SF Top 2 Draft Picks Turning Heads Right Away
It was noted here in the comment section last week (I think) but I wanted to shout out to Christian Arroyo who won the MVP of the Arizona Fall League. Sabean took a lot of heat for his first 2 draft picks and while this certainly isn’t an indicator of success at the MLB level, it’s certainly not a BAD thing that your 18 year old first round pick just won the MVP of the Fall league.
He hit .326 in 45 games with 39 RBI’s, an impressive 25 extra base hits and 47 runs scored. Sure, he probably saw nothing but fastballs but it’s still a nice outcome so early in this young man’s career.
Ryder Jones, who blew off my Cardinal to turn pro, hit nearly as well– .3176 in 37 games. Jones is going to take a shot at playing third base but he’s actually considered a good pitching prospect if it turns out he can’t hit at these levels. So far, so good though.
And Sabean and his staff, at least today, deserves huge props for drafting these 2 players much earlier than anyone else had them getting drafted……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Thanks for the update Flav. Nice to hear these two kids are doing well. Equally important, it confirms in my mind, that Sabes knows what he is doing on all matters concerning Giants baseball. Does he make mistakes? Yes, he does. However, he has shown unequivocally that he makes less mistakes then most, if not all the other MLB GMs. We are fortunate to have him in my opinion.
I’ve said the following a few times before, but I will say it again:
Pence has to be brought back. Yes, he can be figuratively absent for weeks at a time, but his season stats always seem to match his career stats. We will probably end up overpaying, but that is the reality (besides, it isn’t my frickin’ money). I love his energy and just seeing him leg out a sure out to the infield puts a smile on my face. Not too many MLB players go 100% all the time like he does. He is inspirational and I think that is an intangible you have to factor into your “stat” mind. Same thing with Pagan. I have no idea how he ever got the bad rep in New York, but here in San Francisco, he has only shown full effort and is inspirational to the younger players.
We need one outfielder (left fielder preferably) and one infield utility player. I have no idea if the latter can be had in-house (Panik????), but Scutaro will become less the answer next year. Get some competition! I’m not certain I like the idea of Belt playing left field, especially at the phone park. He really stepped it up in the 2nd half, so keep him at 1st. Posey is a catcher. He has significantly less value as a 1st baseman.
Panda will need to show a lot at spring training. I love his effort, e.g., the recent infield single where he dived into first was inspirational and speaks to his all out effort. But the fat slob has spent 75% of his career out of shape. This bull shit about giving him credit for losing weight is hilarious. Snarkk is spot on when he says WTF – he should have done this over a year ago. Pablo should be criticized severely for only now losing weight. Personally, I have had it with him and if he can’t man up in Spring training, then get rid of his ass via trade.
All the starting pitchers, sans Zito need to come back. Like you Willie, I am still up in the air about Vogs. Again, if the Giants have the coin – which they undoubtedly do – get 2 free agents to minimize any doubt they have about Vogs. Insofar as Matt and Tim – we have to hope their seasons were anomalies (actually with Tim, I think he is transitioning to a control type pitcher) and they perform much better this season. Who knows?
Relief corps I haven’t seen enough of and I will defer to you guys that have seen these guys day in and day out (albeit, I do like Lopez, Romo and am willing to give Affeldt another chance).
Funny the so called Mel Kiper’s of baseball weighing in on a late first rd and 2nd rd pick as if they really have a freaking clue.
Agree about Hunter. Probably the Willie Mac winner. Believe the G’s will go all out to bring him back. Will have to overpay but what choice do they have?
Speaking of inspirational, how about 64 yr old Diana Nyad!
as studies have shown, the odds of a late first round pick becoming a successful major leaguer are not good. i posted a spread sheet on it before. heck, look at the top ten ten picks from several years. i doubt that that even they are more than 50-50. so yeah, no one has much of a clue. it’s in the nature of the game and in the nature of young men.
‘Panda will need to show a lot at spring training.’ really? he’s the third baseman, steve. and now that he’s taken the extra steps to address his weight, he’s even more entrenched. the idea that he deserves no credit for doing it is nonsense. he could be criticized for not doing it earlier but i can’t believe you really mean that he should also get shit for doing it now. he *has* ‘manned up’ – and he’s done it before- in addressing a problem that many people in all walks of life have been unable to overcome. the animus that is directed towards him bears witness to the truth that obesity is tha last acceptable prejudice. overweight people are seen as fat. lazy, gluttonous, morally defective slobs. panda may or may not finally overcome his condition but the notion that it’s a condition completely under his control is not a notion that can not be supported by fact by outsiders, in any case, it’s likely, at the current rate of playing time, that he will compile the second most at bats on the team- it seems that there are several more svelte and wealthier teammates who could have ‘manned up’ this year.
If they are svelte and in shape and did not perform, so be it. No excuses. To come into camp totally out of shape and stay that way through mid season, again, is not professional. The fact he lost weight mid season shows he can get it done, but chose not to do so before the season and before the contract drive starts…
a couple of things i should be clear about- panda *has* tried losing weight before, so it’s simply not factual to say that he’s only trying now. at least twice he’s tried under the direction of outside help. that he’s regained whatever he’s lost speaks to the pernicious nature of the disease, and even more so in an athlete who stands even more to lose-financially- than, say, a lawyer or an accountant.
Where did I say “he’s only trying now”? Nowhere. Of course we ALL know he’s done this dance before. So, we know he could have done it this PAST offseason. Because he did it the offseason after the 2010 Series where management essentially benched him for the 2010 stretch drive and playoffs for being a blimp. Comparing a pro athlete making millions with every possible health and training aid available to support you to the everyday person with eating issues is ludicrous…
i was responding to this statement: ‘Snarkk is spot on when he says WTF – he should have done this over a year ago.’ he has tried more than once. and, in fact, as i pointed out, the fact that a pro athelete who has millions to lose, has failed to conquer the condition, is even more proof of the difficulty of beating it. you’re an intelligent and learned man- i am surprised that with all the literature on obesity that you would espouse such a pre-21st century pov.
All I want, and I assume what all fans want, is a continuing effort from Panda to keep in shape. He owes that to the organization and his teammates. He has all the support one could possibly have, at the highest levels, to slay the problem, or at least keep it at bay. Nutritionists, trainers, equipment, mental health advisors, whatever. It’s all available to him. All I have read is that the Giants are exasperated with him. His statements last year about how he would work on it, essentially in due time, are on the record, and are what trouble me about this situation. I have some experience with obesity in my extended family. The key element is the desire and dedication and commitment to improve, get better. His words were the exact opposite of that…
and his *continued* efforts prove his ‘desire and dedication and commitment to improve’. i don’t know, nor do any of us, if he will succeed. you are now pursuing a when he did stop beating his wife argument.
I will say this though- you were the only commenter who sided with me on the thread where belt’s wife was ridiculed for her weight.
I don’t see the “beating your wife” analogy in this. Pablo’s own words brought upon himself the fans’ being dubious about his efforts. No to mention the stories about the Giants trying everything to help, to no avail. We know where those stories originated, given the milquetoast beat writer group — the info had to be leaked by management. So, obviously management was intentionally trying to light a fire. That’s one thing this management seems good at — leaking stuff when they see an advantage to it. I don’t like it. Like leaking stories about Belt’s refusal to change his swing. Were it not for Panda’s own words, I’d be dubious about what the Giants said about him. As for Mrs. Belt, I’m not going to rip a guy for his choice of spouse, and certainly won’t rip her, whether she’s big or small or whatever. That’s uncalled for. She’s not getting paid to play 1B, he is…
I disagree completely Twin, but acknowledge the alternative view point that you and most of the media (at least that ontrolled or influenced by the Giants) put forth.
I also disagree that obese people are suffering from some sort of ersatz disease or illness. They are making lifestyle choices which are poor. Personally, I don’t think Panda is “morally defective” either. In my mind, it has nothing to do with morals at all insofar as I am concerned. Again, Panda gives 100% effort on the field. He needs to extend that attitude toward his eating habits. I know from experience that he can change his diet and therefore, his body. I have seen it happen with so many people. Ironically, as of late – he is even an example of that. Discipline, will power, and a recognition of what’s at stake (his career and more important, his life), should be what is on his mind every time he sits down at the dining room table in my opinion.
the medical profession and media is not influenced by the sf giants, steve. and i’m sorry, but neither you or i privy to the why’s of panda’s condition. i do know that that it’s simply not true that he’s only tried this mid-season to address the problem. as to whether it’s a disease, you’ll have to take it up with the ama.
Please point out where I said the medical profession is influenced by the SF Giants??? I don’t put words in your mouth, please don’t put them in mine to make your point. Also, I specified the Giants media, e.g., meaning K & K and Comcast.
Also, I don’t have to take anything up with the AMA or any physician as I said this is “my experience” and “my opinion.” Moreover, anything we say here is our opinion, unless we quote someone or reference a book, article, or column.
the ‘alternate view’ that you disagree with is one supported by the medical profession, so to opine that that view is a media driven pov is not factual, steve. you are cewrtainly are entiteled to your opinion. and i’m entitled to point out that it is driven by what has been described as the ‘last acceptable prejudice’ and that, as i said, neither of us are in a position to judge the circumstances of panda’s condition.
Zito goes today. Why, is anybody’s guess. He’s got that stellar 10+ ERA on the road. They’ve lost every game on the road he’s started. Every game. Does today’s start mean he’s starting the Flapzalooza game? I hope not, that means I’ll drink even more…
Last night Mrs. James slyly wondered if that was to be our fate at the Flapalooza.
Smart lady…
Everyone seems to be acknowledging that, despite a downer year and all the grumbling, this team will come back looking pretty much the same next year. I do wonder what our response would be if Sabes traded, say, Pablo or Belt or Crawford, Pagan, Romo, cash and draft picks for a hard hitting righty OFer and a solid starter. And didn’t sign Lincecum, and added another starter via free agency.
I have no idea whether or not such dealings are even in the realm of possibility in terms of gaining like value from another team and free agency. Just throwing it out there to see if anyone would be comfortable with a scenario of major change.
Hey, I’m trying to diversify my posts 🙂
Good “what if” post James. For me, I don’t think wholesale changes are necessary. More important, I think it is the furthest thing from Sabes mind as well. I think the team’s position is that they had an off year. However, if it happens next year ala Philadelphia – watch how the scythe flies. In short, you wont recognize the team from 2013, much less 2012.
I am up for major changes. Not that they’ll happen. Not the Giants way. We’ve won two recent championships. This season proves you can’t catch the same lightning in a bottle, not that any of us thought that. But, change is inevitable. I welcome it. Tim gone, I’m OK. Panda traded, OK, as long as you get value in return. Others, too. The idea of the Giants playing without Uribe was considered by some just unthinkable after 2010. But, 2012 happened without him. There’s no Willie Mays on this team, no McCovey. As far as I’m concerned, Buster isn’t close, yet, to those icons. Onward, upward, solve the problems. Left field is a problem. Solve it. A crappy bench is a problem. Solve it. Two out of five starters, at least, is a problem. Solve it. That’s what GMs are paid to do. It’s not like they don’t have the money…
i wrote this post a few days ago. i didn’t include petit, and still don’t think he’ll prove to be a keeper. of course i didn’t think gaudin would, either.
‘i think that anything close to a rebuild might come with the pitching staff- with only cain, madbum, affeldt, casilla, and romo locks to return. i expect at least a couple of the free agent pitchers ( lopez, gaudin, timmy, vogelsong) to return. timmy is very much up in the air depending on his performance the rest of the way. zito is gone. rosario, machi, mijares, dunning, and cody hall will fight for a spot or two. i think hembree should make it as the 7th or 8th inning guy although i could see romo going in trade and casilla or hembree closing. so i think they’ll pick up a starter or two in trade or free agency and we’ll see 2 or 3 new relievers. getting to the top pen guys has been a huge problem all year. depending on what happens in the market kickham, surkamp , and escobar could be in the picture for a starting spot. or i could see kickham replacing mijares. all of this is imo, of course.
i think 6 of the 8 starting position players are locks- posey, belt, scooter, crawdad, panda, and pagan. pence or another fa outfielder will be signed and i see a huge scrum for the 3 other outfield spots – quiche, peguero, perez, blanco, herrera, maybe a invitee or two. hector actually quietly improved his approach at the plate if not his defense, so i expect him and arias back. we need another utility guy for the middle infield and it’s hard not to worry about scooter’s health. i could dig trying to get uribe back, he’s had a bit of a rebirth.’
today’s lu, enjoy the game.
.
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
7. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
8. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
9. Barry Zito (L) P
While being obese certainly can be linked to an addictive eating disorder it certainly doesn’t mean that all obese people are dealing with an addiction. My issue with Pablo isn’t that he finally woke up to lose weight but it was the ease in which he says it was done (begging the obvious question of why it wasnt done earlier and maintained)He hired his brother to cook for him. That doesn’t seem that complicated of a step to take. If he was truly dealing with a food addiction I would think that it would take an awful lot more than that including therapy and regular monitoring by a physician included but not limited to taking medication.
But Pablo just said his bro started cooking for him. Where ya been all this time, “bro”?
it *was* done earlier, but he regained the weight. he might again. calling him a fat slob because he has failed is uncalled for and certainly lends great credence to the view that it’s, as i’ve said-the last remainig acceptable prejudice. i’ll ‘copy and paste’ this from dr. david katz of yale, who i’ll opine to be more knowledgeable than any of us on the subject-
‘I want to emphasize that obesity bias is, indeed, shameful. We don’t blame victims of asthma for their asthma — we look for a cause in the interaction of genetic vulnerability and environmental factors, and focus on treatment. So, too, for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and meningitis. By attacking the victims of epidemic obesity, we single it out from other threats to health for no justifiable reason, compound its harms, and divert resources from attacking its causes.’
I’ll write a personal blurb on this topic later that debunks this. As I said, not all obese people are dealing with an eating disorder or an addiction. That is FACT
it has never been claimed that *all* people who are overweight are dealing with an ‘eating disorder or an addiction’. it *has* been claimed, and is *fact* that they are subject to unjustifiable prejudice. and, craig, with all due respect, i’m afraid that a ‘personal blurb’ won’t debunk what dr. katz said.
I find myself LQTM at your new rock solid confidence in what a dr says– this, after telling us for years not to trust them, get 2nd opinions, do your own research etc…
Now that you’ve found one that supports your opinion, it’s like “dr says it, it must be true.”
Too funny
there’s no contradiction at all- and i don’t rely one doctor’s opinion- as i’ve made rather clear. dr. katz is not a rogue doc i’ve found- his opinion reflects that of the ama -what *you* have said doesn’t even refute it- an institution i do respect. that obesity is a condidition to which it’s suffererers are subjected to prejudice is not an opinion that i need more support for that than has been shown here.
you are unclear on the point- we don’t know if pablo has an eating disorder, we do know that obesity bias is indeed ‘shameful’.
Post game yesterday, Lurie had Vida and Bill Laskey on KNBR for guests. Laskey said something very provocative, and somewhat brave. Basically, though he said he wasn’t, he called out Posey and the Giants for protecting Posey too much, and for Posey/Bochy not calling pitches properly as a result. Laskey said Lincecum gets in trouble when he’s throwing too many fastballs, he couldn’t believe where in some games, Tim was throwing multiple fastballs in a row. And, that Posey was calling too many fastballs (or that Bochy was actually calling them from the bench, he thought), so Posey wouldn’t get dinged too much from Tim’s stuff in the dirt. Other pitchers, too, not just Tim. Lately, Tim’s been throwing lots more of his breaking stuff, with Posey having to work more, and the results have been far better. Remember a while back there was some hoo ha of Zito saying something about not being on the same page with Buster on pitch calls? This goes to my overall question of why they protect Posey so much. Get me some more hitters, and they won’t baby Posey so much…
Boosting on salty’s early post, here’s a link to Dyana Nyad swimming from Cuba to Florida. 53 hours, never out of the water. No shark cage. 64 years old. Sheezus, I better get moving on getting in shape. I’m nominating her as Panda’s offseason trainer…
http://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/US-swimmer-near-end-of-Cuba-to-Florida-attempt-4780768.php
I’m basing my opinion about whether he has a food addiction or not from the actual words that he used (and team officials have corroborated) that his bro started cooking healthy food for him. If that’s all it was, and we have to take him at word and not guess what else it could have been. And I’m sorry, but just deciding to eat healthy does not suggest he has been dealing with an addiction
i never said he has a food addiction, i don’t know why he’s overweight. maybe he does just eat too much, as if that’s cause for the animus directed towards him. as to what his words show- they show that he’s trying, again, to lose weight. i’m not arguing this anymore, no person i know, or want to know, would do anything but applaud his efforts. the *fact* that *we do not know* the circumstances that contribute to his condition do not mean that the worst should be presumed.
Here we go.
2 Zito walks to start an inning…
Sigh…
How many $$ would Zito have lost had he retired mid-season? He is no longer a major leaguer.
there is no magic left in that arm. sigh, none.
Seriously. I paid over $50 a few months back to see the Flapalooza game. I don’t want to see Zito pitch. I don’t. I’ve seen enough of him, including several starts at ATT over the years. I don’t care whether they give him a farewell start at ATT like he’s a retiring Juan Marichal or something — hell, they sold Marichal in the offseason, he didn’t get a real farewell game that I remember. Zito’s friggin career 62-79 with the Giants, with a 4.62 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Maybe we should give a belated celebration for these guys that had much better Giant careers: John Burkett: 67-42; Bob Bolin 73-56; Kirk Reuter: 105-80; Shawn Estes: 64-50; Ron Bryant 57-55. The list goes on…
In this life it is not who or what you reach for, the METS, the Kardashians, it is the reaching that counts.
Go Gigantes!
Twin, I’ll let you have your fantasy of obesity as a disease being an irrufutable fact. However, the reality is that many people disagree with your position. Mentioning one physician is hilarious. You might as well bring up “Joe the bartender” says blah, blah, blah. Equally misleading is stating the AMA has taken the position of it being a disease . . . Umm, yeah they did that a “long time” ago on June 13th, 2013. In effect, nice try about the 21st century mumbo jumbo in response to snarkk being an ” intelligent and learned man” and should know better.
The fact of the matter is this Twin – There is much disagreement on whether obesity is in fact a disease. Go to this site and see for yourself – http://obesity.procon.org/#Background . . . Pay particular attention to the Pro and Con arguments.
there is no dispute that it’s the last acceptable prejudice. or that *you* have no idea of the circumtances that make up pablo’s condition. you are trying to make this a simply case of whether pablo has a disease or not and while that can be argued, you choose to ignore what can’t can’f be argued- the prejudice to which overweight people are subjected. as to dr. katz, i only cited him as a reputable expert, the idea that you and craig infer, that he’s the only one i could cite, is absurd. i am looking forward your experts, the ones that refer to the obese as ‘fat slobs’..
Regarding the idea that I “. . . have no idea of the circumstances that make up Pablo’s condition.”
Umm, actually I do Twin. Essentially, it has to do with him taking in more calories than he is burning via exercise. What’s your theory? 😉
steve, if you read the background of your link, you’ll notice that even those organizations who have yet to classify obesity as disease, nearly all have been simply not taken an official stance.on the other hand, the ama, fda, irs, world health org, and the american college of gastroenterology are all cited as considering it a disease.those groups are comprised of, uh, several doctors,
although i agree it is still debatable, many of the cons in the piece you cite are not debatable- they are simply untruths – like the blanket statement that ‘Obesity is the result of sedentary lifestyles and not illness”. and others have the unsmistakable scent of the moral defect argument-‘obesity is a matter of personal responsibility’.
the smiley guy that you concluded your comment with was welcome and has convinced me to finally drop this, and i’m tired, as well. see ya some other day.
Yeah, this is a “agree to disagree” deal without being disagreeable (is that the saying? I’m a bit exhausted myself and can’t remember). Anywho, get some rest Twin.
But be ready for round 2 tomorrow! 🙂
IMO, the ubiquitous presence of high fructose corn syrup in the American diet is a huge reason for the explosion of obesity in this country over the last several decades. It is everywhere in processed foods, and is a horrible food additive that has a high glycemic index, higher than table sugar, and is a contributor to adult onset diabetes, also ramping up in this country in huge proportions the last 20 years. Look at anything you eat that is processed, not necessarily sweet. Chances are that HFCS is in there in some amount. Brought to you by Archer Daniels Midland, the corporate food lobby, and big agriculture…
Just for the hell of it. A crazy day at the Stick.
April 18, 1993 – Braves 12, Giants 13.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Braves 5 0 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 9 1
Giants 0 3 3 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 1 13 16 3
IMO, that’s one hell of a line up.
Willie McGee RF
Darren Lewis CF
Will Clark 1B
Matt Williams 3B
Barry Bonds LF
Robby Thompson 2B
Royce Clayton SS
Kirt Manwaring C
Dave Burba P
Burba only lasted the first inning. Mike Jackson with the win and Bedrock took the loss for the Braves.
Last year that line drive out by Posey doesn’t get caught; it’s a foot higher or wider and drives in the 2 RBIs to get us back in the game…
Good breaks have definitely been hard to come by this season.
In the Quest For 4th Place, the Padres are not going away quietly.
“Essentially, it has to do with him taking in more calories than he is burning via exercise.” Wow, that’s kinda like my runs scored versus runs allowed algorithm! 🙂
Glad you’re paying attention James. Yes, I did that purposefully. Ha.
Tomorrow’s lesson is a bit more difficult, where we will cover multiplication tables. 😉
Jean Machi is angling to become a new bleeding heart favorite of mine. All he has to do is continue to put up good numbers, and, before the end of the year, give up a crushing HR or two that raises everyone’s ire.
well, it’s tough to give up a crushing home run when you’re down 15 games.
What, you’re not as amped as the rest of us over the race for 4th?
5th has so much more historical significance…actually they’re squarely in it with a 26 game winning streak and a little luck…
i’d forgotten how addictive being the moral compass was. now if i can recapture basic grammar…
15? It’s 21 and mounting.
before this game they were 15 out of the playoffs. but it was a joke, capon.
Were you a big Tyler Walker fan?
No Zito for Saturday. It can’t happen.
Having said that, Zito starting on Saturday would be “very Bochy.” Giving Zito a goodbye start at AT&T for reasons no one cares about.
Panda grounds out to the catcher? Damn, time to flip the Q.
Wow, this months-long inability to get runs in from scoring position with < 2 outs is maddening…
There is a certain, sick part of me that WANTS to see Zito pitch Saturday. Just to take it all in and really reflect on what a long, strange trip it has been with him in Orange and Black. If it could be his last start ever as a Giant, I’m even more intrigued.
I don’t know how accurate the MLB site, but it lists the Friday Giants starter as “TBA” and the Saturday starter as Cain.
Sorry, long post. But over the past few weeks, I have found the discussions here interesting about “what went wrong” this season, and also the statistical analyses from some of the Flap’s resident stats experts. And trust me, all of you are better at stats than I am. I’m a complete qualitative guy, not at all quantitative. But you have inspired me to try to be more quantitative in my own analyses, not just observational and empirical. And James, some of this is related to your repeated assertions that the pitching is mainly to blame, which qualitatively, I just have not been able to fathom. So, in my quest to “learn from the masters”, as they say here in China, I am attempting to quantitatively understand this disaster of a season. Not to try to prove you wrong, James… just to try to understand your thinking, because you seem so sure that the pitching is to blame, when all empirical evidence I have seen is to the contrary, that the (lack of) offense is to blame.
For purposes of this discussion, I am not concerned with comparisons between this year and last year (or even multiple previous years). I am only concerned with what the hell happened between the end of May, the end of the 1st third of the season (the first 54 games), when the G’s were in pretty good shape (over .500, near the top of the division), despite relatively terrible starting pitching, and the end of July (actually, statistically, thru August 2nd, the next 54 games, the 2nd third), when they had dropped off the planet in the standings. So, by my count, fallible as it may be, here are the stats for wins/losses, runs scored, and runs allowed, for the 1st 54 games, April and May, and the 2nd third (55 to 108 games, June and July, including thru August 2nd) of the season:
1st third, wins-losses: 29-25. A handful of games over .500 and near the top of the division.
2nd third, wins-losses: 20-34. And sinking like a stone.
1st third, runs scored: 243. Runs allowed: 245. Not stellar, especially the pitching. Way too many runs allowed. But the offense compensated for it, and the team was over .500 and very much in contention.
2nd third, runs scored: 161. Runs allowed: 216. The pitching actually improved, thankfully, almost 30 fewer runs allowed in the 2nd third over the 1st third. But the offense? Whoa. More than 80 fewer runs scored in June/July than in April/May. I’ve seen the stats analyses that the pitching allowed WAY too many more runs than what the offense generated. Um.. yeah… that’s because the offense generated 82 fewer runs in the 2nd third than in the 1st third… The season was over at that point.
Were those pitching numbers through 108 games stellar? Hardly. But I’m sorry, I just do not see how the pitching can be blamed for the team dropping out of contention, when the offense died in June and July and effectively ended the season. Pitching not up to what we were used to, absolutely. To blame for this train wreck? Hell no.
Most of us here, I think, have bemoaned the lack of runs or timely hitting. More runs!, we have cried. James, you said a thread or two ago: “If the Giants had 70 more runs scored, they’d still be under .500 with the current staff’s performance” (I assume you meant the pitching staff). Not sure I follow. By my count, to date thru Labor Day, the G’s have lost 21 games by 1 run. Plus another 11 games by 2 runs. Assuming those “70 more runs” didn’t come in, say, 7 bunches of 10, but rather (and more realistically) were spread out over the season, isn’t it probable that a shit-load of those 21 one-run losses and 11 two-run losses would actually have turned into wins? With 70 more runs, you possibly turn half of those 32 “close losses” into wins, and the G’s are near the top of the National League in wins-losses. And our heads would be nodding once again.
In conclusion, I apologize to you, James, if this “novella” seems like it’s attacking you. It’s not. I really do admire you for your stats acumen. You’re so good at that stuff, that it’s likely you will be able to completely debunk everything I’ve said here. You and I have had our “moments” (I remember some rather testy exchanges about Freddy Sanchez back in 2010), but you and I also were, IMO, the strongest supporters of Belt early on. And I think you and I agree politically, from the limited such discussions here. I would love to raise a glass of (insert here your favorite beverage) sometime with you. But while the pitching has not been great, the lack of offense in the 2nd third of this season is why this season was in the tank by August 1st. In my oh so humble opinion.
What this means for next year, who knows. I tend to think it means that at least a couple major changes need to be made in the starting 8. The pitching will always be tweaked, year by year, but these guys in the field and at bat, even if they are only one year removed from a championship, clearly aren’t going to get it done again. What would I do? I don’t know. I make about 30k a year teaching business in Asia. I trust Sabean to figure it out. Maybe along the lines of something earth shattering like the Matt Williams trade. Hell, I’m in China, what do I know….. Well, I do know that God is a Girl, and that she loves baseball…
The End.
Besides being a girl, God also plays bass, she’s 9 feet tall and her legs never seem to stop, but when they do, heaven. I didn’t know she loved baseball, but I’m not surprised.
excellent, thoughtful post. I’m going to re-blog it on the new thread. I don’t normally write them in the evening but I wanted to get this one out and I don’t want this to get *left behind*
Awesome post Paul!
one final note on panda- what i heard is that he just stopped having dinner with petit, mijares, and machi…
😉