Crunch Time

Welp, after an epic slide combined with an epic win streak - -the Giants find themselves 6 back of the damn D-Backs at the start of September.

Rowand and Miggy were DFA'd yesterday (thank God), the Bat (injury) and Brett Pill (AAA) were activated, and today rosters expand.

The Boys start a 3 game weekend series with the first place D-Backs at China Basin tomorrow.  They've got 6 v the Rattlers in the final 22 games.  I think they've got to win 5 out of 6 and 18 or 19 of 22 to have a shot at the division.

In lieu of a playoff/rally beard: this year I am homaging the great Barry Zito #75 and Tim Lincecum #55 in all of their post-World Series/pre-Season-of-Defense glory and I will do a rally/playoff mustache.  I shaved this morning, and I will grow the push broom out until mathematical elimination of championship repeat.

One month review: Outfielders

There are only 3 left fielders with more errors than Pat Burrell (2), and none of them play in the National League.  But  Burrell is the only outfielder on the Giants with an error .

Defensively, the Giants outfielders are great (especially now that Huff is back in the infield [phew!])

Batting: Burrell is living up to his rep all home run and strikeout: but all of his ding dongs are solo shots.  So he's gota low RBI total, also means he's probably striking out with guys on.  He started in the .100's but lately has climbed back up to the mid-.200's, plus he's leading the club in bases on balls.

Torres went down early and that hurt, but Aaron Rowand has really stepped up.  When it counts, he gets on base. 

Cody Ross is off the DL and totally underwhelming.  Totally!  But let's not forget that he's not a NL MVP, he's an NLCS MVP -- over the course of 6 games in October he was good, but going into post, he was average.  In fact, there was talk of leaving him off the team in favor of De Jesus.

He's at 33 A Bs and still under.200, if he doesn't turn it around like by the end of this Washington series, I'd hook him inf avor of Nate the Great, who seems awfully comfy these days.

Darren Ford's up, and with DeRo on the DL, Panda on the DL, he might stay up a while.  Gothis first ML Hit today.

Burrell:
My calls: .265/35/95, 550 AB, < 120 Ks (batting 5th)
Actuals: .247/5/8, 10 runs, 10 BB ; .348 OBP (primarily bats 6th)

Torres
My calls: .280 and with several doubles and triples ; .280/12/60, 25 SB, 90 R, 2 Errors (batting 1st)
Actuals: .286/0/0, 1 SB, 0 errors, 8 games ; DL (bats 1st) ;

Rowand
Actuals: .294/1/8, 1 SB, 23 games out of 26 ; .333  OBP (batting 1st)

Cody Ross
My Calls: 270 BA with 15 HRs, 60 runs, and 15 SBs ;
Actuals: .182/0/1, 0 SB, 9 games out of 26; primarily bats 7th

Nate Schierholtz
Actuals: .278/1/3, .444 SLG, 21 games, 36 AB

Upcoming: 3 @ Pittsburgh

The Giants need to get off of the hump.

Sounds like the perfect time for 3 games against Pittsburgh.

Of course, SF is notorious for dropping series in Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh can finish a season 2-160, those 2 wins would be against the Giants in Pittsburgh.

Timmy and Cainer are pitching games 1 and 3 and are going up against the Pirates best pitchers, Charlie Morton and Jeff Karstens repetitively.  These are Pitt's only 2-game winners and they both have ERAs under 4.  Morton's got a lifetime ERA close to 6, so he's due to start climbing upwards.  And Karstens has a lifetime around 5, so the same can be said for him.

The key will be to get them out early.  If Huffy can start hitting, then some of Panda Bear's, Buster's, and PAt the Bat's ding dongs might be worth more than one run.


Maddy's pitching in the 2nd game.  There's no better person ffor him to face in his funk than James McDonald, who is 0-2 with an ERA somewhere around Pluto.  Maddy needs to pitch with the lead, it seems to be where he finds strength.  Hopefully the Giants can give him a big first inning and let him cruise. 

Because Vogelsong is now in the ro-ro, he's probably not available to go relief.  This series will be important to keep the bullpen fresh.  Hopefully Bumgarner can go 6 with very little drama.

My expectation is a sweep.  But I'll settle for 2 out of 3, with one of those 2 being a Maddy Bumgarnny winny.

Games19/20/21: Giants overmatched by Braves in 3 game home series; swept

Easter weekend, didn't get a chance to check in very often.

Friday's game, Maddy let it get out of hand early and once again the Giants had no ideas against Tommy Hanson.  Bumgarner gives up 4 in less than 3, walks 2 in the process.  The Giants mounted no ressure against the back end of the Braves' bullpen.  Giants lost 4-1.

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Saturday's game, I only heard the first few innings on the radio, but Timmy went 3-1 to maybe every batter I heard him face.  Sometimes, either because of some umps or because of his stuff, Timmy's pitches don't hit their mark.  I think the book on him is take pitches and hope that he doesn't get the calls.  Still, he went 6.1 and left with only 3 runs on the board (Lopez let a couple other score).

Huddy was as good as he always is, pitched 8.2 strong and it only took him 113 pitches to get that far.  Cody Ross got a batting average with a 2 for 4 day and an RBI.  Pat the Bat went 3 for 4 and scored both runs that the Boys posted.  Giants lost 5-2

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Sunday's game was a good one until the Giants lost.  Sanchie gave up 2 early, but Buster tied it up with a ding dong in 4th.  Then it got weird.

In the top of the 7th, Affeltd gave a 3 run jerk to Heyward (who woke up this series going 7 for 12), but the Giants rallied for 4 (the go ahead 2 off of a Rowand double) to go up 6-5.

In the top of 8, Romo threw a snapper that didn't snap to Uggla and the Braves tied it up with one swing.

Weezy came in for the 9th to hold the tie, but in the 10th, loaded the bases quickly.  Still, he got through 2 guys, and, though throwing 3 straight balls to Nate McClouth, got him to 3-2.  but McClouth punched a fast ball up the middle and that's all she wrote.

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Postivies: only 2 double plays, both vs Huddy (which you'd expect), also Panda Bear's still hitting well and Pat the Bat seems to be climbing out of the Bingo batting average territory (in fact, he's at .270).

The Giants are 0-4 without Brandon Belt

Game 16: Lincecum dazzles, Shierholtz hits a ball to "Kansas", Giants win opener 8-1

Timmy goes no-no into the 7th.  He struck out 10.

Huff his a double in the first that scored Fred, Buster strikes out, then Rock pitcher Esmil Rogers walks Panda Bear to get to Pat the Bat.

We all know what's coming right?  Pat the Bat smacks a ding dong.  No surprise.  But then Nate the Great comes up and emphatically hits a ball into the 3rd deck of Coors' Field.  Bondsian in distance, magnitude, and sheer just-for-the-helluvitness.

Jon Miller said it was out towards Kansas.

My father-in-law came into town, and I feared that I had to watch a no-no out the corner of my eye.  Timmy sounded good.  I saw one inning (the 5th) and he look fabulous, making Tulowitski (Eater of mortals, shirker from Gods) look silly on low snapper that struck him out.

In fact, Timmy finished with 10 punchouts.

Schierholtz went 3 for 4 and really demanded time in the starting lineup for the time being.  I'd be surprised if we see Belt play much more in this first half of the season.

Oh well, send him down to Fresno and let him get his batting average back.

Game 10: Kershaw dominates, Bumgarner flounders, Giants play like shit

It's only the 7th, but the Giants are playing like shit. 

Not a whole lot that they could do against Clayton Kershaw tonight, though.  Currently it's 6-0 and the way the Dodgers are hitting (one single after another single), it could go higher.  The Giants won't get anything going unless Kershaw gets out of the game.

Miggy's leading off, not in love with that -- especially considering the terrible terrible game that he had on opening day against this same pitcher.

Aaron Rowand is hell off the bench, but he is the shits int he lineup.  His one tiny little glimmery streak of quality at bats came over the course of about 40 games when he was leading off.  If he's got to be in the lineup: LEAD HIM OFF!

Burrell got dined twice for errors.  He looked like he was doing damn jumping jacks when he misplayed a shoulda-been base hit that turned into an olé triple.

Nobody hit the ball well tonight.  Someone who needs a hit is Brandon Belt.  O'fer tonight as of the B7th, he's sitting right on .147.  When Ross comes back, I wouldn't have a problem dropping Belt for a few weeks to Fresno and letting him find a swing.

He's grinding right now, so much that he doesn't even work counts anymore.  And he's noticeably suckered on every single snapper and hook that he sees.

Only one double play, of course they only had 2 rallies.  One killed by a Fred SAnchez double play, the other killed by a  Brandon Belt strike out.

Giants Pregame: 4-11-11 vs Dodgers

Game 1 of the first Dodgers @ SF series will be the Giants gravy game in the series.

Gravy Game: A game where the edge might be nudged against your team for various reasons, so if you lose, well, that might be int he cards.  But if you win: that's gravy.

Clayton Kershaw looked like damn Doc Gooden (pre-crack) on opening day vs the Giants.  His next start vs the rockies showed that he's fallible, at least on the road, as he took the loss giving up 3 runs in 6 IP (off of 2 homers).  But he still got 8 Ks.

The Giants, to win tonight, need a few things working for them:

1. Madison Bumgarner has to rebound off of a sloppy first start on Tuesday vs the Padres.  Kershaw is not going to give up a lot of runs, at least you can't expect him to, so Maddy's got to get rid of walks and he's got to play crisply.  I think he was a little nervous off of his first start -- Padres' home opener, 1st start of the season -- hopefully now his eyes are not so wide, and hopefully the lack of pageantry will keep him calm.
2. Double freaking Plays are absolutely killing the Giants.  9 double plays in 9 games is something that needs to be addressed and quickly. 
3. The Giants have left 73 runners on base in 9 games, which averages out to about 8.5 runners per game.  Their walk-off win on Saturday night, they left 17 runners on base.  In games as tight as they have been playing, situational hitting is so very important.  Some of their main guys are taking a bit to get going (Huff, Posey, Burrell has double play-itis, and Belt should be producing more).  They need more RBI's.
4. Brian Wilson -- he's not been right since coming off the DL.  It's time for him to step up again and be the crazy, unhittable bastard that we and he know he can be.

Upcoming: 3 vs LA @ SF

Goal: 2 out of 3

Game 2 of the series is Timmy vs Billingsley which should slide in Lincecum's favor.  That means the other 2 are the rubber matches.

Game 1 offers Maddy a chance to get back on the horse after a less-than-stellar 1st start vs the Padres.  He's going against Giant-killer Clayton Kershaw, though, so Maddy's got to pitch for a 2-1 win.  I'd call this one the gravy game (meaning if they can take game 1, so much the better, but if they drop it, games 2 and 3 are easier to win anyway).

Game 3 will be Sanchez vs Lilly.  Considering that the home team tends to have a major advantage in the rivalry, and Sanchez is nails at home: this should be the Giants' game to win.

If they can score the runs.

Double plays kill rallies and the Giants have been shooting their rallies in the head regularly.  Torres still out indefinitely, but Posey and Burrell should be back in.  These guys are due.

Fred Sanchez, Miggy, and Panda Bear have been lighting it up.  Hopefully they can get a bit more help throughout.

Game 7: That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, Giants win in extras 5-4

Dude, 4:28 I thought the last batter was coming to the plate.  I thought I'd be able to leave work as soon as this last guy gets out and Giants would win 3-2.

Of course, Brian Wilson was pitching.  And he really tries to make things exciting.

2 runs scored, Cards primed to win 4-3.  2 quick outs in the bottom of the ninth and defensive sub Aaron Rowand (playing left field!) coming up.

Rowand singles, gets to second on a wild pitch, and Panda Bear knocks him in with a base hit.

PANDA freeeeking BEAR!

Larussa pulled some tricky crap in the 11th: 5 infielders.  And a lead off Torres double turned into a really weird inning.  Torres got out in a rundown, Larussa walked bases loaded, and DeRosa gets called out on what seemed to be a suspact call.

Meanwhile the bullpen is seriously shutting down Pujols and them.  Javi Lopez did a very decent job shutting down these guys.

Bottom 12, Giants load the bases (Pujols error started it) and Rowand smacks a ball off the fence to finish the game.

Extra innings are the best, aren't they?  They totally wash away the sins of the regulation period.  After all, we forget that Sanchie had some decent stuff, but walked too many early on and was at 94 pitches after 5 innings.

Burrell and Buster hit into double plays, but at least Burrell went yard.

I hate double plays.  They kill like three innings.  Even a home run doesn't wipe away a double play (maybe a 3 run homer, but Pat the Bat only hit a solo shot).  Burrell made a *ahem* nice play (tumbling over like a water buffalo) on the warning track.

SEVENTEEN RUNNERS LEFT ON BASE!  4 for 18 WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION.

You have got to do better than that.  They should've been up by 7.  So, once again they come close to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  And this time, it's the B-team that keeps them in line (that's 2 out of their 3 wins that belong to the B-team).

I like it; it's exciting baseball.  Not particularly good baseball, but exciting baseball.

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Game 6: Buster goes womp ass and the Giants save a split with the Padres, 8-4

B-Weezy made a debut, went 25-ish pitches and (with a little help from Jeremy Affeldt) turned a route into a save situation.

That's all right, in an 8-1 game, one can accept a little imperfection.

It was the path to the ninth inning that shone brightly today.  Buster was 3-5, 4 RBI's and a ding dong.  Timmy threw 7 with 13 K's and only allowed 3 hits.

Huffy also came out of his shell a bit, going 3-5 with 3 RBI's and a couple doubles.

All in all, the fellas that we want to see hit hit.

Burrell was o'fer in 3 AB's, that included a K and double play.  Tejada hit into the Giants' other double play.

I hate double plays, especially early in the game, more than anything.  That is something that needs to be fixed, it was the most torturous thing about last season.

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A bit of a screwjie

I was in the car listening to much of the 3 innings that Maddy pitched --Jon Miller intoned that he was getting squeezed whereas umpire Marvin Hudson was calling a little more liberally for Aaron Harang's outside-black pitches.

pffft Aaron Harang

Big ups to Guillermo "My name means Weed" Mota and Ramon Ramirez.  There is absolutely no excuse for not scoring at least 3 runs v Harang, and these guys combined to pitch well enough to get wins.

Burrell is getting a bit frustrating.  Might be a good idea to sit him in the big parks or when a good bull pen kicks in.

Fielding Question Marks

Huffy looks lost in right field. 

I mean, let's not beat around the bush -- it seems that in the Giants infinite quest for decent hitting, they've found themselves a little overrun by decent hitters and a little under run by decent fielders.

All due respect to Pat the Bat -- whom, BTW, I totally like and don't want to lose because he's our Adam Dunn -- the Giants could have saved themselves a little heart ache (and a lot of head ache) by cutting him loose in the off season and going with Belt and/or Huffy in left field.

But, again, Pat the Bat was one of three offensive bright spots in the first weekend of play (the other 2 being Panda Bear and Belt -- oh what the hell, let's say Rowand who went 3 for 6 with a ding dong and 2 runs), and we truly do need a guy smoking Marb Lights and drinking Bud Light in the dugout.

The John Daly of the Giants, if you will.

That still leaves the problem of Huffy.  OK, so, when Ross comes back, one might say we'll just put Huffy in a more "natural" position (left field) and sit the Bat. 

Well, I don't like that one bit -- you have to give Burrell 500 ABs.  That's all there is to it.  He's got to be your cleaner-upper and non-regular at bats will pretty much make him useless.

Unless you trade him.  If the Giants can move Burrell, that'll be the only logical solution -- assuming Belt plays well enough to stay in the lineup.  He only makes $1M, he's only signed for a year, it would take out thump, but if there are a couple power-hitters from AA coming to our side in the deal, that'd be just fine.

But to keep Burrell on the bench, just to bring him up in the 7th inning with the game on the line, like Giambi in Colorado, is a waste of assets and opportunities.  Burrell is still a young man, he does actually play left field competently and he's got a lot more to offer. 

So, again, what about Huffy?  I'm told Belt plays left field, can he play right?  Huffy plays first well enough, he can pick he can stretch -- ok he's right handed -- but better to have a right handed 1B than a right fielder who dives after low liners that should be singles and go for triples (I mean, Jamey Carroll?  Really?)

2 games in San Diego is not going to make matters any easier for Huff: 2 3:30 starts will beam the sun directly into his right eye, and that stubby corner could mess with him something awful.

Of course we're early, and he can accustom himself to the irregularites of his new position.  He's probably got at least 10 more games pout there.

Good points, Bad points

Without beating a dead horse, and after digesting a bit, here's some of my major points of discussion from Game 1.

• Lincecum pitched well.  And it was nice to see him take a piece of Uribe with him.  Listen, 1 unearned run, 5 h, 3 BB and 5 k's in 7 is a decent game.  He was humping the ball into 94-95 territory, and he is notoriously terrible in adrenaline games.  Except Game 5 on 11/1 and now we can add 2011 opening day.
• Tejada -- o'fer with an error -- not going to cut it bro, you best pick it up.
• Burrell ding dong was nice, but he fouled out with a runner on in one pitch with a runne ron int he 6th.  Would like to see him execise patience, but nothing breaks a 5 month-long slump like going yard.
• I heard today from John Shea on Twitter:
  

  Stat o' the night: Dodgers threw 135 pitches, 29 to Belt. That's 21 percent to one guy. Great plate discipline by the kid.

  
  Absolutely flabbergasted.  Belt's got much need discipline in an unruly lineup and he's got poise in the field.  BTW, this was his first game in a very hostile environment.
• Andres Torres, epic 12 pitch AB.  Apparently he swung at a pitch after Kuo threw 6 balls in a row.  Lead off man's got to be more patient, but Torres is an aggressive guy -- game 1, we'll cut him slack
• Same goes for Posey.  The error was not mental, you take chances and you get burned sometimes.  Seemed like he had nerves
• In fact, nerves is the word of the night.  2 first timers for opening day, and everyone but Burrell is new to title defense.  Tonight things should be more calm
  ('course, Sanchez is tossing, so maybe not)

Player Preview -- The Outfielders

My second nugget breaking down the team before the season begins.  Previously, it was the Infielders, now it is the Outfielders

(read more below the fold)

Cactus League: Brandon effin Belt

I'm not going to dwell on Z's poor pitching performance.  The lead up to these first games was short, and I don't expect the pitchers to be doing anything other than practicing their junk and strategy.  I'd feel a bit better if he was giving up hits rather than walks, but there's 30 days until opening day.

I will, however, dote on a man who goes 3 for 5, with 2 doubles, and 4 RBIs.

Brandon effin Belt.  Effin Brandon Belt.
Brandon Belt, EFF!

Nope, none of those work for me.  How about Brandon FAWKIN Belt?

I like it.

I'm a little concerned about the surplus in the org right now.  Belt seems to only be slotted for the Mothership if someone gets hurt early.  And by someone, I mean Huff or Burrell.

If Pat the Bat's going to hit 30 and Huffy's going to put up a .290/25/85 line, I wouldn't want to trade either of them for Brandon Belt.  And the Giants just re-signed Pat the Bat and Huffy, so they're not going to try and move them (at least not early on).

I think we're going to have to wait a bit for Brandon Belt.  Hopefully not too long.

2011 Home Run Leader

I was listening to Marty Lurie today, he asked who the Giants' home run leader would be in 2011.

I have to think Pat the Bat is a contender if he can get the at bats: 500 ABs should give him 33 dingers.

But if he runs cold or splits time, next on the list should be Panda --

he strikes me as being a reluctantly motivated guy, after last year's misstep season, he's in shape, he's been working on his game, he can probably get to 28-30.

Out In Left Field

Pat Burrell
Aubrey Huff
Mark DeRosa

Nate Schierholtz
Brandon Belt

I am enamored with the Giants, and still floating on cloud 9 from the World Series

Let me say it again: The Giants are World Champions

I have gripes that have never been addressed. 

The Giants are a team composed of 2 infielders, 2 catchers, 10 pitchers, and about 730 outfielders. 

Who wants to play outfield for a World Champion?

Sort of like my Fantasy Team at the end of a season.  (Oh? Garrett Jones just played his 10th game at first base?  Hello versatility).

Just because these guys are fantastic and likeable and clinically kooky bananas in a retro-alt-SF kinda way, that doesn't mean that one should start the season with 5 left fielders on the roster and maybe 1 genuine first baseman.

My biggest problem is there are five names above representing five men that everyone thinks are just so aweosomely good in a double rainbow kinda way,  but by the end of camp someone is going to be dispalced.

1. Pat Burrell hit 20 home runs in half a season last year.
2. Aubrey Huff is more-than-likely the startign first baseman, and is the team's #1 hitter
3. Mark DeRosa had a shit poor month and a half last year, but everyone says that its because he hurt his wrist.  Now he's better (and we all know how easy it is for a 36 year-old to come back from a massive wrist injury) and ready to provide the key offensive support that he's almost always supplied during his career for other teams.  Plus he hung out on the bench all last year with the team, and he showed up on Ralph and Tom a couple times so we like him.
4. Oh Nate Schierholtz.  Great arm with flashes of greatness at the plate.  Well, flashes of goodness, anyway.
5. Brandon Belt is the future.

Well, if Huff is your 1B and Burell/DeRosa are your LF platoon -- Schierholtz will more than likely focus more on RF -- so, who is the odd man out?

Conventionality would say that Belt will start @ AAA Fresno unless he can win a starting position.  After all, you have Travis Ishikawa to take scrub time at 1B and, as mentioned before, too many dog's drooling over the bone that is LF.

pictured: Your starting leftfielder, complete with cigarette and can of Bud Light.....classy.....Oh yeah, he's Stanford Alum.

The biggest problem is that you can't trade any of these guys to make room on the roster.  You just signed Burrell, besides -- he's your only power.  Huff is your heart.  DeRosa is a gimp.  Schierholtz might be your starting right fielder, and is definitely the late-inning defensive replacement. 

I think that Brandon Belt might have to wait for a May call-up, a la Buster Posey last year.  Realistically, if Belt is one of the 8 best hitters -- he has to be squoze in somewhere.

Bochy has a choice to make: make my job easier and settle for a not-quite-what-it-could-be team, or find a way to get Belt, Huff, and Burrell in the lineup everyday.

My giant head hurts