One Loss + One Broken Hand = Big Problems
I’ve decided I really hate the Marlins. In ’97, they took us out of the playoffs from the wild card slot. In 2003, the image of JT Snow laying face down at the plate as they eliminated us again is burned into my brain. Last year, Cousins effectively ruined our season by taking out our catcher. And during last night’s frustrating 3-2 loss, Sandoval apparently broke his hand swinging a bat. Throw in the fact that Ozzie Guillen is a moron and I just don’t like it when we play this team……
Assuming the xrays come back positive, the replacements for Pablo are dubious at best……
On the current roster, you get your pick of Burriss, Pill, Arias and Theriot to fill in for The Panda. From that list I think I’d go “Arias/Pill/Burriss/Theriot” in order of my preference. Arias seems to be able to hit well enough to play a corner position when compared to Burriss and Theriot who do not. Pill might hit well enough but defensively I think the concerns are obvious…….
Coner Gillespe, in his 5th year with the organization, is having his best year so far. In 104 at bats he’s got 3 bombs, he’s hitting .362 with an OPS of .935 in Fresno. I don’t know about you, but I have never looked at Gillespe and said “We gotta get ourselves some of that.” But who knows, he’s at least a natural third baseman and the Giants might give him the first shot as they withstand the shocking blow of losing the Panda for an extended period of time……..
Two longshots:
1) Buster Posey. Hey, if you don’t want to see to big of a drop off in offensive production, Posey could fit the bill. He player shortstop growing up and into college before he shifted over to catcher. And the Panda’s defense would be easy to replace, at least what we’ve seen this year from him. Posey could do this, in my opinion, if he had more time to get used to the position. If this were spring training, I could see it as a viable option. Right now? Unlikely….
2) Aubry Huff. Despite being currently on the DL and not having played the position in years, third base IS a position that Huff is familiar with. He’s played 2,900 innings at third base. I can’t imagine the Giants turning to Huff to play 3rd with all the stuff he’s got going on right now, I’m just throwing it out there—he knows how to play third base……..
All in all, pretty ugly options. Let’s have a vote and I’ll pass the results on to Bochy later this evening to give him the best chance of making the right call. 🙂
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Agree with the Giants broadcast dude (Kruk I think) that just said WE should have swept the Marlins. They came here “death warmed over” and got healthy on us. I hope this was an anomaly, but if we can’t beat the fish of the world, we are in trouble against the other NL teams. I also agree that it will take a lot of singles stringed together to muster more than the 1-2 runs we are scoring lately. In short, when was the last time our team hit a home run, triple, or even a double? Damn, I know this isn’t the case, but it seems like a week or more. Couple all of the aforementioned with our mediocre defense, I’m not certain our outstanding starting and bullpen pitching will suffice (alone) for the 4-6 weeks Pablo is out.
Which brings me to Pablo . . . Yesterday or the day before, I commented on “where would we be without Pablo?” I did NOT want to be prophetic, but it seems like we are going to find out what the Giants are made of without their outstanding star player.
Anywho, it’s a new day tomorrow . . . Go Giants!
Yeah, like I said our last 3 RBIs were ground out, a DP, and a bunt.
Not exactly setting the world on fire.
I hate to ask more of Melky and Posey – whom both have been outstanding – but both will probably have to increase their production. Pagan needs to do more too. Frankly, he was embarrassed by his former teammate, Reyes, who was big for the Fish defensively and disruptive offensively, with his 3 steals (1 for each game), and 2 hits today (run and rbi).
Shit. Mariano Rivera is being carted off the field. Not good. I was just about to offer our new member (Crazy Crab) in our Flap fantasy a trade for Mariano.
Sometimes it pays to be a no good lazy sumbitch.
Anyone know what a hamate bone does and why we need it? Pablo will be missing two after tomorrow’s (or today’s???) operation. I hope it’s like an appendix or tonsils . . . Nevertheless, I don’t want to be giving away any of my body parts, even hamate bones.
It doesn’t do much but provide sports injuries and some structural assistance between ring finger and pinky, but it’s just a “helper” with 4 other bones. Pablo’s in good company w/ other who have had one or the other or both removed: Canseco, Griffey Jr., Thome, Pedroia, Tulowitzki, …
Hopefully this was the nadir of home series for the season. The pitching was very good for the Giants. Worthy of winning all 3 games, had they scored runs. Everything else pretty much sucked. If they keep up this kind of defensive effort for the season, they will not make the playoffs. Crawford looks like he’s mentally fried, he needs to sit, or more likely take a trip to Fresno. Arias needs to take SS, but he doesn’t look like a world beater there. Belt has been hitting these last few games, more than just about anybody else. More dumping on him is clearly misplaced, he’s getting his act together. Keep putting him out there. And, Blanco needs to play every day — as I said the other day, he’s a disruptive force to the opposition’s defense…
There’a obviously an issue with him and Bochy that goes beyond production. When he singled in the ninth and Manny ran for him, all his teammates high fived. Bochy couldn’t have been nore obvious in ignoring him. I don’t recall that being Bochy’s M.O, I think he does contragulate his guys in these situations. Best guess is that Sabean overruled him on Belt making the team… Blanco, Arias, Crawford- pretty much what I’ve said, except Crawford is not and won’t be a MLB hitter. Unfortunately their other SS prospects went feet up this year…
Too bad Panik (sp???) isn’t doing a “shock and awe” in the minors. Mike (or anyone else) – what’s your opinion of the Giants doing a trade right now? Or, is this way too early to think trade and moreover, what would we trade besides the proverbial bag of balls and our eternal thanks to the – fill in the blank team – patsies who would even consider such a thing, much less actually consummate a trade with us?
This day is racing, 1952: The Kentucky Derby was first televised as HILL GAIL won from the rail.
No audio. When I called the raced, I put Trevor Denman, Dave Johnson and Tom Durkin all to shame. 😛
All I have to say…..Creative Cause! Thank me later….
Create another E-Mail account and make that your WordPress E-Mail. Just don’t use it. That’s the only thing that worked for me…
Weird, I’m getting emails when people post on my blog and JDR’s, but not this one.
Dirt, if you are lurking around, check yer ESPN email . . . Yes, I am offering another trade proposal 😉
Why are you calling me a lurker? I vote on the polls AND post.
Meant no offense Dirt . . . Enjoy your evening. 🙂
sorry guys, been out all day. I have no idea what the problem is with these unwanted emails. It’s some stupid fuck up on WordPress’ side. I’ve emailed them some choice comments and hope to hear back from them quickly……..
I voted for no one in the poll, meaning I did not vote, meaning no one deserved my vote. I hope Mr. Sabean is twirling his Rolodex. Or dangling his Rolex. As bait.
Wel, it doesn’t make much sense trading for a third baseman unless he can play another position as well. SS would be nice but I doubt that’s happenning.And not 1B..
test
Following the email link and unsubscribing there did it for me.
If the club sinks deep in Sandoval’s abscence I say hope Lincecum turns it around and flip him this year.
absolutely. If we fall out of contention that would be the prudent thing to do. I doubt we fall out of contention though. That’s tough to do with light’s out pitching. Plus, if Belt is going to stop hitting air and singles and start hitting doubles and, gulp, an actual *home run* we might start seeing some production out of the *other* corner infielder. And when I say *production* about a corner infielder spot I am not talking about singles………
I could see the team surviving the 4-6 weeks without Sandoval but its going to be tough. As you said Belt needs to step it up. Huff needs to be able to get out there and produce, lots of things need to happen. I’m generally pretty positive about the team but I’m not having the best feeling about it. SF is just too thin at too many spots.
Belt will hit HRs just as surely that Pagan will quit hitting them. Belt IS producing ( and saving the infield even more errors), people should worry about 2B, SS, 3B, CF, and one more OF postion.
True about Belt. Maybe I should have written that differently = Bochy needs to stop being a butt hurt prick and put Belt in there every day.
The positions I listed need to do the stepping up. Belt, Melky, and Posey are fine, it’s the other 5 who need stepping up or moving out…
Complete and unadulterated bullshit about Belt. I have to go but tomorrow’s thread will detail what you could reasonably expect from a decent corner infielder. Belt may be “starting” to produce….if he wants to replace Crawford. You see, first basemen actually hit these darn things called “home runs” every now and again. They produce runs. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the NL first basemen who have home run totals that eclipse zero and we’ll go from there…,
As James said-what is complete and unadultatered bullshit is the lack of plate appearances for Belt.I’ve done a breakdown below that is as good a barometer as there is for overall hittng abilty- which includes getting on base, hitting for power, and is adjusted for park factors.Unlike many of the Fantasy stats- OPS+ is an accepted baromater.
I would ring up the Pirates and inquire about Casey McGehee…
Whare does he play besides 3B? 1B doesn’t count.
GNight. The only positive out of Hector and Nate slumping is that it may keep Bochy from putting vastly inferior hitters in front of Belt in the LU. It was Pagan today, one of last night’s goats. Put Angel in the 6 , Arias in the 7.
I don’t think there’s really a logjam at first. I wouldn’t count any of the catchers who might dabble there. Huff is gone after this season if not sooner. Belt has much to prove and can always shift to the OF, or be platooned, or even dealt. McGehee (29) is one year removed from a huge 2010, doesn’t play regularly, doesn’t make big money and he’s from Santa Cruz to boot. He could fill in for Panda at 3rd and at least platoon at first afterwards. Also a solid bat off the bench and a DH when needed. He’s perfect for us. Wonder what it would take…
He has nowhere to play when Pablo gets back. Stick to Mike Lamb nonsense
Seems like so many players are one year removed from a huge 2010…..
Huff, for one.
” . . . tomorrow’s thread will detail what you could reasonably expect from a decent corner infielder.”
As of yesterday, here are the stats, sorted by OPS, for NL 1B who have at least 78 PAS (Belt has all of 54 after today):
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byposition?pos=1B&conference=NL&year=season_2012&qualified=1&sort=25
Oddly, Pablo is listed. The most HRs are 4, including Freeman, whose start to the season was as bad as Belt’s, but whose manager actually does the right thing and just lets his most talented players play. Belt’s OPS is middle of the pack, but I bet his OPS+ is better than avg. considering the offensive stats at ATT this year.
The fact that Belt does not have at least 90 PAs right now is what is complete and unadulterated bullshit.
Flavor will skip OPS
To follow up an James, here is the OPS+ for first basemen. The guy Craig sarcastically said Belt was after, Mudbug, has a 64 OPS+..
“OPS+ or League Adjusted On-Base plus Slugging
Regular OPS calculates the abilities of a player both to get on base and to hit for power, the two most important hitting skills, and the easiest stat in measuring a player’s worth. Adjusted OPS+ is OPS (OBP + SLG) relative to league average and adjusted for park factors. An adjusted OPS+ of 100 is exactly league average…”.
This is where Belt stands among first basemen-among 20 with at least 50 plate appearances 6 have higher OPS+, 13 lower. Loo’s McGehee is at 96.He would fill in for Pablo, at 158. Huff, presumably due for tine at first base, is 81.
Bryan LaHair 238
Joey Votto 149
LaRoche 148
Wigginton 133
Carpenter, Matt 132
Luas Duda 116
***Belt 114***
Helton 113
Garrett jones 111
Michael Cuddyer 111
Freddie Freeman 111
Carlos Lee .98
Daniel Murphy 92
Yonder Alonso 89
Paul Goldschmidt 85
Loney 81
Gamel 74
Guzman 57
Gaby Sanchez 52
Ike Davis 47
All numbers are from Baseball Reference