Tuesday’s Starter and When Does Rent Play When he Gets Back?
I understood why the Giants didn’t start Bumgarner in Cincinnati. It was on the road in a notorious hitters park. I get it. But I am not understanding why he’s not starting against the punchless Orioles at home tomorrow. Iron Head Joe instead? He’ll probably do fine. But this would seem to me to be the perfect opportunity to usher in MadBum to the 5 spot, a spot he could lock down for the rest of the season. I guess my question is, if not Tuesday against the worst team in baseball at home….then….when?
Renteria should be back Wednesday. Assuming Uribe isn’t going anywhere in the line up every day, how might Renteria see the field. If you want to rest Uribe one day a week (Rent plays short), play Panda at first one day a week (Buster rests one day, Rent plays short) and play Uribe at 2nd one day a week (Franchez rests and Rent plays short) that’s the only way I see Renteria hitting the field—so that’s 3 starts a week and I don’t even like that since it’s got Uribe bouncing all over the infield throughout the week. The other option is that Renteria returns as a bench guy but that’s a bad role for him since he only plays one position. I don’t know, none of this looks very appealing. I know one thing: Juan Uribe is our starting clean up hitter most of the week…….
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Supposing a 6 game week, Renteria is going to start 4 games a week at short. Two for Uribe. Uribe will get two starts at third a week and one at second. Starting 5 of 6 games is mroe than plenty of ABs for Uribe.
But what is up with Posey? He sucks:) Nothing but groundballs!
The sweep has wrecked my June win projection…no way we are losing more than a game in the next series and no way will the Dodgers take two of three from us at home…
I also should have noterd that Panda would start four out of 6 games at third and one at first. Panda has played nearly every game and probably coudl use some breathers. Posey os getting cold as well and may need to give him a rest in this series with the O’s.
Who says lefties cant hit at ATT??? Huff is going deep on the Orioles! You all may have made mention of this yesterday, but through all the lineup shake ups and the lack of perceived great defensive players, the Giants have the best defense in the NL…
Trying to figure out what to do with Renteria is a good problem to have.
Finally saw some Giants highlights last night. What a play by Huff, Downs and Molina! A well executed relay cutting a runner down at home and the triple are the two most exciting plays in the game. Add in another strong performance from Cain and that’s winning baseball.
i doubt rent gets 4 starts at ss a week…..
Flav, I am willing to bet a lunch on that one!!! Let’s say in the first month he is back, I say he avergaes 4 starts a week!
short of an injury to Panda/Franchez/Uribe/Posey–you’re on…..
I was wondering the same thing, Flav. I don’t think Uribe needs to rest once a week, especially if he keeps on like he has. He’s about as durable a guy as the Giants have.
Dirt, I’m not sure it is a good problem to have. It all depends how Rent deals with the possibility of not playing every day. It could be an issue. With Posey up and doing well, there just isn’t a lot of spots left.
Christ, stum, Melville and Shakespeare in the same sentence? LOL!
I look at it this way: say Rent is 100% healthy; we need to win one game; is he in the starting lineup? Don’t think so.
How is baseball played? One game at a time. There’s your answer.
Really Dennis, Renteria has to play in a must win game. So you either have to bench Uribe or play him at third, thereby weakening the defense at three other positions.
I think twinfan might have snowed me with his explanation of the ZR stat. Range factor I get, Troy Tulowitski is at the top of that ranking, but he’s dead last in ZR. How important a stat can it be for measuring a SS if the best fielder in MLB rates last. I think it has to to with popups maybe, it certainly can’t be about converting groundballs into outs, something Renteria can’t do very well.
I don’t understand the love for this man. He really screwed the Giants last year and he’s not a good fit for this team. Has he even bothered trying to learn another position?
Orioles have some guys with pop, and a few under producing good players, like Adam Jones for one. Their pitching is generally awful enough for them to get beat.
SF is a different team lately, with different guys contributing. Last year it seemed if Panda struggled they were fucked…it’s just not that way anymore. Guys can have an off day at the plate (FS, Posey, Panda, et al) and others pick them up and SF scores runs, enough to win. Fun to watch.
“Dirt, I’m not sure it is a good problem to have. It all depends how Rent deals with the possibility of not playing every day.”
Exactly! It’s not a good problem to have at all, it’s kind of like the Steve Young/Joe Montana controversy, only in this case, it’s someone with Steve Bono’s ability who expects to get his job back.
Renteria can be a valuable PH and be used to rest the starters. If he’s OK with that, then he won’t be a problem. But if he starts his bellyaching again, get him the fuck off the team pronto!
I am aware of the fact that contracts limit flexibility but I don’t worry about individual salaries so I could care less about the cash Renteria, Rowand or Zito is pulling down.
JBat, I agree that how Renteria deals with a potentially limited role is important.
My point is that adding more bats to the club isn’t a bad problem.
With the crappy Oriole pitching, the Giants should win at least two in this series, regardless of Baltimore’s sometimes tough hitting. Adam Jones is a talent, and can be fun to watch.
I’m sure he’ll find his way on to the field, he’s one of those ‘wily vets who have earned it’. He’s not bad when he’s healthy, but he’s also not $18M good either. Team is better served if 2 of the 3 musketeers (Rent, Row, Molina) are eating pine regardless.
Flav, bet is on, injuries will void a bet!
I was one of the ranters last year on Renteria..about his fielding, hitting and salary.
But you cant argue that his range is as limited this year as last year when he was hurt. He was awful last year, but he was getting to balls up the middle and to his right this year until another injury. If he is 100% when he gets back, I think his fielding will be more in line of how he performed at the start of the year. And remember he started the year raking the ball, he may have the rested hot hand when he gets back Wednesday.
And we all know Bochy. He is going to go with Renteria as much as possible. And people forget that Urbe started to wear down last year starting everyday at second. Playing everyday at SS is more tiring…Bum should be starting tomorrow without question. Martinez should be a long reliever at best…
Here’s the problem with Renteria. If he gets benched, he probably won’t be signed next year. He feels he’s got to start or this will be it for his career. Is he enough of a team player to accept a lesser role? This is a test. Let’s see how he does.
Dennis said that Renteria would have to start in a must win game. I say bullshit on that, but there’s no one on the Giants bench that I would rather have pinch hitting in a clutch situation. The guy can still hit, so can Uribe, it’s just that neither one of them is a very good SS. Their skill sets are too similar. A young, slick fielding utility player with some speed would be more helpful for this team, than a surly, broken-down vet. Emmanuel Burriss might be the guy.
Its the Molina/Whiteside tandem behind the dish that makes where to play Renteria an issue.
Now I will say this, I am shocked that Bochy is sitting Rowand as much as he is and going Burrell, Torres and Huff in the OF.
BTW, who last year was the one saying we should be going after Huff last year instead of Garko????? Yours truly!!!! Who knows how last year would have played out if we grabbed Huff at the trade deadline…I think I get the GM of the year award on that one alone:)
stu, try reading the sentence again.
“I look at it this way: say Rent is 100% healthy; we need to win one game; is he in the starting lineup? Don’t think so.”
“Don’t think so” As in NO.
Maybe I am misreading but Dennis can surely speak for himself.
“And people forget that Urbe started to wear down last year starting everyday at second. Playing everyday at SS is more tiring”
As I recall, Uribe finished strong last year. I won a fantasy baseball league by two points on his last AB, a homerun.
Stu, Uribe was playing everyday in the middle of the season and his number sstarted to dip, I cant remember if they brought Downs up around then and he started to get days off. Let me double check…
Well, the way it usually works, is a manager will not bench a starter when coming back from an injury, unlike Rowand who has not been producing offensively. I don’t have the stats. so was Rent producing prior to the injury that is probably what Bochy will look at. I am not saying Rent will start but…
“Dennis said that Renteria would have to start in a must win game. ”
Where the hell did I say that? I said the exact opposite. We need one game, everyone’s healthy, Rent sits. Period. Take that same same philosophy each day.
I did misread Dennis’ comment. I thought he was implying Renteria should start in a must win game. Basically, Bochy has to figure out if Renteria is a good enough hitter to justify moving Sandoval, Uribe, and Huff out of the positions they field the best.
I feel Uribe has established himself as the everyday SS. Championship teams have an everyday SS. They don’t mix and match lineups, moving players arounf the indield. It’s ridiculous.
GH – I was huge on going after Huff as well last year. This year? BJ Upton for me but probably won’t happen. Hell, Adam Jones could be a great fit here (Alex Rios light) and could use a new start so maybe Sabes can pull off one of those ‘team in town, we’ll do a trade’ things he likes to do. One can only hope.
The Yankees in the late 50’s are the only championship team I can think of that didn’t have an established starting SS. What they did have was Gil McDougal, a guy who was an even better hitter than Uribe, plus a Gold Glove caliber fielder at 2B, SS, and 3B.
Gotta run and do a training session. Busy weekend…no chance to blog. But, just let me say…FUCKING A! It was so sweet to sweep the cross-town chumps.
Renteria, if he picks-up where he left off, will be a starter damned near every day. Pieces will move to make sure that everyone who deserves to start, gets their starts. That’s what I think.
Catch you Flappers on the flip-side.
This Renteria deal worries me big time. We’re on a fucking roll right now and I’m not wild about jerking around arguably our best player to accommodate Rent. Like many have suggested, I suspect Bochy will hand Rent back the starting SS job on a silver platter. Giving Uribe and others a day off will stall this from coming to a head for a few days, but then Bochy needs to make a decision on who exactly the primary regulars are and someone is going to have to accept a reduced role. I would like to see it be Rent himself. My second choice would be to move Posey to LF and bench Burrell. Both of these scenarios already have Rowand on the bench.
Stu, Uribe missed about 10 days mid-June last year with just a couple of pinch-hits, I dont remember him being hurt, but then again I cant remember my children’s names or what I had for lunch yesterday…
Gee Dog, Posey was just getting comfortable at 1b.
If we had to win one must win game, my starters would be:
1) Torres – CF
2) Franchez – 2B
3) Panda – 1B
4) Uribe – 3B
5) Huff – RF
6) Burrell – LF
7) Renteria – SS
8) Posey – C
‘Posey to LF and bench Burrell’ – not so good for too many reasons to list. Burrell has found new life and brings power and good at bats, and together he and Huff give the Giant’s a semblance of a more traditional MOTO setup. The ones that deserve the bench are Molina and Rowand contracts be damned however we know that probably isn’t in the cards in Bochy’s world.
C – Posey
1B – Pablo
2b – Sanchez
SS – Rent (I would guess)
3b – Uribe
RF – Huff
LF – Burrell
CF – Torress
Mix in Rowand/Molina with a couple starts/week and give the regulars a rest every now and then. Not rocket science, play the guys that get the job done.
Jeez GH – you and I must be drinking the same coffee this morning???
GH, that’s the best hitting lineup they could possibly field, but good lord, that defense looks terrible at the corners. I’d switch Huff/Uribe and Posey/Renteria. As much as I’ve been ragging on Renteria, I do acknowledge his batting skills. Hitting 8th is an art, as is the #2 hole. He’s terrific in both spots. Here’s my must win lineup:
1) Torres (RF)
2) Sanchez (2B)
3) Sandoval (3B)
4) Huff (1B)
5) Uribe (SS)
6) Posey (C)
7) Burrell (LF)
8) Rowand (CF)
9) Cain (P)
I’d rather have Renteria than Rowand batting eighth but this defense is much better.
stick with me gringo…stu, my best lineup is based on the concept you have to win one must-win game. So I loaded it with as much offense as possible. I would presume Nate and Rowand would be coming in for defense late in that must-win game…
Dont you all get the feeling Burrell is going to have a Joe Morgan/Brian Johnson moment in September against the Fucking Dodgers???? Too bad that last Dodger series at home is not on the last weekend…maybe the moment comes against the Padres…
Use a period instead of the parentheses.
8. is 8.
8) is sunglasses
B) is something else?
The Joe Morgan monent is a bad comparison as the Giants were already out of the playoffs. He knocked the Dogs out, but the G’s were still out of it.
Stu, you’ve exceeded your allotment for brain dead bitching. Renteria, other than power, is a better hitter than Juan and far the superior SS. He wiill play. Don’t know where you get that Tulip is at the bottom in the fielding rankings, he’s squarely middle of the pack in UZR and UZR/150. Which is where he should be, other than his arm, he is an averqage defender, not “the best”.
But as to Uribe,Renteria; they are both going to play: with Juan at all 3 positions, weighted toward third base with Panda at first those days.
I’ve already heard about your prejudices toward Edgar, and your questioninhg his professionalism and referring to “belly aching” that never happened just confirms it. You have a right to an opnion but no right to be lying scum. Shut the fuck up about Renteria as a man, lest your status be put in question.
Good point Chuck…a Brian Johnson moment then…good thing I did not say Steve Finley moment…
After reading thru all the posts this morning, I can honestly say, I’m glad Bochy is the one to fill out the LU card…
Over 7 months, and 162+ games, guys need to be rested and the flexibility of this roster allows that. Throw in double switches, and everybody will get a chance to contribute…
The problem I see now, is not so much Rent as it is Ishi (who I like a lot but if he isn’t your starter he’s wasted on the bench) and Whiteside. Like Twin and others have said we don’t need four catchers. To expand that, we don’t need four first basemen.
GH, I’m not buying that concept. You’re upgrading the offense by however much better a hitter Renteria is over Rowand, but you are making the defense significantly worse. Furthermore, by having Renteria on the bench, instead of Rowand, you’ve got a strategic advantage as far as pinch hitting is concerned. Now we haven’t said where and against whom this must win game is being played. At AT&T Park or Coors Field against Ubaldo Jimenez, I’m going with Rowand over Renteria. He has as much of a chance of hitting a HR and they’d have a better defense.
I did know that one of those “fuck the numbers” moments was bound to come. Thanks, Stu…
What the most common LU will be, which is why I pointed out that the one who will lose the most sdtarts to Edgar will not be another infielder, but Molina. This would probably be the LU 2-3 games out of 6. As you saw this weekend, Rowand is the other who will lose time. Bengie will catch when Juan is playing SS or 2nd.:
Torres CF
Sanchez 2B
Sandoval 1B
Huff RF
Uribe 3B
Posey C
Burrell LF
Renteria SS
Mike, I like that LU…The thing is, Bochy has to start getting Posey more starts at C
Timmy/Matt pitches, Bengie catches. Zito/#5, Buster catches. Dirty/Whitey we already know.
I really think that’s how Bochy will first fill out the lineup with the others falling into place.
Twin, I have pretty similar lineup, I see Posey dropping to 8th with his bat becoming less effective…
gh…you don’t see that well then…his bat will never be less effective. It will only become more…
Dennis, Buster will have to catch more than one game out of 5. I don’t know how long they can justify trotting Whitey out there. I know he’s been a surprise offensively but unless they can move Bengie, the numbers don’t work to keep Eli.
wsw, I am just looking at stats and his ground ball outs are increasing. He is a young guy and I have no worries about his bright future. I am not sure he will be a dominating bat as the seaosn goes on. He is only a rookie. I would not be surprised that Renteria’s bat will be more important than Posey’s this year…
It’s not rent over Posey gh…it’s Rent and Posey over Molina.
Dennis, I think you are dead on with the catching starts, I said something similar last week..
Stu, I think you are reading may too much into that. Who knows what relationship they had. Maybe renteria and Frandsen had one fo those clubhosue relationships that Renteria being the veteran would just ride Frandsen. Remember Frandsen had a big chip on his shoulder from the way he was treated alst year.
He then came into camp this year with a much more positive attitude and not taking everything persona. Teh Renteria crack probably reflected more on how Frandsen was comfortable with himself and his position in the eyes of the Giants management and players that Renteria could throw some clubhouse humor at him and Frandsen probably just threw it back at him…
Twin, I did not go back to read more in Room B about the Rothielsberger discussion. But did you see my comments? I think you have a legal leg to stand on because of the lack of the NFL having an anti-trust exception…
Morons are always welcome on the Splash.
I’ll be waiting for your next “personality” to appear.
Yogi:
“I honestly believe that my faith in God is the only thing keeping me alive, keeping Michael alive, and preventing a calamitous fall from grace for the Orange and Black.”
Uh, yeah. Mighy white of you to do all this for the rest of humanity . . . if you stop thinking, does the universe cease to exist?
Put in a good word for me with the big guy. I haven’t been to church nearly enough lately . . .
I agree with Twin’s take on how Renteria contribues when he comes back (this given that he is truly healthy). As I said earlier
“Renteria, if he picks-up where he left off (.326, 372, .395 – 55 attempts at SS, 1 error), will be a starter damned near every day. Pieces will move to make sure that everyone who deserves to start, gets their starts.”
WSW says the same thing with a slightly different spin (and I agree with his take, too):
“Over 7 months, and 162+ games, guys need to be rested and the flexibility of this roster allows that. Throw in double switches, and everybody will get a chance to contribute…”
Contest update: 8 wns, 55 runs, 14 bombs. Projection for month = 18 wnis, 124 runs, 32 HRs.
You guys should be feeling good. The Giants lineup is much more interesting with the addition of Posey and vets like Huff. When Rent comes back, more the merrier! Come get happy, at least for today.
Come get happy, at least for today.
———-
Why bring THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY into this?
Interesting that the starting OFs for two of the three games against the A’s had both Burrell and Huff in it. I seriously didn’t think Bochy would use that alignment (because of the defensive liabilities) as often as he did. Will be interesting to see if more of the same holds true for the O’s series.
And I didn’t post over the weekend series, but it sure was good to see Timmy back in form.
Stu…I think you lost this crowd when you said Burriss over Rent…!
So, I haven’t been able to leave Denver for a month because god is mad at me?
No wait that’s my boss.
What a jerk.
Stu, Ok you think Rent took a cheap shot at Frannie, I disagree. Did you think Omar was a scumbag when he threw Mesa under the bus and allegedly got Bonds busted for speed? Are you saying he’s a con artist for playing with the bone spurs last year? You’re probably right something should have been done sooner but con artist? Some folks call that a gamer. I remember Rent leading the charge during a brawl, some folks think that’s a team guy, somebody that has your back so I’m not sure you’re right about the team chemistry thing. Or are you saying he’s a con artist for excepting the salary? So was Richie and Omar con artist because they thought they had more left in the tank?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard another player bad mouth Renteria, I’ve only heard them say he is clutch. Whatever dude, that’s the way I see it.
All the ladies say I am a “super-being with a penis!” There’s your POTD Flav…I keeping nailing them!
Chi, thanks for the stats on Rent prior to the DL, I don’t care what sport it is if the Vet was producing prior to going on the DL, they will start when they come back. With that said Stu is turning this blogg into the splash!!
I’m happy
my wife just cooked pork steaks with home made applesauce. The Black grill marks on the steaks go with the orange baby carrots for a Giants meal.
Which one of the Os pitchers is giving up 10 runs?
What’s a pork steak?
I zapped about 20 comments from earlier today. Sorry if the thread doesn’t make sense. I also flagged some screen names, email address and IP addresses. I can go further if need be. Knock off all the non-baseball related bullshit….
Oh. I was wondering
Reno – I was asking about you the other day, as I had not seen you on the new blog. Glad to see you are back. You bring good stuff to the party. Good luck on getting outta Denver. Hey, have you met-up with Blade while you are there?
Kev – you’re welcome re: the stats. I just wanted folks to be aware that Renteria was performing quite well prior to his DL stint.
Stu – I think The Clown (bozo) paints a pretty accurate picture, or at least one with which I agree. I think Renteria is a gamer, and is one of those kinds of guys “with whom you would go to war.”
Ted – a pork steak on this side of the pond and Ed’s side (UK) may be entirely different monsters. Just like bacon here and there are totally different.
Funny, Ted made a reference to the Partridge Family here, and I paraphrased from “The Music Man” over in Room B.
Must be Shirley Jones Day.
Thanks, Chi.
Yeah, dennis, weird. Almost Elmer Gantryish.
Ed, the question might be which of the Orioles pitchers *won’t* give up 10 runs. On that, I’d bet Guthrie won’t
Chi, thanks man. Haven’t seen blade but it wouldn’t matter anyway. I’ve been locked down in the office for 12-15 hours a day.