6-2 win in SF
Jeff Samardzija was at his Samardziest tonight, wobbling through a 31-pitch two-run 1st inning, playing with fire in the 2nd, mowing them down in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, and finally running out of gas in the 7th. Oh, he also hit a double and scored the go-ahead run. The much-maligned 'pen stepped up with Derek Law (2/3), Sergio Romo (1, 3K), and Hunter Strickland (1) all putting up zeroes. Brandon Crawford was the hitting star and Brandon Belt had four bases on balls. I note that the Giants were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Boch got ejected, that was also noteworthy. Apparently there were a few close ones to Buster after Samardzija plunked Segura. I missed it, I only saw the last half of the game.
Hey, I like it. Jake Peavy tomorrow afternoon.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Vlog 20 "Historic Johnny"
5-1 vs. Col
Johnny Cueto's level of achievement, consistency and flair are all throwbacks to an older age of baseball. While at the same time, he truly is like nothing we have ever seen before. Isn't that totally cool? Click below for yet another installment of Johnny Joy:
Vlog 20 "Historic Johnny"
Johnny Cueto's level of achievement, consistency and flair are all throwbacks to an older age of baseball. While at the same time, he truly is like nothing we have ever seen before. Isn't that totally cool? Click below for yet another installment of Johnny Joy:
Vlog 20 "Historic Johnny"
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
More Bum Luck
For a while I thought I might be able to write a post about how the Giants got lucky, winning with 2 runs scored as a result of kindly Rockies errors - but that was before our bullpen got into the game. Giants lose to the Rockies 7 - 3.
Madison Bumgarner did not allow any runs, but he threw 96 pitches by the end of the 6th, so came out of the game. In those 6 innings, he struck out 6, walked 2 and gave up 4 hits. Madbum was up 2 - 0 and in the 7th, Kontos and Lopez did their jobs, one batter each. Cory Gearrin did not. He gave up a run then gave up a bomb to Nolanfucking Arenado with 2 men on base. You know that guy has 21 rbis this year AGAINST the GIANTS? That's 12 games. Just to put that in context, if he were to continue that pace for the year against every Western Division team, he would have 120+ rbi just against the NL West, and 240+ for the season. Jesus. I'm going out on a limb here, but maybe the Giants should re-think that "throw him a fat pitch to make him swing" philosophy.
So 7 - 3. Could have been worse. Mac Williamson had several diving catches, including one for the third out in a bases loaded situation in the 3rd. Giants had a total of 6 hits, only 3 of them before the 8th inning when they banged out 3 for 1 more run. That was their only legit run, really. What is it about Colorado that makes them so hard to beat? We are totally their bitch.
Madison Bumgarner did not allow any runs, but he threw 96 pitches by the end of the 6th, so came out of the game. In those 6 innings, he struck out 6, walked 2 and gave up 4 hits. Madbum was up 2 - 0 and in the 7th, Kontos and Lopez did their jobs, one batter each. Cory Gearrin did not. He gave up a run then gave up a bomb to Nolanfucking Arenado with 2 men on base. You know that guy has 21 rbis this year AGAINST the GIANTS? That's 12 games. Just to put that in context, if he were to continue that pace for the year against every Western Division team, he would have 120+ rbi just against the NL West, and 240+ for the season. Jesus. I'm going out on a limb here, but maybe the Giants should re-think that "throw him a fat pitch to make him swing" philosophy.
So 7 - 3. Could have been worse. Mac Williamson had several diving catches, including one for the third out in a bases loaded situation in the 3rd. Giants had a total of 6 hits, only 3 of them before the 8th inning when they banged out 3 for 1 more run. That was their only legit run, really. What is it about Colorado that makes them so hard to beat? We are totally their bitch.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Happy Fourth!
3-1 win at home
Giants fans enjoyed a tight contest in San Francisco today marred only by the difficult outfield conditions. The high sun seemed to give the players a tough time on fly balls, and Jake Peavy got 12 of his 20 outs that way, so the guys had to work a bit. But 20 outs is pretty damn fine for a number five starter: 6-2/3 with six strikeouts and only two walks. The one run allowed was on a bases-loaded balk, of all things. Uncharacteristically the Giants runs came exclusively from homers, a solo shot by Buster and a two-run bomb from Angel Pagan. Five relievers (including Sergio Romo!) closed it out, notable for a particularly crisp 1-2-3 9th from Santiago Casilla.
In all it was more like the formula we hope to see--strong start, good fielding (Brandon Crawford again put on a show at shortstop), run-scoring hits, and a stout 'pen. Despite the injuries and roster moves the Giants have continued to grind it out, bouncing back from tough losses and fending off a determined second-place foe. I think everyone is looking forward to the Break.
The Giants play two more with Colorado: Madison Bumgarner gets the ball tomorrow night and Johnny Cueto the next night with an off-day (after twenty games in twenty days) on Thursday.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
p.s. 53 wins is the most in the majors.
Giants fans enjoyed a tight contest in San Francisco today marred only by the difficult outfield conditions. The high sun seemed to give the players a tough time on fly balls, and Jake Peavy got 12 of his 20 outs that way, so the guys had to work a bit. But 20 outs is pretty damn fine for a number five starter: 6-2/3 with six strikeouts and only two walks. The one run allowed was on a bases-loaded balk, of all things. Uncharacteristically the Giants runs came exclusively from homers, a solo shot by Buster and a two-run bomb from Angel Pagan. Five relievers (including Sergio Romo!) closed it out, notable for a particularly crisp 1-2-3 9th from Santiago Casilla.
In all it was more like the formula we hope to see--strong start, good fielding (Brandon Crawford again put on a show at shortstop), run-scoring hits, and a stout 'pen. Despite the injuries and roster moves the Giants have continued to grind it out, bouncing back from tough losses and fending off a determined second-place foe. I think everyone is looking forward to the Break.
The Giants play two more with Colorado: Madison Bumgarner gets the ball tomorrow night and Johnny Cueto the next night with an off-day (after twenty games in twenty days) on Thursday.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
p.s. 53 wins is the most in the majors.
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Giants Slip Past Snakes
5-4 win (11) in AZ
A stalwart Albert Suarez gave the good guys a solid six frames and that led the way, mostly. He also got a hit and scored a run. The bullpen could not hold the 4-2 lead in the 8th but the Diamondbacks, this time, could only tie it up. Eventually the Giants got the go-ahead run in the 11th (nice one-two punch from Jarrett Parker and Ramiro Peña) and Santiago Casilla somehow conjured up a save and the homeward-bound club slips out of Phoenix with a series win. Again, special mention to the starter--that's a tough lineup to pitch to and a tough park to pitch in. Suarez got through six with only two runs allowed, five strikeouts, and zero walks. The Giants, as is their wont, should have scored more runs. They had nine hits and three bases on balls but were 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Lots of hard hit balls that coulda/shoulda/woulda done some damage.
A tough stretch for the team with all the injuries. Today's lineup was the weirdest yet, but it got the job done. Three at home against the Rockies, then a much-needed break on Thursday, then three more against Arizona before the ASB. Tomorrow's game is at 1:05 p.m.
Have a great Fourth and Go Giants!
--M.C.
A stalwart Albert Suarez gave the good guys a solid six frames and that led the way, mostly. He also got a hit and scored a run. The bullpen could not hold the 4-2 lead in the 8th but the Diamondbacks, this time, could only tie it up. Eventually the Giants got the go-ahead run in the 11th (nice one-two punch from Jarrett Parker and Ramiro Peña) and Santiago Casilla somehow conjured up a save and the homeward-bound club slips out of Phoenix with a series win. Again, special mention to the starter--that's a tough lineup to pitch to and a tough park to pitch in. Suarez got through six with only two runs allowed, five strikeouts, and zero walks. The Giants, as is their wont, should have scored more runs. They had nine hits and three bases on balls but were 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Lots of hard hit balls that coulda/shoulda/woulda done some damage.
A tough stretch for the team with all the injuries. Today's lineup was the weirdest yet, but it got the job done. Three at home against the Rockies, then a much-needed break on Thursday, then three more against Arizona before the ASB. Tomorrow's game is at 1:05 p.m.
Have a great Fourth and Go Giants!
--M.C.
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Giants Let One Slip Away
6-5 loss in AZ
Jeff Samardzija pitched well in a tough place and left after 7-1/3 with a man on and a 5-3 lead. Two batters (and two pitchers) later it was 6-5 Diamondbacks and that was that. Josh Osich walked lefty Jake Lamb and Hunter Strickland gave up a homer to righty Wellington Castillo and the Giants snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. It should have been a better outcome. Back-to-back homers by Brandon Crawford and Mac Williamson (a 460-foot moon shot off the scoreboard) gave the good guys a 5-1 lead in the 4th but Samardzija gave both back in the bottom half to keep it close. He then retired--impressively--nine of the next ten get to the 8th. A leadoff double to Michael Bourn and a fly out by Paul Goldschmidt sent him packing and set up the southpaw but things didn't go as planned. Giants bullpen gets hit with another tough loss.
If there is good to be taken from this it's that Jeff Samardzija delivered a quality outing that gave the team a genuine chance to win. He wasn't overpowering and relied on his defense (BCraw was particularly dazzling) but he made a lot of big pitches and kept a lid on things. Arizona is a terrible place to pitch and like Johnny Cueto last night he did what was needed. Unfortunately the team couldn't turn it into a win.
Albert Suarez tomorrow at 1:10 Pacific.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Jeff Samardzija pitched well in a tough place and left after 7-1/3 with a man on and a 5-3 lead. Two batters (and two pitchers) later it was 6-5 Diamondbacks and that was that. Josh Osich walked lefty Jake Lamb and Hunter Strickland gave up a homer to righty Wellington Castillo and the Giants snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. It should have been a better outcome. Back-to-back homers by Brandon Crawford and Mac Williamson (a 460-foot moon shot off the scoreboard) gave the good guys a 5-1 lead in the 4th but Samardzija gave both back in the bottom half to keep it close. He then retired--impressively--nine of the next ten get to the 8th. A leadoff double to Michael Bourn and a fly out by Paul Goldschmidt sent him packing and set up the southpaw but things didn't go as planned. Giants bullpen gets hit with another tough loss.
If there is good to be taken from this it's that Jeff Samardzija delivered a quality outing that gave the team a genuine chance to win. He wasn't overpowering and relied on his defense (BCraw was particularly dazzling) but he made a lot of big pitches and kept a lid on things. Arizona is a terrible place to pitch and like Johnny Cueto last night he did what was needed. Unfortunately the team couldn't turn it into a win.
Albert Suarez tomorrow at 1:10 Pacific.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Friday, July 1, 2016
Vlog 19 "Second Half Johnny"
6-4 win in Ariz
The second half starts well and the Giants continue to own the Dbacks. JohnnyC didn't dominate, rather controlled the snakes for his TWELFTH WIN. And if you like FNG's, then this game is for you!
Vlog 19 "Second Half Johnny"
The second half starts well and the Giants continue to own the Dbacks. JohnnyC didn't dominate, rather controlled the snakes for his TWELFTH WIN. And if you like FNG's, then this game is for you!
Vlog 19 "Second Half Johnny"
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