Finding New Ways to Lose
That was about as uninspiring as you could get. A day off to clear their collective head from the sourness of the weekend and they showed up flat. And what else can you say about Matt Cain? You can talk all you want about the win stat and how it doesn’t matter but we’re closing in on July and he has 1 win. That’s decidedly un-horselike.
And it doesn’t get any easier with Sale set to mow through our lineup. They’ve lost 7 of 8 and while we also had streaks of losing 7 of 8 in 2010 and 2012, this one seems to have a darker hue to it. But maybe I’m still just bent about those 3 unreal losses to Colorado…….
I’m not sure if Bochy could have filled out a shittier final 4 in today’s line up. Sale’s gonna strikeout 36 today
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Sale being a tough LHP means no Colvin til AZ I guess. With Pagan still out that leaves a big hole in the OF.
Do you really want to see more of Hector? Maybe Hicks bat resumes contact with ball. Actually I think Bochy deserves props for getting these guys into the LU–meanwhile, regs need to make more good stuff happen.
I’m more concerned with D, which has had unfortunate breakdowns at worst times lately. They generally seem to play better behind Hudson, who works quickly and throws strikes. Guy’s been a lifesaver
Yikes. At what point do we REALLY start to worry about Cain? He’s what, 9-15 in the past year point five? Plus he has an era in the mid 4s? Zitoesque?
Perez again? The hope is we win this bitch 1-0.
Pressure’s on Huddy to stop the skid again.
I’ve really started worrying about him right after they gave him that monster deal. It’ll come back to bite…
Hmmm…this line-up is different than the one posted on CSNBA, where Morse is DH and Arias is at 1st.
1. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
2. Hunter Pence (R) RF
3. Buster Posey (R) C
4. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
5. Michael Morse (R) DH
6. Joaquin Arias (R) 1B
7. Brandon Hicks (R) 2B
8. Ehire Adrianza (S) SS
9. Juan Perez (R) CF
RHP — Tim Hudson (7-2, 1.81 ERA)
YEah the ont posted doesn’t show DHs.
Yep. And it shows both Arias and Hicks at 2nd. Granted, 2nd base has been a bit problematic, but throwing out two guys to the same position may be a bit extreme.
I agree with the numbers on Cain. His ERA and WHIP are not awful at 3.84 and 1.176, respectively. But I did notice that his BB/9 is the highest it has been (3.5), and his HR9 is also highest it has ever been at 1.4. SO9 is down to the lowest since his rookie year at 7.1 and SO/W is also at an all-time low (again, except for his rookie year) at 2.00.
Bad news when your starter today is the last to notch a win in the team’s last 8 games.
Need a W today in a bad way. Stop the bleeding Hudson, please…
Also, I guess Pagan’s back is still sore. Not sure if anyone posted, but he got an MRI yesterday. No structural damage (good), but definitely inflamation (not good). Hope this is something from which he returns, soon. We really need El Caballo Loco in the OF.
Pavs tweet: Bochy said Pagan is in Scottsdale today, getting more tests on back. They still don’t think it’s a DL thing.
Oh, shit. That can’t be good. Must mean he’s out for the year.
Guess the Cubano gets a start pretty soon.
So the JUne Swoon is in full effect, hopefully da Bums and the other west teams don’t decide to get hot.
The 6-9 hole in the LU today is a black hole. What’s the over/under in total hits from those 4 today? Maybe two, if we’re lucky. All of a sudden, things are looking a little dicey. As for Pagan’s back, whatever. Broken record, but I don’t believe anything the Giants say about player medical issues. Remember Scutaro was going to be ready for opening day? If Pagan is out for any substantial length of time, the Giants are in trouble. Belt needs to come back soon…
Desperate times, desperate measures. We need a new BBOTD…
I have been calling for a change for weeks…yes, desparate times…Bucky Beaver must go…
It’s a scrubini deluxe lineup today for the Giants.
Last night, after HanRam left the Dodger game with a hand injury, they put some recent call-up dude in the game that I’ve never heard of, Train-funnel, or something, and of course, the guy hits an HR the first time he bats in the game.
And the Dodgers have a bubble machine in their dugout now. After HRs, someone flips on the bubble switch. Oh yeah, the Dodgers are starting to feel cock-of-the-walk about themselves.
Haven’t seen any recent news on Derek Law via googling. I consider that to be not good news. Last I heard, they had diagnosed an elbow injury, and he was seeing the team orthopaedist in Scottsdale. Nothing more detailed. I can’t help but think it’s the dreaded TJ, but haven’t heard anything about a visit to Dr. Andrews. If he does down there, well, its siyonara for a year. Are any of these fireballing young guys these days safe from elbow injuries? Apparently not…
I read somewhere he’s seeing Dr Andrews this week for the dreaded 2nd opinion.
Oy…
Schulman at the end of the Abreu article.
Funny how it went from not needing an MRI to TJ.
But back pain is entirely unpredictable in my experience.
Well, it explains a lot. Pagan’s offense and defense had went downhill in the past week and a half or so, ever since that sprint from first to home against the Mets, it seems like.
If Blanco and the bottom 4 in today’s LU attempted a bunt every time up, they probably would get more hits than swinging away. Then, they could use their speed to pressure the D. Yep, 20 bunt attempts, see what they could get. Their averages say they should get maybe 4 hits among them, with 20 ABs. But, this ChiSx pitcher today is nasty. Could they get at least 4 hits by bunting every single time out of 20 ABs — I think so. What a story it would be…
at least the Giants are not playing in DC…it is sweltering beyond belief today. The Nats beat reporter described conditions from last nights game that the air was so thick you had to taste it before you could even breathe…
It was mentioned in the pre-game show that lefties are something like 2-35 against Sales this season.
2-36 now.
Seriously, my first thought with today’s lineup is…..don’t get no-hit.
A hit! Cool.
But….3 Ks in the first inning.
Watching on WGN, looks like I’ll be hearing “He gone” alot today.
Here we go again…
GH, big, big question – How is Gio Gonzalez going to do today against Houston? Are we going to see the guy that was nails from last season or the clueless fuck he’s been this season? I have him starting in one of my pro leagues this evening, but if you can convince me otherwise – I’ll sit him.
Blade, I think the Nats got burned out after leaving ATT and bats fell asleep. Houston probably comes back and wins one here tonight I think…
Also, does this weather you talked about earlier benefit him and Washington?
I say a push on the weather…
Fuck
So, when’s the next World Cup game?
The one time Hicks hits the ball.
Rob “Meathead” Reiner just visited the WGN booth. Said he grew up a big Willie Mays and NY Giants fan, but when Mays was traded to Mets, he became a Dodgers fan, and said he hopes the Sox keep beating up the Giants. So screw him and his crappy films (except Spinal Tap).
Yes, a swipe tag that actually worked.
Oh joy.
Anf there’s your ballgame.
Aye aye aye…is it too early to begin scouting out ledges???
And one swipe tag that didn’t.
Zippo for 25 and he gets a hit? Giants definitely pissed off the baseball Gods a couple of weeks back.
Sale isn’t your run of the mill Sherpa AAAA pitcher, i.e., 4-0 might as well be 12-0.
True, but his pitch count is getting high and he’s hit two Giants, he might not be at his best today.
Yep. Think he is up to 80?
Could have sworn that was Pagan out in center. LOL
Off the schneid anyway.
All we need now is a big fly.
Alright, got two back.
And give up 3 more.
Yeah, that probably was the icing to this fiasco.
Looking forward to the off-day tomorrow.
For us, not them!
Another Atlee-esque showing in the White Sox’s park.
Wow did Huddy talk to Cain before the game on how not to get anyone out?
hic-Ks.
June swoon? NOPE, I suck. I get mlb tv last week and the SFGs go on a losing streak. I know it is me.
Hey, a bases loaded RBI with no one out.
And nothing else. This is getting sick.
Thanks Edd:)
Blade I responded above…Nats beat writer wrote that the Nats looked like they had weights on their legs during bp yesterday.
TY
Wow. Way to cash in on that rally.
The big guys fail with the bases loaded again. Too much of that going on lately.
The Giants never get a hit after Krukow says “one to measure, one to rake”
I wish he’d shut up with that one.
Hate to start getting anxious, but not a good 10 days.
I wrote early May about the idea of David Price. I don’t think he has shown much since then to make a deal that would involve a bundle of top pitching prospects. But the Smardjcubalohic I think may be worth the prospects. Even though he is 29ish, he has got a much fresher arm IMO than Price and Cain for that matter.
I would go a couple of big pitching prospects and maybe they can throw Bonifacio in for us:)
I just don’t like Utley on a personal level after our past altercations with him..F Utley…
Get anxious.
Gotta give it up for Blanco. He’s done some nice stuff lately.
Although he misjudged a fly or two this week. 🙂
Making a game of it anyway. Good to see us not rolling over like puppies.
Well, they have three more outs to get it done. Again…too many squandered opportunities with RISP. Unless they rally they will have lost 9 of the last 10. I think that is enough and it is time to start a win streak (although I’m having trouble remembering what a win streak is…).
it’s 8 of the last 9….that’s bad enough
At least Casilla is looking good. You take your positives where you can when you are on a bad patch as our Giants have been…
Well, your pitcher going 4.2 innings, 13.50 ERA, and 2.79 WHIP rarely results in a win. Pfffttt!
So many wasted chances.
Are the Giants the new Drs without borders? Everyone is getting healthy off of them. I can’t believe that I’m hoping to win at least one in AZ, now that’s sad.
Damn. Let’s hope they right the ship in AZ. The desert is usually a shitty place to right a ship, though.
Yeah, but it’s dry heat.
El Tiburon Blanco sighting. Good day for him at the plate. Ditto: Adrianza and to a degree, Perez. Odd man out is Hicks. Was holding fire on which moves SF should make. Time now to press the Panik button and see what he has. DFA Hicks. After a stellar spring power outburst he has hit a wall. Bringing Panik up now would give the Brass sufficient evaluation time to see whether or not he makes the grade or its time to seek help elsewhere.
Not too worried about Hudson. No stopper today. He just didn’t have it. Hittable. Only one walk and not much blame on the defense. Gutierrez was good and Casilla is back in form. Part of the reason for a quick call to Fresno is that with Cain anything but sweet these days and Timmy and Vogie being yo-yos our primary need is another reliable starter. Then comes 2B and then possibly another bat for the bench. If Perez still has an option (think he does) then he could go to Fresno should SF pick up a professional hitter, perhaps cheap because of being a bit long in the tooth.
Agree with the comment about Panik. No harm, no foul bringing him up. Draw straws from our scrubs (Adrianza, Perez, Hicks) to see who goes down or eenie meenie always worked. Whatever . . .
As much as I would like to see Panik, according to a recent article, Giant’s brass said they will not bring him up anytime soon. So, don’t hold your breath, fellas.
Well, Blanco and the group of 6 to 9 hole guys got 7 of the 14 hits today. Way more than I expected. Didn’t see or hear much of it, but Blanco apparently had a fine game at the plate. He needs to keep it up if Pagan is down. As for the starting pitching, ouch. Two games in a row with the SF starters getting rocked. Something is not right in rotation land. Right now, rocky is the work for the rotation. Meanwhile, I WOULD bring Panik up at the end of the month for a look see. Hicks has hit a wall, Adrianza doesn’t do anything for me. Panik’s had 1820 PAs in the minors, with a full season of AA, now 312 PAs at AA. That’s around 1000 more minor league PAs than Belt had when they brought him up. I’d like to see what he can do for a few weeks to see if they’ve got something, or need to make a trade to get someone. The one thing that looks dicey with Panik is that he’s got more strike outs than walks 33SOs to 26 BBs so far this year.
I’m bringing up Gillaspie again because he had 4 hits in 2 games vs. the Giants. He’s going pretty well at third, and in 50 games hitting .323 with .806 OPS. He didn’t show any of this with the Giants. Was it coincidence, or did he blossom because he went to an organization that knows better than the Giants how to develop position talent? I don’t know, but I find it weird (yes, I know it happens) that a fairly clueless batter with the Giants within the space of a year from leaving them, turns into a fairly good hitter…
I think the Giants were expecting a little power from him, and he has basically none. Zero homeruns this season so far for the Sox. I’m glad he’s found a place in Chicago, but I think the Giants did all they could for him. I’m skeptical the Sox can get to where they want to get with a 3b hitting zero homeruns, but who knows?
Did any of the Giants in these two games bunt towards him and challenge his fielding ability? I can’t remember any of them doing that. He’s not developed yet into a strong fielder.
He did hit 13 HRs last year for the Sox, but batted .245, so he’s obviously changed his batting approach quite a bit this season. Going more with the “Kuiper approach.” But, hey, Kuiper played many years in the majors. Although, zero HRs is easier to take from 2b, like Kuiper. But then again, the Sox seem to get a lot of HRs from other guys, so maybe Gillaspie fits well for the longterm with the Sox.
It would only be human for Sandoval to daydream once in a while about what kind of power numbers he could put up in a more hitter-friendly homepark. Now’s a great time to get him re-signed, but it’s looking like Sandoval is going to be testing the market after the season’s over.
Gillaspie was out of options and didn’t do well with his chances in SF. He says he has matured while in Chicago.
http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/conor-gillaspie-has-grown-white-sox
Nice link. Did Gillaspie ever play 2nd? If he did, we could use a .323 and an .806 OPS over there right now…
Kuiper did hit that majestic wall scrapper HR off Steve Stone, Zum !
And he never forgets to give him a rash over it! 😃
Only seeing this on my espn app but it said “manager Hurdle ejected for arguing review.” If that’s as bad as it sounds, I love it. Hurdle is a dipshit, I can’t stand the way he manages. So he throws the challenge flag and then doesn’t like what the guys in NY decided so he argues with the umpires on the field who didn’t make the review call? Lol, enjoy your clubhouse beers, idiot
Now they are talking cortisone and epidural for pagan? Getting a queasy deju vu feeling.
Never a good sign…
Still, the problem has been the pitching. Anyone have their ERA for June vs runs scored?
Not sure why the team doesn’t seem to win when Pagan is hurt. They are going to have to cure that problem, and fast. Hmmm, me thinks there was too much gleeful talk about “if the Giants just go .500 the rest of the way they’d still win 94 games” or whatever. They need to get their heads in each game, one at a time, starting with this next one. As for Panik, story says mgmt. still wants a longer look at Adrianza……………. Actually, I had a faint hope that the team would leave Chi-town with Schmardiwhoozee in tow. Maybe later.
To top this day off, I read where the team plane was stuck in Chicago for a few hours because of the weather. As their doctor and lawyer, I suggest the Team drinks heavily tonight.
They got the Cuban on deck. . . couldn’t do any worse than tthe nothing we already got . . .
All that talk about “team chemistry” was dandy when they were winning. Let’s see if that chemistry can snap them out of this. Really, just a dreadful stretch, and maybe it wouldn’t seem so “dark”, as someone called it here, if it hadn’t happened last year, too. Too recent a bad memory. The good thing about skids is they’re usually temporary, and this one has gone on about as long as most skids do. I would really hate to see that lead in the West shrink to nothing.
The Sherpa luge team remembered they are pathetic on the road and have been acting accordingly – rolling over for the Bums. When you want the c*cksuckers to show up, they disappear. They did the same thing when we needed their help at the end of the season to make the playoffs in 2011 . . . Worthless POS
http://www.purplerow.com/2011/8/30/2395031/diamondbacks-9-rockies-4-rockies-play-spoiler-against-giants-once
Losing sure gets old. Sniff…….
Kershaw two-outs away from a possible no-hitter.
Ramirez ruined the perfect game with an error.
Kershaw gets his no-hitter, and LA pretty easily sweeps the Rockies. It puts an exclamation point on how ridiculous it was for the Giants to lose all 3 of those games to the Rockies.
Ramirez may have made the throwing error, and ruined the perfect game, because his finger was still hurting. The way he was reacting to the injury last night made it look like it had been dislocated or something, but it turns out that Ramirez was just doing his usual drama-queen act. Still, Ramirez kept Kershaw from a perfect game, and HanRam can suck on that reality for a while.
I think one-hitters have become rarer than no-hitters.