The fatigue and frustration continued to impact the Giants play costing them a game they should have won. Key Lines:
Andrew Susac- 1 for 2, HR(2), BB. BA= .229. Susac also made a terrific throw to 2B on a strike 'em out, throw 'em out, and managed to get a tag on a sliding runner at home and got the out on a replay. Very nice game by Susac. I'm not sure why Blanco pinch hit for him in the 9'th as Susac seemed like one guy who just might catch lightning in a bottle and win the game on a walk-off HR. I guess Bochy was going with experience and the L-R matchup?
Brandon Crawford- 0 for 4, 2 E(20). BA= .228. This looks worse than it was. Both errors came in 1 inning. The first error was on a ball that went deep into the hole on the left side. Crawford did well to even have a play on it, but the throw was off line and the runner advanced to 2B. It was ruled an error all the way. It probably should have been a hit and an error and Crawford probably should have held the ball, but he has made his reputation on making plays like this, so I don't really blame him for being aggressive. The second error was a squibber by Morneau that forced Crawford to make a long run to get to it out of the shift. The throw bounced on the grass in front of first base and skidded, tying up Buster Posey who made an awkward looking attempt to catch it. The throw got away enough to allow the lead runner to reach 3B. Again, Crawford probably should have just held the ball, but has had success being aggressive on plays like this and was trying to make something happen. I'll give Crawford a partial pass on these two errors even though they directly contributed to the loss.
Jake Peavy- 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 4.34. Peavy pitched his heart out and pitched a fine game. I have commented before that Peavy's emotions seem to be much more on display these days than I remember from his San Diego days and he needs to tone it down a bit. Tonight those emotions cost him as he lost his concentration in the 3'rd inning after the 2 errors by Crawford and balked in a run after he lost track of Morneau and tried to step off that throw long after he was into his delivery. I don't think I have ever seen a pitcher balk that late into a pitch and it was clearly a mental mistake caused by lack of concentration.
In addition, Peavy's glares and barking alienated the home plate umpire, Doug Eddings, to the point for Eddings clearly lost all objectivity and in a shameful display of payback, essentially refused to call any pitch a strike, and later pointedly rang up Posey on a similar pitch that was clearly out of the strike zone just to emphasize his anger at Peavy. While the umpire was calling a terrible game and had lost control of his emotions, Peavy needs to tone it down himself and not alienate the umps that way.
Doug Eddings- Eddings was already not calling a good game with a terribly inconsistent strike zone, but he clearly started making intentionally bad calls out of anger at Jake Peavy and the Giants. In the process, he not only punished Peavy, but also Buster Posey who is about as respectful a player as you are going to find and a true star in the game of baseball. It was a shameful, bush league performance worthy of discipline by MLB. Just my opinion, but apparently one shared by several commentators, admittedly all on the Giants side of the broadcast booth.
The Loss left the Giants 5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and 0.5 games ahead of the Braves in the race for the second Wild Card playoff spot.
Madison Bumgarner tries to right the ship tonight facing Jorge De La Rosa who is having a strong season himself.
Oh, and Tim Lincecum was officially removed from the rotation for an indefinite period of time depending on how Yusmeiro Petit pitches as his replacement and how quickly Timmy seems to get his mechanics back together out of the bullpen.
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Real nice summary of the events.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on Posey as a 1B? As a 3B? Continuing the catching gig?
I am in the process of writing a post about Posey's future as I write this.
DeleteIt's almost September and very game is important. We have to seize those winnable games...can't afford to have too many more of those 'toughest loss of the season' defeats.
ReplyDeleteWhat, once again, is the argument against having balls and strikes called mechanically, now that pitch f/x machines can do that precisely, as I understand it? Why have it done unpredictably and often badly by umpires rather than have it done genuinely well?y
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, umpires and MLB have to start realizing that camera angles an definition on TV have improved to the point where average fans can tell a ball from a strike. They can also be held accountable by Pitchfx data. If MLB wants to maintain credibility it has to hold the umps accountable and the umps have to hold themselves accountable.
DeleteOne would think. But the strike zones differ from ump to ump--Krukow gives run-downs of their quirks in the same vein as he does pitchers' repertoire--and for the worse ones, from pitch to pitch, with a custom of "squeezing" rookies and of rewarding catchers' framing. Not only is there no accountability, there isn't even a pretense of it.
DeleteI agree Posey is a good player, but not a star. A lot of chatter of Giants being in the same position or worse than in 2010 and they won it all. The key also was sitting Pablo...may be the Giants should consider sitting Crawford. Can't keep making excuses for him. On the first error he didn't have to go far. He rushed because Stubbs is fast and was going to be close play. Yes, the umps were bad. Peavy isn't a rookie he does need to control himself a little more. It's Bochy's job to get thrown out not to show up the ump. Still believe in the Giants, but they will have to play small ball. Suicides, hit and runs, steals, and more manufacturing runs.
ReplyDeleteMan, this is a really bad take all the way around! On the first error, Crawford was way out on the OF grass and yes, Stubbs speed was a factor, but it should have been ruled a hit with the error allowing the runner to advance to 2B. Small difference and not a factor in the final score, but it's simply not accurate to say the play should have been made to get the runner at first. Had he gotten the runner, it would have been a sensational play.
DeleteSuicides, H&R's, Steals and other "small ball" tactics cost more runs than they produce. The Giants are doing them in appropriate quantities and situations.
And Posey is a star in my book. He's won an MVP and 2 WS championships. What else do you have to do to be a star?
On your basis Lincecum is a star too? Cause he won 2 Cy Youngs 2 WS Championships? Stars are based on their current performance not on their past, IMO. No wonder you are seeing so many bad contracts in baseball nowadays. Players are getting paid for their past instead of presence. I wish it was like NBA or NFL were players are paid what they are really worth.
DeleteI do believe Lincecum is a star. I think his best days are behind him, but he is a star!
DeleteAs for compensation, I am all for the players getting all they can get. If it does not go to the players, it goes into the pockets of the owners who are far less deserving.
I do think more money needs to be directed to minor league players, managers and coaches.
Kind of a little all over the place with the posts today! Going back to the Wheeler trade... why? Something is either wrong with Crawford like he is hiding an injury or he is getting beat by his wife because something is keeping him from playing 100% focused and with 100% effort. I don't want anymore excuses for him either, when you are a one trick pony and you start to suck at your one trick, shows over. Romo got the wake up call when his slider stopped sliding didn't he? Crawford needs to either be benched or send his ass down to Fresno and see if he can get his S together.
ReplyDeleteThat umpire last night was a clown. I honestly don't think I have ever seen a major league umpire allow his emotions to influence his calls so blatantly. I wasn't even watching the game when it happened, I saw MLB network break down each pitch in question! Even the play at home that he clearly blew was all him being a dick. Thank you replay. The 3rd strike he called on Posey was the last straw and ANY manager would have gotten kicked out of the game defending their star at that point.
Yes, Posey is a star. Posey is exactly the kind of player you want to build a team around and it has little to do with him being a catcher. I think no matter what position he ends up playing for the rest of his career, he will still be our catcher for at least one more year. After that it will depend on several things including whether they resign Panda (all signs point to yes), if Susac continues to look good, and possibly whether Posey can handle 3rd.
If they don't sign Panda then look for Posey to start taking grounders at 3rd in spring training. Not that he would play full time there next year but he would be fast tracked just to find out if he can do it and because they don't have anyone else. If we keep Panda which I'm pretty sure we will, look for Posey to catch for 2 more years and then move to 1B. That might mean trading Belt which they should already be thinking about. As I said before, they should really look into trading everyone and anyone not named Madison or Buster. Just like the Red Sox did this year, we are going to suck next year anyway so start unloading and getting guys back who can help us in 2-3 years and compliment all the pitching that should be ready by then.
For a team that is still technically in the division race and right in the middle of the wild card, I can't think of another Giants team that has looked worse. This team used to be the poster child for clubhouse chemistry and now we got Peavy yelling at everyone and nobody seems to be enjoying themselves. I wonder if it could be just that, maybe Peavy has gotten under everyones skin. It is really hard to watch this team right now...
Wow! I think I agree with almost everything you said here, Pato! Nice comment!
DeleteThe Giants had their chance to trade Pablo into a sellers market this Spring. They passed. Since the Matt WIlliams trade, it has not been Sabes m.o. to trade homegrown, MLB-proven, assets. I don't see him trading Belt or everyone else not named Madison or Buster, just ain't happening.
DeletePeavy ain't the bad boy here. I am enjoying the Peavy fireworks show, beats the hell out watching Timmy crap the bed. And Bochy has and can handle Peavy.
What's been hard to watch is mainly the defense, hitting, base running, and lack of killer instinct. The pitching has mostly to the good the last month.
Love Peavy's pitching. He needs to tone down the constant yelling, cussing, stomping around, letting himself get distracted by poor fielding behind him. It cost him an otherwise excellently pitched game last night.
DeleteA couple of times Bochy has said that we would see more of Ehire (before he was hurt) or Arias or even Duffy at shortstop more and it just hasn't happened. Needs to ASAP. Crawford needs a break and we need some fresh legs in the line up.
ReplyDelete