This was one of those games the Giants were never really in from the beginning. Bumgarner gave up a 1 run lead in the first inning and the Dodgers never looked back as Matt Kemp put on an MVP performance. Key Lines:
Carlos Beltran- 1 for 4, HR(21). BA= .303. Beltran's HR came in the top of the first giving the Giants a brief lead.
Pablo Sandoval- 3 for 3, HR(23). BA= .313. Sandoval had 3 of the Giants 6 hits in the game. Had it not been for the fractured hamate that cost him 6 weeks of the season, he might be in the discussion for MVP. He's got a bum shoulder to boot. I hope if he needs surgery in the offseason he finds a way to keep up his diet and conditioning. He has a legitimate shot at MVP if he can keep up this type of play.
Hector Sanchez- 1 for 2. BA= .238. I mention Sanchez because he had a heckuva great AB as a PH in the 8'th. He worked it to a 3-2 count. Fouled off several pitches. Saw 10 pitches in the AB and ended it with a lined single over the head of the second baseman. Man, that was impressive! One think that is encouraging about the young hitters the Giants have called up lately: They all have shown a much better approach at the plate than in previous years.
Madison Bumgarner- 4 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 3.32. Bummy just didn't have it today, but he's had a terrific season.
Steve Edlefsen- 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 K's. ERA= 7.71. Edlefsen doesn't look like someone to count on for the bullpen next year.
Waldis Joaquin- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K's, GO/AO= 4/0. ERA= 0.00. Joaquin might just have the hardest sinker I've ever seen. He's a veritable ground ball machine! The double Matt Kemp hit off him showed just how strong Kemp is. He went down and was able to elevate one of those bad boys enough to line it into the gap. Pablo Sandoval might the be the only other player who was on the field who could have handled that pitch. If the Giants need to trim expenses in the bullpen next year, I say yes to Waldis Joaquin!
Dan Runzler- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 6.58. Runzler is pitching better of late. With each successful outing he has, Affeldt probably becomes less likely to be a Giant next year.
Barry Zito- 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K. ERA= 5.75. I guess there is no shame in getting taken deep by Matt Kemp, but really Zito? Does anyone see him having any place on next year's team?
Matt Kemp(Dodgers)- 4 for 5, 3 2B, HR(36). BA= .326. When we were at the game Tuesday night, my daughter turned to me and said, "I hate Matt Kemp." My reply: "I like Matt Kemp as a player. I hate that he is a Dodger. I'd love to have a player like him on our team." I've always been a huge Matt Kemp admirer and have been afraid the day would come when he is the best player in the league. Well, that day has arrived! A couple of years ago, I got into a discussion with a Dodger fan in my fantasy league about who we'd rather have on our team, Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp. He liked Ethier. I'm going to ask him what he thinks now. One of the very few true 5 tool players in baseball. Yeah, Matt Kemp is legit, and I hate that he's a Dodger!
This loss was really a crusher for the Giants already slim hopes of making the playoffs. Their elimination number in the NL West is down to just 1 with 6 games left, 3 against the D'Backs who lead them by 6 games. They trail ATL by 4 and the Cards by 2 in the Wild Card race. BTW, the Cards suffered a crushing blow to their playoff hopes as the Mets scored 7 runs in the last 2 innings including 6 in the 9'th to beat them 8-6.
The Giants will now go to Arizona and try to stave off elimination with Matt Cain taking the mound in game 1 of the 3 game series against Joe Saunders.
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I was really frustrated with the 11-18 August that we had. However, I believe our strong finish the last couple weeks are a good sign on what is to come in 2012. I really don't care anymore if we sign Beltran. Boras will try to bump up his years on a contract and with the talent we have in the minors I think we only need a long term solution for SS. We have tons of decent prospects but we are thin at SS as far as hitting. Jose Reyes could be a good fit if he can stay healthy. I am a little concerned with 2B in the future. I doubt Sanchez will be with us past 2012. He has been hurt quite a bit since we have acquired him. Hopefully Joe Panik will solve this. I think eventually Buster Posey will have to play somewhere other than catcher if Tommy Joseph has more years like this. He is hitting the ball with power and a decent average. He seems like he is pretty good behind the plate as well. Posey is a great hitter and injuries like this year cannot happen. By switching positions he can still get hurt, but this injury is pretty unique. I can't wait for 2012. We need to make one good signing like Reyes, Rollins or Beltran and we will be back strong.
ReplyDeleteRoger, there's plenty of SS potential in the Giants' minor league system. I'm a Crawford fan, but if you don't like him there's still Ehire Adrianza. Even Kelby Tomlinson showed some promise in the Arizona League. But please, no wasteful FA signings like Rollins or Reyes. Have we learned nothing from the Albatross, or from the Rowand deal?
ReplyDeleteWhat we're desperately short on is corner OFs with power. Roger Kieschnick offered some hope, but with injuries and mediocre performance the last 2 years it's hard to hold out much hope for him. Beltran is, in general, the sort of hitter we could really use, but between his apparent laissez-faire attitude and his agent (Scott Boras) he doesn't seem like a very likely FA signing this winter.
Panik should end up being a good 2B; hopefully, like a young healthy FSanchez.
I totally agree that Posey needs to move off catcher, and I've been saying that since last year. His injury only reinforces my opinion. And since we seem to have several promising catchers in the minors, moving him in the future makes all the more sense.
Hey guys! Thanks for reading and hangin in there until the end of the season. Sabes has his work cut out for him this offseason.
ReplyDeleteI agree that if the Giants have the $$$ to sign a big FA, SS is the position of greatest need. Reyes would seem like a perfect fit. Don't know if he fits into their short or long term budget though. SS is so thin out there. Short of signing Reyes or Rollins, I would prefer to see Crawford just for his D.
Having said that, I would also be happy if the Giants signed Beltran to no more than a 3 year deal.
Lyle,
ReplyDeleteI like Crawford as well but his Mendoza Line batting average is a big turn off. Now, if we had a few power hitters in the lineup to make up for his paltry hitting then I would say just stick with his D. But unfortunately Sandoval and Posey will not be able to carry the team alone. We need another 1-2 consistent hitters with some pop. I like what Pill is showing and he could turn out to be something down the road. Belt is having troubles at the plate and hopefully he does not turn out to be a AAAA player. Maybe the Dominican Winter league will have him hitting like he did in A, AA, and AAA. I know you don't like Reyes but unfortunately sometimes you have to overpay to get quality. Don't you think the Angels are kicking themselves they did not sign Beltre? Even if Beltre is only good for the next few years, playoff appearances count much more. I would love to sign Zito's twin for 20 million a year if it means we could get another championship or two. Reyes is everything as advertised: speed, solid leadoff hitter, and good defense. Hopefully his injuries are behind him. We are so close to getting back into the playoffs and we just need the extra kick. Should we spend close to 7 million on a 37 year old Tejada or 15-16 million on a great player? Great players make up some of the difference in jersey sales and extra people in the seats. Tejada and Crawford will never be able to do that.
i dont like carlos
ReplyDeletehe is a buzz kill
i dont like boras...he is a sleeze and represents everything wrong with baseball
goodbye carlos
thanks for nutin
and when wheeler win the cy young throwing for the mets, i will personally kick sabes behind
thank you
I like Wheeler too, but his stats make him look like a project and no sure thing. That 2009 draft led by Strasberg looks like a pretty good pitching draft. Other pitchers drafted out of High School like RHP Jacob Turner #9 Tigers already made it to the majors and RHP Shelby Miller Cardinals is pitching in AA. Wheeler seems like a long way from reaching the majors, too early to tell if Sabean gave a good MLB pitcher. Regarding that 2009 draft, I hated seeing who they passed up after taking(6) Wheeler, #7-#10 picks went like this:(7) Mike Minor Braves, (8) Mike Leake Reds, (9) Jacob Turner Tigers, (10) Drew Storen Nationals.. Ouch!
ReplyDeleteThats ok because the Giants have done great work with the draft overall..
LG