A few bright spots in the lineup were not enough to overcome terrible pitching as the D'Backs as the bullpen once again failed to keep a winnable game within reach. Key Lines:
Bryce Eldridge DH- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(15), R. 2 RBI. BA= .254. The most significant part of this line is Eldridge did his damage against a LHP. More than that, Eldridge and Devers batting 2, 3 in the lineup against a LHP and accounted for 3 of the Giants 6 runs.
Christian Koss SS- 1 for 3, HR(1), R, 2 RBI. BA= .211. Koss is batting .238 over his last 7 games and .271 over his last 15. In a small sample he has far better defensive metrics at SS than Willy Adames. BTW, Adames got a PRP injection in his elbow so is likely done for the season giving Christian a chance to impress the rest of the way.
Blade Tidwell RHP- 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K's, 2/6 GO/AO, 3 HR. ERA= 4.54. There was a light breeze out to CF at game time. How much that contributed to Tidwell's downfall is not clear. The D'Backs were able to hit the ball in the air and he couldn't keep them in the park. Although there are exceptions to the rule, if a pitcher gives up a lot of flyballs, some of them are going to find their way over the wall. A ground ball has essentially zero chance of being a home run.
Spencer Bivens RHP- 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 14.40. Bivens pitched fairly well in a variable role for AAA Sacramento but giving up 8 runs in 3 IP over his last to games at the MLB level is not going to cut it, even in audition time.
The Giants play a day/night doubleheader today with TBD starting both games. Matt Williamson LHP will likely be activated for one of the games. Merrill Kelly RHP(5.35) and Mitch Bratt LHP(4.54) are the named starters for the D'Backs.
this may sound like drug induced optimism, and yet, maybe having this dumpster fire season will net more positive results moving forward than, say, a near hopeless hunt for a playoff slot, because if that happened, the FO might think they can continue to make small adjustments around the edges and hence more of the same. the brain trust must recognize they need to move boldly and get real about the roster and the talent requirements for playing winning baseball. i will close by saying, i may be in the minority as i like both Devers and Vitello and think they should be part of the new-look Giants that i optimistically envision for the near future. p.s. i have humble respect for the concept of the reliable reliever. -es
ReplyDeleteThe outcome of the game could have been very different if Knizner had challenged the 3rd inning call that according to Flem was a definite strike 3 to Nootbar. Given second life he doubled right before Carroll homered to give the DBacks the lead. Then things fell apart and the Giants found themselves in a 6-2 hole. I think Knizner challenged and won two other calls later that inning., but by then the damage had been done. Tony V was so frustrated with the umpiring that he ended getting tossed again.
ReplyDeleteThere were an unusually high number of overturned calls in this game and several more that could have been. Overall though, I would say the ABS system has proven that most umps are incredibly good at calling balls and strikes. Also, to my eye, the fair ball call that Vitello got tossed over did go over the 3B bag and was therefore a fair ball.
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