Jordan Hicks had what has become a typical Jordan Hicks start and Chris Sale LHP and three Braves relievers were just too much for the Giants lineup in a loss that wasn't as close as the score looks. Key Lines:
Jordan Hicks RHP- 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 3.47. Hicks was strong through 4 innings but faded in the 5'th. Maybe once the cavalry arrives after the All-Star Break, Melvin can use Hicks in more of a long-opener role where the plan is for him to only go 3 or 4 innings? That would keep him in a starting role but limit his innings as he gets into uncharted territory for him.
Sean Hjelle RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's. ERA= 3.38. Melvin must really like Hjelle as he seems to have a lot longer leash than some other pitchers. Nice bounce back from a disaster extra-inning loss against the Dodgers.
The Loss leaves the Giants 3 games behind in the Wild Card race.
Two keys for today: Webb at the top of his game and Giants getting to Morton early.
ReplyDeleteThe 3 RHBs that SF platooned were all hitless (0-8), nor did their LHBs fare better in single ABs (0-3) with no game rhythm built in (all entered game in 8th, 2 were PH).
There was almost a rally in the 8th with Sale hitting 100 pitches after Soler led off with a double. Two batters only moved Soler to 3rd before Chapman got the 2nd double of the inning.
Opportunity was there in Sale's final inning but Slater, Ramos, and Matos failed to plate runners in scoring position: woulda, coulda, shoulda.
There was one more highlight: Casali threw out an attempted steal while the runner on 3rd was frozen. He also got a hit while 8 Giants went hitless...
Around the Foghorn reports that the Giants claim left-handed reliever Kolton Ingram in a waiver claim from the St. Louis Cardinals and assigned him to Richmond making him close by for 5 games nearby in Atlanta and Cleveland. He will return to Sacramento to get stretched out as a starter.
ReplyDeletei think hicks could slide to long relief when the rotation is at full strength. i'd like to see him develop some more offspeed stuff.
ReplyDeleteHicks did have a very strong season start, but has been difficult for him to get through more than 5 lately.
DeleteHe still compares favorably to Harrison for the season.
Even with Snell, Ray, and Cobb potentially coming onboard, they still need a 5th Starter: should it be Hicks, Harrison, Bivens, or Birdsong?
For what it’s worth, Fangraphs gives the Giants a 24.9% chance of making the playoffs as of today. We have some difficult series coming up with Cleveland, Minnesota, and LA with Toronto and the Rockies in between. 16 games or so over the next 2+ weeks where we realistically need to win 3 out of every 4 to have a shot. Trade deadline is days after that so I’m thinking we should know by then if the Giants stand a chance.
ReplyDeleteThat makes these games the most important games of the season and there are 3 likely outcomes. Giants lose more than they win and they are basically out of the race by the deadline in which case they should sell anything they can including Doval, Snell, Ray, and even Webb.
Second scenario is they win enough to get over .500 or better in which case they need to push all their chips in and buy a bat or two and maybe another arm. Might I suggest Vlad and Bo for basically anything Toronto wants from our farm? I love Lamonte but Vlad would be a huge upgrade and we desperately need a solid SS. Yes it will take Luciano, Eldridge, Birdsong and probably Whisenhunt plus maybe more but it would be worth it in my opinion.
Last scenario is we are right where we are now just under .500 in which case I am torn on whether we should go all in knowing pitchers are coming back or tank knowing this team is and always will be nothing more than a .500 team and the only way to change that is to rebuild.
I do like this potential lineup and rotation for the last 2 months of the season:
Soler DH
Bichette SS
Vlad 1B
Ramos CF
Bailey C
Chapman 3B
Conforto/Matos/Wade LF
Matos/Yaz/Wade RF
Wisely/Thairo 2B
Webb
Snell
Ray
Hicks and Hjelle
Harrison/Cobb
I'm not really seeing how Vlad is an upgrade on LMWJ at all let alone a "huge" upgrade.
DeleteAnonymousJuly 4, 2024 at 8:23 PM
DeleteIf the Giants "realistically need to win 3 out of every 4 to have a shot" that isn't going to happen!
There are 20 games left until the end of July: 10 are with much lesser teams, and 10 are with better teams.
The SP may well be stabilized by then.
11-9 is possible which would put them at .500 at the trading deadline, with Oakland, Cincinnati, Washington, and Detroit to play for 20 games. That looks good with a set rotation, doesn't it?
After 4 at home with Atlanta, there are another 5 soft games with Oakland and the CWS.
Doing nothing foolish with trades will give them a shot but they will have to play better than .500 ball for the final 33 games with only Miami being "soft."
If they do that, they will be a playoff team. They have to finish strong, but that's why they got Melvin and the good pitching late, isn't it?
ReplyDelete
These kinds of calculations drive me crazy. The Giants remain 3 games behind in the Wild Card race so they are still in it, but they have ground to make up and to do that they almost certainly have to play better than .500 ball the rest of the way. They definitely need to keep winning series and they probably need at least one signifcant win streak. Beyond that I think it's silly to try to map out the future because you never know. Other teams may make deadline acquisitions. The Giants might make deadline acquisitions. There may be more injuries. Barring further injuries the Giants starting rotation should be significantly upgraded soon from within. Will that be enough? It would be nice to acquire an upgrade at SS and at least one OF. In the meantime I'm happy to take it one day at a time and root for them one game at a time and one series at a time.
DeleteEven Baggardly is doing it!
Deletehttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5617680/2024/07/05/logan-webb-giants-series-win-atlanta/