Devers

Looks like the big slugger is done for the year. He apparently needs surgery on a "core" muscle. The problem is supposedly similar to that which sidelined Matt Chapman earlier in the year. Devers will be operated on this week and should be fully ready for 2027.

The Devers contract is a massive one. There was a lot of talk early in the season when he was not hitting about the Giants being "underwater" on the deal. That they wanted to move him, that the deal was "weighing down" the team payroll, that the contract was an "albatross," yadda-yadda-yadda.

Big contracts come with those attendant stories. They are just part of the narrative. The fact is, Rafael Devers is an elite MLB power hitter whose salary is perfectly in line with the going rate for such players. He's paid at a level commensurate with his talent. If one WAR is worth $10M then a 3-WAR player is worth $30M annually. Devers bWAR this year is 3.8, last year it was 4.3 (1.9 in 90G with SF), and 3.9 the year before that.

One thing we know is that Rafi could hit 50 homers and it wouldn't move the needle much on the team's win total. The Giants need pitching! But if/when they do get some decent pitching (and fielding), Devers' bat will be a difference-maker. 

And I can't wait to see 22-year old Bryce Eldridge next season!

There's talk of shutting down Logan Webb as well. That's probably a good move. There's a good chance he's just thrown too many damn innings and he needs a break.

--M.C. 

Stunning Sweep

SF 7  STL 6

The Giants played a terrible game. They made three errors. Blade Tidwell gave up more runs (5) than innings pitched (4). They got a run in the 1st but couldn't do crap after that. It was going to be another missed opportunity. Another lousy outcome. Another "let's just turn it off" and "thank god it's an off-day tomorrow" kind of afternoon.

Then something happened. The Giants, down 6-1 in the 8th, scored six runs. That's right, six runs. It was the late-inning nightmare all over again except this time the Cardinals were on the receiving end. The Giants are the best in MLB at blowing leads but today they turned the tables and pulled off a great win.

Here's how it went: Drew Cavanaugh single, Grant McCray strikeout, Christian Koss fly out, Brett Harris hit by pitch, Turner Hill walk, Bryce Eldridge single, Jonah Cox single, Jung Hoo Lee double, Shay Whitcomb double, Drew Cavanaugh groundout. That's what they call "batting around."

The result is three wins in a row and a series sweep. That's 62 for those of us counting. I'm starting to feel confident that the Giants will not lose 100 games.

In the bottom of the 9th the Cards put the first guy on but Trent Harris got a double play and a groundout to end it. Nice work from Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson as well (scoreless 8th and 9th). I'm still having a hard time believing the Giants won this game.

Enjoy!

--M.C. 

Giants hang on for win

SF 2  STL 1

Late innings have been hell this year. Tonight the bullpen bent a little but didn't break. They preserved Landen Roupp's fine start (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R) and helped the Giants claim their 61st win.

Bryce Eldridge hit his 16th homer in the 1st and Christian Koss added another in the 2nd. That was it for the scoring until the Cardinals got a two-out run in the 9th. The Giants loaded the bases in the 8th with no outs but failed to add on. That kind of failure has doomed the team so many times this season that it was nice to see them pull out the win despite it.

Here's a note from Sarah Langs about Bryce:

 

Cool, huh?

Getaway game tomorrow (12:45 PT), off-day Thursday, and then the Padres come to town for three.

Go Giants!

--M.C. 

Giants blow it but still win

SF 5  STL 4 (11)

It was inevitable that the Giants would blow their 3-0 lead. It was inevitable that they would fail to score in the 9th. It was inevitable that they would lose in extras.

Then they didn't. Oh, they tried real hard to do all those things but they only managed the first two. In the end, the Giants scored in both the 10th and in the 11th. More important than that, they stopped the Cardinals from scoring when it mattered most.

Somehow, that Giants won the game. That's 60 wins. Anyway, I'll admit that I gave up and did not believe the team could come back and win. So, good on them!

By the way, Sunday's loss was Game 144. That's eight seasonal innings. Here's the butcher's bill:

1st inning: 6-12

2nd inning: 8-10

3rd inning: 8-10

4th inning: 7-11 

5th inning: 9-9 

6th inning: 8-10 

7th inning: 6-12 

8th inning: 7-11

That's 59-85 if you're counting and with today's win it's 60-85 (.414). With 17 games remaining a .414 win percentage says seven more wins. That'd be nice. I'm looking for at least three!

Tomorrow is a night game (6:45 PT) and Wednesday is a lunch special (12:45 PT).

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Homer-happy Giants bash Mets

SF 9  NYM 5

Rafael Devers is the hottest hitter in baseball:

 

He has nine homers in his last thirteen games and his 70 extra-base hits are second in MLB to Pete Crow-Armstrong's 74.

Despite Devers' recent heroics I think today we have to give our "tip o' the cap" to FNG 24-year old Anthony Molina. He struck out six over a five-inning start. He gave up a two-run homer, his only hit allowed. And the runs were unearned as it was a Devers error that put the baserunner on. It was a good audition. I figure every youngster is auditioning for 2027. Speaking of youngsters, Christian Koss served notice with two homers today. And the Giants kept scoring which meant the Mets getting two in the 9th was irrelevant.

Both Grant McCray and Osleivis Basabe homered so all nine runs were the result of big flies. Bryce Eldridge hit his 20th double.

Tomorrow's game is early (10:40 PT). Go Giants!

--M.C. 

Winning formula

SF 5  PIT 4 (10)

It was sort of impossible to write about that ridiculous 13-12 loss the other night. The Giants gave up nine runs in an inning and yet tied the game later. Maybe next year they will learn that you have to go ahead and not just tie a ballgame. And WTF Logan Webb? That was the worst outing (202 starts!) of his career.

But tonight they found a winning formula: late runs and some decent bullpen work. Rafael Devers hit another homer (his 32nd) to open the scoring. Bryce Eldridge and Turner Hill accounted for the rest of the RBIs. The Pirates plated the Manfred Man to open the bottom half of the 10th but Dylan Smith got the next three outs for the save. It's the kind of game we've seen the team lose over and over again this season. Maybe next year they can use this winning formula more frequently.

That's two "maybe next year"(s) in the same post!

It's an early game tomorrow (9:35 a.m. PT) and it looks like Blade Tidwell's turn.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants whip Braves

SF 7  ATL 3

The win the other night was helped along by FNG Yunior Marte who as I pointed out was acquired from the Braves in the Yaz trade. I also note that Yaz struck out (on a challenge!) to end tonight's contest. Tonight's starter, Anthony Molina, came to SF (via Atlanta) for Tyler Mahle. So, Buster's hot stove happenings have delivered some early returns. Molina is only 24 and made his debut with Colorado when he was a mere 22 years. Marte is a mere 22. Bring on the Youth Brigade!

Rafael Devers hit his 30th homer. Jonah Cox and Osleivis Basabe homered. Turner Hill had a two-run double in the four-run 6th. Nice relief work from Jason Foley, Reiver Sanmartin, and Dylan Smith got the job done.

The Giants finish the season with a 5-1 record against the 82-56 NL East-leading Braves. Go figure.

Pittsburgh tomorrow, 3:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.