The Giants got swept for the second series this season. They lost all 6 games of those two series by 1 run each. Today it was a familiar pattern of falling behind early, battling back in the late innings only to ultimately fall short. Unlike the opening series against the D'Backs, this series saw wasted solid pitching performances as the winning Marlins scored a total of just 7 runs in the 3 games. Key Lines:
Gregor Blanco- 3 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .300. OK, I am now solidly on the Gregor Blanco bandwagon. The guy was born to be a leadoff hitter. His ability to get on base and disrupt with his speed(even though he was CS today) is more valuable than the occasional power they get out of Nate Schierholtz. He gets on base and comes around to score runs.
Conor Gillaspie- 1 for 3. BA= .333. I don't expect Conor to hit for power like Pablo, but hopefully he can deliver the combination of high BA and OBP he showed in the PCL.
Melky Cabrera- 2 for 4. BA= .301. Melky seems to be warming up again.
Brandon Belt- 2 for 4. BA= .292. It might not be pretty, but Belt has his second 2 hit game in a row. Keep putting him out there and let him build his confidence. He'll start driving the ball soon enough.
Ryan Vogelsong- 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K's, GO/AO= 10/4. ERA= 3.42. Vogey hung in there to pitch a QS after a shaky start giving up a run in each of the first 2 innings.
With the loss, the Giants fell below .500 at 12-13 and dropped to 5 games behind the idle NL West leading Dodgers. The D'Backs lost to the Nationals 2-1 to drop to 4.5 games behind tied for second place with the idle Rockies. The Padres were also idle and stayed at 8.5 games behind.
The Giants open a 3 game series at home against the BrewCrew with Tim Lincecum facing Zach Grienke in what promises to be another tight pitching duel.
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giants have too many options that are good, but not great so nobody gets consistant AB's and everyone's playing time is on a yoyo. When huff comes back we have 3 1st basemen and 4 Outfielders and 2 Catchers we are trying to all get in the lineup. IT CAN'T BE DONE!
ReplyDeleteWhen Huff comes back it's going to get uncomfortable..........period. Others have earned the RIGHT to stay in the line-up, and Bochy is going to write Huff's name on the card......to the detriment of those that should be playing.
DeleteHuff won't and shouldn't be back.He's clearly a liability, both offensively and defensively. Huff should use his anxiety issues as an opportunity to bow out gracefully. Whatever he had,it appears that he's given it to Posey, whose average has gone from .382 to .325 and lower. Giants only hope is to fill the lineup with hitters capable of the long ball.Losing Panda may be a blessing. Ian.
DeleteUmmm Ian, and where are the Giants going to get these long ball hitters? How is Panda being out a blessing? Huff maybe so, but not Panda - your leading long ball hitter.
DeleteFrankly our "only hope" is for the pitching staff to keep being great, play small ball with Blanco leading off and start playing some consistent defense. Dingerz ain't coming to the rescue right now.
UGLY...
ReplyDeleteGiants got gut punched by the Marlins once again. Down one Panda and one Beard. Freddie, if not back by June, not back at all. Huff and Affeldt out, which may not be so bad. Craw and Nate not so much. Zito teetering.
Got to go all in NOW on:
Blanco - he's got hustle, speed and run producing mojo. Born leadoff hitter is right. Watching him take the ball the other way when the pitchers pitched him away today was sweet. Simply put, this tiburon has some cajones! Creates runs and plays great D. He needs to play, period.
Arias - needs to play 2B/SS every day. Just too much athletic skill and OBP to keep him off the field. He has some clutch in his AB's as well. Hopefully one of Craw/Burriss/The Riot can step up and team with Arias.
Belt - okay, still has work to do on swinging over the low and inside slider. But he's got something and the Giants need to find out what that is. Give him the time and confidence to show his stuff - maybe the same time Bochy has given to Tenada/OCab/Huff/Pagan. Sometimes it takes players a little while to show themselves. And at least the 1B D won't suffer.
Gillaspie - I don't see Conor cutting it in the majors. Let's pray he stays hot enough until the Panda returns.
I am thankful the bullpen is so deep and has not missed a beat with Wilson and Affeldt out. Good work on Sabes and Bochy's part.
vogie once again proves his worth...he is a true gamer
ReplyDeleteim a bit concerned about craw...head not into the game at all
if blanco takes nate's spot...so be it
the idea of putting huff back in on monday is close to absurd
the mlb isnt an office setting, where an employee can be given light duties for a month
they need to stick to the plan and let him do a rehab stint in the minors...play a few no pressure games with the kids
bochy has gotta play small ball....do what was practiced in st and use the team's speed...put pressure on the pitchers
and i still dont like belt...but he has the post game rap down to a tee
and sad that mariano rivera blew out his acl today...crazy that he thinks he will make it back in 2012 for his farewell close
Blanco had problems with his spikes, a bad second step while trying to steal cost him to be caught stealing at second base plus a "beautiful" slide between second and third on Gillaspie line drive.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember a Giants player trying and executing a slap- hit like Blanco did !! I like that from a leadoff hitter.
But otherwise we need to find power from someone, I mean Pagan was hitting fifth in this line-up.
We need Belt to step-up and hitting this inside pitch !!!
GIP
These six one-run losses all have something in common - sloppy defense that lead to runs. So after a crazy start where the offense was humming and the pitching was wild, we're back to familiar ground. Those damn Marlins just gut punch us year after year. The defensive lapses are completely unexpected and unacceptable. If Crawford isn't going to make every routine play as well as the exceptional plays, he has no place on the team.
ReplyDeleteVogelsong continues to remind me of Krukow in his prime. Don't have your best stuff? Who cares, you battle through. I love all our starters, but Vogelsong does the most with the least.
Nate Schierholtz' popup on the first pitch was a painful AB. I don't know the answer to this, but the Gints consistently chase the pitchers pitch instead of working counts or finding the fat mistake ball. In a series decided by 1 run each game, the runners stranded are frustrating and get magnified.
Yeah Craw is getting in my craw. Big Crawdaddy supporter (just didn't bet w/P-Duk like you). First time yesterday I have seen his head+glove+bat not into it. Maybe Arias is taking some SS time got him down? At minimum we need Craw's head+glove in there. Then Arias at 2B.
DeleteI hope they stick with Crawford at SS.. Although I like Pagan's bat, I can't wait to see Gary Brown patrolling CF in AT&T.. One scouting report describes him as a "highlight reel defender".. Although not preferable, A good thing that comes out of Panda's injury is that the Giants will get a great opportunity to find out if Gillaspie can play or not.. After Huff comes off the DL and rehab, I think the team will welcome it.. They need to find out if Huff can make a major contribution because this team needs more offense, and he's making too much money not to contribute.. Bochy will probably rotate him with the rest of his 1st baseman and outfielders for playing time.. They have a lot of good but not great options at the moment..
DeleteLG
Deja vu? Giants gut punched by Marlins, lose key player. Team down. Then play Milwaukee - Craw homers again. Who is writing this script? We can only hope.
ReplyDeleteDear Bruce,
ReplyDeleteWith Huff set to come off the DL next week please do not tell us we need Huff in the lineup because of his ability to hit the ball out of the park as was suggested in a recent interview.
Since the beginning of last year Huff’s HR rate is one in every……….47.6 ABs.
Brandon Belt was at the San Jose Giants game in the stands last night. He tried to keep it low key, but was always smiles and totally cool when asked to sign something. It was fun.
ReplyDeleteBlanco as the leadoff hitter... I can't be certain but I think someone has been suggesting that for the last month or so. I tend to get carried away game by game and my opinions sway with the wind but one thing needs to happen in order for this team to get going, find a lineup no matter who it is and stick with it. The situational crap is out of hand and Bochy is just outsmarting himself on a nightly basis. Nobody knows when they are playing or why and Boch seems to think it is motivating to get everyone in the lineup whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteBlanco should be left in RF and leadoff for the next 20-30 games regardless of whether he is facing a lefty or righty so we can really find out if he can set the table for us. That means that Pagan and Melky will be manning the other 2 OF positions. Pill is a guy who has serious potential to be a power threat yet he has fewer at bats then anyone else that has been on this team all year (I haven't checked to be certain but it sure seems like it). He can play 3rd base now with Pablo out so not like he is blocking anyone by playing 1B. Might as well play Belt at 1B and leave him there as well, not like playing musical chairs with him and Huff and Posey is going to get any of them going and I think we all know what Huff is capable of which is sucking. Hector has started to show his weaknesses but wouldn't mind if he kept catching for Zito to give Posey one day a week at 1B which should be the only time they pull Belt. As for the middle infield, would have been nice to have signed either Cuddyer or Rollins in the offseason just in case Freddy never comes back (crazy thought I know) but for now just let Arias play until he proves he can't, try Gillespie if you have to at 2B, but stop messing with the rest of the lineup Boch!!
Lots of great thoughts and suggestions here, team. Keep 'em coming!
ReplyDelete