Graham Ashcraft RHP shut down the Giants offense for the second time this season while Alex Cobb RHP suffered a mixture of bad BABIP luck and poor fielding behind him. Not much else to say about this game.
Who the heck is Graham Ashcraft and why has he shut down the Giants twice this season? 6'th round draft pick by the Reds out of Alabama-Birmingham in 2019. Solid minor league record. Impressive early including his first MLB start against the Giants, but gave up 10 runs in 9.2 IP over his last two starts so it seemed hopeful coming in the Giants might have a book on him. His FB sat at 99 MPH and he backed that up with a nasty looking fading changeup. That's pretty tough to hit, book or no book, so give him credit.
Tommy La Stella DH is an asset when he can platoon start at 2B and help out at other positions in a pinch, but he's only played 33 innings in the field this season while appearing in 21 games as a DH including 20 starts in that role. Tommy La Stella is not an asset if he is the strong half of your DH platoon. Add in Darin Ruf LF facing a tough RHP and Donovan Walton 2B with a .155 BA and that's not a lineup that's going to put the fear into many opposing pitchers. Those three went a combined 0 for 10. The top 5 batters in the lineup went a combined 1 for 20. That's not a lack of situational hitting. That is a lack of all types of hitting!
Silver Lining: My man Yunior Marte RHP- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, GO/AO= 6/0. Love the name, love the pitcher. BTW, Yunior replaced Zack Littell RHP on the active roster as Littell was optioned out to AAA Sacramento.
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Logan Webb RHP tries to get the Giants back on track tomorrow evening facing Mike Minor LHP in a 4:15 game that might be tough for hitters, especially in the late innings.
Giants are increasingly hard to watch, offense and defense.
ReplyDeleteAfter closing the gap to a single run, they gave up a freeby on a catchers interference, a walk, a steal, and a throwing error on a ground ball by last year's Giant who slashed .308/.354/.435/.789 in his 3 years as a Giant but let let go after a disappointing season.
Giving up a save to Hunter Strickland was the culminating event.
I am so pessimistic I've started thinking about what they could get by trading Joc before the deadline.
DeleteJoc goes And Then There Were None.
DeleteApologies to Agatha Christie.
Apologies also to Forrest Gump: signing players in their 30's is like a box of chocolates: you never know ...
DeleteLast year, FZ's Churn of 30's worked — this year, most likely not so much, although, SF is still very much in the thick of it for a WC with only 1 of 3 slots seemingly locked up. Could be all 3 if the Padres pull their customary disappearing act.
Take a pill!
ReplyDelete10 12 and 14
playoffs 16
Crazy big year last yea!
Been a Giants fan for over 50 years, age 71!
Chill TFO!!!!!
Richard in Winnipeg
Hey! Bitching and moaning is half the fun of being a fan!
Delete