The Giants beat the Padres tonight by a score of 8 - 3.
Don't let the score fool you. The Giants piled the runs on a couple of Padres' relief pitchers, had those relievers been competent, the score might have been more like 4 -3. And that means the Giants have a .250 record in their last 4 games against crappy teams. They lost 2 thoroughly winnable games to Arizona who made it clear this year and reiterated at the trading deadline that they weren't even trying to win, and then lost in traditional Giants fashion to a nobody rookie pitcher last night. They once had a shot at the wild card, now, that is a pipe dream. As, probably, is a .500 record. After their series against the Padres, they play 3 series against crappy teams; Miami, Pittsburgh and Colorado; yet 5 series against teams that are over .500 and legitimately in the playoff hunt. That would be 2 against the team that leads our division by 20 games, Boston, St. Louis, and Atlanta. Good luck with that.
Madison Bumgarner pitched. He pitched well. He threw 103 pitches in 7 full innings and allowed only 4 hits, 1 run and 2 walks. That run was a home run by Machado. Tony Watson and Tyler Rogers each allowed a run in the 8th and 9th.
Belt hit a 2 run shot in the 1st inning for a 2 - 0 lead. I heard some incredible statistic from the announcers, about the Giants record when they score first. It's something like 40 - 13. Which indicates that they don't often score first and that they seem not to do well if they don't. Belt was 3 for 5 tonight and Yaz had 2 hits, including a solo home run. Posey was 3 for 4 and Longoria had 2 hits.
Anyway, it's time to expand the rosters, if you like new faces, this is the time for you. I hope some of the guys that have done well, like Yaz (he had 18 home runs!) stick around, but I wouldn't bet on it, it's churn time and there are no sure things except for those guys with no-trade clauses. One good thing, though, is that FZ talked to NBC sports about a potential deal for Madbum. Not that there is one in the offing, but that there is mutual interest, he thinks. I hope so, from the Giants standpoint, it would be insane not to be.
2 comments:
I'll be surprised if they don't sign MadBum. All the signs are pointing that way but they have to be cool about it. They have to respect his impending free agency and not take his decision-making for granted. I'm sure Bum's agent is telling him "STFU and pitch and let me handle that stuff." That's all good. That's the way it is supposed to work. But like I said I expect they have a package for him and I think he'll take it without too much fuss. At least that's the vibe I get from 300 miles away!
I'm happy about this team's progress. I'd really like to see a +.500 finish but as you point out they will have a tough schedule and it will be hard to do. But this is a much improved club. There is a lot more depth and game flexibility. "Piling on against relievers" is a game tactic, it is not something to scoff at. With a deep roster you can get good matchups late in the game and nail down the win. An 8-3 lead is better than a 4-3 lead because the other guys might get a fluky run or a bloop-and-a-blast off your relievers, too. It gives you a victory cushion. Wins matter now, aesthetics only matter in hindsight.
The Giants have been hurt lately by the young starters not being able to deliver consistently. Bum and Shark have been damn good overall but they don't have another dependable arm or two to keep the games close early on. Obviously there is a continuing problem with not being able to hit at home, but at least they showed last night that they CAN hit at home.
This was never a wild card team, in my mind. That run in July was awesome but all it did was get them out of their crap-hole. You have to remember how deep and ugly that crap-hole was! The turnaround made them respectable. And they have to keep being respectable until the end of the season. Next year--this off-season, that is--we can talk about building a playoff team.
Matt Cain was 60-60 at home in his career with the Giants. Tim Lincecum was 59-42.
MadBum is now 60-40.
That's three first-round picks: 2002, 2006, and 2007, and 179 career victories at home. Amazing stuff.
Let's hope they figure out a good solution with Bumgarner--at least keep him and Posey together until Buster's contract runs out (2022 is an option year). It would be kind of cool for Bum to have a "personal catcher."
I suspect Buster will be half-time at best behind the dish going forward. But that's OK, he still has skills, he just has to be utilized in new ways. I know Boch likes to still pretend he's the number-three hitter but I don't object. Posey has a great eye, great hands, great balance, all the attributes of a good hitter. He's not physically the same guy, but it's not like he's lost his talent. Buster is the veteran sage of the team, he gets respect even if his play is not what it once was. They need a guy for rookies to watch and see how to have pride and intensity even when you and the team suck. Longoria is another such character. Young players in this organization are being hurried up to the bigs because, well, the team needs them. You have to have some grizzled old pros around to show the FNGs how to grind it out and keep a level head.
They waited out Bum's injuries and did not trade him, that tells me they are still the old Giants in that they want to keep the championship legacy going. With Sandoval's injury, and probable departure, and Boch's retirement, Bum and Buster are all that's left (other than coaches and etc.).
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