Oh, what a difference a day makes! Yesterday, there was enough despair for to raise the stocks of the pharmaceutical companies who make anti-depressants. The Giants looked like a beaten team while the Dodgers were adding piece after piece for a run to the division title. Then the Giants made a trade for Hunter Pence. Hunter Pence wasn't even in the ballpark tonight, but you better believe he was there in spirit! This was a different team out there tonight and you gotta think the thought of Hunter Pence joining up gave them an extra spring in their step. Tim Lincecum pitched a solid game through 7. The offense scratched out 4 runs and Jeremy Affledt a 2 inning Save just like I told Bochy to let him do! Key Lines:
Ryan Theriot- 1 for 4, 2B, SB(12). BA= .271. Ryan Theriot does a lot of little things well and isn't afraid to let other players know when they don't. With Blanco on 1B with no outs in the 8'th inning, Riot let strike go to let Blanco steal 2B, except Blanco didn't go earning a major league stankeye from Riot. Theriot replaced Blanco at 1B after a fielder's choice and promptly stole 2B and gave another stankeye to Blanco who was back in the dugout. After Theriot scored on Scoots' single, Riot and Blanco had a chat in the dugout.
Marco Scutaro- 2 for 3, 2B, BB. BA= .277. Scoots GIDP with the bases loaded and no outs, but at least he drove in 1 run there. He seems to have caught the RISPitis that afflicts all Giants hitters, but overall he's been a big upgrade on Burriss or Arias and should be a big help down the stretch.
Tim Lincecum- 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K's. ERA= 5.62. Encouraging start from Timmy, especially pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the 7'th with the last out a K of the mighty David Wright.
Jeremy Affeldt- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save(2). ERA= 2.53. This as huge. Not only did Affeldt get the Save, but he gave the rest of the bullpen a much needed rest. I've always been a big proponent of leaving a hot hand out there for a 2'nd inning. Maybe Affeldt won't be available tomorrow, but 6 other guys will have fresher arms.
The Dangerous D'Backs pounded the Dodgers 8-2 so the Giants regain sole possession of first place in the NL West but 1 game. The Snakes remain 3.5 games back.
Matt Cain takes the mound tomorrow facing Jonathan Niese who can be a tough customer.
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giants are officially in a 3 man race...but the bums didnt get the arm (yet) that they needed...
ReplyDeletetommy joseph switching club houses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU22NjQeGuA
pence signing autographs as he enters stadium
http://img.ly/ltOP
timmy's offspeed stuff was there, and he only missed a couple of times with the fb....he has just gotta run 4-5 starts like this
my question is what do you do with scutaro...if he stays this hot till pablo gets off the dl, you dont wanna send him to the bench
Well, Pablo can play 1B.....Or else Scutaro could play there. Scoots would be an unconventional 1B, but his bat would be a definite upgrade on Belt.
DeleteI'm thinking that Scutaro can take over SS starting duties from Crawford. I'm not sure what his range is right now, but his bat is such an upgrade over Craw that I'd sit a kid (who I really like) to field this lineup:
DeleteSS Scutaro
2B Theriot
LF Cabrera
C Posey
3B Pablo
RF Pence
1B Belt
CF Blanco/Pagan
Jeez! Talk about strong veteran/proven bats 1-6.. can't believe that's for real
Also, Scoots has played all of 3 games in his career at first, while I think Belt's potential at the plate significantly outweighs Craw's. If Belt + Pagan can just manage to get their feet going again, that's just not a bad lineup at all. With Hector coming off the DL Thursday (!!), the Giants are going to look a lot stronger with Pablo, Pence, Scutaro and Sanchez in the dougout than they did during this awful LA series, in the field AND on the bench.
scoots range at ss is terrible now...what he would give on o, he would take away on d
Deletewould prefer he stay at 3rd, even if he hates it
belt sits...deal with it...the kid doesnt have it...it is august..it is time to stifle the potential crap
what he has the potential to do is run home to mommy after every bad game
I tend to believe Crawford should stay at SS, at least against RHP's. Maybe a platoon with Scutaro against LHP's.
DeleteI rather see Scutaro's start at 2B over Theriot. Scutaro walks more and, believe it or not, has a higher career slugging percentage than Theriot.
DeleteThe idea of Scutaro starting at 1B is preposterous. Belt is a better defender at that position and I do believe he is, in the short-term and the long-run, a better bat to have in the line-up.
Bacci harping on Belt again. Hey, he might just be stepping into another hot streak. Or his momma be callin... Scutaro playing 2b/SS is a very nice upgrade from Manny B. Craw has been playing well, but against the lefties, I think Scoots is a better move. The Riot plays with some fire in his belly, I like that. Looks like Scutaro has some life left in the bat, unlike OCab last year.
DeleteWorried there for a bit when G's didn't get more than 3 runs from 2 bases jammed none out innings. I Like Scutaro,an upgrade.Belt still whiffing regularly.Difference tonight was no big flies by Mets, and Jeremy. Yes Under Pants will deliver some game winning jacks.Like McCutchen,Pence is a real fleet footed athlete. Glad he didn't play tonight.Had to be tired from cross country flight. Cameron, Solana Beach, San Diego.
ReplyDeleteI guess a no out DP ball with the bases loaded at least scores 1 run. That's better than 2 whiffs and a flyball leaving all 3 on base.
DeleteMatt Cain to Hunter Pence."Hunter,Let's play the worst game of our career Wednesday night". Hunter Pence" Works for me Matt". I've followed the Giants since the early 60's and tonight's fiasco had to be by far the worst performance by a Giants team in recent memory. Kept getting out of bases loaded trouble and so many Mets l.o.b. but despite that, still lost.Hunter Pence really soiled his Under Pants.The Giants,like Lincecum, enigmatic. Cameron, Solana Beach.
ReplyDelete