Overmatched Tim

The much awaited match up between Ubaldo Jimenez of Colorado and our own Tim Lincecum was pretty much over after the second inning. No contest. Timmeh is still struggling : 5.2 innings; 4 runs, 3 earned; six hits (only one double); three strikeouts and five walks (AGAIN - that's four games in a row!) and Jimenez is doing a real good vintage '66 Juan Marichal impersonation: a complete game shutout with 9 k's. Not only is Jimenez the better pitcher right now, but he's the more exciting pitcher. Pin point accuracy with a triple digit FB and a tight curve is even nastier than a change up out pitch. The kid is putting together the best start to a season of our lifetime. He looks like the real deal.

But I still bet you that Tim and our boys will get him next time...at Coors Field, during the Fourth of July weekend. Why am I still so confident after such a disheartening performance?

Silly, it's a new era and one little loss doesn't change that.

15 hits = 4 in a row

The Giants were relentless today, accumulating hit after hit until it was finally enough to outlast the Diamondbacks, winning 6-5 in the 10th on Andres Torres' fourth single. I'm a big fan of "stompin' 'em when they're down," and the Giants showed the ruthlessness I want to see from here on out. It was a tense, nail-biting, and ultimately dramatic affair, punctuated by some spectacular fielding, first by Freddy Sanchez (who dazzled the home crowd all weekend on both sides of the ball), and then by Olympic Nate, the San Francisco Cannon. The Giants have shown exceptionally good team defense so far this season, and that synergy with our world-class pitching is legit--we are stingy about runs! Arizona is a good-hitting team (wOBA .337, 3rd in NL) but they only scored six runs in the series. Huge comeback by the Giants, knotting up the game in the 9th with two runs off the closer Chad Qualls. Four in a row puts us two back, a half-game ahead of Colorado.

Tim Lincecum matches up with Ubaldo Jimenez at 1:05 tomorrow in a showdown everyone has been looking forward to. Should be fun.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Pouncing on the minnows

You've got to take advantage of mismatches in this game, and the Giants certainly did that last night. William Jennings "Billy" Buckner is not having a good season (7.03 FIP), and appears to be a borderline ML-pitcher anyway (173 H, 24 HR, 54 BB in 138-1/3 IP). The 26-year old righty got clobbered for nine hits and seven runs in four innings of work. He did strike out Aaron Rowand twice, which only highlights our erstwhile center fielder's current struggles (.283 wOBA). I wonder if Rowand is experiencing some complications (vision?) from his head injury in April. A .230/.263/.401 line is so bad it is hard to believe he's simply slumping. His BABIP is 60 points below his career mark (.259 vs. .319), so maybe things will improve. Even after last night's impressive offensive outburst, this team still needs all of its hitters to contribute, so I certainly hope Rowand will resurrect his season. The D-Backs have the worst pitching in the majors this year (5.29 FIP), so we better feast on the damn minnows before we have to battle the sharks.

Everyone was excited by the presence of Buster Posey in the lineup, and he responded with a fine game, stroking three singles and driving in three runs. I don't like Posey at first base and Huff in left field, I think that is an idiotic solution. Bengie Molina is slumping badly (.203/.276/.290 in May), and it's time to give Posey a chance to catch our big boys. He's a freakin' catcher, fer chrissakes, let him put on the pads and mask! Why is this team so afraid of letting our best catching prospect ever play catcher? I can see giving any good-hitting catcher an occasional start at first to reduce the wear-and-tear on his body, but we have a three guys (Huff, Sandoval, Uribe) who can play first, and Huff is currently delivering the goods (.291/.372/.455), certainly better than many expected when he was signed. Then again, after we see Pat Burrell play LF, we might wish for Aubrey Huff.

But I don't want to rain on the parade with more bitching about our inscrutable GM. Great win following a great win, that's just what the team needed to get back on track. Let's hope we keep it rolling.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Matt Cain's mama didn't raise no dummy

Lose a complete game on the road when you only give up one run? Simple solution. Don't give up any runs. Throw a complete game shutout at home and, by gum, you'll win. Matt Cain knows how it works. Give up runs, lose. Don't give up runs, win.

Tonight the Giants racked up the necessary runs, exploding for FIVE big ones including a CF bomb by Pablo Sandoval. It's nice to see him getting his stroke back. Freddy Sanchez also contributed a key RBI and showed off some slick glove work as well.

But the story of the night was Matt Cain, who threw the 10th complete game, 3rd shutout, and 2nd one-hitter of his career. He absolutely dominated a potent-hitting lineup, mixing a sharp, biting curve in with his usual Tennessee smoke, getting 9 strikeouts without a single walk. He obliterated the heart of the Arizona order, whiffing über-stud Justin Upton twice, hot-hitting Adam LaRoche twice, slugger Mark Reynolds (who got the only hit) once, and feisty, battling Conor Jackson once. Cain faced two batters over the minimum, the only other baserunner coming via HBP (Reynolds again). Cain's Game Score of 94 was the highest by a Giants pitcher this season. It was a brilliant outing by any measure. Matt Cain shouldn't have to throw a shutout to get a lousy freakin' W, but sometimes a guy has to do what he has to do. Seems like the lads felt obligated to put some numbers on the board tonight, scoring in four separate innings. Matt Cain himself managed a walk and a run. All in all, a damn good night for the orange-clads.

--M.C.


UPDATE 0828 SATURDAY: The invaluable Baseball Musings reports (1) that Matt Cain's Game Score of 94 was the best of the 2010 season (Dallas Braden's perfecto was a 93) and that (2) Buster Posey got the call-up. With Molina slumping, it was time. Let's hope they have the sense to play him and to let him catch!

Extra Baggs also reported the Posey story but called it "unconfirmed." Nothing on the team site yet.

Buster Olney confirms the story in a tweet (h/t Hardball Talk).

This kind of thing

is why we love Brian Sabean.

--M.C.

Don't it go to show you never know

I followed this afternoon's action on-and-off at work via Gameday--when it was 4-2 Nationals I was sure we were toast. Then I had to leave my desk, and when I came back the score was 5-4 Giants! Big hit by Freddy Sanchez off ex-Giant Tyler Walker. Brian Wilson struck out Adam Dunn to end it.

Matt Cain tomorrow. Score some runs, me buckos.

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

Generous Tim

A couple of weeks ago I joked to my wife about how hard it was to come up with new ways to describe Tim's domination of the league. I will never do that again. I can't tell you how much I wish I had to write another one of those.

Tim Lincecum pretty much gave away tonight's game against the Nats. His second consecutive low quality start only lasted 4.2 innings but took 96 pitches (first game below 100 this year). The anemic Nats scored 6 runs with 6 hits, but the real killing blows came from the 5 walks, one HBP, and FOUR stolen bases. Tim's obvious weakness concerning holding runners has never been more evident than tonight and it doesn't figure to get any better soon.

The bottom line was that it was painful to listen to Tim pitch tonight. I don't think I've ever felt that way before.

BTW: My "Let Timmy Smoke" shirt is now 5-1. It may skip the next start; a huge matchup on the holiday.