Brett Pill? Sure, Why not
As you know, Pill’s back. Yawn. He was tearing up triple A so they brought him back. Hitting 2 doubles in your first start of the year is a good way to get yourself another start. Brandon Belt has nothing to worry about, he just got a day off.
Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres, however, should start worrying. Through 176 co-at bats this year they have cobbled together a single dong. The Q’s got that equaled all by his lonesome and he did it in 25 total at bats. Pill has actually hit righties better than lefty’s in his mlb career .291 > .217 so it’s not a given at all that he’s just going to get starts vs a lefty.
I can muster zero excitement about Brett Pill being back, but when your LF spot hasn’t hit for squat this year it’s not the worst idea in the world to plug a guy who’s hot in there and ride him for however long he can keep the torch lit.
And hitting is something we absolutely need if we’re going to win baseball games consistently. Our pitching staff is tattered and torn after this road trip implosion. And unbelievable but true, our gloves might actually be worse than our pitchers.
So keep on hacking Brett, we need every hit you can muster right now. If Blanco or Torres have to sit in his favor, so be it.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
You think Pill is going to patrol LF? I don’t think he even made an appearance in the outfield in AAA. Either he is a bat off the bench or his ABs come at Belt’s expense. Speaking of mamby pambys. Belt’s PH appearance last night was terrible. He really needed to get on base in that position. Maybe take a walk. Something he was good at once upon a time. Now his whole approach seems messed up with the “do some damage” whispers in his ear.
As Dirt said, another downgrade to the D with Pill in LF doesn’t make sense.
I’ve defended Blanco/Torres this season, and I’ll stick by them. Blanco has on OB that’s only behind Posey and Pablo (and way ahead of Pagan), and his BA is currently up 25 points over last season. I think he’ll do better if he isn’t in there every day in order to avoid the 4-40 slumps we used to see from Nate. I don’t care how many bombs he has–that’s not what he is here for nor what Giants ask/expect him to do.
Torres is the perfect compliment–runs well, can play any OF spot, and has some clutch hits. Both these guys run well and bring some speed on the basepaths. In short, they are everything Pill is not.
With Arias being able to fill in some at second, why is Noonan still filling a spot on the bench? Pill, I’m hoping will be used as a PH and in AL parks at the position only the AL fans know about.
I don’t follow. Who would replace Noonan?
Belt’s AB didn’t bother me…he layed off the back foot slider, and is generally good at taking outside pitches where he can extend his arms and whacking them to LCF. Pitch might have been outside the zone, but he can take that one out the yard.
Pill’s AB in the 8th I thought was worse. Posey homered and Pence followed with another rocket over Young’s head to bring tying run to 2b. Ahead in the count, Pill dribbles one weakly to 2b….at that point in the game the pitcher (who had to be shaken) does not want to walk you and put the lead run on base (esp vs. Giants and they way they have hit here). So be more selective, get something you can handle and put a good swing on it to drive in Pence and tie it up.
This was imo a failure I saw a lot last year out of Pill. Ducks on the pond and he’d hit the ball on the ground somewhere and was unable to drive in runs, and that was his job at that point.
I missed Pill’s ab in the 8th. Belt just seems to be up there hacking more.
And I understand your take. Belt’s patience at the plate and selectivity are a good thing.
I wonder if SF hitters when they are on the road don’t get caught up in being more aggressive in yards where they figure it’s easier to go deep. I thought that might have been partly to blame for the sweeps in SD and Mil.
I take away nothing from this game. Wash it off like most games at Coors Canaveral. Hitting and pitching stats have to be taken as aberrations within the context of playing at altitude.
“He really needed to get on base in that position.” Well, they can print the WS tickets now, if things were that easy..We were down one, he had some good cuts.Betancourt was sharp- he got Crawford and Blanco, too.
“Belt just seems to be up there hacking more.”,Actually, that’s what he was doing early. The last 4 weeks, he’s at .303 BA *395* OBP (9 walks) .986 OPS 5 HR 16 RBI…
As to Blanco/Torres: vs, Pill. I’ll take what they give overall over Pill any day. If Pill sticks for long, his role should be an *occasional” start at first against a LHer, and late inning double switches when called for and PH duty.
Here’s some help for anybody freaked about the LF production: pretend Crawford’s numbers are the LFer numbers and Blanco/Torres numbers are the SS numbers? See? All bettah now.
Nodding in agreement with all that.
Thanks for the recent stats on Belt, Twin. It makes sense that his recent uptick is due to being more selective. As to your other condescending comment. It is exactly what ruins this blog for me.
What was condescending ? You took it wrong, if you meant the OF/SS switch on numbers. You have a predispostion to look for stuff that isn’t there in my posts. If I point out what was the reference to in the comment, you’ll think the explanation is condescending.
Yes, Twin. You figured me out. I am scrutinizing your posts for rude and belligerent comments. I don’t really need to look for what is plain as day; “Well, they can print the WS tickets now, if things were that easy” In fact where I once found your posts insightful I now ignore them for the most part. Anyway, I am not really interesting in engaging with you. Have a nice day.
I’m out. Take it easy fellas.
That was a very kind way of saying how stupid it was to suggest he can get on by willing it .
When we have a commenter who was more outraged that I deleted a highly offensive comment about my seizure than the comment itself, well.. *he* has a problem. Maybe some fresh air will help.
Making a bad defense even worse by putting Pill in LF is not the answer. The Giants can score with or without Pill in the lineup, so offense ain’t the problem. Giving up 5- and 6-run innings with alarming regularity is the main issue right now.
There is no imperative that the corner OF and IF positions be high production offensively. Or that the SS position be Mendoza level.Just as the wisdom was that we could tolerate below average offense from Crawford last year, we can tolerate our LF platoon’s lack of pop because of what they give us in other areas. I try to “spice up” my comments, so they don’t read as this one does-dull and plodding. If one misunderstands, sorry about that. Nothing in my comments in the post that Dirt objected to was condescending.
I’m out for the day, too.
Flav, I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award because I admire your blog! Umm, also, I am a Flapper (hehehe). Congratulations 🙂
The award guidelines can be located at this link . . .
http://aroundtheworldwithblade.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/versatile-blogger-award/
Sam P., local Giants fan, texted me to say spotty pitching and good hitting reminds him of the Bonds era. I dunno. I do know that I am worried, anxious, and fretful of these innings where we go into a dark star. By the way, what’s the outer limit on invoking the phrase “it’s early”? June 1?
I’m not too worried about football games at Coors. Par for the course. Or even Toronto, that’s a launching pad. But, the games before when Cain and Voggy have been giving up HRs like crazy at home and other parks — that’s troubling. If they continue to get shelled as a starting staff next the weeks at home and then a roadie to some “regular” parks, then — I would agree that as of June 1, the starters have officially entered into management’s “gotta do something” zone…
So Pill was tearing up AAA. Yawn. What’s he going to do here? At 29, he’s suddenly going to turn into Tony Perez and take over 1B? He’s probably a little better defensively in LF than Pat Burrell. Maybe, but who knows? So, the only place he really can play is 1B. Belt’s been gearing up his game over the past month, building up his BA and hitting stats, has hit some dingers the past 10 days or so, so of course Bochy will put Pill in now over there now against LHers because Pill was lights out against Albuquerque. Bochy thinks Belt is a pussy, pure and simple, because he takes walks, and has a good eye for a big man, and doesn’t go hack city — unless, of course the manager tells him too, against his natural batting style. And, now with Pill back up, Bochy will fuck with Belt just enough to make sure his low opinion of Belt is proved. Since the damn manager is ambivalent, at best, about this kid, the Giants out to just fucking trade Belt for a prospect starting pitcher, and put Pill to start at first base. Somebody would do that trade. After a month or six weeks of Pill, we’ll see what that does for this lineup. If you think that’s a crazy idea, then WTF are they doing otherwise with Pill — it’s temporary nonsense…
And, while I’m ragging on Bochy, I heard snippets of the game last night, one of which was when Bum was losing it. The last batter he walked before the Salami, you could tell easily that Miller basically was saying Bum was done given how that AB went, then said Bum waived off Bochy in the dugout. Next pitch, Salami time. You can call this hindsight, but Bochy F’d that one up. He’s won 2 WS, but he’s not above criticism. You don’t let a 23 year old waive you off, if you think it’s hook time…
Pill is outta here, Machi up.
Ya mean I just wrote how stoopid having Pill up was, and they agreed with me? Thank Keereist. They didn’t even use him for DH in Toronto. I don’t understand that whole Pill interlude…
Bochy must be expecting two more slugfests at Coors, and the pitching cavalry will be needed. Given the first two games, can’t say as I disagree…
I went outside, it was icky..
Yeah, I agree about the thinking on needing pitching. Zits has pitched surprisingly well at Coors, BTW. Zero way to see why. But that’s the Zitman…
Maybe Pill should be studying about now…
I don’t pretend to understand the minor league player rules, but I do know that after a period of years, players within an organization can become free agents, unless they are on the 40 man. And, I’m not sure even that is the deciding factor, if they’ve been around a really long time. I would think a guy like Pill, at his age, would want to be a free agent, and see if another organization would give him a real shot. All the teams know his skills, but maybe if he went elsewhere, the other team might treat him differently if he’s in house. I just don’t see how guys like that can continue being a lifer at AAAA level. I get that playing ball is cool, but how many years can it be cool to be traveling to Albuquerque and Round Rock, with the occasional call up for a week, and you get three ABs?…
In general I agree with that, but Pill’s case is a little different in that he did get a World Series ring, I’m assuming. That’s something that Ted Williams and Barry Bonds and a huge amount of other players never got.
But still, it’s gotta be rough; being a yo-yo between the bigs and minors has to start to grind at some point.
And I think Belt is probably getting fed up with some things, too. There was a moment in the dugout after Belt’s baserunning gaffe the other day when Bochy was talking to him in the dugout, and Belt got pretty animated, and said something to Bochy and just walked off. Maybe just some overall frustration coming out; who knows.
In the same sense as Pill, I can’t feel totally sorry for Belt; he got a World Series ring, too, and will forever be a part of that magical experience. But if he is the firstbaseman of the now and future, they need to treat him like that. There’s NO WAY Atlanta would ever have done something like that to Freddie Freeman, bringing Pill in to take the spot for the day like that.
Agree with you Zum on that Freddie Freeman take. He’s got 2 HRs, 23 RBIs, an OPS of .801 with SLG of .421 compared to Belt at 5, 21, .758 and .419. Freeman’s BA is 50 points higher, sure. But, Belt is a better fielder, and his hitting has been on the gradual upswing now for weeks. I doubt the Braves bring up a journeyman 1B and just toss him into the lineup in place of Freeman for a game or two. It has to be perceived as some kind of negative message by Belt, since they could have used Posey at first base, per normal, not bring up a “hot” AAAA lifer. I’m not making excuses for Belt, he needs to get that average up to above .275 and move up the Slg, too, with his power capability. Yeah, I like the guy, I just see a player IMO that has been fucked with constantly by management like no young Giant I’ve EVER seen, for some reason, and that covers a lot of players There’s no other1B prospect in the Giants org anywhere near ready as far as I know, so I don’t get it…
I would have rather kept Pill on the bench (as a pinch hitter, spot starter and that DH role) and sent Noonan down. I understood having Noonan when Marco was hurting but as a pinch hitter the guy really hasn’t done anything for us (in the last 30 days the guy is 3 for 26). Arias could handle 2B, SS and 3B when the starters need a day off. But I do agree that we need the extra arm so I’m good with that.
Since Scuts is hitting lights out for this month, Noonan is kind of an appendix with a bat. Maybe they’re leery of Scuts’ back, and just want to keep Noonan available in case. Otherwise, he seems wasted on the bench…
Having just one utility infielder is not acceptable. IMO.Not when we don’t have an OFer who can play one of the non-first base infield spots. Keep in mind that Bochy uses Arias defensively late with a lead.
Gyros tied for 3rd in most errors in the NL, tied with Doghairs and Brew Crew. Shoot, I thought they’d be winning that race, but the Nats and Cubs are ahead. This should settle down, I don’t expect this kind of bad D to keep on going…
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
7. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
8. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
9. Tim Lincecum (L) P
Maybe Tim can hold ’em tonite — to 6?…
Think it was Schulman who tweeted every starter has now given up 7 or more runs in a game but Tim. Tim though has given up 6 once and 5 twice.
Well, I’ll be putting my Giants 2013 perfect record on the line on Wednesday. I’m going to the game vs. the Nationals.
Mental errors? Preferable to a physical error any day.
I miss the 95 mph Lincecum fastball. He was an incredibly cool pitcher.
By far, the best seat I ever sat at during a Giants game was a few years ago, and the seats were a few rows behind the visitor dugout, and it just so happened that Timmy was pitching that day. It was Timmy at his finest; the batters just looked like they were guessing all game. Rowand (!) hit a homerun that day, and the Giants won 1-0 or 2-1. I think they were playing the D-Backs, but I can’t remember for sure.
It was a great angle to see Tim’s stuff that day. The D-Back batters were just flailing and guessing.
“let’s see, that pitch looked a little outside to me, but it was close, hey, wait it’s the pitcher up — Strike 3!”
The worst seat I ever had at a Giants game was centerfield upperdeck at Candlestick Park. It was like watching old-fashioned “shadow ball,” where players would play without a ball.
Oooh, that’s gonna concern me more than the LF platoon for Giants this year. Posey up 2 out runner at 2b, the pitcher throws 4 nowhere near the strike zone, and Pence grounds out to SS.
Gotta make em pay for doing that.
So I’ve had a change of heart and now I’m thinking no one is hearing Pill’s footsteps. 🙂
Tough break for him but they need to get thru this tough series in Col with more pitching, apparently
So, are Giants pitchers now deciding to give the opposition a run or two per game due to their own errors, as if team errors are not enough? Bum last night, Tim tonight with a balk and throwing error, sheezus. Do we have the worst fielding pitching staff in the NL? I don’t know if there is such a stat, but I’d like to know who’s worse, and this is not a new development over the last few years…
OK, Tim’s given up the 6 runs I told him he could. That’s enough…
I think he just has to keep his run total under 9 and he gets the win? But I skimmed that part, so what do I know? 🙂
These chasms, these collapses, are disheartening. Sigh. The None of the Awe or None Equation is existentially exhausting.
We knew the high quality pitching window for this team would close at some point. Maybe it’s closing sooner than most expected…
You’re taking too much from this game and series Tom (in my opinion).
he’s probably also referring to the Toronto series (and the entire season, check out their team ERA this year)
No one should assume the Rocks are going to be in the mix this year based upon what you’ve seen the last couple of days. They will fold like a cheap suit as the season grinds on. This is their MO every year. Do well early in the season, especially at home . . . Fast forward to mid-season (or a bit before) and their starting pitching is on fumes, while the bullpen is gasping for air, similar to a fish out of water – praying that any of their starting pitchers can pitch a complete game versus the usual 4-6 innings. Meanwhile, the hitters get into a pattern of doing well at home and a collective face plant on the road. Yawn.
Blade sounds more at home every day with posts like this.
I never said they would make the playoffs, I only excluded them from 4 or 5 teams who have no chance, IMO, of making the playoffs this year. Then Twin went into his Nepal bullshit and it went on from there. They are simply not in the same category as the freaking Astros and the Cubs. This year, they’re hitting .275 at home, .260 on the road and they’re squarely in the hunt right now. The Nepal stuff is just borderline ignorant in response to what they’ve done so far this year..
Their pitching is suspect, true.
But they are hardly terrible, I’m surprised you don’t see the value in Tulo, Car-Go, Arenado, Fowler, Rutledge, and Rosario.
Until this series, Fowler wasn’t doing jack shit – consistent with his yearly MO as teasing everyone with his obvious talent, but never quite producing. This guy is probably the fastest or in the top five speedsters in MLB, yet his stolen base totals are pathetic.
Gonzales is a joke too – Sure, his total stats will always be there at the end of the year, which is perfect for fantasy league, but winning a division? No way because his home/road splits are 180 degrees opposite of each other.
Tulo will be injured by mid season. Book it.
Arenado is a rookie and he’ll probably have a good season for a rookie. In short, he can’t be expected to do too much. Remember, they had no one there before he was called up. The pitchers around the league will catch up to him the next go around. Again, book it.
Rutledge I know nothing about, since he was added to the roster this year and I have been gone.
Helton? He should have retired . . . umm, like 5 years ago.
Rosario is famine or feast at the plate and a mediocre defensive catcher, who is learning how to call a game with the WORST pitching staff in MLB.
The owners SPEND NOTHING to improve this team and WONT SPEND ANY MONEY SHOULD THEY MIRACULOUSLY FIND THEMSELVES IN POSITION TO MAKE A RUN IN JULY/AUGUST.
The GM sucks off the owners annually, so they retain him. Other than Sabean, he has the best gig in MLB because nothing is expected of him . . . umm, besides the occasional blow job. 🙂
Actually, Steve was the only one who put them in the “no chance” category. he’s right.
So tell HIM how idiotiic and short-sighted he is.Get off of my case.
He did Twin – “The Nepal stuff is just borderline ignorant in response to what they’ve done so far this year.”
I say stupid stuff all the time. 🙂
Did you say something about Nepal, too? It’s certainly nothing for Craig to get so worked up over. We all have our predictions in,We’ll all have plenty that are wrong, including Craig. Some of them will probably be idiotic and shortsighted.
“The Nepal stuff is just borderline ignorant in response to what they’ve done so far this year”
I didn’t know the predictions were for April 1 until May 18.
Blade, there are too many incorrect factual mistakes in your break down of the Rockies for me to even address them all. It would take too much time. Suffice it to say, every claim you made in here, FOR THIS THIS YEAR, is incorrect except that Helton should have retired 5 years ago–and that;s not a fact, it’s an opinion I happen to agree with–though note that I didn’t mention anything about Helton being part of this good, young team in my above post.
You have to admit, Outman is a pitcher’s dream name.
certainly better than “Balfour”– seriously, how does he ever close out a game? lol
then again HOMER Bailey has a no-hitter to his credit
May 16th and May 17th, 2011 or 33 meetings ago, the Rockies beat the Giants 2 straight. 🙂
If I am wrong about them at the end of the year, I will own up to it. I’ve never had a problem with the typical incapacity to say the three hardest words to utter in the English language, namely: I was wrong. 🙂
You have to say it 326 times or it doesn’t count. 😉
Goodnight.
On the positive side of things, the Dodgers endured a crushing loss tonight. Gaddis had a great AB and jacked a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 8th off of Janson, and the Braves won 2-1. Capuano watched his potential victory turn into a workout.
3-1, I should say. I forgot about Simmons’s HR right after Gaddis’s.
Zito as “stopper”?
Maybe he can work that Coors mojo again.
Hell, if he only gives up 5, he’s a hero…
I am not used to seeing all these errors, are you?
Like Blade said, the rocks are being revitalised by the Gmen.
Shite
Who cares what the Giants won-lost record is? That is so antediluvian. It would be better if Zito loses 1-0 today than wins 9-6.They’ve got to start bringing that mile-high WHIP down to sea level.
Colorado is so not a contender. Their +26 run differential is a mirage, 30% of it is the result of last night’s game. Three Gold Glovers and a lineup full of studs won’t compensate for their lack of starting pitching. Same with Arizona, there’s got to be a statistical chink in their armor. Bring it on, the Giants are going to WAR Baby!