In the past, running out a bullpen game against the opposing team's best starting pitcher would signal a "forfeit" game designed to preserve player resources to fight another day. That's not how these Giants roll as once again they used a bullpen game as a weapon, a competitive advantage. Right now if they came down to one game they had to win and Kevin Gausman RHP and Logan Webb RHP were both not available, Kap's best option is probably to throw the bullpen out there. Of course, it helped that the Giants hitters jumped all over Yu Darvish RHP for a 5-spot in the first inning.
The Giants did more than clinch a playoff spot at the earliest date in the San Francisco era. They extended their longest win streak of the season to 8 games. They also maintained a 2.5 game lead over the Dodgers with 18 and 17 games left to play respectively. They look increasingly like a lock to win 100 games and 104-105 wins is within very reasonable reach. The way the Dodgers are playing, even that might not be enough to win the division but going 12-6 the rest of the way would give them 106 wins. The Dodgers would have to go 14-3 to tie that and 15-2 to win outright. While nothing is impossible, that seems a bit unlikely while the 12-6 is eminently doable for the Giants.
*************************************************************************************
It's time to stop and give credit to the Giants leadership. At this point, Farhan Zaidi and Gabe Kapler should be shoe-ins for Executive of the Year and Manager of the Year respectively. Their belief system of how a MLB roster should be built and managed appear to be in perfect alignment. FZ and his staff identify overlooked players with untapped potential. The young, data driven coaching staff works with the acquired players to find adjustments that unlock that potential. Gabe Kapler puts them in positions that maximizes their skillset. The result is a perfectly synchronized organization from top to bottom resulting in the remarkable on-field performances we witness daily.
*************************************************************************************
One concept openly espoused by both FZ and Kap is that of the Opener. That has not always worked out on the field they way they draw it up. Clearly, not every short-inning pitcher, formerly known as relievers, has the mindset to open a game and often Kap's Openers have opened up an early lead for the opposing team. Dominic Leone RHP seems to have solved that problem as he turned in his third consecutive dominant opening. He's done it so efficiently it would not surprise me to see his continued use in the role even as SP's come back from injury and illness. Alex Wood LHP in particular seems like a well matched "Bulk Innings" guy to pair up the Leone as the Opener.
*************************************************************************************
A couple of young relievers who appear to have bright futures with the Giants appeared in this game. They both showed potential to be dominant but both showed flaws that still need work. I'm not sure why Camilo Doval RHP, who can "take something off" the fastball and still hit the top of the zone at 97 MPH. He also has a wicked, wipeout slider but throws it about 95 % of the time. If you throw enough sliders, you're going to hang a few and hitters are going to be ready to pounce on those hangers. It's exciting to think of what Doval can do with a more balanced use of those two amazing pitches but he has to believe in it first.
Kervin Castro RHP had the opposite problem. He has a mid-high 90's FB that induces swings and misses at the top of the zone, but every slider he threw was spiked in the dirt. By the end of his second inning of work he was throwing only fastballs and the Padres were timing them. Fortunately the big lead allowed him to keep pounding the zone eventually getting soft contact or a frozen batter(not sure why the last hitter of a game would freeze on a fastball when that is the only pitch he's seeing, but that happened).
I totally agree with your assessment of Farhan and Kapler and the job they have done. No one (very few) believed the Giants would contend this year and certainly not dominate the way they have. The thought was they would have a mediocre team this year then strike hard in free agency with an eye to next year. Well, they didn’t settle for that- they found players- Their type of players. Then, as you state above, they coached them up- something I didn’t know they were capable of ( at least to the extent they have). I was always onboard with Farhan but always skeptical of Kaplan- he proved me wrong. I’ll always have respect for Bochy but Kapler gets it done also- just with a different approach. Yeah, the Dodgers pitching still looks scary, but I think the Giants have so many hitters who seem to have a knack for coming through in the clutch that this team has the potential to play deep into the post season and provide us with even more surprises. Well done Farhan and Kap!!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to watch Milwaukee the rest of their season, especially their final 3-game series in LA.
ReplyDeleteThat could be used just to line up their star SP's for their Division Series, but they are no way eliminated from having the best NL record.
Today, the Brewers are just 2 games (in the loss column) behind the Dodgers. They play Detroit, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis, and the Mets before the final series in LA.
IF the Giants falter, for example being swept in a tough 3-game series with power hitting Atlanta, the Brewers without much left in their schedule could overtake LA in a colossal pitching series matching 6 of the best league pitchers in the final 3 games.
Four teams, including Atlanta with a relatively weak schedule other than SF, have a lot to play for the next 20 days.
Nice summary. This has been undoubtedly a fun season to watch, for a fangroup that may be more accustomed to "torture." I am also hopeful that the Giants will be able to ward off future red spiky virus outbreaks for the fall season, and that Alex Wood returns to form OK.
ReplyDeleteStatistically, the 12-6 plan looks great. I am still marred by the memory of 1993 when I first became a Giants fan-- "Kirt what was that Manwaring"?
Hello Dr B -- I don't know much about the various coaches but there have some amazing successes there. As a schoolteacher and coach I am fascinated by so many turnaround success stories with individual players. Who are these coaches? I'd like to hear more about them.
ReplyDeleteI'm no expert on coaches or what they do either, but I'll try to do a little research and post some profiles of the Giants young coaching staff. It might have to wait until the offseason.
DeleteIt'll be interesting during the off season to see if other teams follow the Giants lead and expand their coaching staffs with younger talent.
DeleteAt this point, I'd like to see Wade dropped to 6 and Longoria elevated to cleanup.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Gabe Kapler keep making the lineup out in whatever damn way he thinks is best.
DeletePerhaps swapping out Kris Bryant in a double switch so he wasn't available in a critical spot in the ninth inning wasn't such a good idea today.
DeletePerhaps but Bryant is not in perfect health right now and there may be other reasons for the move. Like Bruce Bochy before him he's not perfect but the good decisions far outweigh the bad.
Delete