NYM 11 SF 4
Good times come to an end. It's one of those things you learn in life that is never fun, just relentlessly true. The Giants had a brilliant seven-game win streak come to a thudding halt this afternoon in San Francisco. The Mets lineup clobbered seventeen hits including four homers and a triple off Jeff Samardzija, Derek Holland, and Ty Blach, thumping the local lads with impunity.
The Giants scored five runs in the first 34 innings since coming home. They got two wins out of that which tells you they were on quite a hot streak. Today they were down 11-1 in the 9th before Alex Dickerson hit a two-run homer and Mike Yastrzemski added a solo shot.
Tomorrow they will continue their run of excellent play (13-3 in July) and kick off a new winning streak, right? Young southpaw Conner Menez gets the start--his major league debut--which is an exciting development. There are now three rookies in the rotation! This kid (he's 24) has risen quickly through the system and now he's earned a shot with the big club. Conner is from Hollister and went to San Benito High School (their nickname is the Haybalers, you have to love that).
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Showing posts with label Dutch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dutch. Show all posts
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Giants Rally Past Reds
SF 6 CIN 5
Madison Bumgarner has thrown 18 innings in his last three starts, six innings in each. He's walked only three and whiffed 23, but has allowed 20 hits including three homers. It all tallies to eight runs allowed but more importantly three wins for the team. Today his catcher Erik Kratz didn't help him out (first batter reached on catcher's interference and was PB'd to second) and he put the team in a 2-0 hole after a two-out hit. Pablo Sandoval tied it up in the bottom half with a two-run homer, but Bum gave up another two-out hit which led to a run in the 2nd inning. After three scoreless Bum batted for himself in the 5th, striking out, and then gave up a homer to the first batter of the 6th (Yasiel Puig). That was enough to doom the Giants, normally, but they rallied late and got a big pinch-hit homer from Brandon Belt (driving in Brandon Crawford, who had walked) to tie it 4-4 in the 7th. Reyes Moronta loaded the bases in the 8th and that led to a run, but the Giants rallied again to take a 6-5 lead in the bottom half. Big hits from Evan Longoria, Panda again, and Kevin Pillar gave Will Smith a chance to save it and he did so. The Giants snapped a three-game losing streak.
It was a good start, overall, in a string of terrible starts. Bumgarner and the 'pen held the Dodgers to one run on May 1st and won that game (and the series). Here's the tally since then by the starters (IP/R): 2.1/8, 5/8, 5/4, 1.2/7, 6/3 (MadBum), 2.2/7, 5/4, and 4/3. Not pretty. Oh, that included 18 HR. That's right: eighteen homers. Dereck Rodriguez was sent back to AAA, Drew Pomeranz was put on the IL, and Derek Holland was moved to the bullpen. I can't argue with any of that. Tyler Beede will get the start on Tuesday and then it is TBD. Perhaps they'll call up a youngster like Shaun Anderson or Andrew Suarez. I don't know! It's an uncertain time out there for anyone not named Madison Bumgarner.
Apparently Derek Holland caused a bit of a local kerfuffle complaining to the media about his demotion and claiming his IL stay was "fake." Buddy, EVERY TEAM uses the IL creatively! A hangnail is almost good enough. If his ERA was other than 6.75 it would not have happened. Everyone also knows you go to your coaches and/or manager first if you have a beef, and you don't rip "the front office" (i.e., your bosses) in public without at least doing it in private first. But that's OK. If a player is happy after a demotion I think he's in the wrong profession. Pitch well, and the problems will go away. Winning clubhouses are happy clubhouses. I have to give Boch a lot of credit for keeping stuff like this under wraps these last few seasons when the team has played so poorly. You have to figure folks get grumpy when week after week they perform below expectations. With the regime change everyone also knows things are going to be different and there is some uncertainty ahead for many of the players. That has to weigh on their minds. FZ made a point to say that if he has not made it comfortable for players to come to him with problems then "that is on him" and he will do more to improve communication. He's the new sheriff in town and there's bound to be some growing pains but I remain convinced he's the right person. I particularly like that he is relentlessly positive and looks for solutions. He doesn't pass the buck or cast blame.
Off-day tomorrow and again on Thursday with two against the Blue Jays in between.
--M.C.
Madison Bumgarner has thrown 18 innings in his last three starts, six innings in each. He's walked only three and whiffed 23, but has allowed 20 hits including three homers. It all tallies to eight runs allowed but more importantly three wins for the team. Today his catcher Erik Kratz didn't help him out (first batter reached on catcher's interference and was PB'd to second) and he put the team in a 2-0 hole after a two-out hit. Pablo Sandoval tied it up in the bottom half with a two-run homer, but Bum gave up another two-out hit which led to a run in the 2nd inning. After three scoreless Bum batted for himself in the 5th, striking out, and then gave up a homer to the first batter of the 6th (Yasiel Puig). That was enough to doom the Giants, normally, but they rallied late and got a big pinch-hit homer from Brandon Belt (driving in Brandon Crawford, who had walked) to tie it 4-4 in the 7th. Reyes Moronta loaded the bases in the 8th and that led to a run, but the Giants rallied again to take a 6-5 lead in the bottom half. Big hits from Evan Longoria, Panda again, and Kevin Pillar gave Will Smith a chance to save it and he did so. The Giants snapped a three-game losing streak.
It was a good start, overall, in a string of terrible starts. Bumgarner and the 'pen held the Dodgers to one run on May 1st and won that game (and the series). Here's the tally since then by the starters (IP/R): 2.1/8, 5/8, 5/4, 1.2/7, 6/3 (MadBum), 2.2/7, 5/4, and 4/3. Not pretty. Oh, that included 18 HR. That's right: eighteen homers. Dereck Rodriguez was sent back to AAA, Drew Pomeranz was put on the IL, and Derek Holland was moved to the bullpen. I can't argue with any of that. Tyler Beede will get the start on Tuesday and then it is TBD. Perhaps they'll call up a youngster like Shaun Anderson or Andrew Suarez. I don't know! It's an uncertain time out there for anyone not named Madison Bumgarner.
Apparently Derek Holland caused a bit of a local kerfuffle complaining to the media about his demotion and claiming his IL stay was "fake." Buddy, EVERY TEAM uses the IL creatively! A hangnail is almost good enough. If his ERA was other than 6.75 it would not have happened. Everyone also knows you go to your coaches and/or manager first if you have a beef, and you don't rip "the front office" (i.e., your bosses) in public without at least doing it in private first. But that's OK. If a player is happy after a demotion I think he's in the wrong profession. Pitch well, and the problems will go away. Winning clubhouses are happy clubhouses. I have to give Boch a lot of credit for keeping stuff like this under wraps these last few seasons when the team has played so poorly. You have to figure folks get grumpy when week after week they perform below expectations. With the regime change everyone also knows things are going to be different and there is some uncertainty ahead for many of the players. That has to weigh on their minds. FZ made a point to say that if he has not made it comfortable for players to come to him with problems then "that is on him" and he will do more to improve communication. He's the new sheriff in town and there's bound to be some growing pains but I remain convinced he's the right person. I particularly like that he is relentlessly positive and looks for solutions. He doesn't pass the buck or cast blame.
Off-day tomorrow and again on Thursday with two against the Blue Jays in between.
--M.C.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Pillar of Strength
SF 7 SD 2
For the second straight night FNG Kevin Pillar chipped in four RBIs, but this time it paid off in a big win. He gets the RMC FNG of the Week Award! He must have read the memo: How to Impress Your New Fanbase. But I'm burying the lede. The real hero tonight was southpaw starter Derek Holland who subdued a right-handed lineup for seven solid innings. Only two walks (and five hits) against NINE strikeouts and Dutch matches Bumgarner's opening day dominance but with some offensive support. Holland's only blemish was a solo shot from Hunter Renfroe with one out in the 7th and he responded with two strikeouts to end the inning. Trevor Gott gave up a run in the 8th and Mark Melancon closed out the 9th. A fine effort from the lads tonight.
D-Rod goes tomorrow afternoon, 12:45 PDT start time. Go Giants!
--M.C.
For the second straight night FNG Kevin Pillar chipped in four RBIs, but this time it paid off in a big win. He gets the RMC FNG of the Week Award! He must have read the memo: How to Impress Your New Fanbase. But I'm burying the lede. The real hero tonight was southpaw starter Derek Holland who subdued a right-handed lineup for seven solid innings. Only two walks (and five hits) against NINE strikeouts and Dutch matches Bumgarner's opening day dominance but with some offensive support. Holland's only blemish was a solo shot from Hunter Renfroe with one out in the 7th and he responded with two strikeouts to end the inning. Trevor Gott gave up a run in the 8th and Mark Melancon closed out the 9th. A fine effort from the lads tonight.
D-Rod goes tomorrow afternoon, 12:45 PDT start time. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Dodgers Take Finale
LA 5 SF 3
One of the problems with bullpen-based baseball is that the bullpen has to be perfect. Tonight, it wasn't. Ace reliever Reyes Moronta gave up two hits, a walk, and two runs in the 7th with the big blow coming on two strikes with two outs. Nobody's perfect. It turned a 3-2 Giants lead into a 4-3 deficit. Tony Watson allowed a run in the 8th as well. Derek Holland had yielded two in the 1st but a solo shot by Steven Duggar and a two-run shot by Brandon Belt in the 4th reclaimed the lead. Speaking of Duggar, he was in right and FNG Kevin Pillar got the start in center.
Giants play their Home Opener on Friday at 1:35 Pacific. D-Rod gets the nod against the Rays.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
One of the problems with bullpen-based baseball is that the bullpen has to be perfect. Tonight, it wasn't. Ace reliever Reyes Moronta gave up two hits, a walk, and two runs in the 7th with the big blow coming on two strikes with two outs. Nobody's perfect. It turned a 3-2 Giants lead into a 4-3 deficit. Tony Watson allowed a run in the 8th as well. Derek Holland had yielded two in the 1st but a solo shot by Steven Duggar and a two-run shot by Brandon Belt in the 4th reclaimed the lead. Speaking of Duggar, he was in right and FNG Kevin Pillar got the start in center.
Giants play their Home Opener on Friday at 1:35 Pacific. D-Rod gets the nod against the Rays.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Giants Edge Rangers
SF 3 TEX 1
Bullpen woes Friday night cost the Giants a win and made things uncomfortably close yesterday afternoon. But today the 'pen delivered a scoreless 2-2/3 in support of a strong start from Derek Holland (6-1/3, 3 H, 1 R) and that led to a series win for the home squad. Mark Melancon got the save, just like yesterday. Steven Duggar's two-out triple drove in two in the 4th, and Evan Longoria scored on a passed ball after a triple in the 1st and that was just enough to prevail. How often have the Giants scored in an inning in which they hit a triple? I'd venture not too often. The triple, a feature of PhoneCo Park, is one of those baseball appendages that has fan appeal but not much value in the age of the home run. According to B-R there have been almost seven times as many homers (4484) as triples (662) this season, and ten times (6685) as many doubles.
Chris Stratton is apparently the starter tomorrow night against the Diamondbacks. I'm guessing we'll see MadBum Tuesday and D-Rod Wednesday, but they may take advantage of the off-day on Thursday to to push the rookie (just off the DL) back to Friday. In that case they'll probably use Ty Blach. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Bullpen woes Friday night cost the Giants a win and made things uncomfortably close yesterday afternoon. But today the 'pen delivered a scoreless 2-2/3 in support of a strong start from Derek Holland (6-1/3, 3 H, 1 R) and that led to a series win for the home squad. Mark Melancon got the save, just like yesterday. Steven Duggar's two-out triple drove in two in the 4th, and Evan Longoria scored on a passed ball after a triple in the 1st and that was just enough to prevail. How often have the Giants scored in an inning in which they hit a triple? I'd venture not too often. The triple, a feature of PhoneCo Park, is one of those baseball appendages that has fan appeal but not much value in the age of the home run. According to B-R there have been almost seven times as many homers (4484) as triples (662) this season, and ten times (6685) as many doubles.
Chris Stratton is apparently the starter tomorrow night against the Diamondbacks. I'm guessing we'll see MadBum Tuesday and D-Rod Wednesday, but they may take advantage of the off-day on Thursday to to push the rookie (just off the DL) back to Friday. In that case they'll probably use Ty Blach. Go Giants!
--M.C.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Giants Eke Out Split
I heard on the radio that since June 20 (I'm pretty sure that was the date mentioned) the Giants have the best ERA, save Boston, of any team in the major leagues. Obviously, Boston has been doing a lot more winning in that time frame. Can that even be right?
Giants salvaged a split in Arizona, which gives them a win for their road trip (4 - 2). That is their first winning road trip this year. They won behind some good pitching from Derek Holland and a spate of relievers by a score of 3 - 2. Nick Hundley got an rbi and Evan Longoria got 2, the second an 8th inning solo shot to give the Giants the lead. Ray Black was on the mound in the 7th, so he was credited with the win. Watson and Dyson pitched the 8th, and Will Smith the 9th. (Also, Reyes Moronta pitched 2/3 of an inning after Holland was pulled after 5 1/3.) The Giants scored 8 runs in the first game of this 4-game series, and 3 in each game thereafter, for a total of 17. The snakes scored 18 total.
So if the Giants are now only 1 game over .500, but their pitching has been very good, I guess you can figure out why they aren't posting a better record. We seem to be in pretty good shape as long as DRod, MadBum or Dutch is on the mound. Maybe Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton need nicknames. Or maybe Blach needs to start a game, although he has been damn good as a reliever. Maybe Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutcheon can carry a bit of the load until Crawford can get a bit more consistent at the plate and Belt comes back. But the season's running along, the Giants need to improve if they are going to have any hope of an impact. Buster Posey played at first, he went 1 for 3. Houston up next at the Phone. That's not going to be easy.
Giants salvaged a split in Arizona, which gives them a win for their road trip (4 - 2). That is their first winning road trip this year. They won behind some good pitching from Derek Holland and a spate of relievers by a score of 3 - 2. Nick Hundley got an rbi and Evan Longoria got 2, the second an 8th inning solo shot to give the Giants the lead. Ray Black was on the mound in the 7th, so he was credited with the win. Watson and Dyson pitched the 8th, and Will Smith the 9th. (Also, Reyes Moronta pitched 2/3 of an inning after Holland was pulled after 5 1/3.) The Giants scored 8 runs in the first game of this 4-game series, and 3 in each game thereafter, for a total of 17. The snakes scored 18 total.
So if the Giants are now only 1 game over .500, but their pitching has been very good, I guess you can figure out why they aren't posting a better record. We seem to be in pretty good shape as long as DRod, MadBum or Dutch is on the mound. Maybe Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton need nicknames. Or maybe Blach needs to start a game, although he has been damn good as a reliever. Maybe Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutcheon can carry a bit of the load until Crawford can get a bit more consistent at the plate and Belt comes back. But the season's running along, the Giants need to improve if they are going to have any hope of an impact. Buster Posey played at first, he went 1 for 3. Houston up next at the Phone. That's not going to be easy.
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