Apparently dominating the Dodgers in that must-win game yesterday burned up too much emotion and adrenaline causing the inevitable letdown against an AL opponent. The Giants barely showed up for this one. Game Notes:
Kevin Gausman RHP making his third spring start had 3 K's and no walks in 3.2 IP but got knocked around for 7 hits including 2 HR's and 4 runs. That's it, folks! There were only two other Giants pitchers to record 3 outs and just one, Wandy Peralta LHP, kept runs off the board.
Just not a good look for the Giants and we've seen enough of these to start worrying about a very ugly season.
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The Giants play their 3'rd consecutive road game tomorrow in Goodyear with Logan Webb RHP making his fourth Cactus League start. So far, Webb has a 0.00 ERA in 6 IP with 10 K's.
Andrew Baggarly in The Athletic is worried about the Giants being ready for 2021, notably Longoria, Belt, and Posey being ready. He might add Crawford to his worries because SF has little backup at SS.
ReplyDeleteLast year a very slow start for the Giants, 8-16, ultimately doomed the Giants - one more win in the first 24 would have landed a playoff spot.
This Spring, Longo's foot has kept him off the field and he very well may DH in in Seattle to open the season which won't help a shaky defense. Belt probably won't open the season on the field and Buster has had a quiet Spring after opting out of 2020.
Before Gausman's non-performance yesterday, at least the pitching looked good for the Opener. Cueto may be OK for Game 2 if he and his C can get and stay on the same page but he is tending toward inconsistency.
The Giants will begin the season without a LH SP unless Connor Menez is given the ball.
A poor start in a 162-game season isn't fatal. With arguably the best 2 NL teams in the West - and the Giants have 38 games with them - will they be buried before they hit a stride?
Re:Anonymous
ReplyDeleteVegas odds has the Giants winning 75.5(over/under) games. That seems to be about right although I am optimistic that they will win 80. I think Having Belt sit out the beginning of the season may help keep some healthy competition as there are plenty of options at first base. Their hitting seems to be ok, although inconsistent. Doc- ZIPS has Logan Webb projected to have a 3.99 ERA. What do you think-over or under?
A 3.99 ERA from Webb would be great. The Giants should win quite a few of his games at that level of performance.
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