Giant pitchers threw 144 innings in the post season and gave up 47 runs. Ryan Vogelsong pitched 24-2/3 of those innings (about 17%) and gave up only 3 runs (about 6%). In the NLCS, Vogie threw two seven-inning, one-run starts, dominating the defending champs in Game Two and again in Game Six. His 73 Game Score in that penultimate contest was something he topped only once (May 19 vs. Oakland) in the regular season. It was a hugely impressive display by the veteran right-hander. You could argue he deserved the MVP of that series, and that's not a criticism of Marco Scutaro who played magnificently. Lots of things added up for the Giants to win the World Series, but Game Three of the LDS was certainly a key. The Giants would win that game, memorably, in the 10th inning. Vogie was on the mound that day and went toe-to-toe with Homer Bailey who had a one-hitter and ten strikeouts through seven innings. Vogie gave up a run in the first but none for the next four. The Giants scored without a hit to tie it in the 3rd, and one of the big plays was a perfect sacrifice bunt by the starting pitcher, Ryan Vogelsong. And people prefer AL DH-ball! Cretins. Vogie also contributed an RBI hit in Game Six against the Cardinals when he out-pitched big-time post-season stud and 2005 Cy Young winner (and 2009 CYA runner-up) Chris Carpenter for the second time.
Twelve guys had at least three starts in the playoffs and only six of them threw at least 20 innings. Of all of them, Vogie had the lowest ERA (1.09), the 4th-lowest WHIP (1.05), and was 3rd-best in strikeouts (21). Not bad for a guy who couldn't find a job two seasons ago. Did mention he was signed through 2013 and the team has an option on him for 2014? I can't wait to see what other great things this guy can do.
--M.C.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
25 for 16: Matt Cain
Twenty-five Giants played sixteen post-season games to claim the 2012 World Series Championship. One of those players was Matt Cain. Ten teams were in the tournament, 102 different pitchers participated, and Cain led everyone of them in starts (5), innings pitched (30), batters faced (125), and pitches thrown (475). He also allowed the most hits (27), runs (12), home runs (6), and total bases (48). His regular season line for opposing batters was .222/.274/.361. His post-season line was .237/.304/.421. Better teams, better hitters, a couple of friendly parks, it's not surprising. Matt set a high standard for himself in 2010, only allowing one run (unearned) in his 21-1/3 IP. Those three starts were at home--this year he added two road starts to his load. He was "the horse" after all, and that's what your horse has to do, carry the biggest load. Cain threw eight starts with Game Scores of 70 or higher in 2012, none of those in the playoffs. His Game Score Average for the regular season was 60.6, with a career mark of 57. It was 53.7 (48, 48, 51, 62, 58) for the post-season. He was more workmanlike, having to grind it out against determined foes for all the marbles. I should note that Matty hit the most batters (4), and the Giants staff led the way as well (8). I guess if you want to lead in team shutouts (4), you have to pitch inside.
Matt had the distinction of starting the opening game of the post-season and the closing one. He also started the clinching game in each series. Those worked out well. Having a guy like Cain is awesome--you stick him out there and he does the job. He out-pitched Mat Latos in Game Five of the LDS, he out-pitched Kyle Lohse in Game Seven of the LCS, and he out-pitched Max Scherzer in Game Four of the World Series. If it weren't for a friendly gust adding 30 feet to fly out to right field, Matty's line (7 IP, 1 ER) would have been dominating, not merely good. But there's something to be said for being merely good over and over again. Toss in an occasional dominating and you got yourself a hell of a ballplayer. And that's who we got. We got Cain. For five more years. And he's a hell of a ballplayer.
--M.C.
p.s. Did I mention the two hits and one RBI?
Matt had the distinction of starting the opening game of the post-season and the closing one. He also started the clinching game in each series. Those worked out well. Having a guy like Cain is awesome--you stick him out there and he does the job. He out-pitched Mat Latos in Game Five of the LDS, he out-pitched Kyle Lohse in Game Seven of the LCS, and he out-pitched Max Scherzer in Game Four of the World Series. If it weren't for a friendly gust adding 30 feet to fly out to right field, Matty's line (7 IP, 1 ER) would have been dominating, not merely good. But there's something to be said for being merely good over and over again. Toss in an occasional dominating and you got yourself a hell of a ballplayer. And that's who we got. We got Cain. For five more years. And he's a hell of a ballplayer.
--M.C.
p.s. Did I mention the two hits and one RBI?
Sunday, October 28, 2012
GIANTS WIN THE WORLD SERIES!
Another tremendous contest ends in a Giants victory and the 2012 World Series title! Can you believe it? We waited so long for that wonderful trophy in 2010 and now here's a second one two seasons later! Great game, great series, great post-season, great season! A total team effort: front office, coaches, players, fans--it all came together in spectacular fashion.
THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS ARE THE
2012 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!
Say it again and again!
Enjoy! Celebrate!
--M.C.
p.s. More to follow later.
Max Pitching
Year Age Tm W L G IP H R HR BB SO ERA+ SO/9
2008 23 ARI 0 4 16 56.0 48 24 5 21 66 151 10.6
2009 24 ARI 9 11 30 170.1 166 94 20 63 174 108 9.2
2010 25 DET 12 11 31 195.2 174 84 20 70 184 120 8.5
2011 26 DET 15 9 33 195.0 207 101 29 56 174 93 8.0
2012 27 DET 16 7 32 187.2 179 82 23 60 231 113 11.1
5 Yrs 52 42 142 804.2 774 385 97 270 829 110 9.3
Max Scherzer was traded to the Tigers by the Diamondbacks courtesy of the Yankees. The Bombers gave up a lot to get Curtis Granderson. This is from Max Scherzer's B-R page:
Good for Detroit--they got two good pitchers out of the deal and a replacement centerfielder who had a higher OPS (130>118) than Granderson this season. Arizona built their 2011 NL West title on Ian Kennedy's back. New York can spend freely, both talent and dollars, as well as stay in first place every year. Yet they miss the last dance. Giants titles since 2002? One. Yankees? One. Just sayin'. Money is nice but it ain't all of it. The Giants have the new-old "Moneyball" thing going on, finding both pitching (Ryan Vogelsong) and (Gregor Blanco) fielding off the ML scrap heap, and both turn out to be good ballplayers, not just specialists. Vogie was a legit All-Star is now the October ace. Blanco is the best player (other than Pablo?) in the Series. How many teams will turn their focus to faster, rangier players in the outfield and smarter, slicker glove men in the infield? The Giants are cutting edge, man. Just watch how many times balls are hit right at fielders. That's scouting, good data, charts, pitching plans, player positioning, etc. Giants are all over that. Old-school defense is the new wave.Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Arizona Diamondbacks with Daniel Schlereth to the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Tigers sent Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees. The Detroit Tigers sent Edwin Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The New York Yankees sent Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers. The New York Yankees sent Ian Kennedy to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Giants have faced Scherzer before, three times in 2009 and once last season: 4 starts, 19-1/3 IP, 17 H, 14 R, 3 HR, 10 BB, and 20 K.
Should be a great matchup with Matt Cain! Go, Matty! Get it done!
GO GIANTS!
WIN!
--M.C.
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