More hot hitting from Wilmer Flores was not enough to overcome subpar pitching and a second day of poor field conditions. Key Lines:
Willy Adames SS- 2 for 5, 2B. BA= .196. Giants need Adames to get going at the plate. Maybe a start?
Wilmer Flores DH- 2 for 4, HR(6). BA= .275. Flores HR in the second inning came after Heliot Ramos' double. The other two RBI's came on a bases-loaded single in the 6'th inning.
Jordan Hicks RHP- 4 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 5.87. I anticipate some comments piling on Hicks but the weather has been a problem for all pitchers and Hicks hung in there pretty well through 4 innings which remember, Robbie Ray came out after 4 innings yesterday after throwing over 90 pitches. I guess my biggest criticism is of Melvin who seemed awfully slow to get Hicks out of there. Hicks was already getting long on his pitch count and came out serving up batting practice to the top of the Yankees order in the 5'th. Melvin didn't come get him until 2 runs were in and the bases were loaded with no outs. This time Randy Rodriguez couldn't keep the inherited runners from scoring. That was the ballgame. So yes, not a great start by any stretch for Hicks but I'll give him a pass for a harmonic convergence of difficult weather conditions, a potent Yankees lineup and Melvin's slow hook.
Logan Webb RHP tries for a series win tomorrow against former Giant Carlos Rodon LHP, hopefully in better weather.
On the pregame show on radio, they were talking about disappointing defense up the middle. Is it too soon to think about bringing up Wisely? Fitz just isn’t hitting … maybe play Koss more? Bring up Stassi?
ReplyDeleteI didn't hear the discussion so hard to comment on what the defensive issues are. Fangraphs defensive metrics are not great for either Adames or Fitz but it's a very small sample. I know there was one game where they had trouble handling several scorchers which I think Brandon Crawford in his prime would have handled but Crawford was about the best I've ever seen at handling those. Only one of them was scored as an error. I don't think Wisely is the answer. His bat cooled off considerably after a hot first weekend. Christian Koss has a slightly positive defensive metric on Fangraphs in a miniscule sample size but he has a strong defensive reputation and handled several chances smoothly.
DeleteHicks just keeping the spot warm for either Harrison (great in AA so far, still only 23, lefty, former top lefty prospect in baseball), Birdsong , and/or lefty Wisenhunt (killing it so far in SSS, terrific change up, young and was the top left handed college pitcher in the year he was drafted). I foresee one of them supplanting Verlander too, who I think will get hurt at some point as he’s 42 and coming off an injury plaqued and subpar age 41 season
ReplyDeleteThe Giants have some depth at SP.
DeleteAnd if ADAMES can get started maybe CHAPMAN and RAMOS can do the same and recover?. Amazing what their record is and getiing almost nothing from Adames, Chapman and Ramos..The latter two being a combined 1 for 39 in the last 5 or so games.
ReplyDeleteAs for HICKS, starts like that are going to happen, needs to forget it and be ready for the PHILS next week.
SteveVA
LMWJ has hits in just 3 of his 14 games, 4 W's and 16 Ks in 50 PAs, 39 OPS+ — has he outlived his hold on games against RHP?
DeleteOTOH, of the Giants' 13 position players, SEVEN have OPS+ less than 100 and 2 more (Chapman & Ramos) are under 110.
No one thought this team would be even good offensively, but who would have said their best bats would come from the oldest two (batters) on the roster: YtY and Flores!
I've said it before. I'll say it again. LMWJ is hitting the ball hard. His first two AB's yesterday were both scorched right at the first baseman.
DeleteIn a way, this game showed the difference between this year and the past few years. When the team went down 7-2, I would have given up on the game. This year, I felt we might come back. We didn't, but it still felt like we might. As a baseball fan, that feeling keeps me watching.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way.
DeleteJust read something interesting from MLB Pipeline: “Triple-A Sacramento’s rotation features plenty of notable names, including Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn and Carson Whisenhunt (No. 2), but the unit’s most impressive starter thus far has been Seymour, who has logged a 0.64 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 14 innings across his first three outings of the year. The 26-year-old right-hander racked up 13 K’s over nine shutout innings over his first two starts, which earned him Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of April 1-6.” Competition is great, especially in pitching!
ReplyDeleteDoc, I am a huge fan of Yaz, He is off to a good start this year.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that > wastching his 3 strikeouts > I could not understand why he just stood there and looked as the pitches came across the plate at leasst 4 or 5 looked very hitable > but he stood and looked and then looked upset when called out on strikes. > Wonder if Pat Burrelll had any feedbackk for him.
Anyway its early we are doing well > weather forecast today for New York overcast and small % of chance fro rain > so lets enjoy Logan on the mound.
Maybe put Schmitt in at second today.
Richard in Winnipeg
YtY is a very patient, selective hitter which is both his strength and weakness. Personally I don't understand how any hitter make any contact at all with the nastiness MLB pitchers serve up these days.
DeleteHaving lots of SP depth and a place in the back end of the bullpen whenever Hicks is ready are good problems to have. It would be nice to eventually see that depth traded for some bats however. It’s great watching this team come together and win with heart and guts instead of being better at spreadsheets than the other team but at some point we need offensive upgrades and we have the trade chips to pull it off.
ReplyDelete