This is why you don't trade Madison Bumgarner for a hope and a prayer and a PTBNL.
The Giants had not won since the last time Madison pitched, although the last time he did not get a decision. That was at Curs Field in Denver, when the Giants scored runs in the 8th inning, after Madison was out of the game, to beat the Rockies. Then came a loss, and 3 more at home to the Nats in which the Giants were simply unable to compete.
Tonight, Madison took a no-hitter into the 6th inning. He was removed after 7 innings and 85 pitches, having surrendered exactly 1 hit, 0 runs and 1 walk. Not sure why he was taken out at all, the announcers speculated that it was because they wanted to get Will Smith some work. Madison had 1 hit in 1 official at bat, and 2 walks and scored a run. That was primarily because the Phils were simply not going to let him beat them with a home run.
The Giants scored 5 runs, 3 rbi's for Yaz on a double and a home run, Belt had an rbi (and Pillar scored on a wild pitch). Final score, Giants 5, Phils 0.
Aaron Nola is a serious stud. That the Giants got to him (he lasted 5 innings) is an accomplishment in itself. Now, can they act like a winning team again, or was this a one-off? We'll find out tomorrow. It would sure help to get a decent start though. Those have been too rare of late.
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Giants get swept
WAS 4 SF 1
The bullpen pitched well.
The Phillies come to town tomorrow, Madison Bumgarner gets the chance to play stopper.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The bullpen pitched well.
The Phillies come to town tomorrow, Madison Bumgarner gets the chance to play stopper.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Another tough loss
WAS 5 SF 3
Tonight was a better effort than last night, and the Giants did get burned a bit from bad luck on some hard hit balls, not to mention a goofy strike zone, but they came up short. Rookie Conner Menez gave up five runs on six hits including two homers, but also went a full six innings. The 24-year old southpaw threw 99 pitches to get those 18 outs in his second big-league start. The Giants not only faced old World Series foe Anibal Sanchez, but former teammate Hunter Strickland. Both Jandel Gustave and Willams Jerez pitched in relief and delivered three scoreless.
Speaking of the 2012 World Series, Sanchez was part of a remarkable pitching staff that included Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, and Drew Smyly, who are all still pitching in the bigs. Doug Fister, Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel, Joaquin Benoit, Jose Valverde, and Al Albuquerque were the rest of the Tigers hurlers. Makes you appreciate that incredible Giants victory! The only Giants still pitching in the majors from that winning club are Madison Bumgarner and Sergio Romo. Jeremy Affeldt, Matt Cain, Santiago Casilla, George Kontos, Tim Lincecum, Javier Lopez, Jose Mijares, Ryan Vogelsong, and Barry Zito rounded out that unique Giants staff.
The Giants need a win! Shaun Anderson goes tomorrow at 12:45 Pacific.
--M.C.
Tonight was a better effort than last night, and the Giants did get burned a bit from bad luck on some hard hit balls, not to mention a goofy strike zone, but they came up short. Rookie Conner Menez gave up five runs on six hits including two homers, but also went a full six innings. The 24-year old southpaw threw 99 pitches to get those 18 outs in his second big-league start. The Giants not only faced old World Series foe Anibal Sanchez, but former teammate Hunter Strickland. Both Jandel Gustave and Willams Jerez pitched in relief and delivered three scoreless.
Speaking of the 2012 World Series, Sanchez was part of a remarkable pitching staff that included Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, and Drew Smyly, who are all still pitching in the bigs. Doug Fister, Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel, Joaquin Benoit, Jose Valverde, and Al Albuquerque were the rest of the Tigers hurlers. Makes you appreciate that incredible Giants victory! The only Giants still pitching in the majors from that winning club are Madison Bumgarner and Sergio Romo. Jeremy Affeldt, Matt Cain, Santiago Casilla, George Kontos, Tim Lincecum, Javier Lopez, Jose Mijares, Ryan Vogelsong, and Barry Zito rounded out that unique Giants staff.
The Giants need a win! Shaun Anderson goes tomorrow at 12:45 Pacific.
--M.C.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Giants fall flat at home
WAS 4 SF 0
The Giants left their bats somewhere back in July and need to find them again. They've scored 14 runs in their last 5 games--all in August--and have one win in the bunch. Tonight the Nationals benefited from eight walks and a lot of long counts as Giants pitchers (other than Trevor Gott) were sloppy and could not get it done. The hitters had no luck with some hard hit balls that found gloves and not ground, but they have to do better than zero.
Rookie Conner Menez gets the start tomorrow night (6:45). 35-year old Anibal Sanchez, who pitched against the Giants in the 2012 World Series, goes for the Nationals.
--M.C.
The Giants left their bats somewhere back in July and need to find them again. They've scored 14 runs in their last 5 games--all in August--and have one win in the bunch. Tonight the Nationals benefited from eight walks and a lot of long counts as Giants pitchers (other than Trevor Gott) were sloppy and could not get it done. The hitters had no luck with some hard hit balls that found gloves and not ground, but they have to do better than zero.
Rookie Conner Menez gets the start tomorrow night (6:45). 35-year old Anibal Sanchez, who pitched against the Giants in the 2012 World Series, goes for the Nationals.
--M.C.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Phew!
Nail-biter at Coors, the Giants win 6 - 5.
This was starting to look like the feel-good month of July was going quickly to hell. But the Giants got their first win of August in Coors Field in Denver against the Roxies. Not easily.
In a 3 hour and 42 minute game, the Giants left 13 runners on base, and were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They loaded the bases but did not score in the 8th and 9th innings. The Giants made Rocky starter Jon Gray work to the tune of 30+ pitches in the 1st inning and scored 4 runs including a home run by Scooter Gennett. But on a night with an early lead, and a need for the starter to go deep in a game, Madison Bumgarner could only give them 5 innings and left the game trailing. Madison threw 91 pitches, struck out 2 and walked 1 but gave up 2 home runs and 5 runs total on 8 hits. Those came in the 2nd and 3rd and finally in a 2 run 5th. Jon Gray did no better, he was gone before he recorded an out in the 5th. The Rockies wound up using 6 pitchers in the game, the Giants 5: Gott, Coonrod, Watson and Smith for an inning each.
In the 8th, Buster Posey showed us why he remains a God. With 1 out, Joe Panik, pinch hitting, walked. Austin Slater singled. Then, pinch hitting for the pitcher's spot, Buster Posey willed a grounder nearly to the wall for a 2 rbi double. The Giants then loaded the bases but couldn't add on. Steven Duggar started the game, did not have a hit, but made a leaping catch at the center field wall in the 5th that could have left the score 7 - 4 Rockies. Will Smith allowed 2 hits, but somehow held on for the save (Coonrod got the win).
So, the offense is not what it should be for a game at Coors and our pitching is showing some signs of strain. Yet, the Giants have a chance for a winning road trip (they're 4 - 4 vs San Diego, Philadelphia and Colorado), a .500 record in this young month and a series win in Coors. It doesn't get easier after that.
This was starting to look like the feel-good month of July was going quickly to hell. But the Giants got their first win of August in Coors Field in Denver against the Roxies. Not easily.
In a 3 hour and 42 minute game, the Giants left 13 runners on base, and were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They loaded the bases but did not score in the 8th and 9th innings. The Giants made Rocky starter Jon Gray work to the tune of 30+ pitches in the 1st inning and scored 4 runs including a home run by Scooter Gennett. But on a night with an early lead, and a need for the starter to go deep in a game, Madison Bumgarner could only give them 5 innings and left the game trailing. Madison threw 91 pitches, struck out 2 and walked 1 but gave up 2 home runs and 5 runs total on 8 hits. Those came in the 2nd and 3rd and finally in a 2 run 5th. Jon Gray did no better, he was gone before he recorded an out in the 5th. The Rockies wound up using 6 pitchers in the game, the Giants 5: Gott, Coonrod, Watson and Smith for an inning each.
In the 8th, Buster Posey showed us why he remains a God. With 1 out, Joe Panik, pinch hitting, walked. Austin Slater singled. Then, pinch hitting for the pitcher's spot, Buster Posey willed a grounder nearly to the wall for a 2 rbi double. The Giants then loaded the bases but couldn't add on. Steven Duggar started the game, did not have a hit, but made a leaping catch at the center field wall in the 5th that could have left the score 7 - 4 Rockies. Will Smith allowed 2 hits, but somehow held on for the save (Coonrod got the win).
So, the offense is not what it should be for a game at Coors and our pitching is showing some signs of strain. Yet, the Giants have a chance for a winning road trip (they're 4 - 4 vs San Diego, Philadelphia and Colorado), a .500 record in this young month and a series win in Coors. It doesn't get easier after that.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Bullpen blows it
COL 5 SF 4
The Giants wasted a 4-2 lead in the 5th and wound up losing in Colorado. Sam Selman and Reyes Moronta couldn't get it done. I suppose it is only fair to mention that Sam Dyson had a rough debut in Minnesota, giving up three runs in a Twins loss. Ah well, these things happen. The Giants need to score more than four runs when they play in Denver.
Madison Bumgarner goes tomorrow, 5:10 Pacific.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The Giants wasted a 4-2 lead in the 5th and wound up losing in Colorado. Sam Selman and Reyes Moronta couldn't get it done. I suppose it is only fair to mention that Sam Dyson had a rough debut in Minnesota, giving up three runs in a Twins loss. Ah well, these things happen. The Giants need to score more than four runs when they play in Denver.
Madison Bumgarner goes tomorrow, 5:10 Pacific.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Phils take series
PHI 10 SF 2
Dereck Rodriguez got called up for this start but seemingly had no fastball command and wound up getting clobbered. Andrew Suarez relieved him but did not fare well, either. I thought the Giants might try to get another starter for the stretch run but I suppose they will have to stick it out with the youngsters. Rookies Sam Selman and Jandel Gustave made their debuts, and I expect we'll be seeing more of those two what with the re-shuffled bullpen. The lineup got ten hits but could not put together any kind of sustained rally.
Shaun Anderson gets the ball at 5:40 p.m. PDT in Denver tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
p.s. Giants split four with the D-Backs at the end of June, then swept the Padres, took 2 of 3 from the Cards and Brewers, swept the Rockies, took 3 of 4 from the Mets, and 2 of 3 from the Cubs and Padres before this series against the Phillies. That's seven series wins in a row before today's loss. The Giants have not won a series in Philadelphia since 2015.
Dereck Rodriguez got called up for this start but seemingly had no fastball command and wound up getting clobbered. Andrew Suarez relieved him but did not fare well, either. I thought the Giants might try to get another starter for the stretch run but I suppose they will have to stick it out with the youngsters. Rookies Sam Selman and Jandel Gustave made their debuts, and I expect we'll be seeing more of those two what with the re-shuffled bullpen. The lineup got ten hits but could not put together any kind of sustained rally.
Shaun Anderson gets the ball at 5:40 p.m. PDT in Denver tomorrow. Go Giants!
--M.C.
p.s. Giants split four with the D-Backs at the end of June, then swept the Padres, took 2 of 3 from the Cards and Brewers, swept the Rockies, took 3 of 4 from the Mets, and 2 of 3 from the Cubs and Padres before this series against the Phillies. That's seven series wins in a row before today's loss. The Giants have not won a series in Philadelphia since 2015.
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