WAtched the game early on, then caught the dots on mlb.com in the last inning.
Maddy looked good. Giants went up 1-0 on a Fontenot double after a Posey lead off double int he 2nd (it should be noted that Poset hit a lead off double, and 2 outs later Fontenot hit his RBI double).
After that I knew Maddy had the game and only cast glances towards the game and score.
Weezy made it interesting by comign in with 2 outs, one on, and walked the next 2 guys. But, you know, while it makes me uncomforatable, I don't see these things as warning signs. Mattingly, Dodgers skipper, threw two lefties @ Weezy (which he walked) and Weeze got the 3rd out on righty Jamie Carroll. He akways does that.
Of course, Carroll hit a laser to right that Schierholtz only caught because he was playing shallow, but still.
Quietly, Miguel Tejada is pulling his average up. Perhaps he's turning, but he's still on my list.
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Showing posts with label fontenot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fontenot. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Game 41: Unreasonable, Giants lose 5-3
The Giants were swept in their 2 game set @ Colorado.
It is unreasonable to expect their pitchers to go out every start and protect a 3-run offensive output. Even the best pitchers need a spell. When your lead is always no more than 2 or 3, even one runner on base creates a high-stress situation. Eventually, that will wear on a guy.
Whereas a pitcher with 2 Cy Young awards (Timmy) or perhaps a pitcher that is regularly deified for his professional ethic and for carrying a subpar staff for the few years before it became sublime (Cain) probably can deal with such games with a plum. Those pitchers that are more emotionally fragile due to temperament (Sanchez), immaturity or inexperience (Bumgarner and maybe Vogelsong), or consistent scrutiny and criticism (Zito) are more apt to eventually collapse like a house of cards.
Without run support, this fantastic pitching staff is liable to fail and leave or fail and never recover.
On freaking notice:
It is unreasonable to expect their pitchers to go out every start and protect a 3-run offensive output. Even the best pitchers need a spell. When your lead is always no more than 2 or 3, even one runner on base creates a high-stress situation. Eventually, that will wear on a guy.
Whereas a pitcher with 2 Cy Young awards (Timmy) or perhaps a pitcher that is regularly deified for his professional ethic and for carrying a subpar staff for the few years before it became sublime (Cain) probably can deal with such games with a plum. Those pitchers that are more emotionally fragile due to temperament (Sanchez), immaturity or inexperience (Bumgarner and maybe Vogelsong), or consistent scrutiny and criticism (Zito) are more apt to eventually collapse like a house of cards.
Without run support, this fantastic pitching staff is liable to fail and leave or fail and never recover.
On freaking notice:
- Mark DeRosa (DFA today)
- Miguel Tejada (DFA today)
- Mike Fontenot (cannot be a regular starter)
- Power outage (Pablo Sandoval still has the team lead in HR's, despite missing the last 3 weeks w/ injury)
- Dan Runzler (AAA if he has options)
- Jeremy Affeldt (less of a role, please)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Games 32, 33, and 34: Giants sweep Rockies, suddenly back in it
I admit it, by Friday I had lost a little hope. and, as I was unable to watch the game, I kept checking the score from my cellphone and I saw
COL 2 - 0 SF B7
And I said to myself -- welp, another one bites the dust.
But some late game heroics, spurred on by the Giants' faithful, and the Giants won Friday night.
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Saturday, I missed too: not much reason except that it was Mother's Day Eve and I had to go to the store, besdies that I needed a weekend because I get really amped up when the Giants lose early and I sort of need to ease into it.
Fontenot's kicking butt, and a nice bit of situational hitting gave the Giants the walk off win. Situational hitting is what the Giants are in desperate need of, Rowand had been the only one lighting the way, but he's coming back down to Earth. Luckily little Mikey's picking it up.
We need Torres back. I appreciate what Rowand has been doing, but he can't keep it up. In fact, history suggests he's one or two diving catches from a 30 game holiday on the inactive list.
Still, the boys amped it up, and the crowd is giving back.
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I listened to most of Mother's Day's game ont he radio while doing manly chores for the very pregnant woman in my life.
Vogelsong had it on, and Cody Ross looks to be coming out of the dregs. Just int eh nick of time. Rossi gave them an RBI single to break the scoreless tie (against Giant-killer Jorge De la Rosa), and then went big donk donk roll a rock that put them up 3-0.
I thought Vogelsong was going to scratch no-no, but he fouled one off his leg or something in his 5th inning AB, and I had a feelign that'd break it up when he went out for the 6th.
And it did, but who cares -- the guy looked great. Got a little tired there at the end, but the energized bullpen picked them up.
Suddenly, out of the 22 of 31 road game block, the Giants are only a gam out of 1st place. And are 5-1 vs the Rocks.
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COL 2 - 0 SF B7
And I said to myself -- welp, another one bites the dust.
But some late game heroics, spurred on by the Giants' faithful, and the Giants won Friday night.
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Saturday, I missed too: not much reason except that it was Mother's Day Eve and I had to go to the store, besdies that I needed a weekend because I get really amped up when the Giants lose early and I sort of need to ease into it.
Fontenot's kicking butt, and a nice bit of situational hitting gave the Giants the walk off win. Situational hitting is what the Giants are in desperate need of, Rowand had been the only one lighting the way, but he's coming back down to Earth. Luckily little Mikey's picking it up.
We need Torres back. I appreciate what Rowand has been doing, but he can't keep it up. In fact, history suggests he's one or two diving catches from a 30 game holiday on the inactive list.
Still, the boys amped it up, and the crowd is giving back.
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I listened to most of Mother's Day's game ont he radio while doing manly chores for the very pregnant woman in my life.
Vogelsong had it on, and Cody Ross looks to be coming out of the dregs. Just int eh nick of time. Rossi gave them an RBI single to break the scoreless tie (against Giant-killer Jorge De la Rosa), and then went big donk donk roll a rock that put them up 3-0.
I thought Vogelsong was going to scratch no-no, but he fouled one off his leg or something in his 5th inning AB, and I had a feelign that'd break it up when he went out for the 6th.
And it did, but who cares -- the guy looked great. Got a little tired there at the end, but the energized bullpen picked them up.
Suddenly, out of the 22 of 31 road game block, the Giants are only a gam out of 1st place. And are 5-1 vs the Rocks.
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Game 31: Giants lose final game of roadie because Jonathan Sanchez fails to throw a strike, 5-2
[game occured 5/5]
So I watched the dots a bit at work, and listened a bit around the 4th inning-ish.
Sanchie, 2 quick outs, walks the 8th batter, then walks the pitcher, and gives up a 2 run triple to future Giant Jose Reyes. That was it. Same old story, Giants tried to mount a comeback, couldn't get anyone in (luckily, with bases loaded and 1 out in 9th, Miggy just struck out rather than GIDP'd -- but 2 double plays on the game took care of much of it).
2 for 10 with RISP, one was a single from Jonathan Sanchez, the other didn't score a run.
Fontenot went yard.
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So I watched the dots a bit at work, and listened a bit around the 4th inning-ish.
Sanchie, 2 quick outs, walks the 8th batter, then walks the pitcher, and gives up a 2 run triple to future Giant Jose Reyes. That was it. Same old story, Giants tried to mount a comeback, couldn't get anyone in (luckily, with bases loaded and 1 out in 9th, Miggy just struck out rather than GIDP'd -- but 2 double plays on the game took care of much of it).
2 for 10 with RISP, one was a single from Jonathan Sanchez, the other didn't score a run.
Fontenot went yard.
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Thursday, April 21, 2011
Upcoming: 3 vs Atlanta
The 2010 NLDS's first rematch will happen in San Francisco as the Braves head west for a 3 game weekend series.
Last year, the Braves were the team I afeared going into October. For good reason. Aside from the help of a subpar defenseman in the middle of the diamond, that series could have been vastly different than what we ended up with.
The Braves haven't been exactly setting the world on fire out of the gate, which I sort of expected considering that Bobby Cox is not at the helm. Cox was outstanding at not only evaluating talent, but figuring out how it fit in to whatever he was doing. His lineups and his in-game management probably gave the Braves an extra 10-15 wins every year.
This year, so far, they're 8-11, 4-6 away from home. Their catcher, McCann, is still their best hitter: which means they are having issues. But their best pitcher just got off the DL and he's going tonight, which means the Giants won't have to face him this weekend.
Game 1, the Giants skip over DL'd pitcher Z's spot in the ro-ro and go right to Bumgarner against Tommy Hanson. Hanson hasn't given up more than 3 runs in any start, but he still will come in with a 1-3 record: and that one win was his last start. Historically, against the Giants, he's been very good.
Conversely, Maddy has been scuffling a bit lately. However, in his last start, the D-Backs tuched him up early, but when the Giants came back and took the lead, Maddy suddlenly pitched very good. PErhaps he's shaking the April butterflies. Either way, the Giants will have to score early and give Maddy a bit of breath. I'd like to see Code-Man get a batting average (he's 0 for 4) and I hope Panda Bear's back.
Game 2 may have the makings of a very good game. Lincecum vs Tim Hudson. Hudson has always pitched well against the Giants, but Timmy is -- well you know. The key will be to make Huddy throw a lot of pitches, work the count, get as much as you can, and se eif you can get him out by the 5th or 6th. Timmy will just have to pitch well. Considering that the Braves are hitting in the .230's as a team: that shouldn't be difficult.
This should be the game that Bochy rests some guys in lieu of a fella or two who can work a count. Schierholtz would be a good option, and Fontenot always gives good at bats, even if they don't always end well.
Game 3 will be Brandon Beachy against Jonathan Sanchez, this week coined as the moody artists of the Giants by Brian Murphy.
Sanchez has been great, and last year was wonderful against the Braves. And while Beachy is another one of those high-losses vs low-ERA guys, the Giants have a knack for turning those guys' ERAs inside out (see D-Backs series).
So, for this upcoming series, and mini-homestand, the Giants should get 2 out of 3. I'd expect Sanchie to win his game, and more than likely Timmy. That makes Maddy's game (game 1) the gravy game.
Last year, the Braves were the team I afeared going into October. For good reason. Aside from the help of a subpar defenseman in the middle of the diamond, that series could have been vastly different than what we ended up with.
The Braves haven't been exactly setting the world on fire out of the gate, which I sort of expected considering that Bobby Cox is not at the helm. Cox was outstanding at not only evaluating talent, but figuring out how it fit in to whatever he was doing. His lineups and his in-game management probably gave the Braves an extra 10-15 wins every year.
This year, so far, they're 8-11, 4-6 away from home. Their catcher, McCann, is still their best hitter: which means they are having issues. But their best pitcher just got off the DL and he's going tonight, which means the Giants won't have to face him this weekend.
Game 1, the Giants skip over DL'd pitcher Z's spot in the ro-ro and go right to Bumgarner against Tommy Hanson. Hanson hasn't given up more than 3 runs in any start, but he still will come in with a 1-3 record: and that one win was his last start. Historically, against the Giants, he's been very good.
Conversely, Maddy has been scuffling a bit lately. However, in his last start, the D-Backs tuched him up early, but when the Giants came back and took the lead, Maddy suddlenly pitched very good. PErhaps he's shaking the April butterflies. Either way, the Giants will have to score early and give Maddy a bit of breath. I'd like to see Code-Man get a batting average (he's 0 for 4) and I hope Panda Bear's back.
Game 2 may have the makings of a very good game. Lincecum vs Tim Hudson. Hudson has always pitched well against the Giants, but Timmy is -- well you know. The key will be to make Huddy throw a lot of pitches, work the count, get as much as you can, and se eif you can get him out by the 5th or 6th. Timmy will just have to pitch well. Considering that the Braves are hitting in the .230's as a team: that shouldn't be difficult.
This should be the game that Bochy rests some guys in lieu of a fella or two who can work a count. Schierholtz would be a good option, and Fontenot always gives good at bats, even if they don't always end well.
Game 3 will be Brandon Beachy against Jonathan Sanchez, this week coined as the moody artists of the Giants by Brian Murphy.
Sanchez has been great, and last year was wonderful against the Braves. And while Beachy is another one of those high-losses vs low-ERA guys, the Giants have a knack for turning those guys' ERAs inside out (see D-Backs series).
So, for this upcoming series, and mini-homestand, the Giants should get 2 out of 3. I'd expect Sanchie to win his game, and more than likely Timmy. That makes Maddy's game (game 1) the gravy game.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Game 9: Throw away game allows Cards to get out of SF with one win, 6-1
Giants started their B-teamers (Fontenot, Schierholtz, Whiteside).
Still a bit concerned that Torres is hurt, didn't check the status update since the game started, but it's not thought to be a tear only a strain of the Achilles tendon. Not sure how much time that means.
Zito cruised with no support until the 7th. I think 6 innings should be his cap, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is going to say this in the next 5 days.
Dodgers in town tomorrow, Giants are 4-5. 2 out of 3 (as revenge) has to be the goal, and a win tomorrow makes the Giants 5-5 after 10 games. I'd be ok with that.
Still a bit concerned that Torres is hurt, didn't check the status update since the game started, but it's not thought to be a tear only a strain of the Achilles tendon. Not sure how much time that means.
Zito cruised with no support until the 7th. I think 6 innings should be his cap, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is going to say this in the next 5 days.
Dodgers in town tomorrow, Giants are 4-5. 2 out of 3 (as revenge) has to be the goal, and a win tomorrow makes the Giants 5-5 after 10 games. I'd be ok with that.
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