The Giants lineup sputtered in futility, spoiling a Webb Gem and apparently causing frustrations to boil over onto the field in the 9'th inning. Key Lines:
Casey Schmitt LF- 2 for 4, RBI. BA= .298. 6'th multi-hit game in a row for Schmitt who drove in the only Giants run with a oppo-field single to drive in Luis Arraez 2B who doubled with 2-outs in the third inning followed by a walk to Bryce Eldridge. Drew Gilbert CF had the only other Giants hit in the game for a total of just 4.
Logan Webb RHP- 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 3.35. I think it's time to put the term, "Caining" into storage and call it "Webbing." It's such a crime to waste the talent of a guy who has pitched his heart out for this team for 5+ seasons.
Tony Vitello Manager- In a story that shouldn't be a story because it should never have happened, Rafael Devers led off the 9'th inning with a walk. Tony Vitello sent Jonah Cox in to pinch run, a move the situation obviously called for. Devers objected and kept trying to waive Cox off the field. The rook was understandably confused and stood behind 1B coach Shane Robinson while it go sorted out. Devers eventually and grudgingly walked to the dugout but was visibly frustrated while his teammates tried to high five him. Apparently Devers thought the reason for the switch was a mildly sore hammy which he felt was good to go, but it was a move that totally needed to happen anyway, not because of anything wrong with Devers but because Jonah Cox has elite speed and was the best bet to score the tying run at that point. All I have to say is OMG! Can we please move out both Devers and Tony Vitello?
Ryan Gusto RHP- 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 6.00. The Giants once again managed to make a pitcher who came in with a bloated ERA look like a Cy Young Award candidate. To top that off, after Gusto struck out Daniel Susac with a runner on first in the 5'th inning, Marlins Manager Clayton McCullough came out and replaced him with a LHP with 4 of the next 5 scheduled Giants batters hitting from the left side. I thought of two things: 1. The Giants don't have a LHP Vitello can trust in that situation and 2. That move combined with the way they call pitches from the dugout is a stark contrast between a team that actually has a pitching plan with one that is completely lost. BTW, McCullough was the Dodgers first base coach and widely respected as a potential future manager before taking the Marlins job, another stark contrast to think about.
The Giants leave behind a disaster series sweep against a team headed in the opposite direction. They get a day off to look at themselves in the mirror before starting a home series against the A's on Tuesday with Robbie Ray LHP facing Aaron Civale LHP who comes in with a 4.91 ERA.
Put Devers on the IL until you can trade him out and get an interim manager in place by the all-star break.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that the Giants won’t be allowed to pick higher than 10th next draft even if they are one of the worst teams. It’s BS because the Giants aren’t tanking, they are legitimately trying to win.
ReplyDeleteDevers has to leave. Posey made the trade and the hire. He can live with the mess. Everyone else deserves better.
ReplyDeleteIt looked like Devers had everyone convinced that his problems in Boston were Boston problems. Well, a short year later and his Diva-ness is coming out in spades.
DeleteDevers is immature, even years after he shouldn't be.
DeleteA lot of us can relate to that. ;<)
Buster gambled, hoping Devers could produce quasi-Bondsian results, but no LHB can do that in Oracle.
He should have looked at Devers' career Home-Away HR stats, since Fenway (other than the HR porch directly down the RF line), like Oracle, is tough for LHB.
In his career, Devers has 110 HRs @ home and 134 on the road.
The Great Ted Williams hit more HRs on the road than at Fenway.
Bonds had more HRs on the road than home.
Another LHB, Ken Griffey, Jr, had more HRs at home.
Roger Maris in the 1961 61 HR year was split 30/30 until his tie breaking HR in Yankee Stadium.
Devers is the real threat in the SF line-up.
Should we "cut off our nose to spite our face"?
How about a little advice on the side: "Grow up, Rafael!"
This is why I want to trade Webb, my favorite Giant. The team doesn’t deserve him and he deserves a shot at the Series.
ReplyDeleteThis situation reminds me soooo much of the Brebbia/Kapler fiasco a few years ago. There is something very seriously, fundamentally wrong with the culture in this organization right now.
ReplyDeleteYep, and let's not forget Zack Littell.
DeleteNow Greg Johnson needs to come up with a plan since Devers' contract is unmovable. Kapler didn't last much longer after Brebbia and Littell. Player insubordination is how managers get fired, since Devers' contract is pretty much unmovable unless Johnson is willing to eat the contract which I doubt he will, that means it will cost Vitello his job. You keep Devers away until an interim is in place and my choice would Ron Washington as the interim. Once you get to the offseason, Minasian should lose his job and I do think Posey will step down as POBO.
DeleteIs it ironic that Kapler joined the front office of Marlins after leaving the Giants and is now the GM.
DeleteKapler might have influenced the hiring of McCullough as team manager.
The Giants organization is so lost that if they threw a rock while sitting in a boat in the middle of the Pacific ocean, they couldn't hit water..
ReplyDeleteDevers is not going anywhere.....his contract is underwater. He is owed almost 30 mil a year for the next 7-8 years. The Giants are not going to be able to unload that contract unless they pay it way way down as part of the deal. I highly doubt Buster is going to fire Vitello after one year, but he has been in over his head. He does need to go. The Giants offense while streaky is not the biggest problem(although Webb would probably not agree). The pitching is a mess besides Webb and Roupe. The Giants spent absolutely ZERO on the bullpen. There is no consistency at all.......Mahle and Houser have been HORRIBLE. Suck it up this year and address the problems that exist next off season. There is not enough help on the trade market or in the farm system to right the ship this season.
ReplyDeletea possibly snarky remark might be: the Giants look sad and lifeless vs a pitcher with a 7.00 ERA and lose badly. let's fire the manager. as bad as this team has been, a closer would've kept the Giants within shouting distance of .500 and that could only help team morale and unity. a closer, Houser and Mahle are way bigger fails by the Giants' brain trust than hiring VItello. note signing a closer almost seemed a bit belligerent on Posey's part, thinking one of the bullpen dudes just needed to man up and do the job. -es
ReplyDeleteThere are obviously major issues at every level of this organization. It's not all Tony Vitello's fault but he is not helping anything.
DeleteI believe there are three fundamental problems with the Giants. An inability to evaluate talent for trades ( players coming and going) , an inability to develop young players and an inability to attract quality free agents. Some these problems can’t be fixed with a true, professional General Manager giver the authority required. We all love Buster Posey but he simply doesn’t matchup to the whiz kid type GMs of other clubs- not many ex star players ever do. As far as player development goes I think we need to find the secret sauce that teams like the Brewers, Rays and yes the Dodgers have. For. Attracting free agents - reestablish a winning culture which will take time.
DeleteObviously premature, but it’s time to start wondering if the Devers trade is one of the worst in Giants history.
ReplyDelete- Fan
Right there with Perry for McDowell and George Foster for Frank Duffy
DeleteThey're rioting in Oracle, they're starving to win
ReplyDeleteThere's hurricanes in the Board Room, and Posey does spin
With apologies to the Kingston Trio