Brandon Belt slugged 2 solo home runs to back the dominant complete game start from Madison Bumgarner as the Giants broke a 4 game losing streak in their return to AT&T Park. Key Lines:
Brandon Belt- 2 for 4, 2 HR(17). BA= .272. Belt is on a HR tear with 4 in his last 7 games while batting just .185. He has 7 in his last 15 games in which he is hitting .246.
Madison Bumgarner- 9 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 12 K's. ERA= 3.15. Bummy gave up 2 hits to start the game, but then proceeded to fan 7 in row which tied a SF Giants record set by Juan Marichal and subsequently tied by Jonathan Sanchez. He remained dominant throughout the game, and in fact seemed to get stronger as the game went along as he ended up with the CG.
I thought Duffy looked tired in an 0 for 4 night. Joe Panik is reportedly making slow progress with his back and is not expected to be ready when his 14 day DL minimum comes up. Mike Leake is reportedly progressing well and should come off the DL on time.
The Win enabled the Giants to keep pace with the Dodgers who they trail by 2.5 games in the NL West after the Dodgers blanked the Nationals 5-0 behind Zack Greinke. The Cubs also won and remain 3.5 games ahead of the Giants in the race for the final Wild Card playoff spot.
Chris Heston takes the mound hoping for some AT&T magic facing Scott Feldman.
Oh, and Angel Pagan went on the DL with Lil Juan Perez getting the call to take his active roster spot.
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I know it won't happen but I would be tempted to try to "go big" and swing a deal for both Utley and Shields. Would be a big shot in the arm and give us some much needed depth if we should get into the playoffs. We need something to push us over that hump and while it is not the Giants style something like that would definitely send the statement that we are going for it again this year.
ReplyDeleteBilly Baseball
Giants are rumored to be looking at Utley. I don't think the Giants want anything to do with James Shields' contract.
DeleteI honestly believe that Adrianza is a better 2nd baseman right now than Utley is; he's that bad. Plus, if Panik gets healthy then he's just going to be a backup and is he going to wave his no-trade for that? I doubt it.
DeleteAs for Shields, I don't think we'd have a place for him on the team next year. We already have Bumgarner, Heston, Cain, and Peavy in the rotation and I would wager serious money that neither of the latter two are going to get pushed out. And I am positive that the Giants only made the Leake deal because they believe they'll be able to resign him.
I think we're stuck with the team we have (for good or bad) until September when we'll get reinforcements.
I agree with Bob on Utley. The only gain is some, limited power off the bench. Adrianza is superior in every other way to 2015 Utley.
DeleteBut I'm not sold on Cain or Peavy. I don't believe either guy is a sure thing for a rotation spot next year. It's theirs to lose, but serious questions are on the table with Cain. Peavy's health may be a probelm and I don't believe he has the ability to effectively go beyond 5 innings any more.
IMO we need some punch off the bench and Utley offers that plus the "veterans presence". We would be a better club with and assuming he doesn't cost too much to me its a no brainer. I am also not sold that we couldn't make room for a guy like shields. We were interested before and we could make the numbers work on his contract I could see us being interested again. I think the Giants are going to go shopping for a pitcher even if they keep Leake so might as well tie it up now because who knows what the market is going to cost next year. Only seems to go higher plus there would be a benefit now.
ReplyDeleteBilly Baseball
This team doesn't need more "veteran pressence". There is more bling in that clubhouse by a factor of 2 or 3 than any other clubhouse in the bigs. Heck, there are more rings in Sacto than most MLB organizations.
DeleteI'll nominate CSS for Comment of the Day here. LOL!
DeleteI am not sure how we would not be a better team down the stretch with a veteran like Utley vs Ehire especially as out offense has sputtered of late. It is also the Giants MO and has served them well.
ReplyDeleteWhile not likely but technically possible the Giants would be in much better position down the stretch with Utley and Shields. Assuming we could make reasonable delas for both IMO no brainers
Billy Baseball
Agreed on Utley, but only because it does not look like Panik is going to be ready anytime soon. I do not want any part of Shields' contract. No, just no! I want the Giants to keep their financial powder dry until the offseason when it looks like there just might be enough FA's available to make it a buyer's market.
Deletehttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/phillies-giants-discussing-chase-utley-trade.html
ReplyDeleteLooks like talks are progressing. To add a little more perspective let's remember that earlier this year the Giants designated Ehire and no one bit on him. Not saying long term he doesn't have a place on the team but for the next couple of months I'd take Utley over him all day long.
Billy Baseball
Doc I agree I wouldn't want his contract in the current state but if we could do some deal where they kept some of it or maybe have them take some of our contracts like a Pagan to help offset some I gotta believe we would need to consider it. The thing is it is a known quantity to work backwards on as it has already been negotiated. Every free agent season seems to get more expensive and with it Shields contract could seem more reasonable especially if they offset it somehow. Plus we know the Giants had an interest in him. I think the bigger stumbling block would be trading within the division but I think there might be a deal there if the Padres really wanted to deal.
ReplyDeleteBilly Baseball
Do not want any part of Shields or his contract. It's not a great contract now and it's going to make Matt Cain's look like a great deal by comparison by the time it is done. I'd much rather pay Pagan $10 M to walk away.
DeleteI hear you Doc but let me ask you these questions:
ReplyDeleteDo you think we have enough pitching to win the division?
If yes do you think we have enough pitching to advance very far in the playoffs?
If no, is there a pitcher comparable to Shields or would increase our odds simarily available that you would go after?
And lastly, what would back to back WS titles be worth ?
I just don't think it is as black and white as his contract. We have a unique chance to go back to back and we are not going to get their unless we bolster our starting pitching IMO. I just don't see anyone else of his stature that we can get that improves our odds like he would. And if we did get him AND wd did go back to back would his contract still look that bad vs us not taking if on and having no chance?
I do see your position but I guess I am looking at a shorter time frame and realistically the only path we have to ixnrease our chances.Risky? Yes but I just don't see us having a real chance with another quality starter and if that is the case we might not even want to consider Utley.
Billy Baseball
Good questions, but I do not want any part of Shield's contract, period.
Delete