Is This The Final *ABL* Day for 2012?
I think tonight’s start is *it* for Timmy. I can’t imagine the Giants running him out there in the sweltering Atlanta heat if he pitches poorly tonight, at home, against arguably the worst hitting team in the national league. I’ll discuss *options* a little later in this thread.
We have spent a lot of time discussing the causes of this spectacular collapse by the 2-time Cy Young award winner. It’s probably a combination of a lot of things–some that are fixable, some that aren’t. Personally, I think we are way past taking one good start and feeling like he’s turned a corner. There isn’t *one corner* to turn. Timmy is at the top of Lombard Street looking down. And if he pitches well tonight, I’ll be happy because we likely won but it won’t do a thing to change my feelings about where he is or where he’s going this year. I think this is a lost year for him and while it’s certainly unusual for a pitcher at his age with his resume to have an implosion year like this one, there a lots of examples of pitchers *close* to his resume who have had one-off years. And my feelings are, turn the page on this season sooner rather than later…….
I’ve never had a problem *turning a page* on a player and moving on. That might sound heartless but it’s not (to me). Growing up, horse racing was a huge part of my life. And despite the cynical take a non-horse racing fan would take to the sport, the fact is, I’ve never known a more *emotional* sport for true, die hard fans. But in horse racing, you have to be ready to withstand the blow of your favorite horse disappearing at any moment. Whether they break down in a race or they abruptly retire, you can’t get too close to the horse as a fan or you’re just setting yourself up to be let down over and over. I had lots of practice moving on from a horse that I was emotionally connected to. Why? Because there is no horse that’s more important than the sport.
And it’s the same for me in baseball. There is no player that’s more important than the team. My problem isn’t “Oh no, what shall we do, we just *can’t* move on without our beloved Timmy!!!!”. My problem is, after we DL him, what will be the plan to replace him>>> And by *replace* I don’t mean replacing 2-time CY award winning Timmy. I mean replacing the guy who will be dragging a 6.42 ERA out to the mound with him tonight. The bottom line is that we don’t need Timmy to return to his long lost former self. We just need a guy who isn’t going to implode every start. The Giants have 3 rock-solid aces in Cain, Bumgarner and Voggy. And whatever your opinions are of Zito, he’s given the team a chance to win more often than not each time he’s taken the hill this year. Lincecum has not done that. He’s started 18 games this year and the team has won 4 of them. F-O-U-R. That can’t continue….
And I don’t think we have an answer in-house. I suppose the Giants could cobble together some kind of “Penny-Hacker” concoction but that likely wouldn’t be better than “6.42”–they might do it in Atlanta just to buy Sabes a little time. But at this point in the season, the answer is obviously a mid-season trade. If Sabean went out and got a guy like Wandy Rodriguez, I think all of our problems would be solved this year. Wandy might be a perfect target, in fact. He’s making 10 million this season, 13 million next season and then there’s a club option on him for 2014. So he is NOT a rental. And if he’s not a rental, I would give up Brown and a couple other lower level prospects for him. And remember, the long-term depth of our pitching staff is NOT looking good right now. In 2014 we have exactly 2 pitchers who will be on that staff (Cain and Bum). The Giants are going to seriously have to look at picking Zito’s option up if they don’t find some other arms. And I’d rather pay Wandy 13 million and Zito his 7 million dollar buy out than give Zito 18 million dollars……..
But that’s a discussion for another day. The point is, there are a lot of #2/#3 pitchers to target in a trade. Wandy is probably considered their #1 so you aren’t going to get him for a combination of “Nate/Burriss/Linden/any other shit you can think of.” Remember, if we don’t want them other teams probably don’t, either. You HAVE to give up quality to get something you want in a trade and no team is gonna get hoodwinked in a trade as the deadline approaches. The sellers have all the leverage at this time of the year (ESPECIALLY if they are selling pitching, something all teams need) and you’re probably going to have to overpay a little to get what you want……
But something has to be done NOW. We aren’t talking about a position player who’s having a terrible year who you can just hide somewhere in the LU. We’re talking about a key starting pitcher and we can’t continue to lose 78% of the time he pitches. I agree whole hardly that our season is probably toast if Zito *reverts* and Timmy doesn’t. So one of them has to go. If we can add a pitcher via trade who can at least go out there and give us a chance to win most of the time we are going to be good to go with our *3 Aces* + new guy + Zito and a competent offense leading the way. The Giants can DL Timmy with some phantom injury and figure out what to do with him sometime later this Summer. Either that, or just bring him back to replace an injury or Zito if he *reverts*……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
How bout’ that Rizzo kid? I p/u him two weeks ago and put him in my fantasy lineup.
Kid’s got talent…I love that last name…
Let’s hope the consumption doesn’t turn him into a pussy.
BamBam getting *knighted* by the Netherlands was mildly amusing when I saw it last night. When they replayed it tonight, it’s overkill.
Not everything needs to get turned into a publicity stunt, unless you’re the Giants PR dept……….
Hector Sanchez or NO Whitey? That’s a tough one…
Really?
time to step away from the keyboard..
my erectile dysfunction could be a question of blood flow? Sweet. That’s quality scientific information for the Cialis commercial to pass on to me. But wait, if I have an erection lasting 4 hours I’m supposed to contact my doctor? Fuck that; only if my *doctor* is hot and slutty. If she’s not, I’m gonna go wander around town looking for something to do with this 4 hour plus erection that won’t go away…. Wait a minute, am I thinking this or posting it at my blog? Uh oh……. 🙂 🙂 🙂
couldn’t they have named this affliction something, anything except ED?
😀
Yeah Timmy warms up for cold weather. Good job so far.
At this point, no way I think Tim is baaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccccck , anymore than the other guy is- expect nothing, hope for the best, with both of them.
89 mph is all you need to know.
He’s pitching well in the best of circumstances—-home, cool, shadows for the first 3 innings, shitty opponent.
As I said in the thread, if he pitches well and they win I’ll be happy. But this will do less than zero for me to start thinking this is *another beginning*. He’s turned one corner. He’s still standing on the top of Lombard Street, he’s just one corner down it…….
SanDawg mentioned the batting avg w/ RISP stat. I saw Schulman mention it as a key for the second half. Coming in to tonight’s game, the team’s BA w RISP is 225. I did a few calculations that I’ll spare the humanists . . . if the team had a 260 avg. w/ RISP right now, the output for the season would be an additional ~30 runs, based on the current hits to RBIs ratio. If you reduce the runs allowed by 5 and plug 373 runs scored into the Pythagorean W-L formula, the Giants would project to 46 wins. The Giants have been unlucky with RISP , but they’ve been fortunate in other ways. The 225 BA is a red herring.
I was just thinking that.
Hey, it took me a while to do those calculations, Edd.
excellent job, my man James, I appreciat_edd it.
I will say this, there are parts of Lombard st. that have less movement than Tim’s fastball.
For all that, 1 walk is what looks good to me.
Plus he’s not bouncing shit 15′ in front of the plate.
Certainly something to build on.
Happy for him. It’s a good quality start and he can build off of this. In many ways, this was a “no win” situation for him. As Flav pointed out, at home, cool weather, shadows for the first few innings and going against Houston. In short, the deck was stacked in his favor . . . Lose and the cries for his head would have been deafening. Consequently, because most people will take a wait and see approach and not make too much of this win. However, the next test is big in Atlanta. If he wins there, I will be a bit more impressed.
One caveat – I hope Bochy doesn’t leave him in here too long . . . Especially, if this inning goes to shit. OH OH! 🙂
He’s not pitching in Alt. He’ll be pitching in Philly.
I think you are right . . . Still, it’s a similar test.
I am worried again. . . Timmy shook off all of Hector’s signs . . . our relationships can be so fragile.
Two weird strikeouts in a row
Wow. those are the two weirder K’s that you’ll ever see. 2-1-3 on the
last one.
Alt’s hot. Philly’s not. I think Timmy avoiding the humidity of Atl had something to do with Bummie going first.
fantastic hustle play by Timmy. He was on that ball like me running around with my 4-plus hour erection searching for a new chick to rattle away on…Wait, am I thinking to myself or STILL posting at my blog? What the fuck is wrong with me!??!?!?!
That will definitely make you back away from the keyboard.
The keys are getting sticky.
typing out loud
The bat barely left his shouder. Can’t believe they called that a strike.
PS. Crawford’s pop-up was brought to you by . . . Cialis.
Well, glad I woke up. TL has one ‘good for the soul’ game with double digits Ks against a team he should have beat.
And only 1 walk
I’m happy for Timmy, I’m happy for the team, it’s a nice start by him. But I have LESS than no interest in watching him pitch in Atlanta in the sweltering heat next week. On second thought, that could be just what we need to see if he’s ready to triple jump a few corners on Lombard,.
He’s not pitching in Atl. Tim’s pitching in Philly
I realize Hector has a couple knocks tonite including a big one that drove in the second run, but behind the plate….I dunno. With two good prospects at the same position in the system and an all star ahead of him, you gotta wonder how long he’s gonna be around. Nice kid, just seems like he has a lot to learn about being a mlb C. I’d just rather have Posey behind the plate and Belt at 1b, as often as absolutely possible.
At this point, prospects don’t matter. He’s here to back up/spell Buster now. You’re right though. He does need to get his shit together.
I’ll be *happier* for Casilla if he mows through this inning. Apparently, he’s now pitching for his job, which I think is bullshit;….
Unless he blows this save. 🙂
Oops
“Apparently, he’s now pitching for his job, which I think is bullshit;….
Unless he blows this save.”
I think that statement is accurate equally both ways . . .
Oh dear. Casilla looked good til that.
It is IDIOTIC to start the bullpen up just because Casilla gave up a hit. I don’t care if Romo is taking the job, this isn’t how he was going to take it. Stupid.
Snyder has a similar batting stance to Rowand.
Yeah. Oh fuck me Freddie. Sorry, Tim.
wrong Sanchez
Sorry, arcane reference to a Stephen King book.
LOL . . . Somehow, I knew this BS would occur. Unfrickingbelievable!
WTF
Walks kill.
Ralph Kiner quoting former Giants and Gas Gang guy Frankie Frisch: “Oh, dem bases on balls.”
holy mackerel. what was that we were saying about Sanchez’s defense? wastes a whole night of success by Timmy et al.
torture and tied
once he bobbled that ball he should have stopped the lead runner and let first base go.
Monday morning quarterback 😉
He coulda got the guy if he took his time with the throw.
No way he gets the guy. Ed is right.
He absolutely would have had him had he taken his time
The guy was 10′ from the bag when the throw pulled Belt wide.
So do 13 misplayed pitches in the dirt.
too bad Romo wasn’t pitching that would have been an easy win…….
the second run was a tough one, but the first run is all on casilla. That double from maxwell was hit all the way to the fence in CF…2-0 game he put the tying run in scoring position. Hope they can get him a win right here and end this with top of the LU up.
it was a great pitch, the dude just hit it. It happens.
It’s really unreal that Timmy’s win is taken away by that bullshit…….
Well Tim spent the night lowering his ERA. Close the door now and let’s get it in the bottom of the 9th.
And no Posey bat. Great
I wanted to go to bed at a reasonable hour. I knew this could happen. It’s my fault. i apologize. Phuckme.
Isn’t Phuckme a city in Thailand?
No, it’s Sukk Mukk Dikk.
can i just say how thoroughly pissed i am right now? fucking sanchez calls for a pitch in the dirt on a 2-2 count. the guy takes, and then walks. the rest is fucking history. put your all star catcher behind the plate to close. fuck sanchez.
it was a terrible play by the catcher: he failed to block a ball he called for and then he panicked and tossed away a throw he could have made had he set himself.
that’s not my point at all. it’s the fucking call for the ball in the dirt when it was a 2-2 count. he tapped his glove in the dirt and casilla tried to throw it there. casilla was dealing and sanchez wanted him out of the strike zone. and then, walk, double, etc. stupid pitch selection.
If only Timmy had thrown that last wild pitch, Hector probably would have made the play. It’s all about the rapport.
stop fishing for POTD’s… 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sorry, but that was an asinine AB. Next…
Might as well go to bed now and set the alarm for 3 a.m.
the sun is up, but it is raining in my heart
and somehow, someway, a new POTD is born…..
Long day already for me . . . Night flappers.
BB needs a bomb…
wow. just fuggly.
I feel bad for Casilla too, I like the guy. He had two nice Ks to start the inning, getting first guy with the high hard one and then the second guy with a killer breaking ball down and away. Just couldn’t get the 27th out and preserve the W for lincecum.
What’s fucked up is that he’s getting jobbed on this gig. Bochy is looking to replace him with Romo. And look, I know all about the saber-numbers so don’t go down that road (not accusing YOU of that, that’s for anyone). I just think that what Casilla has done for us this year should be honored, not greeted with panic at the first time of trouble. So what if he walked a guy? Closer fuck shit up all the time, it’s how they get themselves out of it that matters. Casilla must have watched Affeldt run down to the BP after that nice at bat by Maxwell and said “WTF?”.
Wilson never had to deal with that shit.
Either take him out of the job or stop fucking with him……
it’s the fucking walk that sanchez called. this is on him, not casilla.
Hear-me and hear me good… EE..The AL West is going to be situated.
With e’s?
you gotta splain that, lucy
😀
On the west coast?
LOPEZ is fucking MONEY $$$ “Nuff Said…
Hector was having blocked pitches get 15-20 feet away all night.
Romo’s a fucking monster
Last Giant walk-off homer: Bobby Thomson
Please, an HR, immediately. I have “Avanti!” all cued up for me and Mrs. James. Late Billy Wilder romantic comedy. Jack Lemmon nude scene — who needs Cialis?
“If I knew there was going to be a nude scene I would have asked for another milion dollars”
-Walter Mathau-
plus, you’d have the possible *4 hour+* thing to deal with. I mean come on, where do you tell your wife, looking like that, you’re going afterwards?
Turn her over and try the back door.
Wow, chuck
“The Sorrows of Priapus” always comes to mind when those ads run.
I may have more luck with the Green Door.
Running out of bullpen here. Well, guess I better grab my uni and spikes and head out to the ballpark. After 30 years and 17 restraining orders they *have* to let me pitch just once.
Del Mar Dennis:
“My sister put out a restraining order on me once. Once…”
I really want to see that documentary about baseball in the DR, “Pelotero” that just came here this weekend, but I can’t find anywhere that it’s playing. Chron had a write up on it yesterday, I think.
I also want to see the rest of the pen pick everyone up here, and give SF a chance for a sweep with Cain going tmw. Hey, Melk picked up Theriot who hit into a DP with two guys on earlier (polanco, pls) to get the first run in.
Yeah, I read the Chron review to that movie, willie. Looks good. Playing in Japantown here in SF
Shit. Nice play there.
Back to BB
is belt going to break my heart again?
raining, in Beltville……
Time to shine Belt.
Oh, dear. If you didn’t just hear that the Dogs lost. SD had runners on 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs. Pitcher turns his back to home, and the runner at 3rd steals home. On the wild throw, the back runner scores.
I’m sure all the deaf Flappers appreciate that, Chuck…
Fortunately, I have closed caption
hey, Brandon, see ball – hit ball
repeat
he was late on the outside pitches. looking too hard on the inside? that’s where his “hole” used to be.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Can’t say I didn’t see that coming. The pisser is all this extra pen bullshit, and a possible loss, when they should have won this game an hour go.
Isn’t Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck a city in Thailand?
No, it’s what you do with a 4 hour erection.
Belt is back to fouling off the hittable stuff.
And swinging at the back-foot slider.
You could barely fit a hula hoop around Penny’s dome….
Jordan Schafer. What the fuck kind of name is that for a ballplayer? He should be the guest pianist for the Houston Symphony
people are finally starting to leave the yard. Gotta get ready for church tomorrow
Yeah, that’s it.
All we need is 3 wild pitches and it’s over…
Always thinking strategy, Loo, always thinking strategy
OK, end this game!
Fuck. Sandoval 2 infield singles in this game and 2 triples recently.
For a guy that could be a stand-in for Casper Guttman…man’s got speed
sin doble juego, por favor
gracias, señor Sanchez
WTG, Pagan.
If ever there was a redemption AB it
s here and now.
No shit
BALLGAME!!!!
Not quite Brenly material, but close enough..
Ha ha. Close enough . . .
There ya go.
Ballgame!
I think they ARE trying to hurt him.
Gosh, I hope Huff didn’t hurt himself again
i’m less pissed at sanchez now.
Kind of like when Brenly had, like, 17 errors at 3rd but won the game with his bat.
Back in..in..1934?
twin beat me to it. I gotta learn to type faster