Newcomer Dominic Smith's 2-run double in the third inning gave the Giants a 3-2 lead. Robbie Ray and the bullpen hung on for the win. Key Lines:
Jung Hoo Lee CF- 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB R. BA= .276. Lee's ground rule double in the first inning went for naught but he scored after drawing a walk in the third.
Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4, SB(6), R. BA= .241. Chapman struck out with runners on 2'nd and 3'rd and 1 out in the first inning. He kept the line moving in the third with a bloop to load the bases and set up the winning rally in the 3'rd inning. His SB enabled him to score from 2B on Smith's ground rule double.
Dominic Smith 1B- 3 for 4, 2B. BA= .375. Smith followed Willy Adames SF and Chapman's SB with a ground rule double in the pivotal third ininng. He had 2 other hits in the game. He has a WAR of 1 for this game in my book. So in their first two games, newcomers Daniel Johnson and Dominic Smith took turns giving the lineup a much needed boost.
Robbie Ray LHP- 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 9 K's, Win(8-1). ERA= 2.44. Ray got touched early by a 2-run bomb by Manny Machado(no shame in that) but then buckled down and was sensational for the next 5 innings for another Quality Start and Win.
Randy Rodriguez RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 0.64. Not sure who was and wasn't available but Rodriguez pitched the 8'th inning after recording the 2-out Save last night.
Camilo Doval RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(8). ERA= 1.61. Juuust a bit of torture for old times sake but no problem, Papi. Doval got it closed out.
The Win salvages a split of the 4-game series and a markedly improved outlook from Tuesday's crushing loss.
The Giants start a weekend series with the Braves tomorrow evening with Hayden Birdsong RHP facing Spencer Schwellenbach RHP who comes in with a 3.13 ERA.
Several observations.
ReplyDelete1. The new signings have equaled two victories. Without their production, the Giants don't win those games. Either Buster, or whoever made these decisions to bring them in, looks really good, right now.
2. Right now, Ray has to be a front runner for Cy Young. Great pickup. And he only cost us a subpar pitcher, a subpar hitter, and a little patience.
Buster is the head guy so obviously deserves credit but Zach Minasian was head of pro scouting under FZ and the guy they brought in to replace Zach in that position from the Pirates is highly regarded. And it's just two games so we'll see how long it lasts.
DeleteDom Smith has a history of being really streaky. His swing is complicated and he has been really hot when locked in but also long spells of cold. I’m thinking similar to Brandon Belt but not as good.
DeleteIts a good idea not to get too pessimistic when things are going bad as well as too excited when things are going well. I like the two victories but I'm not going online to buy playoff tickets just yet. Also, Smith has a reputation of being really streaky so we should wait and see. Tim Kawakami feels that these moves are just the beginning of a series of moves and I think another fan favorite is on the bubble.
DeleteIf it's Yaz, I'll cry but also a corner OFer needs to bring the hammer and we need production from the offense-first defensive positions (1B, 3B, RF, LF).
DeleteMcCray may have a higher ceiling, but Meckler has hit since day 1. He's an avg and obp machine. Seems like he'd be the first OF called, no?
What on Earth gives folks the idea that Meckler is even on the Giants depth chart let alone first in line? Yes, he's put up some nice BA's with good ratios but that comes with almost no power, speed or projection. I'm just not seeing it, myself. And I'm not saying it's McCray either. If it was, he'd have played RF for the Giants the last two games and not Daniel Johnson.
DeleteI mean, what MiLB stop has even challenged Meckler so far, excluding the absence of power? OBP guys are important too!!
DeleteA .300 hitter would look pretty nice at the top of the lineup right now. Heliot Ramos' bat is meant to drive in runs, but he's the only guy with a decent avg who can get on base in the leadoff spot.
Absence of power is a pretty significant problem, no? When MLB pitchers figure out you have no power you get a steady diet of 4-seamers at the letters. Not saying he'll never get another chance but Meck hit .232 with a .250 SLG% in his only MLB experience in 2023. I just don't think he is high on any depth charts at this point.
DeleteMeckler does have some speed and some good get-on-base numbers that he showed in his 2023 rapid rise from A+ to AA to AAA and then to MLB when he got a 20-game look in which he did well in spurts and not so well more often.
DeleteMcCray had twice as many PAs (130) in 2024 than Meckler had in 2023 (64).
McCray has more power, more speed, and a better arm.
Meckler had better BA and OBP.
Meckler had a better dWAR, McCray had a better oWAR, both had a 0 WAR (all Baseball Reference).
The prior administration did neither a lot of good by rushing them into pressure situations and then dropping them.
It depends on what you want: on base or more pop.
Chapman and Lee have stepped up, too, which have been pleasant developments.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Robbie Ray! Offense still struggling but the best pitcher in the NL said, jut get me a few runs and i'll do the rest! Ray was a risk that scared me but has paid off big time with all the thanks to FZ who did do a few things right
ReplyDeleteI'll give these "new" Giants 5-10 games (Buster will probably give ta bit longer!!!) to see if things have or are changing but long term I don't see the answers..but perhaps that gets dealt with as early as the Deadline....Still, baby steps and the guys have helepd the 1st two games...SMith helped win the game yesterday (like Johnson the day before),.something Wade didn't do all year..so there is that....Hopefully the pitchers keep up their amazing work becasue they are what the team is about.....OH, and good to see CHAPMAN in one of his good streaks......Will we ever see that from Adames??
steveVA
I wonder if the Giants have kicked the tires on Ryan O'Hearn, 1B, of the Orioles. He will be a free agent next year, so it would be a one year rental, which would fit well with Bryce Eldridge plans.
ReplyDeleteO'Hearn currently has a .930 OPS with 9 HRs.
Baltimore is in last place in the AL East, so they may move him.
Let's keep a close eye on Dom Smith, and if he goes down the crapper, give Baltimore a call. Dom only had a .782 OPS with 8 Hrs at AAA this year. Those numbers are not outstanding. I followed Dom and he had good years in 2019 and 2020, but has been spotty since. I wish Dom well, but want to see a 1st baseman who is bashing the ball.
I am sure O'Hearn is on the Giants radar as they make their lists of potential trade deadline targets but he's on a lot of other radars too.
DeleteWow, Giants dodged a bullet when they were given the cold shoulder by Corbin Burnes who now is undergoing TJ surgery and will be out for the rest of this year and next year! Makes Verlander's injuries and wear seem so minor.....Wouldn't this weekend be a nice time for Adames to learn how to hit in SF?
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
Burnes' agent Scott Boras kicked the number of years in the contract up to eight years and insisted on opt-outs. Even if Burnes did not get the TJ surgery today, he might have had to get it a few years down the line or perhaps, be out of baseball by age 35 or 36. Boras might have been trying to play on Posey's inexperience as an executive. Buster wasn't having it.
DeleteThe opt out in the D'Backs contract comes after the 2026 season so highly doubtful Burnes will exercise it.
DeleteThat's the danger of the opt-out when it becomes an opt-IN. The player can opt-out if they play well but can opt-in if they are injured or ineffective. The Diamondbacks are on the hook for six years and there is the risk that Burnes might never throw a pitch again, most likely out the rest of 2025 and all of 2026.
DeleteLet's put it this way, you probably would not offer a 4 year contract to a pitcher who had not pitched in a game coming off TJ coming off TJ who had yet to pitch in a game. And yes, FZ took a similar gamble on Robbie Ray but he also unloaded some unwanted contracts in the process.
DeleteThe thing about opt-out/in contracts is that it builds in a lot of uncertainty into the deal and a lot of GMs would be reluctant to trade for those in midseason. For instance, Zaidi could not trade Rodon or Snell because they are big injury risks even when they are not hurt and would opt in if injured. Opt ins carry future risks and uncertainty could potentially affect making other deals.
Delete