Much better

SFG 7  NYM 2

The Mets spent a lot of money in the off-season and beefed up their roster. Their payroll is north of $350M and since Steve Cohen bought the team in 2020 their only competitors in spending have been the Yankees and the Dodgers. The Giants will spend about $220M. That's around 12th place. They are above the middle but not in the top third.

I only bring that up because in the early going the highly-touted Mets are 3-4 and have scored 25 runs. The Giants have scored 21 runs and are also 3-4 (both teams have allowed 27 runs). It was nice to see that the home squad could put a whuppin' on a fancy-pants outfit from the Big Apple. I know it's only one game but I like the way it went. 

Robbie Ray, who I think always looks shaky, looked shaky in the first two frames. He settled in after giving up two runs and put up zeros into the 6th. Meanwhile the Giants tagged Mets pitchers for 13 hits including a double by Matt Chapman, a triple by Luis Arráez, and a homer (his first) by Rafael Devers. Rookie Daniel Susac, making his ML debut behind the plate, had three hits and a walk. Casey Schmitt, batting ninth, also had three hits.

That's all good stuff but I'm giving the game ball to The Tennessee Kid, Blade Tidwell, who pitched three scoreless in relief to log a save. Tidwell came to SF in the Tyler Rogers trade. He did not break camp with the team but was recalled to take José Buttó's spot. Buttó was also acquired in the Rogers trade. He went on the 15-day IL after his rough outing in San Diego.

Looks like FNG veteran Tyler Mahle is lined up for tomorrow night (7:15 PT) and will face young Nolan McLean, the phenom who pitched for Team USA. McLean will be making only his tenth career start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

That was ugly

SD 7  SF 1

Adrian Houser deserved better. And I can't explain four hits and fourteen strikeouts!! The lineup was overwhelmed once again. That's four losses with two runs scored. Return of the Son of Bleah.

Good thing there are 156 games left.

It's the Mets at home tomorrow night (6:45 Pacific) and Robbie Ray gets the start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants get a big win

SF 9  SD 3

It was a weird and ugly start for Logan Webb who walked FOUR guys! Webb walked 46 guys last year and 50 the year before. He averages fewer than two bases on balls per start. He also got trashed for three runs in the 3rd but hung on to finish six and get yet another quality start (103rd of his career). He retired the final ten batters in a row. JT Brubaker and José Buttó continued the excellent work from the 'pen and put up zeroes the rest of the way.

But the big star was Willy Adames who led off the game with a homer and added three more hits, scoring twice and driving in two. The whole lineup joined the fun with 16 hits, at least one for every player. Jung Hoo Lee had a big night as well with two doubles and three RBI. Jared Oliva stole a base (pinch-running) and wound up scoring later. It was 8-3 in the 9th and that would have raised hackles in the opposing dugout "back in the day." It seems like no one cares about that stuff anymore and that's good. The point of the game is to compete and score runs.

This afternoon (1:10 PT) will give Adrian Houser his first start. Let's go for a sweep!

--M.C.