Uglier

Not much to say about three hits. Even less to say about nine runs allowed. The next ten games are in San Francisco. That ought to improve things. Just when I thought Barry Zito would put up some ML-average numbers again he dropped off a cliff. Let's hope Jonathan Sanchez gets back in the fold soon.

Giants finish July 15-11 for a .577 win percentage. Giants didn't get a catcher and nothing seems to be in the works. After today players have to clear waivers before they can be traded. Maybe they are going to stick with the Whiteside/Stewart combo.

--M.C.

Ugly

"This is baseball. There are all sorts of ways to lose."

That was Brian Wilson (via sfgate) talking about last night's game. Tonight's game was another sort of way to lose. MadBum had a first inning sickeningly reminiscent of the first inning from hell he had last month in San Francisco. This time he managed to get some outs. The Reds were up 5-1 in the fourth and scored a run on three straight squibbers. It was that kind of night. I was happy to see the Brandons out there. I was happier when the game was over.

Barry Zito goes tomorrow. Let's hope the Giants can score some runs.

--M.C.


p.s. The Colorado Rockies are throwing in the towel--Ubaldo Jimenez has been traded to the Cleveland Indians. At least he didn't go to the Arizona Diamondbacks--they had to settle for Jason Marquis. The Rockies are 11 games back with 56 to play. The Philadelphia Phillies sent four prospects to Houston for Hunter Pence.

28-14, 10-6, 15-9

The Giants have played 42 one-run games this season and have won 28 of them. They've played 16 extra-inning games and won 10 of those. That ain't bad. That's damn good, actually. It points out what we already know--they rely on great pitching. The Giants are interesting in that they have a great staff. It's not just about the starters. The bullpen is equally brilliant. Tonight was one of those games you thought they'd win after they tied it up late because the Giants usually win when it is "a battle of the bullpens." Alas, Wilson did not have the good stuff (he gave up a hit to a relief pitcher who hadn't batted in seven years) and the Reds and Edgar Renteria took advantage and pulled off the win. The Giants survived what was for them a mediocre start (Game Score 45 for Vogie) and had their chances to put the game away, but that Ol' Devil Offense just couldn't get the big hit. It is the team's weak spot, and FNG Carlos Beltran can't change it all by himself (especially when he strikes out three times!). Allowing only four runs in 13 innings is pretty damn good pitching when you get right down to it (2.77 ERA), and the team ought to be able to deliver the goods. Dontrelle Willis--a desperation reclamation project for a hurler starved club--looked like an ace, a familiar refrain for Giants fans. Despite the hiccup, the Giants have won 15 of 24 this month. That ain't bad, either.

Weren't the Dodgers lovely lads for whipping the D-backs tonight? The enemy of my enemy is my friend, eh?

--M.C.

Utley Dominating Tim

Our beloved Giants took yet another series, this time from the "mighty" Phillies. And although the spotlight was on newly acquired Carlos Beltran, the real story for the Giants' 4-1 victory in Philly today was what it always is for the defending World Champions : pitching.

Following on Matt Cain's masterpiece yesterday, Tim Lincecum (9-8) completely nullified the highly regarded NL East leader line up. Tim was remarkably strong considering his recent bout with food poisoning and the muggy 85 degree weather. I guess he has something to prove to the rude Phillie fans. Well, he did.

6 innings 3 hits! ZERO RUNS 4 walks 6 strikeouts (game score 68)

The key to Tim's success tonight was his complete domination of Chase Utley. Every time Utley (who I consider the best all round hitter in the NL) came up against Lincecum there was a runner in scoring position. Normally, this is a recipe for a loss. Tonight it was as sweet as could be:

1st inning - runners on 1st and 3rd, one out: limp pop up to short
3rd inning - 1st & 3rd, two outs: got him out on called strike three, made him look bad doing it too
5 inning - 1st & 2nd, two outs: made him look even worse striking out on a ball in the dirt

Tim has done this to Utley for a while, something like 2 for 23 lifetime against The Franchise. Just another aspect of the Freak that is a little hard to fathom. By the way, Utley immediately roped an RBI double after Lincecum left the game. Dude's a stud...Tim's just better.

I guess I should make note of Carlos Beltran's debut. From first glance, it would seem like he really wants to fit in this lineup. After all, it would be rude to show everybody up right away. Personally, I think sacrificing a nifty 32 consecutive game streak of reaching base is a little too nice. Striking out twice against a guy he had faced 20+ times previously with only one strikeout was a nice touch though. Good job, Carlos. Today you looked like you've been batting third for the Giants all year long.

It's alright to stick out a little bit next game, OK?

Round two to the champ

Matt Cain is a fucking animal. That was filthy, beastly beastiliness in Phi-town tonight. Matty re-found that post-season mow-down mode and set the red-clads down. It was great. The Giants played Giants-ball. They got all old school Dead Ball like they like to do and scrapped and scratched and kicked and clawed and won themselves a fecking ball game. Last night? Well, last night was a "syphilitic goat turd" as my mate JC so aptly put it. But tonight? Tonight? Tonight! It was pure G-ball, baby, pure Bay Ball, pure as Virginal fookin' Mother's milk ball (they can do that, I know, I seen it, seen it all through the blue haze of the fuming incense stencher, laddie bucks, aye, I did, but that's a tale for another time, eh?). Pure as fucking baby snot, me bukcos, that's the G-game, that's how it is done, that is some defending bloody fracking championship ball. I was in a public place, a publick house no less, quaffing me bloody god-damned hard-earned bloody pints when Eli bloody Whitesde ran into Matty in the 8th and cost the team a runner and eventually a run and I slammed my hand on the table like a bloody fat-arsed frat boy, calling attention to meself and all, uncharacteristic-like, you know, me being all so meek and mild like a god-damned bloody fookin' altar boy (which I was, yeah).

O My Brothers, that was a win. Bog and All His Holy Angels shined upon Your Humble Narrator while he was deep in his moloko synthmesc, and he's renounced the ultra-violence, takin' the cure and all, because of the religiosity and spiritualissitude, and that's the truth.

--M.C.




p.s. I'm not sure why I ever bother to be calm, rational, and analytical as the Giants did EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what I expected them to do, namely, trade Zack Wheeler for Carlos Beltran. Hey, I like surprises. This team never fails to surprise me. Pitching, fundamentals, and three-run homers. Maybe Beltran is that third leg of the Earl Weaver Triangle. I love it. It's brave, bold, and timely. He's a great player. Zack Wheeler might be the next MadBum or he might be the next Jerome Williams. I can't see how Beltran hurts the club in any way, and it sure seems like his bat will be a huge boost. The "difference-maker?" As if. (The NY Time crossword today gave the clue 'Valley Girl's pshaw' which was, naturally, 'as if.') No one bat--with the possible exception of Barry Bonds--is ever the difference-maker. No, that would have required getting Justin Verlander or somesuch to be the 5th starter. But it is a big pickup, make no mistake, and could just be that little extra Techron in the tank to help the lineup win another game or two. Beltran's our bhoyo now and I'm on board with it. A tip o' the tam o' shanter to Brian O'Sabes and Billy McNuke for the grand gesture.

Definitely NOT Tim

Everyone has had the experience of popping a lovely treat into your mouth, only to have the shock to find out it was something else completely. Polite descriptors of this would include: jarring, disappointing, grating, and maybe even, staggering. Less polite: Barry Zito.

For only the second time in his career, Tim Lincecum was scratched due to illness from yesterday's "big" match up against the Phillies. I had a crazy busy day, so I only was able to start listening at 4 pm, game time. Part of the day's hectic pace was fueled by monstrous expectations of freakishness from my beloved Franchise. Oh baby, Timmeh was going to put the Freak Show on display while the Philly fools (great fans, tho) heckle and boo. Hella-stoked, as we say in NorCal.

Then the fabulous truffle I was about to pop in my mouth turned into a syphilitic goat turd.

Needless to say we lost, we turned yet another pretty good pitcher into Greg Maddox, and the "offense" continued to be offensive, but not in the right way. It was so fecking predictable...once Tim was scratched. Can't image why you would want the details if were lucky enough to miss it...but here's some.

It looks like Tim gets the match up with Cole Hamels today, which would be awesome (assuming Tim's at full strength). Then Matt Cain would go on Thursday, which gives us a great chance to win the series. Hell, I can almost feel that goat taste leaving the memory cells right now.

Stickin' with the formula

Madison Bumgarner pitched the best game of the weekend and his mates played some sterling ball behind him in the field and that was enough to subdue the difficult Brewers. He also doubled and scored the first run (on an RBI hit by Jeff Keppinger), demonstrating once again that he is a beast. Giants fans have come to expect good ABs from the young lefty, and he continues to dazzle on the mound despite the wretched run support. A nice sequence in the 4th--infield single, fielder's choice, single, sac fly--scored the go-ahead run and that was it. The bullpen got the final four outs without a fuss and the Giants take the rubber from a good team. Using home field advantage (and stickin' with the formula) to take a series was item number one on the checklist for post-ASB tasks. Next order of business? Beat a great team in their yard. The Freak gets the ball Tuesday in Philadelphia for the start of a massive three-game set, a warm-up for the four in San Francisco the following week. The 2010 NLCS re-match and possible 2011 playoff preview will be some pulse-pounding baseball. GO GIANTS!

--M.C.



p.s. MLBTR passes along the talk that Francisco Peguero was "discussed" in the latest episode of Bring Me the Bat of Carlos Beltrán. Remember, it's a rumor site--that's gossip, loose lips, bluffs, and bullshit. (Sort of like TV news programs.)