on the mound for the Giants. He threw 99 pitches, and that netted him 10 strikeouts. Unfortunately, the 3 runs in 5 innings was enough for an L as the Giants could only score 2. The Giants put up 10 hits but could only net 2 runs, in contrast to the Marlins who could only put up 8 hits, but wound up with 6 runs. Miami bunched their hits in the 4th off of Madison, and then bunched a few more in the 8th off of Jean Machi. The Giants meanwhile, sprinkled their hit allotment throughout the lineup and across the game. What can you say? Madison had 10 strikeouts and only 5 hits, but they resulted in 3 runs. After the other day's win, they were at .500 again, but now have to win today to split with the Marls and get back to even.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Our Pitchers Are Not Ready
Yeah, last night was the worst.
Pitchers:
Chris Heston 2 starts, 13 IP, 4 runs, 1 earned.
Tim Hudson 2 starts, 13.1 IP, 3 runs, 3 earned.
MadBum 3 starts, 17 IP, 10 runs, all earned.
Timmy 2 starts, 12 IP, 4 runs, 3 earned.
Jake Peavy 2 starts, 7+ IP, 8 runs, all earned.
Vogie 1 start, 10 IP, 14 runs, 12 earned.
Not much to complain about with Heston and Hudson. Madbum has not been his sharp self, a few more 7 inning games will make his 5+ inning average look better. But still, he has been giving up a lot of runs, especially for him. In that context, you could say that Timmy looks better. 1 earned run per 4 IP is better than 1 earned run per 1.7 innings pitched. I know that earned runs are not the best measurement, but they are not without meaning, and I don't feel like delving into total bases or some other number. Peavy and Vogie have really not been good. Coupled with a strong case of anemia offensivia, and some stumbles by the relief staff and we are seeing plenty of bad baseball. Yes, I know it is early and things are likely going to change. (I mean, they have to chalk up a victory some time, right?) Still, it looks to me like we have two fifths of a starting rotation to put on the field, an another two fifths of sub-par pitching for a team that relies on it. We need for a couple of starters to get sharper, and fast. Relying on an old guy and a rookie is not the best formula for success. Hopefully, Matt Cain.
I just wanted to get that off my chest. Also, Tuffy Gosewisch seems like the name of a cat. It doesn't help to see a line-up with a C next to his name.
Pitchers:
Chris Heston 2 starts, 13 IP, 4 runs, 1 earned.
Tim Hudson 2 starts, 13.1 IP, 3 runs, 3 earned.
MadBum 3 starts, 17 IP, 10 runs, all earned.
Timmy 2 starts, 12 IP, 4 runs, 3 earned.
Jake Peavy 2 starts, 7+ IP, 8 runs, all earned.
Vogie 1 start, 10 IP, 14 runs, 12 earned.
Not much to complain about with Heston and Hudson. Madbum has not been his sharp self, a few more 7 inning games will make his 5+ inning average look better. But still, he has been giving up a lot of runs, especially for him. In that context, you could say that Timmy looks better. 1 earned run per 4 IP is better than 1 earned run per 1.7 innings pitched. I know that earned runs are not the best measurement, but they are not without meaning, and I don't feel like delving into total bases or some other number. Peavy and Vogie have really not been good. Coupled with a strong case of anemia offensivia, and some stumbles by the relief staff and we are seeing plenty of bad baseball. Yes, I know it is early and things are likely going to change. (I mean, they have to chalk up a victory some time, right?) Still, it looks to me like we have two fifths of a starting rotation to put on the field, an another two fifths of sub-par pitching for a team that relies on it. We need for a couple of starters to get sharper, and fast. Relying on an old guy and a rookie is not the best formula for success. Hopefully, Matt Cain.
I just wanted to get that off my chest. Also, Tuffy Gosewisch seems like the name of a cat. It doesn't help to see a line-up with a C next to his name.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Giants Try to Give Game Away, Succeed
The Giants lost tonight by playing some of the stupidest baseball I have seen this year. It wasn't easy though, it took a complete effort by players and coaches. Madison Bumgarner faced off against Cole Hamels for the Phillies. Madison pitched pretty well, although not efficiently, using 110 pitches to get through 7 innings. He struck out 9 and gave up only 4 hits, although 1 of them was a home run, resulting in the only run while he was on the mound. Jeremy Affeldt relieved Madison in the 8th, but gave up a 2 run home run, and the game went into extra innings. The Giants got a big knock from Michael Morse off of Hamels in the 4th for 3 runs.
The thing is, the Giants should have been up at least 5 - 3 by the time the 9th rolled around. However, in the 6th, Bruce Bochy stupidly decided to replace Morse with the speedy Gregor Blanco after Morse hit the ball twice better than he has in two months and drew a walk. Blanco stole second, went to third on one of Joe Panik's two hits and then stupidly ran into an out on Brandon Crawford's weak contact. Then, in the 7th, with Madison still the pitcher of record, Angel Pagan led off with a double and then stupidly decided to steal third with Buster Posey at the plate. Just a note here, Buster Posey is a pretty good hitter.
Two hitters into the 8th, the game was tied. Cole Hamels was relieved by Ken Giles, who gave up a single to Pablo Sandoval to lead off the bottom of the 8th. After a sacrifice that put Pablo on second, Tim Flannery stupidly sent Pablo home on a Joe Panik single to shallow right field. Pablo was out by at least 30 feet. In the 9th, the Giants put runners on via walks and moved them up via a wild pitch, but managed to escape with the score tied. They did not, of course, score.
In the 10th, Javier Lopez rounded out the display of incompetence by barely hitting Chase Utley with a pitch with the bases loaded, before giving up a sacrifice fly to make the final score 5 - 3.
The thing is, the Giants should have been up at least 5 - 3 by the time the 9th rolled around. However, in the 6th, Bruce Bochy stupidly decided to replace Morse with the speedy Gregor Blanco after Morse hit the ball twice better than he has in two months and drew a walk. Blanco stole second, went to third on one of Joe Panik's two hits and then stupidly ran into an out on Brandon Crawford's weak contact. Then, in the 7th, with Madison still the pitcher of record, Angel Pagan led off with a double and then stupidly decided to steal third with Buster Posey at the plate. Just a note here, Buster Posey is a pretty good hitter.
Two hitters into the 8th, the game was tied. Cole Hamels was relieved by Ken Giles, who gave up a single to Pablo Sandoval to lead off the bottom of the 8th. After a sacrifice that put Pablo on second, Tim Flannery stupidly sent Pablo home on a Joe Panik single to shallow right field. Pablo was out by at least 30 feet. In the 9th, the Giants put runners on via walks and moved them up via a wild pitch, but managed to escape with the score tied. They did not, of course, score.
In the 10th, Javier Lopez rounded out the display of incompetence by barely hitting Chase Utley with a pitch with the bases loaded, before giving up a sacrifice fly to make the final score 5 - 3.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Up to Date in Kansas City
I thought I would wait until today to post about last night's game to see if I might be able to put a more positive spin on things. But I can't really. We had our ace on the mound, our lead off man back, were on the road and a lot of hitters seemed to be, after such a long period of suckitude, getting it together. But we lost to Kansas City, 4 - 2.
That puts us at .500 for this road trip, which might be OK, except that the road is where we are supposed to be making up ground for sucking at home. After a great April and May, a horrible June and July, August is looking mediocre. We got 12 hits, 2 each from Sandoval, Morse, Arias and Duffy, who were all grouped together, but managed only 2 runs. Kansas City's defense if very good, the Giants made 3 errors. Madison went 9 innings - I am not sure why, throwing 123 pitches, gave up 3 earned runs. That Billy Butler guy isn't the son of Brett Butler, is he? I never did trust that guy.
Brandon Belt is back on the concussion DL. That really bothers me - I pray it is not one of those career ending kind of things - from such a freak injury. We had our starting line-up back, for one game and we lost that game. I am starting to wonder about Jake Peavy. He seems like he pitches well, but then implodes all at once and gets hung with a loss. With Morse starting to hit, Buster hitting and Sandoval hitting, we are only playing .500 ball. Are we really capable of playoff-caliber baseball? We could not take advantage of the Brewers win over the doggers, and it is that time of year when you can't just hope another team does your work for you. We will have to beat the doggers head to head if we have any hope at all of playing in the post season.
That puts us at .500 for this road trip, which might be OK, except that the road is where we are supposed to be making up ground for sucking at home. After a great April and May, a horrible June and July, August is looking mediocre. We got 12 hits, 2 each from Sandoval, Morse, Arias and Duffy, who were all grouped together, but managed only 2 runs. Kansas City's defense if very good, the Giants made 3 errors. Madison went 9 innings - I am not sure why, throwing 123 pitches, gave up 3 earned runs. That Billy Butler guy isn't the son of Brett Butler, is he? I never did trust that guy.
Brandon Belt is back on the concussion DL. That really bothers me - I pray it is not one of those career ending kind of things - from such a freak injury. We had our starting line-up back, for one game and we lost that game. I am starting to wonder about Jake Peavy. He seems like he pitches well, but then implodes all at once and gets hung with a loss. With Morse starting to hit, Buster hitting and Sandoval hitting, we are only playing .500 ball. Are we really capable of playoff-caliber baseball? We could not take advantage of the Brewers win over the doggers, and it is that time of year when you can't just hope another team does your work for you. We will have to beat the doggers head to head if we have any hope at all of playing in the post season.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Yuck
If you saw the first half-inning, you saw the game. To say that Madison Bumgarner, coming into a desperate win-needing situation against Pittsburgh, was not sharp would be kind. He was crappy. 4 runs before the Giants could get to bat aided by 2 walks among the first 3 hitters, a crappy strike zone and a crappy defense. It took more than 40 pitches to get through the first as the Pirates batted around. Madison gave up a home run in the 2nd, but then settled down and pitched pretty well, as did the bullpen. Too little, too late.
The Giants, meanwhile, were their all-too-familiar feeble selves. Vern Worley faced 29 batters for a complete game, and it would have been 28 if not for Hunter Pence's 2-out triple in the 9th. That was the only Giants base runner to get past first. I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting awfully tired of the unable-to-score-at-home theme. It doesn't make any sense. The Giants are a bad, bad team right now. With this loss, we are under .500 at home. A desperation trade for "someone with pop" is not going to help. It sure feels like we are in another one of those slides where we cough up 9 games or so, doesn't it?
The Giants, meanwhile, were their all-too-familiar feeble selves. Vern Worley faced 29 batters for a complete game, and it would have been 28 if not for Hunter Pence's 2-out triple in the 9th. That was the only Giants base runner to get past first. I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting awfully tired of the unable-to-score-at-home theme. It doesn't make any sense. The Giants are a bad, bad team right now. With this loss, we are under .500 at home. A desperation trade for "someone with pop" is not going to help. It sure feels like we are in another one of those slides where we cough up 9 games or so, doesn't it?
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Bad Calls and Pratfalls
Sigh. Another day, another L. Madison Bumgarner was on the mound, and by the time he coughed up 4 in the 3rd inning, the game was over. He was charged with 2 more in the 8th before he could manage an out. That is 15 earned runs in the past 18 innings. The thing is, he could have pitched much better and still come out with 3 L's in the past 3 games. The offense is bad.
Tyler Colvin hit a home run, 1 of 2 hits for him and that was the Giants' sole run. Michael Morse got 2 hits, so did Hunter Pence. Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Crawford each got 1. Angel Hernandez's interpretation of the strike zone is a much a fantasy as Anton Scalia's interpretation of the Constitution. In two games in Oakland, it is 11 (A's) to 1 (Giants). That's no fantasy, though, that's just bad.
Oddly, what with all the losing going on, the Giants are 1 game back to LA, who lost big to Detroit.
Tyler Colvin hit a home run, 1 of 2 hits for him and that was the Giants' sole run. Michael Morse got 2 hits, so did Hunter Pence. Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Crawford each got 1. Angel Hernandez's interpretation of the strike zone is a much a fantasy as Anton Scalia's interpretation of the Constitution. In two games in Oakland, it is 11 (A's) to 1 (Giants). That's no fantasy, though, that's just bad.
Oddly, what with all the losing going on, the Giants are 1 game back to LA, who lost big to Detroit.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Cain, Giants Out of Gas
It seemed that Matt Cain had lost it by the 6th inning this afternoon in San Diego. He got the third out, but had nothing left for the 7th and was pulled after four hitters and one out. Thankfully Jeremy Affeldt got the magic double play ball and the Giants still had a chance. Actually the Giants, these days, only have a chance if the pitcher throws a shutout. Normally if a starter gives a club 6-1/3 and two runs you'll hear "did the job" and "kept the team in the game" and "quality start" and all that jibber-jabber. (Ain't that right, Ryan Vogelsong?) Normally teams score about four runs a game (the league average), too. But that's not how it works for the orange-and-black these days. Shutouts and no-hitters are the only way this team can win. So I reckon that his effort today makes Matty a choker. Zeroes only from this point forward, laddie! You give up runs you are a loser. Want proof? Check the box score: there's an "L" next to "Cain." For $20+M/year we want nothing less than "W" every time!
The Giants continued on their hell-ward spiral today. They couldn't hit and they couldn't string together the hits they got. They couldn't stop the other team from scoring. They were utterly feeble and over-matched by the second-worst team in the league. It's some kind of sick punishment by the baseball gods. Just shy of a month ago I retired from my profession of schoolteaching after 30 years. On Sunday, June 8th, the Giants swept the Mets and stood atop the baseball world at 42-21. Since then the team has gone 5-18. It's not just that they stuck a knife in our hearts, it's now they've decided to twist it, and prolong the agony.
I used to be implacably calm when Matt Cain pitched. You knew, over the long haul, that the Tennesse Stud would deliver. He would grind out quality innings after quality innings and give the team big starts time and time again. These days I'm scared when the big righty pitches. He's not the same as he was. He looks vulnerable, like the league has figured him out. Tim Lincecum fell off a cliff, remember? But here lately maybe, just maybe, he has started to make the adjustments and turn himself around. I never thought that he wouldn't. (How's that for negating negatives?) The same thing seems to be happening to Matty. He is no longer the same guy. He has to re-invent himself, just like Timmy. I believe he will. Athletes are prideful creatures--they like to play the hero and impress the crowd. I think Cain is made of that sort of stuff, too. He wants to be The Horse. The Man. The leader of the pack. It's weird to write this after a good start. It's not like Cain gave it up today or sucked big time. Far from it--he "pitched well enough to win" and in April and May the Giants would have won this game easily. But these June and July Giants are a very different animal, indeed, and it's hard to know what to expect from one day to the next.
The Giants stand at 47-39 or .547 ball after 86 games. I thought, when the season started, that this was a 90+ win team. A 90-win team is .556 ball. That means the Giants have to play, percentage-wise, better baseball from this point forward than they have so far. They have to go 43-33 or .566 just to get to 90, and we know that might not be enough. To get to 94 will take 47-29 or .618 which seems increasingly unlikely. Of course they could snap out of their funk at any moment and run off some wins--this is indeed a possibility. But watching today's effort makes it hard to be optimistic. After the team fell behind 2-0 in the 3rd it was like the air was let out of the balloon. They had nothing and did nothing the rest of the game. Please, Gods of Baseball, say it ain't so. Give me a sign the Giants are awakening from their .217 stretch and are still contenders.
I hope you all had a relaxing Fourth. Happy Independence Day, everyone!
--M.C.
The Giants continued on their hell-ward spiral today. They couldn't hit and they couldn't string together the hits they got. They couldn't stop the other team from scoring. They were utterly feeble and over-matched by the second-worst team in the league. It's some kind of sick punishment by the baseball gods. Just shy of a month ago I retired from my profession of schoolteaching after 30 years. On Sunday, June 8th, the Giants swept the Mets and stood atop the baseball world at 42-21. Since then the team has gone 5-18. It's not just that they stuck a knife in our hearts, it's now they've decided to twist it, and prolong the agony.
I used to be implacably calm when Matt Cain pitched. You knew, over the long haul, that the Tennesse Stud would deliver. He would grind out quality innings after quality innings and give the team big starts time and time again. These days I'm scared when the big righty pitches. He's not the same as he was. He looks vulnerable, like the league has figured him out. Tim Lincecum fell off a cliff, remember? But here lately maybe, just maybe, he has started to make the adjustments and turn himself around. I never thought that he wouldn't. (How's that for negating negatives?) The same thing seems to be happening to Matty. He is no longer the same guy. He has to re-invent himself, just like Timmy. I believe he will. Athletes are prideful creatures--they like to play the hero and impress the crowd. I think Cain is made of that sort of stuff, too. He wants to be The Horse. The Man. The leader of the pack. It's weird to write this after a good start. It's not like Cain gave it up today or sucked big time. Far from it--he "pitched well enough to win" and in April and May the Giants would have won this game easily. But these June and July Giants are a very different animal, indeed, and it's hard to know what to expect from one day to the next.
The Giants stand at 47-39 or .547 ball after 86 games. I thought, when the season started, that this was a 90+ win team. A 90-win team is .556 ball. That means the Giants have to play, percentage-wise, better baseball from this point forward than they have so far. They have to go 43-33 or .566 just to get to 90, and we know that might not be enough. To get to 94 will take 47-29 or .618 which seems increasingly unlikely. Of course they could snap out of their funk at any moment and run off some wins--this is indeed a possibility. But watching today's effort makes it hard to be optimistic. After the team fell behind 2-0 in the 3rd it was like the air was let out of the balloon. They had nothing and did nothing the rest of the game. Please, Gods of Baseball, say it ain't so. Give me a sign the Giants are awakening from their .217 stretch and are still contenders.
I hope you all had a relaxing Fourth. Happy Independence Day, everyone!
--M.C.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Oh, that was bad
So we know the Giants will live and die, like most teams, on the strength of their starting pitching. Unfortunately when a team is in a losing spiral like the one they are in now it hardly matters. The Giants got a strong start from Ryan Vogelsong on Thursday but poor work from the bullpen and an anemic effort by the lineup doomed them to defeat. Tonight Matt Cain gave the team seven shutout innings, but the same formula--feeble offense and wretched relief--kept the losing streak going. I thought I might talk about Sergio Romo, but so much is wrong with the club right now it's not worth singling anyone out.
The Giants scored 111 runs in April and 123 in May. They've only managed 92 so far in June. The swoon isn't just the offense--the team allowed 94 runs in April and 90 in May and they've allowed 112 in June. It's a team-wide mess. They are 10-15 for the month after a 6-1 start--that's four wins in their last 18 games. We knew they would not sustain the smoking hot start to the season. We knew they'd cool off and hit some rough patches. But this is really, really ugly and not at all what I expected. They aren't doing anything right. Perhaps we can feel good about a solid start from Cain as they certainly can't expect to stay in contention without the rotation performing the way they ought to.
It's Homer Bailey and Tim Hudson tomorrow afternoon.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The Giants scored 111 runs in April and 123 in May. They've only managed 92 so far in June. The swoon isn't just the offense--the team allowed 94 runs in April and 90 in May and they've allowed 112 in June. It's a team-wide mess. They are 10-15 for the month after a 6-1 start--that's four wins in their last 18 games. We knew they would not sustain the smoking hot start to the season. We knew they'd cool off and hit some rough patches. But this is really, really ugly and not at all what I expected. They aren't doing anything right. Perhaps we can feel good about a solid start from Cain as they certainly can't expect to stay in contention without the rotation performing the way they ought to.
It's Homer Bailey and Tim Hudson tomorrow afternoon.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
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