Eugenio Velez just won't stop hitting. How are they going to take him out of the lineup? Sure, he'll go relatively cold eventually, but, I don't know, don't hold your breath.
I think we have our left fielder.
First and second base are both set now. Garko is warming up at the plate, and FSanchez has been super so far. Pablo seemed to have a slump for a few games coming off the AS break, but if you look at box scores from then he was still getting hits almost every game. Just little hits.
As for JSanchez, well, he was fabulous. He's performing like he now believes in himself.
Apparently we're going to play musical chairs for a while with the 5th starter spot. Let's all root for good-old Joe Martinez to have a manly outing tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
No Luck for #13
8 8 4 4 0 5
Game Score 55
Two ghosts from Matt Cain's past made unwelcome returns tonight as the Giants dropped the first game of three in Houston. Even a complete game was not enough for Matt to overcome these "demons" and earn his thirteen victory.
Matt's first visitor, who has been hanging with Beezy more often lately, must have really brought back bad memories of the last two years. Lord knows that Matt and "lack of run support" were joined at the hip for awhile (last year a ridiculous 3.1 runs per game!) but we all thought they had called it quits. Not tonight. The Giants were a pathetic 2 for 10 RISP... and one of those was a hit where Renteria was thrown out at home by a mile! Rowand and Edgar also had amazingly inept CALLED third strikes in HUGE situations. We demonstrated an incredible ability to blow all types of scoring chances. It is rather sickeningly impressive how bad we can be on offense. See, I'm trying to be positive about it.
The other beast was of Matt's own doing. The dreaded XBH - extra base hit. Matt didn't give up many hits (8) but they were doozies: one double, two triples, and two home runs. I believe the Matsui HR was on a 0-2 pitch - OUCH! I suppose that Matt's style will always lead to many flyballs, and therefore, some homers. He did show that the XBH shouldn't kill you if you don't walk anybody. However, put it together with ingredient #1 and even our own Tennesee Stud was no match.
Well, better luck next time Matt. Don't worry, #13 awaits.
Game Score 55
Two ghosts from Matt Cain's past made unwelcome returns tonight as the Giants dropped the first game of three in Houston. Even a complete game was not enough for Matt to overcome these "demons" and earn his thirteen victory.
Matt's first visitor, who has been hanging with Beezy more often lately, must have really brought back bad memories of the last two years. Lord knows that Matt and "lack of run support" were joined at the hip for awhile (last year a ridiculous 3.1 runs per game!) but we all thought they had called it quits. Not tonight. The Giants were a pathetic 2 for 10 RISP... and one of those was a hit where Renteria was thrown out at home by a mile! Rowand and Edgar also had amazingly inept CALLED third strikes in HUGE situations. We demonstrated an incredible ability to blow all types of scoring chances. It is rather sickeningly impressive how bad we can be on offense. See, I'm trying to be positive about it.
The other beast was of Matt's own doing. The dreaded XBH - extra base hit. Matt didn't give up many hits (8) but they were doozies: one double, two triples, and two home runs. I believe the Matsui HR was on a 0-2 pitch - OUCH! I suppose that Matt's style will always lead to many flyballs, and therefore, some homers. He did show that the XBH shouldn't kill you if you don't walk anybody. However, put it together with ingredient #1 and even our own Tennesee Stud was no match.
Well, better luck next time Matt. Don't worry, #13 awaits.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Best home team in the league
The Giants beat Cole Hamels and the defending champs today to finish the homestand 6-1 and stay tied for the Wild Card lead with the Crockies. A nice antidote to a 3-7 road trip, wouldn't you say? Tomorrow the Cain Train rolls through Houston, we'll see if the lads can conjure up 12 hits in a foreign park against Mike Hampton. When Barry Fookin' Zito gives you a "quality start" (Game Score 55), you know your pitchers are holding up their end, so the batters have to come through. I sure hope FSanchez can hit lots of doubles, his 29th today ties him for 4th in the NL, and it wasn't long ago he hit 53 in a season. I can live with a singles hitter who hits a lot of doubles. He seems to be the sort of player The Rental once was, and I hope he's more than just Rental Redux, and is actually something closer to Rental the Younger. But I'm fouling the mood with sour thoughts--it is never bad to be a hero in front of a sellout crowd on your debut. Other than Friday night, the Giants had stellar bullpen work, you add a super start and some steady stuff from the southpaws, and you get a series victory. The high-flying Phillies offense averages 5.3 runs per game, yet they could only put 10 total on the board in these 4 games, 7 fewer than the Giants.
My lovely bride and I are off tomorrow morning to the coast for a few nights. I'm cutting the cyber-cord: no e-mails, no Facebook, no blogging. I hope we'll catch Matt's start on TV. Just like the Giants, I'll be back on Thursday.
My lovely bride and I are off tomorrow morning to the coast for a few nights. I'm cutting the cyber-cord: no e-mails, no Facebook, no blogging. I hope we'll catch Matt's start on TV. Just like the Giants, I'll be back on Thursday.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dog-gone Good Tim
It looks like Tim enjoys the best annual ballpark event, Dog Days of Summer, as much as I do. (It is the only game on TV where they aren't constantly showing goofus "fans" on cell phones during every break.) Young Mr. Lincecum dismantled the defending champ Phillies during an impressive 8 innings, ZERO RUNS, 7 hits (ALL SINGLES!!), 1 walk and a cool 8 strikeouts. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this absolute gem was his mastery of Chase Utley; 0 for 4, 1 K and a huge 5 LOB. That alone is proof that Tim is the best...but we already knew that.
Did anybody else see the short clip of Tim with his dog? Two things jumped out: Tim is completely RIPPED and that is one ugly dog. So at least I have one thing Tim doesn't.
Did anybody else see the short clip of Tim with his dog? Two things jumped out: Tim is completely RIPPED and that is one ugly dog. So at least I have one thing Tim doesn't.
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