The galling part of this loss is the Giants actually had a chance to win this game. Yes, a game against Clayton Kershaw with their own #5 pitcher on the mound! In the end, I wonder if the Giants felt like they had to do something extraordinary to beat Kershaw and ended up trying to do to much and more than they had to? Key Lines"
Andrew Susac- 2 for 4, 2B. BA= .286. Two knocks with a double off the best pitcher in baseball? Very nice for the rook!
Joaquin Arias- 2 for 4. BA= .249. Arias remains one of the hottest hitters on the team and probably in baseball.
Matt Duffy- 1 for 1. BA= .224. Duffy is now 3 for 8 as a PH and drove in another run with this one. Matt Duffy!
Yusmeiro Petit- 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 3.64. Petit pitched a strong game. The key play of the game came in the second inning. With Hanley Ramirez at 1B and 1 out, Juan Uribe singled past Joe Panik into short right-CF. Hunter Pence threw to 3B to try to get the lead runner and the throw was offline, although Pablo Sandoval kind of just waived at it as it went by. Ramirez then headed for home and scored on another throwing error by Petit who was backing up the play. Later, after driving in a run with a single, Buster Posey was thrown out at 2B trying to stretch it into a double. That's what I mean by trying to do too much. Giants might have still lost the game 3-2, but with runners at first and third and no runs in instead of a runner at 3B and 1 run in, the outcome of the second inning might have been different. As for Posey's out, he might not have scored anyway, probably would not have, but at least Kershaw would have had to throw some more pitches, which was an issue in this game.
Hunter Strickland- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 0.00. Another successful inning for the fireballer who hit 99 MPH in this one. Bochy ratcheted up the pressure in this one. It was not a Save or Hold situation, but the Giants were still very much in the game. Gotta think Strickland is going to have a chance to win a roster spot next spring and might even have a chance to be on the postseason roster this year in case of an injury(wink, wink). I mean, what Giants fan does not remember K-Rod?
The Loss left the Giants trailing the NL West leading Dodgers by 3 games with 13 to play. The Giants are 3 up on the Pirates for the home-field advantage in the Wild-Card play-in game and they lead the Brewers by 4.5 games for the second WC spot.
The Giants immediately fly to Arizona to start a 3 game series against the D'Backs with Ryan Vogelsong facing Wade Miley in game one tomorrow evening.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
my sentiment exactly - up against Kershaw they did not play loosely and within themselves … end result was costly miscues
ReplyDeletealso agree that performance of all pitchers needs to be evaluated if there is a post-season; some big name pitchers may not make the cut;
leaving Zito off set a precedent that will likely be followed …. again should the G's make the playoffs
Strickland should be a lock in the pen for next year. We'd have a nice set up of Machi, Strickland and Casilla. Could ease Strickland into a closing role. If Petit takes the 5th Starter, and he looks very good (I admit I was wrong), then maybe Heston gets the long man or Machi moves into that position with Cordier taking Machi's spot. Kontos is also in play for the pen. Right side is in really good shape. Left side, not so much.
DeleteLopez and Affeldt are under contract for 2015 and Lopez for 2016. The Giants also have Steven Okert coming along. Not a terrible place to be from the left side.
DeleteGood point. Isn't Osich (sp?) also Leftie? Hopefully those guys are good.
DeleteAfter witnessing Lincecum's outing yesterday, it's difficult to see that he can pitch effectively out of the bullpen in the playoffs, much less being in the rotation. Thoughts on Timmy's post-season roster spot?
ReplyDeleteHe will have to keep working and if coaches are convinced.
DeleteBut it doesn't look too bright for him now.
Don't get me wrong. I really like Lincecum and have always supported him in the past. However, I truly think he needs a change of scenery. It will be virtually impossible to get much for him but I think he needs to go. Wonder if we can pay most of his salary for 2015 and get a decent low A or high A prospect. I do not think his career is over but I think it might be in SF. Maybe some other pitching coach can fix him. Seattle?
ReplyDeleteTim Lincecum was to the Giants of the post-Bonds era what Will Clark was to the Giants of the late 80's, so it's easy to see why he is revered by Giants fans, but the adulation he gets when he comes in from the bullpen in a game that is likely already lost, is a bit mystifying. There seems to be this contingent that thinks that just because he pitched well in a relief role in the 2012 postseason, he is automatically going to be lights out in that role again and might even be the next closer! That is just crazy thinking, if you will pardon my saying so!
DeleteI never say never and never say always, but at this point I agree, it is hard to see how he rebuilds his career. His delivery is not well suited to being a finesse pitcher and it would appear that the velocity is not ever coming back. Just not sure where you go from here. I thought $20 M X 2 years was a bit rich for a pitcher who appeared to be definitely on the downside of his career, but the Giants seem to like to reward past stars for past performances and Timmy was a vital part of a pretty dramatic organizational resurgence.
On the other hand, Timmy did have a pretty good run mid-season and pitched another no-hitter, so he is not that far removed from some impressive performances.
DeleteIt appears that Timmeh is a HYPER-sensitive pitcher, and he needs Hector to keep him in check. His fall from his mid-season re-emergence coincides almost perfectly with Hector going down.
DeleteThis is no excuse, IMHO, just an explanation. If a pitcher can only pitch with one specific catcher, he is too high-maintenance to be a valid resource.
It is true that things fell apart almost the instant Hector went down.
DeleteGood point about Hanchez & the Fall of the Freak. Being a fellow Husky, I always have a warm spot in my heart for Timmah. Not sure if the Mariners would take him at this point - but Howard Lincoln (public face of M's ownership) has always had a soft spot for hometown heroes (Griffey Jr., Edgar, Buhner, Ichiro, etc.) and could be tempted. Perhaps SF & Seattle meet in the Fall Classic?
ReplyDeleteOh, and screw the Dodgers!
NWGiantsFan
DtF!!!