Sean Manaea turned in a Quality Start but a lack of run support can only go so long before the pitching can't sustain it any longer. A microcosm of the season. Key Lines:
Tyler Fitzgerald CF/3B- 1 for 3, BB, 2 SB(2). BA= .273. Fitz is still in the "honeymoon phase" of a rookie callup but it's better to get your MLB career off to to strong start than a non-start.
Sean Manaea LHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 4.44. Opt out is all but certain.
John Brebbia RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K. ERA= 3.55. One day after he was the Opener, The Merry Prankster took the ball in the 10'th. Maybe the Giants defense was playing some pranks behind him? The first run scored without a hit because the "ghost runner" advanced on outs but then the defense took over with throwing errors by Marco Luciano SS and Patrick Bailey C for whom throwing errors have become a problem. His throwing aggressiveness probably nabs some runners other catchers would not throw out, but the flip side is more risky throws leading to errors.
The Giants get a day off before finishing the season against the Dodgers. TBD vs TBD Friday night.
Some deets are starting to emerge regarding concerns about clubhouse culture and the knives seem to be pointed at Joc Pederson. You may recall a pregame slapping incident least season involving Pederson and Tommy Pham which turned out to have its roots in a players fantasy football league dispute. Well, The Beats have uncovered a Filipino card game called Pusoy that some players seem to take more seriously than baseball with Joc being the reported ringleader of the gaming faction. In addition, there is apparently an unwritten rule that music does not get played in the clubhouse after losses which is not being followed. Per one report, Logan Webb, Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores pushed for more focus on baseball and those efforts fell short of effecting change.
This may all come down to context and how different things can look when you are winning vs losing. I recall that Juan Uribe was considered a team leader for the 2010 team and his MO was organizing card clubhouse card games. There seems to be a fine line between diversion and distraction.
i was okay with kapler returning in 2024 until the stories about the clubhouse culture came out. this should be a fireable offense for kapler since he has lost control of the clubhouse. after sunday, zaidi should be planning for a managerial search and the new manager should hold players accountable for their actions.
ReplyDeleteRe: hoping for more power from Thairo...remember that he missed at least a month and had a broken bone...gonna hamper your power for awhile
ReplyDeleteTrue. Wow! Thairo accumulated over 500 PA's despite only playing in 117 games! That's what batting near the top of the order most of the season will do for you. His SLG% and IsoP are slightly higher than last season so I'll still say I was hoping for more of a power breakout. Agree that a hand fracture will sap your power so here's hoping for at least 25 HR next season, although more of the same would be just fine.
DeleteDoc, Fyi > Estrada so far has only played 116 games due to injury.
ReplyDeleteRichard in Winnipeg.
Thanks Richard in Winnepeg. See response to Anon above.
DeleteTankathon:
ReplyDeleteGiants have fallen ahead of the Padres to 13th pick. That might hold with SD traveling to the White Sox and SF hosting T.H.O.'s who have a shot @ 100 wins.
Moving "up" the list Giants have one more loss than Boston (who is tanking better than SF & playing the best of the AL: Orioles), 2 more than Detroit (who is winning and playing nearly as inept Cleveland who has just 3 more loses than SF so they are catchable - but not both), plus vulnerable Pittsburgh (3 more losses but playing Miami who has playoff hopes if they win out against AZ (who is hot).
Head-to-head with contenders for a better draft position, Giants hold the "lose-breaker" against SD (if Padres "fail" against Chicago) and Detroit but won season series against Pittsburgh and Boston.
Probably can't hope for better than 12th, but still an outside chance for 10 if a couple of teams cooperate.
Are you still persuaded that Luciano should stay at short?
ReplyDeleteYes. I see no reasonable options on the FA market and there are other needs to address on the trade market. I say give it to Luciano and give him reasonable time to adjust. Schmitt and Fitz can be the backup options. Luciano is far from a sure thing but the closest Giants prospect to a home-grown mid-order bat. Gotta give him the chance to prove he's not at some point. I don't see value in waiting longer than Opening Day next season.
DeleteI tend to agree.
DeleteWe'll have to see if the glove is enough, of course. More important is his back. The young man's only 22 and has a back condition that cost him a lot of minor-league time. Such conditions are managed, not cured, and a middle infielder likely stresses a back more than, say, a corner OF. Assuming the bat plays, I suspect OF may be his future.
By contrast, Schmitt looks like a natural infielder, pretty much anywhere, with GG potential. I suspect that he'll get over his hitting issue, which seems more a question of experience than talent. He seems to barrel well in the zone and can turn on an inside fastball, so there's that. My hunch is that he's more likely to end up as the SS in the longer term, but as you say can back up the whole IF next year.
BTW Fitzgerald certainly looks the part of a major-leaguer, kind of a stronger version of Bryce Johnson but who can also play the infield. Hits the ball hard, but may have an issue with contact. I can't remember how solid his glove is at shortstop; my vague recollection is that he was projected as a major-league average SS. Anyway, I'm glad he's up and hope he sticks. One could certainly foresee circumstances that could lead him to be the eventual starter either at SS or CF.
Giants fired Kapler thank goodness but that’s only have the problem taken care of. Farhan got to go. He only fired Kapler because he himself is on the hot seat
ReplyDeleteI guess it will be a separate thread, but the ax has fallen on Gabe Kapler. Wonder who the next manager will be.
ReplyDelete