This game was over early after Tony D's very bad, no good third inning. Key Lines:
Blake Sabol LF- 1 for 4, HR(7). BA= .254. I was planning to write a post making fun of Blake Sabol hitting cleanup but then he hit a bomb to drive in 2 of the Giants 3 runs.....which is exactly what a cleanup hitter is supposed to do.
Mitch Haniger RF- 0 for 4. BA= .226. I've watched a few of Haniger's recent AB's. I am no hitting coach but to my eye he's a hair late starting his swing. By the time he gets his bat moving, the ball is by him. That might be fixable.
Patrick Bailey C/Casey Schmitt SS- 0 for 8. BA= .280/.295. Hate to say it, but the kids are not looking alright. No matter what you did in the minors or how hot you start, the league is going to get a book on you and you better be ready to adjust. The 5, 6 and 7 spots in the lineup went a combined 0 for 12. That will kill rallies dead in their tracks every time.
Anthony DeSclafani RHP- 3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 3.97. There was some bad BABIP luck here but Tony D actually had a fairly generous strike zone from the home plate ump. He just didn't pitch great.
The bullpen allowed just 2 R over the last 6 innings but the damage was done. Once the O's put up that 6-spot, you knew the Giants weren't coming back.
Churn Watch: Alex Wood LHP to IL with lower back strain. Tristan Beck RHP recalled. I'd like to see him get some looks in non-mop-up situations.
Giants have a travel day before starting 3-game series against the Rockies in Coors Field. Looks like a bullpen/opener game with TBD listed as the SP against Dinelson Lamet RHP.
Like you said on rookies we should expect the league to get a book on them. Should be interesting to see the adjustments Schmidt and Bailey make to the league. I think they'll be ok. The orioles have good pitching and are a good. team. Bailey and Schmidt have been solid defensive upgrades. Not sure what they're going to do when Bart comes off the IL. It feels like Bailey is the superior defensive catcher and the pitchers like throwing to him. He caught a day game today after the night game. It seems like Sabol hasn't gone behind the plate since Bailey came up. That tells me how much they like Bailey as their #1 catcher. Bart can be a part of a catching tandum. And they don't want to let Sabol go back to the BUCS either. Do they have room for all 3 players?
ReplyDeleteI think what we are seeing is Sabol is just not cutting it defensively at catcher. FZ said at the beginning of the season he would have to contribute at catcher to stay on the team.... but dang! You sure don't want to give the bat back to the Pirates for free. Perhaps there is another team that could keep him on their active roster as an OF they could trade with?
DeleteIf so then they need to activate Bart soon. Bailey can't be catching every game. Also I won't be down on Schmidt and Bailey if they slump at the plate. It's something rookies go through when the league gets a book on them. There are top rookie prospects experiencing bumps on the road for other teams. Jordan Walker, Cardinals rookie 3rd baseman was sent down and called up and is hitting 260. Mets 3rd base prospect Brent Baty came up with high expectations and is hitting .225 with 5 hrs. At least Schmidt and Bailey are good defensive players and that part of their game shouldn't slump.
DeleteIf we are going to be aggressive buying this year, and we do have some good looking prospects (unlike last season), I don't suppose we will be able to (or the trader patner will allow us to) use Haniger, Stripling or Manaea as part of the payment.
ReplyDeleteIf so, that means the roster spot(s) for the newcomer(s) will have to come from some other player(s), via the DL, being sent down or traded. If Schmitt or Bailey slumps, they might get sent down, to make room for the incoming players(s). I hope that's not the case. I assume Crawford doesn't retire in the middle of the season. Wisely's spot is reserved for Their. Sabol's is probably safe.
Not sure if there are any frontline SS's likely to be available at the deadline. Maybe Tim Anderson? I can definitely see room for an upgrade there. I think there is also room to upgrade an OF position although it would have to be a really good player. Beyond that, I would expect most midseason trade upgrades to be on the pitching side.
Delete....and yes, there will have to be some tough decisions.
DeleteFarhan mentioned both in-house and outside options.
DeleteFor SS, an option for the former could be Fitzgerald...unless he is used as a trading chip.
Sadly, Roger Craig has passed away. He had a few good years as the Giants manager.
ReplyDeleteRIP Roger Craig. Enjoyed following his teams and liked his positive managerial style. The phase "you gotta like these kids", came during his time when Will Clark and Robby Thompson came up as rookies. Hope the team finds a way to honor him.
DeleteFrom about the time they traded away Bobby Bonds in the mid '70s till Craig and Rosen arrived, except for a few seasons of Vida Blue, Jack Clark, Hammaker and Knepper, most of those years were forgettable. This fan will always be grateful. Hum Baby.
DeleteAnd we still have Roger Craig, the former 49ers' all-purpose running back.
Interesting comp for Schmidt might be Pablo Sandoval. Great defense (Schmidt might be better), a swing at everything mentality, with good bat to ball skills (pablo probably better here).
ReplyDeleteIf Schmidt can have a pablo like career I would be very happy.
- Fan
Someone posted a comment on Twitter pointing out that Pabs had far higher O-Contact rates than Schmitt. We'll see. I think Schmitt is going to have to become more selective.
DeleteOn radio, I remember listening to McCovey come up in 59. Been hoping for another McCovery since. Schmidt had me going, I still hope he adjusts, I see great D in future. I'm putting my money on Gonzalez surprising second half. Reminds me of Pete Rose running the bases. Plays hard. Not a fan of Joey. Just my opinion.
ReplyDelete