SD 3 SF 1
It was more of the same anemia offensivia infecting the Giants today in San Diego. Rookie phenom Chris Paddack lived up to the hype and stymied the lineup for five innings, yielding only two hits and a run along with seven strikeouts. Jeff Samardzija labored (86 P, 21 batters, 4 BB, 1 R) in his five but was effective enough to leave with the game tied. The second-tier bullpen (Nick Vincent and Sam Dyson) weren't as impressive as yesterday's varsity squad (Moronta-Watson-Smith). They surrendered two and it was another loss. The Giants score 5 runs in 4 games for a sizzling 1.25 rpg. Oh, and they made three errors, two of them by Pablo, both leading to runs.
Otherwise I had a lovely Sunday.
--M.C.
p.s. Drew Pomeranz gets his first start tomorrow night in LA at 7:10 Pacific.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Saturday, March 30, 2019
A Win!
SF 3 SD 2
The Padres 22-year old phenom Nick Margevicius--who made the leap to the bigs from A-ball (with one start in AA)--kept the Giants quiet for five innings on his debut. Somehow the Giants conjured up a rally in the 6th: a pesky Steven Duggar led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch, Yangervis Solarte looped an RBI double, and Evan Longoria followed that with an RBI single. With two outs Joe Panik added another RBI single and it was 3-0, the first lead of the season. Dereck Rodriguez hurled five scoreless but also ran into trouble in the 6th, putting two guys on, and Erik Hosmer's two-run double off Travis Bergen made it much too close.
Enter Reyes Moronta. He struck out the side (Machado-Myers-Renfroe) to complete the 6th and notched two more strikeouts in the 7th to keep it 3-2 Giants. Wow! Tony Watson threw a scoreless 8th and Will Smith a two-strikeout 9th to close it.
The Padres have another phenom pitching tomorrow, 23-year old Chris Paddack, he'll go against Jeff Samardzija (1:10 Pacific). It sure is nice to see the team in the win column, let's hope they keep it up.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
The Padres 22-year old phenom Nick Margevicius--who made the leap to the bigs from A-ball (with one start in AA)--kept the Giants quiet for five innings on his debut. Somehow the Giants conjured up a rally in the 6th: a pesky Steven Duggar led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch, Yangervis Solarte looped an RBI double, and Evan Longoria followed that with an RBI single. With two outs Joe Panik added another RBI single and it was 3-0, the first lead of the season. Dereck Rodriguez hurled five scoreless but also ran into trouble in the 6th, putting two guys on, and Erik Hosmer's two-run double off Travis Bergen made it much too close.
Enter Reyes Moronta. He struck out the side (Machado-Myers-Renfroe) to complete the 6th and notched two more strikeouts in the 7th to keep it 3-2 Giants. Wow! Tony Watson threw a scoreless 8th and Will Smith a two-strikeout 9th to close it.
The Padres have another phenom pitching tomorrow, 23-year old Chris Paddack, he'll go against Jeff Samardzija (1:10 Pacific). It sure is nice to see the team in the win column, let's hope they keep it up.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Friday, March 29, 2019
A run!
SD 4 SF 1
The Giants broke their 17-inning scoreless streak in the 9th inning when Evan Longoria led off with a homer against Padres reliever Phil Maton. They loaded the bases with one out against closer Kirby Yates, but Gerardo Parra and Brandon Belt both struck out looking to end it. Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale got an earful from both hitters and the Giants bench as both final strikes were borderline calls. He probably had a hot date and needed to finish up! Regardless, the lineup struggled once again to execute and create scoring chances. The Padres didn't exactly batter Derek Holland (4 IP, 3 R, 5 K) and Trevor Gott (1-2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 K) but they did enough with seven hits (including two doubles and a homer) and four walks. Travis Bergen, Mark Melancon, and Sam Dyson completed the final 2-1/3 yielding only one hit and whiffing two. Holland looked like he had a nice fastball-slider combo working but the Padres wore him down (18 batters, 71 pitches) anyway. Gott has some nasty stuff but looked a little wild. It was a revamped lineup (Posey batting second and Longoria cleanup--I like those choices) but a familiar result.
Tomorrow's game is at 5:40 Pacific with Derek Holland facing 22-year old Nick Margevicius.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
The Giants broke their 17-inning scoreless streak in the 9th inning when Evan Longoria led off with a homer against Padres reliever Phil Maton. They loaded the bases with one out against closer Kirby Yates, but Gerardo Parra and Brandon Belt both struck out looking to end it. Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale got an earful from both hitters and the Giants bench as both final strikes were borderline calls. He probably had a hot date and needed to finish up! Regardless, the lineup struggled once again to execute and create scoring chances. The Padres didn't exactly batter Derek Holland (4 IP, 3 R, 5 K) and Trevor Gott (1-2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 K) but they did enough with seven hits (including two doubles and a homer) and four walks. Travis Bergen, Mark Melancon, and Sam Dyson completed the final 2-1/3 yielding only one hit and whiffing two. Holland looked like he had a nice fastball-slider combo working but the Padres wore him down (18 batters, 71 pitches) anyway. Gott has some nasty stuff but looked a little wild. It was a revamped lineup (Posey batting second and Longoria cleanup--I like those choices) but a familiar result.
Tomorrow's game is at 5:40 Pacific with Derek Holland facing 22-year old Nick Margevicius.
Go Giants!
--M.C.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
2019 Opening Day: Goose Egg
The Giants were not built on 3-true outcome guys, where the players swing for the fence and if they hit the ball, it stands a good chance of going out. They were built of a philosophy of a bunch of guys hitting, all together, to produce runs. Today they got 5 hits spread over the game and didn't look particularly good at the plate in their first test of 2019 in San Diego. The net result: San Diego 2, Giants 0.
5 hits isn't going to do it. Brandon Belt, for one, needs to hit - he looked particularly inept (which he can do from time to time). Buster Posey got 1, but was immediately erased on a fielder's choice. Brandon Crawford got 1, Evan Longoria got 2, and Madison Bumgarner got 1, but was quickly picked off. Add 1 walk, by Connor Joe, and that describes the Giants familiarity with the basepaths.
It's too bad, because Madison Bumgarner pitched a great game. 7 innings, 9 strike outs, only 1 walk. A lot of swinging strikes. He only gave up 5 hits, 1 of those a solo shot by Wil Myers, and 1 was an rbi single to Wil Myers. Madison succeeded in putting Manny Machado down 3 times, 2 of them on strikeouts. Nick Vincent threw a hitless 8th.
Aren't hitters supposed to be ahead of pitchers early in the season? Well, the doggers hit 8 home runs today, hanging 7 runs on Greinke in 3 2/3 innings, and 12 runs total. They won the National League last year and have a couple of rookies set to crack their roster. The Giants will see them in their next series, then Tampa Bay at home followed by San Diego again and Colorado. That's 14 games against NL West teams in the first 17. A chance for the Giants to prove they aren't a lost cause this season, but it will take a bit of scoring to do it.
5 hits isn't going to do it. Brandon Belt, for one, needs to hit - he looked particularly inept (which he can do from time to time). Buster Posey got 1, but was immediately erased on a fielder's choice. Brandon Crawford got 1, Evan Longoria got 2, and Madison Bumgarner got 1, but was quickly picked off. Add 1 walk, by Connor Joe, and that describes the Giants familiarity with the basepaths.
It's too bad, because Madison Bumgarner pitched a great game. 7 innings, 9 strike outs, only 1 walk. A lot of swinging strikes. He only gave up 5 hits, 1 of those a solo shot by Wil Myers, and 1 was an rbi single to Wil Myers. Madison succeeded in putting Manny Machado down 3 times, 2 of them on strikeouts. Nick Vincent threw a hitless 8th.
Aren't hitters supposed to be ahead of pitchers early in the season? Well, the doggers hit 8 home runs today, hanging 7 runs on Greinke in 3 2/3 innings, and 12 runs total. They won the National League last year and have a couple of rookies set to crack their roster. The Giants will see them in their next series, then Tampa Bay at home followed by San Diego again and Colorado. That's 14 games against NL West teams in the first 17. A chance for the Giants to prove they aren't a lost cause this season, but it will take a bit of scoring to do it.
Here We Go
The 2019 Giants season brings with it few expectations. After a disastrous 2017 (64-98, last place) and an improved but not-so-pretty 2018 (73-89, next-to-last place), the fans are hoping for something better. The pundits and the projections are pessimistic and expect more of the same: a sub-.500 club battling to stay out of the cellar.
Farhan Zaidi was brought in to rebuild the team. He hasn't done anything flashy, other than a futile pursuit of superstar Bryce Harper, but he has stockpiled talent in the upper minors and overhauled the parts of the Active Roster that he could move. We all know the problem: the Giants are loaded with aging, expensive veterans whose performances have declined from their former All-Star levels and are thus impractical trade chips. In essence FZ's hands are tied by what he's inherited. It is going to take time to improve and fans aren't noted for their patience.
What's the best-case scenario? The veteran core stays healthy and produces value. The pitchers hold the line and keep the games close. The young talent plays at a major-league level all season long. The new depth in the organization comes through at key times. The team won nine more games last year than the year before, if they do that again they'll have a winning (82-80) record. That would be something! Of course the whole thing could implode (they went 5-21 last September) and the Giants could be out of the race by June. Changes that we know are coming will happen a lot faster if that's the case.
It's Bruce Bochy's final season. It might even be Madison Bumgarner's last go-round in a Giants uniform. Team CEO Larry Baer dug a hole for himself, he might not crawl back out. An organizational shake-up is already happening! That's good, the time has come. The glory days are past and now we have to face forward. So let's watch and see how the franchise gets back on its feet again. If they are committed to the improvements needed and do the work that has to be done then all is OK in the world. Bad times often follow the good ones and that's when the real tests come. As a fan I want to believe the organization is up to the task and will put out the necessary effort to get better. I'm actually looking forward to the process. We've been here before, right? We're pros at this.
It's the San Diego Padres Home Opener at Petco Park this afternoon, 1:10 Pacific. MadBum squares off against Eric Lauer.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Farhan Zaidi was brought in to rebuild the team. He hasn't done anything flashy, other than a futile pursuit of superstar Bryce Harper, but he has stockpiled talent in the upper minors and overhauled the parts of the Active Roster that he could move. We all know the problem: the Giants are loaded with aging, expensive veterans whose performances have declined from their former All-Star levels and are thus impractical trade chips. In essence FZ's hands are tied by what he's inherited. It is going to take time to improve and fans aren't noted for their patience.
What's the best-case scenario? The veteran core stays healthy and produces value. The pitchers hold the line and keep the games close. The young talent plays at a major-league level all season long. The new depth in the organization comes through at key times. The team won nine more games last year than the year before, if they do that again they'll have a winning (82-80) record. That would be something! Of course the whole thing could implode (they went 5-21 last September) and the Giants could be out of the race by June. Changes that we know are coming will happen a lot faster if that's the case.
It's Bruce Bochy's final season. It might even be Madison Bumgarner's last go-round in a Giants uniform. Team CEO Larry Baer dug a hole for himself, he might not crawl back out. An organizational shake-up is already happening! That's good, the time has come. The glory days are past and now we have to face forward. So let's watch and see how the franchise gets back on its feet again. If they are committed to the improvements needed and do the work that has to be done then all is OK in the world. Bad times often follow the good ones and that's when the real tests come. As a fan I want to believe the organization is up to the task and will put out the necessary effort to get better. I'm actually looking forward to the process. We've been here before, right? We're pros at this.
It's the San Diego Padres Home Opener at Petco Park this afternoon, 1:10 Pacific. MadBum squares off against Eric Lauer.
GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
The Twelve
Bruce Bochy announced the twelve position players yesterday. Around the diamond are Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford, and Evan Longoria. That's five. Two utility players, Yangervis Solarte and Pablo Sandoval, make the list. Gerardo Parra is the presumptive right fielder and Steven Duggar has been anointed center fielder and leadoff man. That's nine. You have to have a backup catcher and that's Eric Kratz. Ten. The last two spots are Connor Joe and Michael Reed. They will be left field and the other two spots in a pinch. That's the full squad as they are carrying thirteen pitchers. I neglected to mention Trevor Gott earlier when I was counting up the hurlers.
I can be forgiven. It's a constantly buzzing transaction wire in Farhan Land!
The Giants lose Mac Williamson and Alen Hanson, both out of options, we'll see if they get picked up somewhere.
--M.C.
I can be forgiven. It's a constantly buzzing transaction wire in Farhan Land!
The Giants lose Mac Williamson and Alen Hanson, both out of options, we'll see if they get picked up somewhere.
--M.C.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Lucky 13
Giants notch their thirteenth win (against thirteen losses) in their final Cactus League game. Pablo Sandoval had two hits and a run scored and Alen Hanson hit the game-winning homer. Both of those guys are "on the bubble" and fighting for a spot. The Panda actually has minor-league options, but his veteran status means he does not have to accept a demotion and can ask for his outright release (at least that's my grasp of the Byzantine MLB roster rules). We'll see what shakes out. All assumptions are off: FZ is still wheelin' and dealin' and I don't expect The Final Twenty-Five to be named until the last possible moment.
Giants face the A's tomorrow at 1:05 in Oakland and follow that with two evening games (6:45 start times) in San Francisco (what are we calling The Park--The Big O? The Orifice?). The real thing starts on Thursday in San Diego. It's the Padres Home Opener!
--M.C.
Giants face the A's tomorrow at 1:05 in Oakland and follow that with two evening games (6:45 start times) in San Francisco (what are we calling The Park--The Big O? The Orifice?). The real thing starts on Thursday in San Diego. It's the Padres Home Opener!
--M.C.
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