The Giants got a dominant start from Jeff Samardzija, the offense pushed across 2 runs in the 8'th inning and the bullpen hung on for the Win. Key Lines:
Kelby Tomlinson- 1 for 1. BA= .295. Tomlinson pinch-hit for Samardzija after Joe Panik led off the inning with a ground rule double to CF. Tomlinson hooked a bunt foul then swung and missed for 0-2. Mike Krukow started talking about his 2-strike approach and how he shortens up his swing to make himself one of the toughest outs on the team. Sure enough! On cue, Kelby punched one through the left side to advance Panik to 3B and set up the 2-run inning that was eventually capped by Hunter Pence's 114 MPH line drive double down the LF line to drive in the insurance run.
Jeff Samardzija- 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K's, GO/AO= 7/2. ERA= 3.83. Shark was totally dominant thanks largely to a rapidly improving spike curveball that he learned on the fly midseason when he had on offspeed pitch and his hard stuff was getting pummeled. Krukow explained that Shark had a curveball before but couldn't make the conventional grip work. He started digging his index finger into the ball about midseason and it's been getting more deadly with each game.
Will Smith- 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 3.58. Speaking of curveballs…..right now, Smith's is as good as I can remember seeing from any pitcher, ever! He should be the 8'th inning man if not the closer. Let someone else be the lefty specialist.
Sergio Romo- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(2). ERA= 3.04. Another relatively drama free Save for Romo whose running 2-seam FB(AKA Shuto) is noticeably better against LH batters. He can also combine it with a decent fading changeup with the occasional backdoor or back foot slider.
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The Dodgers beat the Rockies 7-4 so the Giants remain 6 games behind the Bad Guys in the NL West. The Mets won a see-saw extra-inning game agains the Phillies 9-8 on Asdrubal Cabrera's walk-off 3-run dinger. The Cardinals were idle. The Giants and Mets are both 0.5 games up on the Cardinals for the 2 Wild Card playoff spots.
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Albert Suarez takes the mound tonight facing Edwin Jackson.
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The sample size is short and 2016 is the first year Hernandez has performed at this level in the majors or the minors, but Gorkys has outperformed Span in nearly all facets of the game: better going after the ball, better glove, better arm, better contact, and he's younger and more durable. For most of the game, he had the Giants only hit yesterday and was their first base runner with a second inning walk. He's one of few bright spots in the second half.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Over the course of a full season, I think the difference in run prevention would be hugely in favor of Gorkys over Span. As you say, the only hesitation with Gorkys is the SSS on the offensive side of the ball.
DeleteI wonder if the Giants would even consider trying to move Span this offseason and turn CF over to Gorkys. It would be a very un-Giantsy thing to do, but the difference on defense is striking.
I wonder if Bobby Evans comments about jokingly calling himself a knucklehead for not acquiring a closer at the deadline will go over well with the fanbase for his sake. The trades for Moore, Nunez, and Smith will help multiple years but not getting Melancon could cost them a playoff spot and a title run.
ReplyDeleteLG