Another bullpen failure in the 8'th inning spoiled a sensational pitching performance by Sean Hjelle and a 9'th inning rally fell about 5 feet short on a bases loaded deep fly to RF by J.D. Davis 1B.
Sean Hjelle RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 5.76. Per Pavs on NBC Sports Bay Area, Hjelle had his best velocity of the season topping out at over 96 MPH in a dominant bulk-inning role. Take out the disaster start on 9/17 against the Dodgers, Hjelle's ERA would be 3.60. He's allowed just 3 ER in 15 IP in his last 3 appearances(1.80) with 13 K's, 3 BB's and a dominant groundball rate. Is he ready to take the next step and fill a rotation slot next season? What a boost to the organization that would be!
Shelby Miller RHP followed Hjelle and got through the 7'th inning in order, but the wheels came off in the 8'th as he gave up 2 doubles to start the inning then, after a groundout, he intentionally walked Juan Soto and then issued two more unintientional walks. Jarlin Garcia LHP then brought his handy gas can to the mound and gave up a double and HR, a 3-run blast to Giants nemesis Wil Myers, who BTW is a free agent after the season.
This was Miller's first poor outing after 4 strong appearances since getting called up. Will he get another appearance to shake it off in the last two games of the season? He is also a free agent after the season.
David Villar DH- 2 for 3, HBP. BA= .227. Villar is now 4 for 5 over his last 2 games which raises his BA since being recalled on 9/2 to .264 with an OBP of .319 and SLG% of .517. Put this performance with his minor league track record and Villar should be a big part of the the Giants future. They have a logjam of non-SS infielders. Maybe this gives the Giants courage to move on from Evan Longoria?
*************************************************************************************
Speaking of Longoria, turns out he fractured a finger in the 10'th inning of yesterday's game and went back on the IL to finish the season. Really! Thomas Szapucki LHP joined him on the IL with a R hip strain. Bryce Johnson OF and Andrew Vasquez LHP were called up with Alex Wood LHP going to the 60-day IL to make room for Vasquez on the 40-man roster. Got all that? Good!
*************************************************************************************
Carlos Rodon LHP is scheduled to start tomorrow's game against Sean Manaea LHP, but just a casual reminder that Rodon's agent is Scott Boras. Boras public today proclaiming that Rodon has exceeded his innings limit for the season and should be shut down like Logan Webb. Of course, Webb is under contract for next season and Rodon is not. While it is a meaningless game, Rodon is in the conversation for a Cy Young Award as well as close to some strikeout milestones, so the start might not be meaningless for him. How will this drama impact the Giants chances of resigning Rodon? I'll guess none since I don't think he'll be back next season and I think that decision has already been made on both sides.
*************************************************************************************
Camilo Doval RHP was named the NL Reliever of the Month for September. He appears to have solidified the Closer role for next season making one less key position the Giants have to fill in the Hot Stove League.
*************************************************************************************
AFL Update: Opening Day today. Giants minor leaguers assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
Luis Matos CF- 1 for 4, 3B, BB.
Logan Wyatt 1B- 1 for 3, BB.
Tyler Myrick RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Giants Wilmer Flores has a 10-year younger brother also named Wilmer Flores highly rated in the Tiger system.
ReplyDeleteThey do have different middle names: Alejandro and De Jesus.
SF should move on from Longo - chances of his getting through another season without frequent visits to the IL are nil. The Giants have too many infield options, including Luciano if he gets called up. Crawford if healthy and able should be allowed to finish his SS career.
Aaron Judge is not going to win the AL Triple Crown as he will fall short in BA to the Twins’ Luis Arraez.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Judge leads all of baseball substantially in HRs, he is slightly #2 (at this writing) in MLB in RBI's (1st in AL), and #5 in MLB in BA (2nd in AL).
Why would the Giants want Judge: in all baseball, SF's best is #59 in BA, #50 in HR, #62 in RBI, each is a different player. Pathetic?
Why wouldn’t the Giants don't want Judge: He is 30 yo - will he be better @ 31? Or beyond? Unlikely, he isn’t Barry Bonds.
He would be a great "draw" in 2023, but when he falls off, will he still put lots of butts in the seats?
How many years would he lead the Giants in HRs, 24 would lead this year? Bonds is the last to hit 30 or more in 2004.
Instead of Judge at $40M/year, for $60M could the Giants get 3 players, one to hit .290, one to hit 30 HRs, one to drive in 90 runs?
Judge is a Big Man, 6-7, 282lb, with an injury history. He's been fine this year, one IL trip last year, but missed a lot of time in 2018, 2019, & 2020.
BTW, Brandon Nimmo's health may be some better than Judge’s but not a lot. And he didn’t hit any of the above bench marks.