When the highlight of the game is Dave Flemming serving as the Bat Boy for the first 3 innings, you know it was not an entertaining or competitive game.
Michael Conforto RF missed a HR that went foul by a foot or two. He settled for reaching base 3 times. Unfortunately in this lineup all that gets you is stranded.
Thairo Estrada 2B had two hits and actually drove in a couple of runs.
Ryan Walker RHP struck out 4 batters in 2 scoreless IP to open the game. The pitching was dreadful from that point on.
It might be time for Tristan Beck RHP to switch leagues with Kyle Harrison LHP as long as we are churning the kids.
The Loss shrank the Giants lead for the second Wild Card playoff spot to 0.5 games over the Marlins.
The Giants send out TBD to start tomorrow's game against non-other than not-so-good Giant Zack Littell RHP who just might feel like he has a thing or two to prove to the Giants in general and Gabe Kapler in particular.
Churn Watch:
Luis Matos OF and Mark Matthias IF were optioned to AAA Sacramento while Wade Meckler OF and Johan Camargo IF got the callup. Since they both needed to be added to the 40 man roster, Luis Gonzalez OF was DFA'd and Anthony DeSclafani RHP was placed on the 60-day IL. For any of you who are members of the Just Play the Kids Chorus, hey! At least they are churning the kids!
Oh, and YtY was shut down due to a setback with his hammy.
I was baffled, why didn't they play Ramos. He seems like one of the only players that is hitting right now, do they consider him a platoon only player at this point?
ReplyDelete- Fan
I had the same thought. This lineup needs more Heliot.
DeleteI"m starting to think there is no such thing as an everyday player in Kap's mind.
Deletekapler has to shift his philosophy a little bit and tone it down on the analytics and settle on an everyday player lineup. what worked in 2021 isn't working now and ownership may have to tighten the reins a bit on FZ and kapler next year even if it means hiring extra eyes in the front office.
DeleteThey might just need better players. I don't want them to throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water, but FZ and Kap might need to adjust their thinking on some things. Since the best predictor of future injury is an injury history FZ might want to dial back on seeing them as undervalued even in the short term. To win in MLB these days quantity is not enough. You need quality too. Platoon's are OK for 2 or 3 positions but there are simply not enough roster spots to platoon every position. Bullpen games are OK once in awhile but they burn out your pitching staff if overused. I'm trying to stay focused on what appears to be a dramatic improvement in both quantity and quality in the farm system and I think we have to give some credit for that to the development staff.
DeletePete Petulia should be the guy handling the free agency side this off-season and let FZ handle the player development and scouting. FZ is wearing too many hats and he should relinquish some to the new GM
DeletePutila*
DeleteDoc do think the pitchers are on board with the openers? What is your take on Woods comments? I can't believe Manaea likes how he's being used either. If they wanted Luciano to play some 2nd base why didn't he do it earlier in the season.
DeleteMy guess is that Farhan and Kapler believe that slumps are statistical quirks that correct themselves with more sample. hey believe the RISIP problem will fix itself as long as they see the the runners getting on base/taking good swings.
DeleteI do have to say their stomach for trusting the process is greater than mine.
- Fan
I think some pitchers are more on board with Openers than others. Wood clearly is not. Honestly most of these pitchers should be thankful they have a MLB job at all. I mean, that's pretty much why FZ was able to sign them to relatively low short-term deals, right? If Wood is so unhappy with his role he all but openly says so, He needs to be released. He's not exactly helping the team on the field and it would seem not in the clubhouse either.
DeleteI wondered if Bailey was referring to pitchers not liking the opener strategy when he mentioned the negativity going on after he hit the walk off homer. I was surprised Wood wasn't traded or DFAd
Deletethe hitting has been so bad no matter what roster move they make that it may also be time to churn justin viele. an interim hitting coach can't be any worse at this point.
ReplyDeleteI read a comment on another site where someone said they were angry when Mathias got a hit a few games ago because it meant that it was likely he would be given a longer leash. Thankfully he was sent down yesterday but there is a sentiment from more and more fans that it is hard not to root against any success by this teams lesser/mediocre players because it will continue to justify the strategy of the current management regime. I feel it as well and although I would never actively root against the team I love, failure is the only way to change and success delays that change.
ReplyDeleteI can’t think of any worse failure by a management team when fans feel this way. It is embarrassing as a fan to be forced to accept a strategy that is so extreme and clearly isn’t working. Fitting that the Rays are in town using a similar strategy out of necessity not choice while the Rangers just left town after winning with a more traditional strategy and similar resources as us.
Is this management team capable of adjusting their strategy after 5 years of arguably little progress? You mention the development of the younger players and finally having a youth movement but are they really ahead if the curve in their development or are they 5 years late bringing them up and giving them this chance? Draft results are not looking great and the ability to sign or trade for impact players is nonexistent. Do other GM’s and Agents even take Zaidi’s calls at this point? As long as ownership is making more money than 90% of the teams in the league do they have a reason to make a change?
I think the improvement in the farm system is real. And I really don't get the idea of rooting for failure just because you hate management so much. Yes, make a change if things are clearly headed in the wrong direction but there is no rational reason I can think if for hoping for that outcome.
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