Accepting Nate for Who He is: A Late Inning Superstar
How often does Nate suck you into believing in him? “What could this guy do with full time at bats?” you dream to yourself….He’s a tough cat to wrap your brain around. He shows flashes of brilliance at the plate and with th glove. He’s got power (you don’t hit it 3rd deck at Coors field without it) and he’s got speed for a big man. Seemingly, he’s got it all. And yet…….
I think I’ve finally just accepted that Nate is most valuable as we’ve seen: in the late innings he turns it on. His stats marginally support this. In his career, as a starter he’s hit .263, as a sub he’s hitting .294. In extra innings his batting average is .389. Of course, his batting average in innings 1-3 is .273, in innings 7-9 it’s .256. so it’s not like the stats are heavily supporting something one way or the other. But he just seems to come up big late in a game. His hits are more timely or something. We all know about his glove and that golden arm. I just think that, for whatever reason, he’s most focused and most successful late in a game. And you know what? What’s wrong with having a guy like that on your bench? Even if he starts, that’s one more guy who you can count on late in a game to come through….
For different reasons, Nate reminds me a little of Velez from a couple of years ago–a guy who you don’t really think of as a huge cog on the team and a guy who isn’t even a starter–but a guy who racks up as many POTG pics as anyone of the team…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
I did comment earlier in the season about Nate’s comments that he was hurt last year and his swing was affected. Who knows how true that is, but I said at the start of last spring training that I thought would be the everyday RF last year and would be a .275 15 homer hitter….I think if his production is in this range
Sorry got cut off and last post should have stated that “I did not comment” about nate’s alleged injury last year.
But completing my thought, I think if he is producing in that.275 range and driving in some runs, he deserves to keep starting. He is not going to carry a team offensively, but his bat seems to be a bigger threat than Ross’. If Belt is 100%, he should be starting every game and Huff should be in left. If Belt is not starting, we are better off with travis here and Belt playing every day in Fresno…
Nate’s limitations are as definite as his skills. He’s an excellent RF; but I wouldn’t want him in CF or LF for many innings. (Can’t you imagine him misplaying a line drive and then using his golden arm to throw a bullet to the wrong bag? (“Man. Everything was, like, backwards.”)) The one line in his career batting stats that jumps out at me is this: His numbers are high for the first and second time he sees a pitcher in a game, whether SP or RP. His numbers against SPs the third time he steps in against them are terrible (.228/.274/.368; 4th time is even worse, but only 11 ABs like that). He gets outsmarted. He’s a five tool player without the sixth.
Where did you get those numbers?
According to BR, for this yr, he’s hitting .231, .263, .357 ( 2hr) 3rd time, 0-1 4th time.
RT — I was looking at BReference career splits. For comparison, I used stats for facing a SP the 3rd time in games for Buster (1 1/3 seasons — .294 .359 .454) and for Huff (10th season — .291 .347 .502).
Huff, btw, has faced a starting pitcher for the 3rd time in a game 1268 times. Notice that his numbers in that situation are slightly higher than his overall numbers. Nate’s, of course, nose dive.
No one has significant stats for 4th time in a game, I suspect. But I’m just skimming the surface . . . .
Could be Schierholtz is just finally starting to put it together at 27. Fwiw, Huff thinks so. Could be another Randy Winn, who was 28 when he finally became an everyday player. Or DeRosa. We’ll see.
But they aren’t sitting Ross, GH. If Nate’s starting, Cody moves to left unless given a day off.
Think Belt is going down. Just don’t see him getting the playing time.
Or Torres for that matter, RT. It’s pretty rare, but it does happen that guys get it together later in their careers and become starters. No way Huff replaces Ross in the OF.
If Nate keeps it up, it’s at Belt’s expense.
He didn’t say Huff would relpace Ross…if Huff did move to the OF for some reason, Nate sits. Ross would go to RF, Huff to left.
I read it as GH saying Nate is in RF for Ross if Huff is in LF.
I think Nate is a line drive hitter, not a 15 HR guy at all. He can spray the ball around the park, and go up the middle. I’m telling you, Dave Magadan, not dave Parker. He hits much better on the road, too and is a low OB guy. But so far he has out played the others, including Belt, for the 3rd OF spot.
Lot of heroes last night, but the pen was super in relief of Lincecum..I only saw what happened after he left. Heat and humidity get him? flems said he thought he was done a batter or two before Casilla came in.
Cards have 33 Ws, second only to Phils, but their pen sucks. The closer didn’t want any part of the struggling Huff, walked him on 4 with 2 outs bases empty, and SF winds up tying it on the SB and Nate’s hit up the middle. Then franklin gets slapped around later…even Tejada hit a shot at the SS. Paper tigers.
Crawford with a nice late AB for the insurance run, and looks great in the field. Did you catch kruk on the last DP? He’s about to expand on the “smooth exchange” and then the slo-mo catches Sanchez fumbling it as he backhands the feed to crawford.
flav, I talked to an older guy (my age) headed to the WSOP. He said anyone who buys in can play regardless of skill…that true? He also said he wound up on ESPN briefly, because he sat next to the guy who had won the previous year at an early table. He and his wife are pretty well off and travel a lot; this is just a vacation. What is the buy in, anyway?
$10,000
Key to the game was long before Nate’s heroics- it was Casilla inducing and Crawford brilliantly handling Berkman’s DP grounder in the 7th..
As the more knowledgeable have pointed out, Nate ain’t taking Ross’ job. If Nate continues to hit ( which would be a first as a starter), the OF against most pitchers will be Ross/Torres/Nate.
Pretty amazing move to PR burriss for Huff, when you know with Belt hurt that if you tie the game up, he’s got to play 1B in the bottom half of the inning. wonder if burriss knew what the defensive plan was ahead of time…somehow I doubt he packed a 1B glove when he came up.
disappointing AB from burrell too. facing a RHP, ahead in the count 3-0, swings at ball four and pops out. Might be only a few of those (ABs, I mean) left for him outside of PH duty.
Pretty shitty move by the 1B ump to overlook Burriss’s quick move to get his foot back on the bag in time on that “error” charged to Crawford. I usually cut the umps a lot of slack, but that was a malicious call. Burriss needs some reps at 1B, however, that’s clear. Wonder if he can catch?
wonder if he can play 3rd!!
Burriss has his defensive issues, but I think he’s clearly more valuable than Fontenot now, wouldn’t surpriose me at all if Font was released or moved. Burriss has nothing left to prove in AAA.
At first glance I was going to disagree with you about the value of Burriss over Fontenot. After all, Fontenot is a better fielder, and better at punishing mistake pitches.
But then I realized that you were saying more that Burriss was “more valuable than Fontenot now.” With the emergence of Crawford at ss, and with Ford on the DL, Burriss speed and abiltiy to play at 2nd does seem to give Bochy better options than Font.
I’m not as high on Crawford’s D so far as everyone else. I haven’t watched every game he has played, but I’ve seen at least 5 plays that he didn’t make, where a “great defensive shortstop” makes the play much of the time. I don’t expect the guy to make all those plays or be perfect, but I’d like to see him make 2 or 3 of those.
I was expecting him to be some quick little poor man’s Ozzie Smith type guy, but he’s a big dude that doesn’t look to me to have the agility to be a great defensive shortstop.
Well. the option when Panda gets back is Tejada ( not Fontenot), so learn to love him.
His (O)OPS after nearly 200 ABs is .505. Not even a mother could learn to love that shit.
The reference was learn to love Crawford. That’s why it was in response to Dawg’s Crawford post, DD
Well, they could always put Miggy back at SS.
Can either Crawford, Burriss, or Fontenot back up Sandoval at 3rd when he comes back?
If so, then it seems to me that the Giants would be better off keeping Fontenot and saying goodbye to Tejada. Really, Tejada’s ability to play a decent 3rd is the only thing keeping him on the roster at this point. Fontenot can still hit a mistake pitch out of the park, and Tejada is lucky to reach the warning track at best.
That is only if he gets a Zito fast ball!!
Of course I realize Loo said it first but I heard that “Wilson was lights out” line 2 other times today at work already
Loo is known far and wide.
As opposed to me who is know for *being* far and wide
Baggs had it as the lede to his game story. Maybe he filched it from Loo.
Well, despite all the blather, when Panda is back, Tejada would be both the second best defensive SS and the second best defensive third baseman. And Burris is far more versatile than Font.
I understand that, of course. For me the blather is just an attempt to come to terms with the fact that, right now, Tejada is a black hole in the offensive lineup. He is simply not able to hit the ball very far, and unless he makes some kind of adjustment soon, is almost no threat to get even a base hit. Fontenot can still go yard, and is more of a threat to get on base.
So even though I understand the reason why the Giants have to keep Tejada over Fontenot, I still grasp at straws.
He had a double DEEP to right center the other day, two hard outs to the OF and one to SS last night. There *are* signs that he’s starting to drive the ball.
I hear you Twin–he’s our best option right now and I’m glad he’s getting a series of starts to show what he can do. I’m pulling for the guy to show he can be our everyday SS, I’m just not super-impressed with his D so far.
I’m confused, who are you talking about as our SS?
Crawford
Ozzie.
Speier
G’s will settle for less than “great”. Those are rare. Adrianza is supposedly a better defensive shortstop but has no stick. But right now, the bar is pretty low. Crawford looks smooth and poised out there. I also like the quickness he showed going from 2nd to 3rd on that short fly.
If it’s any consolation to those who are up in arms about Zito and Rowand’s contracts, they didn’t make this year’s Forbes list of Top Ten Paid Athletes . . . Actually, in this elite world, Zito and Rowand would be considered poverty level . . . umm, relatively speaking that is.
http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-forbes-tiger_worlds_highest_paid_athletes_060111
Giants’ pitching staff was worth about 85 million last year, or slightly less than James sees Burrell to be worth 😉
Well, Zito actually earned about 8 million of his pay last year. Unfortunately, Rowand only earned slightly above the minimum.
A third of the season is in and Tejada doesn’t even seem to be able to hit in hot, muggy places like St. Louis. O for 6 last night in the two-hole. Twin, i’ll accept your claim that he is our second best defensive SS and 3B, but isn’t there someone out there on one of the other 29 teams who would equal that and who could hit at least a lick? Then we come to Fontenot. Is he a certifiably BAD defender, so bad that his offensive contribution would be outweighed by terrible glove-work? Does a huge hole in the LU always outweigh a moderate hole on D.?
He hit three balls very hard last night-two to the OF.I’m not his patron saint, I just want you guys to be honest.
Believe me, I would love for Tejada to turn it around. But for me two things stand out:
1) His steady decline in production, both average and power, over the last three years. There is no evidence that a few hard hit outs mean a turnaround is coming for the guy.
2) He is not a player like Rent or Uribe, who got it done for championship teams in the past. Some one like Rent or Uribe gave me reason to believe every AB, even when they were injured or looked pretty bad at the plate. I never thought that the either Rent’s or Uribe’s roster spots would have been better spent on a prospect or a marginal guy like Fontenot.
If either of those two things weren’t the case, I would say, “Hell yeah, send Font/Burris/Belt/whoever packing. It is not worth it to replace Tejada with a marginal guy or a prospect.”
Please understand I am not dooming it up – I am pulling for the guy every AB as long as he is a Giant. But there are other guys right now that I, as a fan, would rather see get a chance to prove something.
His production in San Diego belies an irreversible decline. As far as being like Rent or Uribe in the past, you’re right-he was much better than either. Blaming him for some of the poor teams he was on is not reasonable. Anyway, I think he’ll hit better, and I’d sure as hell rather have Miggy around if Crawford faceplants, than Fontenot.
My roster after the DL guys are back, presuming they don’t get a catcher:
C Whitey, Stewart
INF Huff, Sanchez, Crawford, Sandoval, Burriss, Tejada
OF Ross, Torres, Nate, Ford, Rowand
(Ishikawa had been a wish)
BTW, it may not mean much to some, but it’s real obvious that Tejada is busting his ass.
Agreed on his hard work. He is doing everything he can to help the team. When I listen to the games with my son, I always make sure that he hears about what a hard worker Tejada is, because often the Giants broadcasters are less than enthusiastic about Tejada’s ABs, and I like to add a little balance.
But the bottom line for me is, assuming they make the postseason, who would I rather see coming up to bat in a close game with runners on? For me, last year I could say “I want a guy like Uribe or Rent up in that situation, even if they have been struggling.” I can’t say that about Miguel Tejada this year.
I hope he proves me wrong. It would be cool.
The Mets hired a red-a## manager in the off-season. The problem with red-a## managers, is that when the team starts losing a lot, the whole story becomes about the manager’s red-a##.
Chuck, your blog won’t let me post, logging in brings me back as anonymous!! I can hear the jokes coming now!!
Yeah, it’s dead, Kevin. Blogspot is a joke.
I’m gonna start another one if there’s a football season to talk about.
Did you read about Alex Smith getting the offense together for some drills based on Harbaughs play book?? Dennis should be lovin the Niners right about now
You think he’s a doomer here?
He’s off the ledge and falling regarding the Niners.
Ye olde Nate the Great question. I’m sure Nate would prefer to be the starter but I agree, the way the Giants are using him is best for the team.
Crawfish, doesn’t look like he wants to know the way to San Jose. He’s helping the team right now and doesn’t look like he’ll hurt us in the future.
Schierholtz always struck me as a guy who just needed to find his confidence and he would start to succeed. That’s not to say he’s a superstar but if he keeps spraying the ball around with the occasional bomb and superior D then he’ll force his way into more starts (as Bochy is alluding as well). Ross, Torres, Schierholtz is a good looking outfield defense.
Crawford is definately taking the opportunity but what has he had something like 20 ABs? I hope he can maintain 75 percent of what he’s shown at the plate so far.
Crawford’s no Bocock, but Burriss came in pretty flashy and we all know how that went.
But, hey. So far so good. . . .
It’s funny, for me the “What to do with the outfield?” questions just aren’t that compelling. There are guys on the roster who are producing right now (like Nate), and other guys on the roster who aren’t but could start producing (like Burrell). Who plays and who sits seems like silly discussion. Let Bochy manage, sit back and enjoy.
But the infield seems like a real problem, where the best solution, keeping Tejada and sending Fontenot packing, just sucks. I agree with twin that that is what the Giants should do, and I refuse to bitch about Bochy’s and Sabean’s decision if that is what they do, but I can’t shake the feeling that it sucks and is the wrong choice.
Font’s got 89 starts at 3rd in 4+ years. One this year. 19 last year. He’s no great shakes defensively, but neither is Tejada.
I’d keep Font. Even with his noodle arm. And hope for the best that the other IFers stay healthy.
CF Gomez
3B .505 (O)OPS
2B Fruckie
1B Bout damn time I hit a homer yesterday
RF Shitholtz the Great
LF Rodeo Clown
SS Uncle Jesse
.C Name withheld
.P Dirrrty
Should be P Diddy
Would think Burris is about out of options?
Anyone have a clue about tonight’s SP, Lance Lynn? His ML numbers are good, but don’t knock your socks off. 30-18 (3.72) in four seasons. His PCL numbers are even worse. Maybe Burriss and/or Belt have faced him. 6′ 5” 250. I’ll go out on a limb and predict that Kruk calls him “the old big right-hander.”
Bochy didn’t change the lineup? can he do that?
SS Uncle Jesse? I don’t get it
Huff nicknamed Crawford as “John Stamos” — Uncle Jesse from — “Full House” (I think)?
Gotcha. I had the wrong Uncle Jesse in mind.
Me either. Was that a Dukes of Hazzard reference?
Picture
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/glee/is-uncle-jesse-joining-glee-37101.aspx
Ooookay. Thanks
Dennis – He’s a 2008 supplemental first-rounder picked out of Mississippi with the selection created by Troy Percival’s departure, Lynn is one of the St. Louis’s typical strike-throwing college pitchers, throwing low-90s heat for strikes while mixing in the standard curve, slider, and change, all with solid command. He went 5-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Memphis this year and has allowed just one home run through 62 innings of work. With McClellan out of action, Lynn should be around for a while in the Cards rotation.
Thanks for the research, blade
I’m gettin’ fired up for tomorrow.
Not because of Gyros v. Rocks. No.
It’s National Donut Day.
Some donut shops and chains are giving away a free donut.
Now, THAT is good news…
Mmmm, Donuts!
I like donuts as much as the next guy, but I think I’ll order the Matt Cain sandwich next.
http://tinyurl.com/3tr7er3
Rohlinger is a Rockie now (sort of), goes to Colorado’s AAA. Henry Sosa clears waivers, goes to Richmond.
Other news from Schulman: “Zito to pitch for San Jose on Monday most likely.”
“Panda begins rehab tomorrow in San Jose. Two games there. Then to Fresno for 3-5 games.”
Were he a Giant farmhand, we’d be pretty underwhelmed with Lynn’s numbers. Rhander, gives up a hit an inning in AAA, just fair control- they *should* light him up..
Lynn is just the kinda unknown journeyman the Gyros swing through early and often for about 7 innings. Shocking if Tejada doesn’t swing at the first pitch in at least 2 ABs…
Actually, no. It’s usually the crafty types. But hell, after your 2-5 went astray, you can you can still root for that..
I root for the Giants. I don’t root for my shot in the dark predictions, like you do…
Yeah, I’m rooting for a win tonight, and the shot in the dark 4-3 roadtrip I called.
If they win, I’m glad they’ve gone 4-3. And all hail to your shot in the dark coming through. All predictions here are shots in the dark, and for entertainment value…
Zito will start rehab pitching assignment next Monday with San Jose. If he gets hammered in a couple of Single A ball starts, then what?…
Take away his flask
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eb2zI2kOLU&feature=related
Or, he aggravates that foot injury, out until September…
They’ll need to be creative. Even if he pitched well, there is not a spot unless they went to 13 pitchers.
Sabean with some strong words on Scott Cousins: “If [Scott Cousins] never plays another day in the big leagues I think we’ll all be happy.”
Another: “If that’s [Cousins] flash of fame, that’s as good as it’s going to get, PAL! There’s no love lost and there shouldn’t be.”
Well, that’s a bit much, but I’d settle for a variable penalty. Since he chose his target as Posey instead of the open plate path, he should sit out as many games as Posey will be out. That puts the penalty matching the offense. 🙂
That’s pretty strong, and uncalled for…
Bullshit. Posey is paying the price for Cousin’s attempt at glory. If Cousins wants to live in the “hard nosed ball” world, then I applaud Sabean’s hard nosed decision to make the dirty play stick to him.
Fuck Cousins. Seriously.
I don’t know Cousins one whit. Neither do you or anyone else on this blog. But, I doubt seriously that he was thinking of “glory” when he rolled into Posey. For a GM to call out a low level player on radio and publicly express hope he never plays in the league again is bush, IMO…
Keep up the platitude bullshit, dude.
I don’t care or need to know Cousins to know it was a dirty play. If Cousins pays a price for this play, word gets out, and it reduces the chances that shit like this happens in the future, then that is all good.
No platitudes. I called you on a stoopid, baseless argument…
No you didn’t, dumbass. You said that Sabeans comments were “uncalled for”. I make the case that they are very called for, and you respond with some “you don’t know Cousins” platitude bullshit.
Show me where Cousins says or anybody explains that he made that play on Buster as an “attempt at glory”. Dude…
On the way home, I heard Sabean on KNBR. He had some hard words for Scrub Douche Cousins. I don’t recall the exact words, but he basically came out and said that that he hopes Cousins never plays another day in the big leagues. It was pretty harsh. I loved it.
All the “traditionalist” assholes who think that the rules for plays at the plate shouldn’t change, should consider the fact that the status quo not only came close to ending Posey’s career, but very probably destroyed Cousin’s as well.
Oops, I see someone beat me to the post. Anyhow, glad to see that Sabean means to make sure that Posey isn’t the only one that pays a price for Scrub Douche’s dirty play. I am glad that Sabean isn’t glad to play along with the charade.
Hopefully, mlb someday decides that the entertainment value of such plays isn’t worth it.
I don’t think some meanie-weanie words are gonna break Scott’s ankle.
That is what gets me about this whole thing. Posey, not blocking the plate, came out of that play with a broken ankle and seriously messed up ligaments. Cousins came out unscathed. He wants to say “Sorry” and be able to walk away. That is not how things work in this world.
There is a price to pay for Posey for being a catcher, it is a tough position, and shit happens. Posey is paying a high price, and that is a bummer. There is a price to be paid for dirty play, and I am happy to hear that Sabean intends to try to make sure Cousins pays that price.
Cousins intent may have been not to hurt Buster, but he clearly was trying to take him out. His last step before hitting Buster was infront of the plate, not onto the plate. He also went for the Right shoulder rather than the left which was what he should have been going for since Posey had to catch the ball with his mitt hand.
So what if Sabean trashed him? He’ll get over it long before before Buster heals.
Giants visit Marlins beginning Aug 12.
Sabes v. Cousins in a three rounder before the first pitch…
I am happy to hear that Sabean intends to try to make sure Cousins pays that price.
—————————————————————————————–
Are you sure that’s what he said? Or meant? I didn’t hear it but from what I read, Sabean’s basically just venting
Hell yes he was venting. But he also referenced Matheny’s comments. If you recall, Matheney talked about dirty play and how to deal with it in future encounters.
It was not empty words, or didn’t seem so to me.
He’s pretty powerless — changes in baseball are extraordinarily glacial. Whilst his words may be sincere, they’re a mere fart in the thunderstorm of baseball “tradition”.
The fucking guy is 26 and he’s hitting .159. He might not be around for any rematch. If he is, doubt he plays.
That is part of the tragedy of this. Chances are that that one stupid play is the “highlight” of his career. It is fucking stupid that guys like him are put in positions like that. I can’t believe that mlb is willing to sacrafice guys like Cousins and Posey for to keep such stupid fucking plays legal.
Far off-topic: MrMrBill just got a contract to supply a local restaurant with his (near)famous Habanero-Lime Cheesecake! Yes, it’s spicy hot(!). If you’re ever in the San Rafael/Marin area, stop in at Sabor of Spain and try a piece.
(return to humble web geek / baseball enthusiast mode )
Spicy hot cheesecake?
Ubetcha. Get yer heat on. It also doubles as a good pack of Icy Hot for pitcher’s arms.
Man, I hope this game doesn’t go into overtime. GHIDORA, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER is on at 8:15 tonight
Why wasn’t this game a day game? It’s a getaway day. Giants definitely not getting any luv from the scheduler this year; they’ll be getting home when the rooster starts crowing…
I think it is the economy. Teams are scrambling for cash, and early afternoon games bring in less money.
It has to do with the time zones as well. CDT to PDT for night-to-night games is OK per MLB rules.
I think it’s because they played a day game Monday.
Lynn was 3 for 57 as a minor leaguer.
He could bat clean-up for us.
I won’t say anything because I don’t want to jinx it but Lynn’s got a perfect game going here…D’OH!!
What’s that you say Ted? Lynn hasn’t allowed a hit? No runs, no hits? That is unbelievable, I can’t fucking believe it. Can you? NO HITS, the dude is another Koufax. No hits, man oh man. No runs as well, that’s fucking nuts. No runs, no hits, FUCK ME. So you’re saying this guy Lynn is throwing a NO HITTER?
Can you believe it, this guy Lynn has only allowed one hit (well, and a HBP), he;s another Nolan Ryan.
Something I like about Tejada: I think he’s always the first guy to get to a mound meeting and he absolutely goes to the pitcher with words of encouragement/communication more often than any other player on the infield by far. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen Huff do that…
I think Henry is tiring of the 24/7 Tejada bashing
——————————————————————————–
Also, did Tejada kill the Lindbergh baby? RT @PJMasterson: @hankschulman @extrabaggs does panda get the ball to huff quicker on that play?
Huff takes over the team HR lead!
If Huff starts hitting more HRs like that, he can let Tejada go to the mound to talk all year….
Uh, still want to bat him 7th?
Awe-brey!!!!!!!!!
Wasn’t your best timing on the Huff diss, Loo-Igi..
I was hoping no one would notice.
Can you believe this guy Lynn? He’s only allowed one hit. The dude must be Bob Gibson reincarnated.
Time for Kruk to start yakkin’ it up about Reuter’s gay woodshed…
Hahaha.
Am I the only one who remembers Bill Rohr’s major league debut?
Can you believe that Huff? Acting like he’s sposta be the cleanup hitter or something.
From what I’ve seen from Rasmus, well, he’s a pretty shitty outfielder….
Gomez’s!!
Heads-up baserunning from Torres and Tejada…
It’s amazing- another flub-up by the Cardinals in left-center when playing the Giants. Two close plays in left-center helped the Giants win two games against the Cardinals at AT&T.
Insane read by Tejada but maybd a tad irresponsible. You only make that move if you’re certain that’s dropping. But fuck it, it could have just been a great read.
I’ll give him credit, great read. He watched it for a bit while off second, then made the call and ran for home…
Does Aubrey too read the Flap? Calls for him to be dropped to 7th in the order may have got to him. Right before our eyes, right under the Arch, ol Huff n’ Puff, even without the mystical thong, transmogrifies once again into Huff the Magic Dragon. Maybe its the heat and humidity, but even Tejada has appeared to have come down with the ash virus. Or does he use maple?
Players would be fucking nutz to read any of the blogs.
Whiteside has a double A arm
Giants pitchers as a group are pretty bad at keeping runners close on the bags, too…
Wow, Casilla induces the DP.
That was huge…
Brilliant . . .
Can’t believe they didn’t run on Torres. . . .
Both nights Casilla raised the anxiety level, but got a DP.
Because he usually has an accurate if not particularly strong arm..
You have to take the shot though.
Anyone notice the type of pitch Casilla used to get Theriot’s GDP? Was it the same as the one he got the same result with last night? His return to the Pen is just what the doctor ordered. This team has long needed a true fireman ~ a guy who can come into an inning and stymie a rally.
It was a good one . . .
I don’t think anyone’s missing Runzler.
Wow. Seeing eye double . . .