Tim LIncecum worked his way closer to being ready for Opening Day and Brandon Belt had yet another huge day at the plate as the Giants topped the ChiSox in Glendale, AZ. Key lines:
Brandon Belt- 3 for 4, 2B, HR(2), BB. BA= .302. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Giants are a better team with Brandon Belt than without him. Perhaps the coaches have noticed something specific that he needs to work on in Fresno before he's finally ready, but from everything I've read, everybody from the GM on down thinks he's the real deal. Pretty tough to see what he's going to learn facing AAA pitching. The other side of that coin is keeping Belt, or bringing him up, whenever that is, will create a domino effect on the roster and there will be some tough, tough decisions to make. Great problem to have, though.
Nate Schierholtz- 3 for 5. BA= .342. Nate is making a statement on a daily basis that he does not intend to be the odd man out in the roster musical chairs.
Tim Lincecum- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K's, GO/AO= 8/2. ERA= 2.55. Other than the 3 BB's, a dominant performance combining GB's and K's.
Dan Runzler- 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K's, HBP. The HBP was AJ Pierzynski, which is A-OK with me!
Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez pitched a scoreless inning each.
The win increased the Giants record to 16-5, and you get the feeling that they are not even trying all that hard, not that there is anything flukey about it. Jonathan Sanchez takes the mound tomorrow evening against the Angels in Scottsdale.
Dave Cameron of fangraphs.com dropped an intriguing tidbit in his chat today. You all may have been following the running debate about why and/or how Matt Cain and other Giants pitchers give up so few HR's despite having a strong flyball tendency. Well, the focus has been put on what, if any, role Dave Righetti may have on helping Giants pitchers achieve this. Cameron has been right in the middle of the debate, but his position has evolved. I'll give him credit for being one of the first non-Giants fans to come out and say, "you know, there may be something to this." Anyway, Cameron dropped the news that he snagged an interview with Rags that he is in the process of writing up, possibly for a national magazine, but it will be discussed on fangraphs.com at some point in the future. Should be very interesting!
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if they can package rowand, ti and a pitcher (gonna have to give up something to dump rowand) then bringing up belt to start the season makes sense
ReplyDeleteif they have to cut ti and nate...it doesnt
what would happen is huff goes to left and burrell to the bench (he has already said he would be open to that)
need to have a lefty off the bench...but if rowand stays, that option gets lost
and rowand had another Ofer today...his head just isnt into it...it really is time for him to be moved to another situation
runzler is headed for fresno...question is still whether they are gonna go with the sp experiment
Yep, the only two "B" team starters to go hitless today were Rowand and Ishikawa. Who wants it?
ReplyDeleteAnd, by playing poorly, Rowand isn't doing us any favors. I'm a GM, I'm not going to make a deal with Giants, I'm just going to wait for the DFA. Or maybe, maybe, a trade for someone else who is about to be cut.
I don't see how the Giants cut Nate. I'd be surprised if he's still bubble. This has to be a Rowand/Ishikawa thing.
Belt goes to Fresno, for sure. Put him on the Posey/Lincecum plan. If he's too good for it, if he goes ahead tears it up, then make room for him. But he needs to do something in Fresno while the Giants shake out the line-up.
vogelsong may have just made bochy and sabean's jobs a bit easier.
ReplyDeletein today's merc notebook, he is reported to have already said he would accept assignment to fresno
so mota can be the 12th man, while vogelsong is kept out until the team is in need of long rp or a spot start.
very nice