The Giants were shut out for the third consecutive game and in embarrassing fashion for the second game in row. The Padres scored an unearned run in the first inning and you pretty much knew the game was over then and there. Hard to say if the most embarrassing part was the apparent lack of effort and ineptudue on multiple plays or the glaringly obvious Grand Canyonesque talent gap. Key Lines:
Mason Black RHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 6.75. A reasonably solid start by Black might be the only encouraging line of the night. His ERA is 4.60 in 13.2 IP over 3 appearances since his call up 8/31. Black joins a stable of young pitchers who are in the mix for a role next season and could as least provide better depth next season or a platform for FZ to make a trade or two from a position of strength.
The Giants lineup managed just 5 scattered singles with 0 BB's. And why, pray tell, is Michael Conforto still getting PA's?
In fairness I should point out that both last night's Padres pitcher, Dylan Cease RHP and Joe Musgrove RHP are very good pitchers capable of shutting any team down and they were both coming off getting roughed up by the Giants in the last series so you had to suspect they would be extra focused for this series. Unfortunately even with Musgrove and Cease's talent accounted for, the overall talent gap in the rosters from top to bottom is obvious to even casual fans and it also does not excuse sloppy play or mental mistakes.
Brady Klopfer of McCovey Chronicles is generally quite restrained in his criticism of the organization but he saw the same game I saw last night and lashed out in a post late last night. If you have not read it yet, it's titled Giants Give You No Reason To Smile. I agree with 90% of what he's saying although I think the main reason for Bryce Eldridge's promotion is the AAA season lasts one week longer than AA and the Giants understandably want to maximize his PA's. .....and now I am seeing the title of tonight's game wrap by Sami Higgins and she is making Brady's rant look restrained by comparison.
Landon Roupp RHP tries to salvage a win in the series tomorrow and bolster his case for a roster spot next season facing Martin Perez LHP.
God bless him > Bryce Eldridge good for you!
ReplyDeleteShame on him > Farhan absolutely managing out of fear not confidence.
And yes stop putting Conforto in the lineup > just beyond painful.
Yes do bring Yaz back for the number 4 or 5 outfirlder > out of respect to his glove and his family name.
And /Greg Johnson start wearing your big boy pants and send Farhan on his way. Your not winning any fans over.
Richard in Winnipeg
i really don't like seeing the giants mailing it in again in september and i bet ownership isn't too happy right now. if this continues for the final two weeks, ownership may opt for a regime change this offseason.
ReplyDeleteThe recent revelation that FZ and Melvin's contracts are only guaranteed through next season suddenly makes it thinkable that ownership might be fed up enough to eat the one year. Today's revelation that ownership got frustrated with the slow pace of FZ's negotiations with Chapman and let Buster Posey take the lead could also be some writing on the wall.
DeleteWelcome back, Doc! We AND the Giants have missed you!
ReplyDeleteIn a slight defense of Melvin, with Fitzgerald out of the last 3 games (he had one AB in the first of the 3 shutouts), the Giants only have 4 players available batting above Chapmans .247 and only 8 above .230, hence diving to Conforto's .222 and a life preserver thrown to Walton, who kinda deserves at least a shot.
But Walton had to be given a 40-man spot which maybe Estrada deserved before him give that Thairo is H-O-T in Sacramento.
Do you think there was some talk between Melvin and his Boss about who should it be?
I think there are some very subtle clues in the way Melvin makes out the lineup cards that he and FZ are not completely on the same page.
DeleteMaybe they're shooting for a higher draft position next year. But yeah, they're so bad I don't even bother watching anymore. Just come here and check for daily updates instead.
ReplyDeleteI have stayed away from posting because I was just pushing my negativity on everybody....Still knowing it is a disaster of a team, and will continue to be under FZ, I tried to focus on individual glimmers of hope games like Fitz, Walker, Roup, Birdsong but even that is/was getting hard to do..
ReplyDeleteHaven't read Klopfer yet, but he beat me to it and I am sure I agree..Watching the past few games was like watching the worst team in baseball during spring training with old eroding or meh vets versus churn dumpster dives versus overmatched kids (the environment and managing hasn't helped them one bit).. it is pure criminal incompetence what FZ (and Melvin) has done to this team with his ego and horrendous off season and his failure at the deadline, including his assessment of the best rotation in baseball, when there surely was a glimmer of hope. And it is not just the team..it is the entire organization that is in a shambles...I have been praising ELDRIDGE all season and boy do we need him, but other than him, Velasquez and maybe one or two others, most of the organization has taken steps backwards to proving they will never be part of a solution. ANd FZ deserves to be back next year?? God help us...
All that said, Hoping for ROUP to continue his good pitching today.
SteveVA
So, can we agree that Conforto and Flores are both gone after this season? Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Estrada gone, as well.
ReplyDeleteI am on record on this blog as a Farhan defender. But he has been wearing my patience. I've found the smartest criticism from Rodger Munter of Giants Substack. Where Farhan's two blind spots seem to be their obsession over K/BB rates with their hitters creates a 1D offense -- and screws with the development of their prospects. Second, the churning of position player prospects rather than giving them a fair shake at the MLB level cannot be good for them -- I've been so frustrated with the way they treated Luciano, Matos, Fitz, and Ramos. They seem to expect them to not just kick down the front door, but blow it up.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to wonder if just a small tweak in direction like a Chiam Bloom might be a good alternative to Farhan who might be able to do a better job on the hitting side while maybe retaining a lot of the hiring and sabermetric processes/people that Farhan has put in place.
- Fan
Based on reporting of Buster Posey taking over the Chapman negotiations, I'm starting to think he may be angling to become the managing partner, sort of like Al Davis did with the Raiders.
DeleteThis is the type of leak/action that happens when a team is strongly considering a firing GM/PBO.
DeleteI love Buster Posey, but the track record of superstars who turn into great team operators is slim. I would hate for him to taint his legacy by getting too involved in team operations. He should use a very light touch. But he is an extremely smart person, and certainly has thought about this.
- Fan
Baggs tweeted that sources gave reasons why the Chapman' negotiation is not a referendum on FZ status with the Giants but Buster Posey being willing to be more influential in team operations. Well ill be looking for Baggs interview on a future knbr podcast, should be interesting, lol.
Delete