Brandon Crawford's 3-run HR gave the Giants a 4-0 lead in the first inning and they never looked back in a much-needed win. Key Lines:
Thairo Estrada 2B- 2 for 4, SB(5). BA= .329. Estrada might be the Giants best all-around player right now hitting for average, power and with some base-stealing speed and rangy defense and versatility added on. He started this game off by beating out in IF single and scoring on a SF by David Villar. He later singled again, stole 2B and scored to make it 6-1 in the second inning.
Michael Conforto RF- 1 for 4. BA= .220. Conforto played in the field for the first time in awhile. He singled and scored ahead of Crawford's HR in the first inning. He drove in Estrada in the second on a FC.
Wilmer Flores 1B- 1 for 3, HR(3), BB. BA= .295. Wilmer homered to lead off the second inning and showed off some mobility while fielding 1B.
David Villar 3B- 0 for 2, BB, SF. BA= .167. Villar made several terrific plays at 3B including a sliding backhanded stop of a hot smash followed by a long throw from well behind the bag. He later came in on a slow chopper and made a nice barehanded catch and throw to save an infield hit. In addition to his SF in the first inning he hit another ball that Brandon Nimmo caught up against the CF wall.
Brandon Crawford SS- 1 for 4, HR(3). BA= .158. Crawford started against the LHP and made that decision look good with a 3-run blast down the line with 2 runners on base in the first inning that set the tone for the rest of the game.
Heliot Ramos CF- 1 for 2. BA= .192. Ramos hit the ball hard off the wall in Triples Alley for a standup double in the second inning. He came around to score on Conforto's FC.
Joey Bart C- 0 for 3. BA= .300. Bart sent out a message in this game. It said, "don't run on me!" He threw out a runner at 2B and then showed good mobility tracking down a blocked ball and gunned down the runner at 3B who was trying to take advantage. Webb, who seemed to prefer throwing to Roberto Perez early in the season, praised Bart's work behind the plate as did Kap.
Logan Webb RHP- 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K's, GO/AO= 9/1. ERA= 4.40. This is the kind of game the Giants gave him a 5 yr contract for. Don't forget Webb got off to a slow start last season and ended up with numbers just as good or slightly better than 2021.
Ross Stripling RHP tries for the Giants first B2B wins of the season and a split of the 4-game series tomorrow afternoon. Stripling has been noticeably more effective since ditching a new changeup grip, so we'll see. He faces Tylor Megill RHP.
Webb preferring Perez.
ReplyDeleteWe read that often. A pitcher prefers a certain catcher.
In Sabol's conversion back to catching (I believe he was one in college), how is he doing in this less-than-visible aspect?
Sabol seems to be improving behind the plate. The issue with him is while he has shown flashes of power, he just has not made enough contact.
DeleteIt's not 'back to' as Sabol was a catcher and OFer in college. NCAA (USC):
Delete2017 - 31 games as a catcher.
2018 - 24 games as a catcher & 22 games as an OF, of which 3 were as a CFer.
2019 - 55 games in the OF, of which 9 were in CF.
He also played some at first base during his college career (37 games).
He also played OF, 1B, 3B and catcher in the Cape Cod League.
The guy is a Zobrist-like super-utility player.
The first Anon had it right here. Sabol caught in College(as the Anon mentioned), but the Pirates drafted him as an OF. It was his idea to add catching to his pro resume. Zobrist is a bit of a stretch. That dude could play 7 positions. So far we have two for Sabol: 1B and LF.
DeleteCrawford is hitting .111 against LHP. I think the decision is more like - we don't have anyone else. Which is a shame because Andreton Simmons is still out there and he's better defensively and probably isn't a significant offensive downgrade, all things considered. At a minimum, he could back-up Crawford as the Giants desperately need a quality back-up for Crawford to maximize his 2023 usefulness.
ReplyDeleteInstead, we picked up two players being DFA'd by two of the worst teams in baseball.
Villar, Bart, Crawford, Ramos, Webb, Doval?
ReplyDeletePre-FZ - all.
If Kapler had used Rogers (Tyler) and Hjelle instead of Alexander it would have been everyone...
OTOH, Pederson (wrist) will likely be activated Sunday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Who will lose their slot? If Wisely (LHB), who will replace him in the OF?
Pavlovic also reported (Thursday) that Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that Slater (hamstring) is getting close to a return. When and who loses? Today or tomorrow and Ramos?
Seriously, it's far too early to write off this team.
ReplyDeleteHaniger and Slater, maybe not super stars but competent players, have yet to play. Pederson has missed 11 days. Conforto has missed games. Pitching has been inconsistent. Team has lost 6 games by 1 or 2 runs and another they led in.
They may not turn this around, but the team is more likely to get better than worse. If they split with the Mets, and they are just a Save away at this writing, they see the under-performing Cardinals for 4 games.
That said, I wish I had as much confidence in the manager as I do in the team.
Who is writing them off?
Delete