This one went down like they drew it up as Logan Webb pitched 7 shut out innings and Rafael Devers drove in 4 runs with a pair of home runs. Key Lines:
Rafael Devers 1B- 2 for 3, 2 HR(14), 2 R, 4 RBI. BA= .240. Devers got the Giants scoring started with a solo HR in the 2'nd inning. Bryce Eldridge doubled and scored on Drew Gilbert's sac fly later in the inning. Devers came up again the very next inning with 2 outs and 2 runners on and delivered on the Earl Weaver formula for winning baseball with a 3-run HR. That was the end of the Giants scoring but it was more than enough to support the shut out pitching of Logan Webb and two relievers. Maybe it's just me but Devers seems to be playing with more focus since the dust up over the pinch runner last Sunday in Miami.
Logan Webb RHP- 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K's, 8/4 GO/AO. ERA= 3.09. Vintage Logan Webb. His season line is now well within his career norm. In fact, if he finishes the season with an ERA of 3.09 or lower, it will be his best season since 2022. His line for the month of June is 3-1, 0.71, 38 IP, 4 BB, 29 K.
Robbie Ray LHP tries for a series win this afternoon but has a daunting task as he faces Chris Sale LHP who comes in with an ERA of 2.14.
I watched a movie yesterday called Voice Mails for Isabelle. It's actually a very sad movie, especially for someone who lost the love of their life this year. But the movie is about San Francisco and at one point they play the Journey song When the Lights Go Down In the City. It brought back memories of another time when Steve Perry sang it during postseason games at AT&T Park and how it brought the team, the stadium, the song and the city together and created magical moments.
I then thought back to how in the years after Willie Mays and Juan Marichal were traded and soon retired, I started obsessively reading minor league stat lines in The Sporting News hoping to find the next Willie Mays or the next Juan Marichal. At one point I thought Chili Davis might be the next Mays. He was a good player but he wasn't Willie Mays. John "The Count" Montefusco was an exciting pitcher but he was not Juan Marichal. Neither was Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum or Madison Bumgarner. After many years, I came to the realization that while the Giants would have more great players wear the uniform, there would never be another Willie Mays and there definitely would never be another Juan Marichal.
I think sometimes many of us follow this team, even through crushingly disappointing seasons, hoping to bring back the magic of the Even Year Dynasty. I do believe there will again be good Giants teams. After all we had a great one in 2017. I believe that someday they will win another World Series but must remember it took 52 years of playing in San Francisco to win the first one. What won't happen again is 2010 or 2012 or 2014. Those were different teams run by different people and the city is different with different vibes and a different relationship to the team. 2010 was the first championship in San Francisco and there will never be another first one.
So we'll keep following this team with an eye on the farm system and the future. But the future, as good and exciting as it may be, will not bring back the past.
No comments:
Post a Comment