Is Leake a Hundred Percenter?
You know, one of those players who’s only good to go if he’s 100%? Because something is not adding up here. The Giants put Leake on the DL on August 7th with Bochy saying that “if it were late September, he might have been able to push through the injury.” That was 10 days ago and he was scheduled to pitch today. Now we find out he’s being pushed back again?
Was there a setback no one is talking about? Are Leake and the Giants not on the same page? Word last night was that he can pitch fine but that he’s at 65% and he has trouble getting off the mound to field the ball. Why would the Giants say he’s scheduled to start if he can’t field his position?
I couldn’t trust the Giants medicos less when it comes to diagnosing an injury so maybe this is just another case of them bungling a case. Or maybe Mike Leake is A Hundred Percenter. Now we trot out the bedraggled Voggy again and hope he can gut out another good start.
At this point, I think I’d rather have a pitcher go out there who I know has the guts to be out there than a guy who, frankly, I’m not certain wants to be out there……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Hey, y’all complain about your medical staff as well? I thought that was just a Cardinal thing!
I’d stack our medicos up against the worst in all of baseball, maybe in all of sports, against anyone’s! Nice win last night. The radio here is blaring about why we didn’t start Posey and fearing the upcoming Cain start…….
I honestly thought Posey had won the game for you last night on that long drive off Rosenthal. I imagine tonight’s going to be another one of these pitching duels, though I’ll have to admit missing Leake doesn’t disturb me. He’d been tough on the Cards earlier this year in Cincinnati.
Nope. It’s a fan-of-any-team-you-can-think-of thing.
Now this. What the fuck next? Must be an even year. But you never know. If any team can pull itself together and grab another ring it’s the Giants. Been there. Done that. And more than once. Sooo much now hinges on Vogie’s start and next on Cain getting it together. These next two will tell us a lot. Time to shuffle us some Cards.
I think Leake is a 100 Doesn’tgiveashitbecausehe’sarentalthatdidn’twanttobeinSFinthefirstplace Percenter.
In other injury news, do you think the Giants are being vague about Panik just so Utley will sign with them?
Mmm, tough to say Flav. Leake has started 94 games in last 3 yrs., never less than 30 while playing for the Reds (who suck) in that bandbox of theirs. I’m sure this decision isn’t taken lightly, esp after Heston couldn’t go very far last night.
Blanco got a bad break on the carom. A RH batter belts one the other way into RC; Blanco just misses it and ball bounces back the other way off the wall. P might have had triple anyway but carom took ball away from Blanco and Pence.
Reynolds on mlb tv shot down Papa’s theory as well. Said the bobble messed up Craw who was in perfect position to flip it. Also said he thought Craw might have had enough time with his arm to double up Reynolds by just going right to the bag and throwing as opposed to spin.
Hey, it’s not like funky IF plays haven’t had a hand in Cards Giants games…this one just went other way.
Bob Nightengale @BNightengale 26m26 minutes ago
Chase Utley likely to stay with #Phillies rest of season, GM Ruben Amaro tells SportsRadio WIP
evidence suggests Leake is not simply being a pussy. As WillieD noted above, he’s started a lot of games over the last 3 years. AND this is his walk year. You’d think that if he could be out there, even if just for himself, he’d be out there……
Leake is an FA after this season, so this would be a chance to showcase himself and add some Ws/improve his ERA and other stats, as opposed to looking like a “whirlpool” guy who bailed on his teammates in the midst of a pennant race. If that’s his move word will get around pretty fast.
What a POS game last night. I, like Daniel, thought Posey had put us up with his drive.
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda…we had our chances (corners with one out and Blanco pops-up a bunt, etc.). Wash that shit off and get ’em today.
I’m not buying it on Leake being a wuss, or a “100 percenter.” As WillieD says, the dude has stacked-up the starts over the past few years, and there is absolutely no logical reason he would dog it here with his impending free agency. I suspect there was a set-back of some kinds, and why should we expect our medicos to begin disclosing this kind of shit now when that has NEVER been their MO.
Funny that Daniel and the Cards fans have the same types of conversations.
I’m not suggesting Leake is quitting on the team. Quitting and being a “Hundred Percenter” are two different things.
I didn’t say anthing about him quiting. I just don’t think he is a guy who dogs it, and as WD pointed out, his number of starts support the theory pretty well. I think it was probably a minor set-back and they are being cautious, and as usual, are not throwing us (the fanbase) a bone.
If you’re not suggesting it, you’re coming as close as you can without suggesting it. The Giants of the past 5 years have been super conservative when it comes to injuries. They don’t want relapses and that’s how they do it with all their injured players. When Leake does come back, let’s get him back for good. Coming back too soon only invites disaster.
Just my 2 bits worth.
I thought I made it clear that I’m not suggesting he’s quitting on the team. But I think it’s valid to question whether he’s pushing as hard as he can to get back out there. Whether you guys want to believe it or not, there are lots of Hundred Percenters out there, across all sports, at all levels……..
I never said there are not a boatload of 100 percenters out there, either. But based on his past performance, I just don’t think there is enough known to say Leake is in this group. At the end of the day, we all have our opinions. I do not thing Leake is dogging it. Whatever happened to sit him back, I think it probably legit. And I am with LJ…would rather err on the side of caution, especially with a SP.
When they traded for Leake the Giants were looking for what 9-11 starts out of him down the stretch? He’s been with the club for 3 turns of the rotation and started once. Not exactly what we were all hoping for. As already shown, he’s proven to be pretty durable over the course of his career so I’m not going to go as far as call him a big va j j. How do you say bad penny in Bobbyspeak?
This also gives Giants more time to consider what they will do once Leake is activated and slotted into rotation. Someone goes down, someone else back into the pen, and Hudson and Lincecum looming tho not likely to rejoin until Sept 1.
And remember that is also deadline for post season play, tho I’m unclear exactly how that works for each playoff series.
flav I’m guessing what you mean by 100 percenter guy is a guy who has to be physically perfect in order to feel right mentally. I don’t necessarily get that from what Leake has done for the crummy ass Reds last few years but it could easily be. And I’m sure his teammates would go “Oh f-bomb” this guy needs to get over it–in August after 110 games no one is perfect.
yes, that’s what I mean by Hundred Percenter. And as you said, his stats suggest otherwise. Could also just be a guy who’s never gotten hurt before and doesn’t know how to play through it. I’m open to being wrong about this. The timing of it though is unusual.
I agree Wille that many play through nagging injuries this time of year, but a pitcher (especially a starter that is expected to go throw around 100 pitches a game), trying to play through a hamstring injury is gonna be tough (especially if it is the leg with which he pushes off).
I get a feed in my mailbox every day from Yardbarker (assortment of articles). Was cool to see Dainei’s “A Giant Conversation” listed as one of the articles today.
In today’s mix there was this article on Duffy regarding his run at rook of the year.
http://tinyurl.com/qc4e3nv
Flav alluded to this near the top about the hot topic on the radio, and I agree: Why did Posey sit last night? I get that Posey will need a day off on this trip, but why not the 3rd Cards game or one in Pittsburgh?
My main reason why I wanted Posey in last night is, this is a make-or-break road trip. If the Giants go back to S.F. 5 more or games behind the Dodgers, it’s going to very, very difficult to make that up. Yes, there are 7 games left with L.A., but sorry, I’m not penciling in 7-0, 6-1 or even 5-2, especially if they get Kershaw and Greinke both times, which always seems to be the case.
And another reason is this: After 0-6 thru Miami and Washington, after 0-4 thru Chicago, right now, until the Giants get a win on this killer road trip, I’m under the assumption that we’re facing 0-7. They needed to win last night in the worst way, but didn’t put out their top lineup. Now we got Vogey and Cain vs. the best team in baseball. Good luck with that.
I think Flav’s referencing that this is his contract year has everything to do with it. Anything less than solid for the rest of his starts is going to affect his market value.
And isn’t this his first free agent chance to sign a multi-year deal???? That may be more on his mind than sacrificing in making his new team a playoff team. So the organization will need to weigh all that if they pursue him as a free agent. I think the odds will be pretty good he signs with us unless some idiot GM overpays to sign him. He is a #4 type of starter and that should be his compensation level.
I’m trusting in Bochy on this Posey question. They had to fly Sunday night to St. Louis and it was scorching hot last night with potential weather issues today and tomorrow. If Bochy thought his catcher needed a breather, who is better to make that call than Bochy????
There was a caller on KNBR lamenting over Posey not starting last night, saying that he thought it would even affect the rest of the team (management not wanting to put their best lineup out there against the best team…blah blah). I was at the game Sunday. It was SMOKING HOT…hottest Giants game I have ever attended. Posey looked tired in his ABs, and as GH alludes, they then had to catch a late flight into STL. I think the whole thing about he should have started last night is way overblown, IMO. If they would have capitalized on their chances and not made the mental mistakes, that game last night could have easily been a W.
Time to focus on winning today’s game.
Molina played the day before on an 89-degree day in St. Louis, which couldn’t have easy, then somehow came back last night and hit a homer.
*have been easy*
Based on my observations at Sunday’s game, he looked really tired…just no spark. If Bochy thinks he needed a day immediately…I am not going to question it…
I agree with Chi that Posey has looked tired recently. He’ll get to play more 1st base now that Susac is up so hopefully that’s his last day off for the month.
Having gotten that off my chest, I will gladly, gladly eat mass quantities of crow if a rested Posey goes 3-5 with a bomb and the Giants win.
Leake has always been a Red, wanted to stay a Red and said he wouldn’t mind signing back with them. Is he quitting on the Giants? I don’t know, does he even feel part of the team yet? He is already a sought after pitcher, and IMO, a nagging hammy injury would probably hurt his market value more than how he performs for a couple of months with the Giants. Unless the Giants are his first choice organization, staying healthy while entering Free Agency is probably a higher priority for him.
if he was a dyed in the wool Red, than he would like nothing more than to beat the cards I would have thought. Pavs was saying on CSNBA that Leake said he could hit and pitch but that running was an issue. G’s weren’t worried about running the bases but having a reaction play to get off the mound and make a play. it seemed pretty valid.
Fair enough.
Interesting. I have never read anything about him wanting to stay a Red. I think I recall in one of his initial interviews him saying that the Giants are one of the teams for which he has wanted to play. Not that it has anything to do with the price of tea in China, but he was born in CA. Also, as a SP, who the fuck wants to pitch in that bandbox…plus the heat and humidity. Screw that.
Here is one. It could be just a feel good goodbye thing to Cinci,. but he still said it.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/pitcher-mike-leake-says-no-hard-feelings-about-san-francisco-trade
ewisco already pointed out what was reported to be going on and which I thought was a fair evaluation.
Why would a SP opt for a city with a bandbox for a stadium and a hot and humid summer over SF? I don’t know, ask Cole Hamels why SF was a no trade team on his contract.
But really I’m fine with Leake, he’s a stud and he will be a great addition to the team, one of these days.
So on to tonight’s lineup. How about those corner OFers taking up residence at the bottom of the order?
Re: Posey, I also think they wanted to get Susac back in the groove ASAP vs. ml pitching rather than have him sit a couple games. Plus, haven’t he and Heston worked together before in minors? And all the Cards pitchers are tough, so who goes one game seems less imp.
I know I’ve posted this often but last year Posey hit .390 in Sept at end of a long season so I don’t see how you can argue with how Bochy treats him. He’s caught a lot lately too. Day off now and then has to happen…and as JT Snow said, playing 9 innings at 1b does not equal a day off.
The Reverend out with undisclosed ailment. No bueno.
CF Blanco
3B Duffy
1B Belt
C Posey
SS Crawford
2B Tomlinson
LF Lollis
RF Maxwell
RHP Vogelsong
For comparison, the Cardinal lineup:
Carpenter 3B
Piscotty RF
Peralta SS
Moss LF
Molina C
Wong 2B
Reynolds 1B
Pham CF
Lynn RHP
Let’s just say most Cardinal fans find that to be….not optimal. Lynn’s got no margin for error.
Yeah, I don’t pay close attention to Stl but my understanding is that the injuries have piled up for them too. The Giants biggest issue is starting pitching with nobody but Bumgarner making it through 5 consistently. I suppose Vogelsong is similar to Lynn in that he’s got no margin for error.
Go Giants!
Dirt,
I noticed Pence grabbing his left side rib cage area after his last AB, hoping He just tweaked it, and their giving him a day off for precautions…
kat, I saw some reports of Pence going for an MRI on his oblique so you may be right. At least its not the wrist eh?.
Nope…definitely his left side…
Latest I can find on Pence…soreness in left side…being evaluated…more to come…
http://tinyurl.com/p6jwl55
strained oblique would be a crushing blow……
Agree…hope it is a minor sprain and he is back in a day or so. We need the reverend big time during this stretch…
And again, this just adds to why I wanted the Giants to add an OFer at the deadline (not to mention having to deal with the likes of Perez and Maxwell). And granted, Maxwell is a decent defender, but the dude has never been able to hit consistently.
I hadn’t heard about the Grichuk injury. The Rookie-of-the-Year race is too close to call.
Interesting talk about pitchers and their preference for bandbox vs. Yosemite, hot vs. cold, etc…
Dallas Kuechel mentioned recently his preference for playing in Houston with a closed roof as it is a constant 72 degrees or some shit. He said pitchers being a creature of habit love knowing exactly what to expect every time they take the bump. His record at Minute Maid (where the roof is closed 95% of the time) is off the charts good. Then there are guys that prefer the heat and humidity cause it loosens them up quicker. I would suspect with so many guys from the south that would be a preference to SF weather, regardless of how big the yard is. To each their own, I guess.
Jon Miller, I recall, mentioned Pence grabbing his side. Not a time to be injured. I’m with you on Leake. It’s a good thing Bob Gibson’s not in the clubhouse. Didn’t he pitch with a muthafeckin broken leg once?
Shoptaw Ridge and Papa riff were gold last night from our BrooklynBoy.
thought the same thing.
I’m drinking this GoLytely shit for a *procedure* tomorrow, so if I have to run off…..
I don’t know if it was prescience, coincidence, or what, but whoever compared the Leake trade to the Beltran trade — well, John Shea did the same at sfgate.
Far as I can tell, Cards and Giants have lost 6 starting outfielders for different times this year— Holliday, Heyward, Grichuk, Pagan, Pence, and Aoki. That’s a lot.
if they’d given pence a day like i mentioned, once or twice, maybe he wouldn’t have been injured. Bochy’s loyalty thing or whatever it is that makes him trot out pence every day while trying to get everyone else a break can go a little too far. i know pence had the streak there for awhile but that’s over and that’s a good thing. not trying to curse crawfish but he’s going to need an extra day soon. he’s been playing an awful lot. and let’s not start on the “back in my day” bit, times they are a-changing. i’m not sure that part of it isn’t because i think players are just much larger today overall. altuve’s a great story but you just don’t see small shortstops like uribe much anymore.
Daniel, i hate me some cards but it’s nice of you to visit. you come across as such a gentleman that i almost think they can’t be that bad. but then, no.
Nice play by Maxwell there.
I’m impressed with Piscotty Too Hotty. But maybe that’s just because both teams are fielding triple A outfields..
Great catch by the hammer. But 30 pitches in the first? 3-2 to every batter. Bullies already starting to stretch at least mentally.
30 pitch first inning. Jesus.
Yep .. and only 9 for Lynn …
He’s such a nibbler sometimes.
30 pitch first inning out of a spot starter with guys named LOLollis and freaking Maxwell and the rest of Triple A trying to hit Lynn….we are fucked hard tonight.
Well, you are probably right in your assessment of our chances tonight Flav … yet, now would be the time for the top of the order to step up and at least make this muthafugger Lynn work for it … we need Blanco, Duff, Posey and Belt to put some good at bats together … Craw did his part getting a walk.
I’m trying not to be negative but belt watching strike 3 on the outside after they went there the pitch before and then standing there whining is starting to irritate. The second pitch looked clearly better than the first which was called a ball but when is he going to figure out that he’s being pitched a certain way? The charts someone posted the other day was really interesting and clearl there are a lot of balls called strikes but still! And then the 30 pitch first. Of course a 10 pitch second will help. Well that and another scotch.
Sorry for the typos.
With Panik out likely for the rest of the year and now Pence is hurt again, let me be the first to say it’s over. I will also be the first to eat crow, if they make this PS, but I think it would take a miracle of epic proportions for that to happen.
I think I said it when they were 3-3 in early April.
Yes you did. I do remember that.
Jeez and I thought I was being negative.
that’s not that longshot of a call. Things don’t look good.
This team has played their hearts out each and every year. I just think age (pitching) and injuries has caught up to them. Unless the Dodgers have a collapse of epic proportion, I don’t see any way we catch them. Their are two many better teams in the wild card race for that to be our other route.
Hard to argue with that, WJ. Mac’s 10:37 today was also very sobering.
But, the standings say you can’t pack it in…
“Two” meant “too” but the same either way. Pirates and Cubs very likely to lock up those two spots. Mets have a cakewalk to the finish with such an easy schedule (I.e. The rest of the dog meat NL East).
Nauseating call on Belt. Feel bad for him. Good job controlling himself.
Maybe exploding for once would be good for him…
first time I’ve ever felt bad for him
But at some point he has to realize that they’re not going to fix the umpires. And the pitchers will keep throwing there to see if they can’t get the call. So HE has to make a change as it surely won’t be the pitchers and the umpires.
I’m not sure what he can *change* about that pitch. It was 8 inches off the plate….
I’m not arguing that it’s good or fair or right. But if he can start fouling them off consistently. Maybe it will change. Absent that he’ll just have to hope for some sanity to return to the umpiring corps. You’re a bettor. Which way would you bet?
I just don’t think that pitch was a good example. Most of the other ones, I agree. He needs to expand the zone
All that being said, the Dodgers coaching move makes you wonder how much more pressure they could be putting on two steps. Shocking to see a first place team make a move like that. I am still trying to make sense of it.
I’m going to float out a theory that needs to get investigated:
Ryan Lollis is actually a hologram…..
LULZ!!!
A hitless wonder?
Just a hologram without a hit, I wonder?
Lol!
And yet here we are in the bottom of the 5th, with some scrubs in the LU , and it’s a 0-0 game. Puts a knowing nod and a 😀 on my face!!
Mitch!
Got one, get another.
Shit, like owie-hammy Leake could do better than this. Once again, I’ll take Voggy over anyone else that “can’t go.” Fucking gamer for LIFE
Yup.
You nailed it there. Dude has guts like no one else on the staff.
It is fricking amazing that Vogelsong has given up only two hits and one BB through 101 pitches. That first inning was tortuous.
Owie-hammy. Lulz
I was just telling some friends at the brewery last night that this (Bum PHing) wouldn’t happen as they don’t want to risk a pulled hammy, etc. Swing and a miss by me!
Bum
And he gets a knock to boot.
How do you not PR for Bum here???
My mind was all ??? to on that. Maybe Blochy saves Adrianza for a later p.h. role?
Bumgarner must of had a good BP.
How about now that he’s in scoring position???
Superb job by Vogie. Guts out another one. That guy who pinch-hit for him did a nice job too.
I gotta say, I think Lynn got squeezed on that next to last pitch. I thought that was strike three. Glad I was wrong.
The ump has been so fucking inconsistent on that outside call all night. I don’t know how you do it, but there needs to be enforcement of the strike zone as written in the rule book, and umps need to be held accountable (reviewed games?) for their games called.
Oh, and I’m glad you were wrong, too, John.
robot umpire time, dawg. It’s past time. We have the technology.
That’s one innovation Rob Manfred should go for…..question is, how to pay off the umps union.
Bum scores on a classic example of the ground attack. They all look the same on the scoreboard.
And MadBum scores!
Belt with the RBI, welt?
Cool little rally!
Way to take a bruise for the team Brandon, Good eye on that one, no chance of getting called out on strikes👍
I’m glad Belt got the HPB RBI, but I sure wouldn’t mind if he swung more freely, even if it means more strikeouts. Hit the ball!
pretty rad to see Bochy go outside the box and PH Bum. When that shit works it does so much for the team, especially one reeling from injuries right now. Perfect timing by Bochy. Again.
Yep. As I said earlier…I never thought it would happen. Pure genius by Bochy, and yes, perfect timing.
and that’s the thing, that was no accident. He knew what that would do for the team beyond the moment and the game.
Before Belt took one for the team, I was thinking it was time for a “trade Belt!”
Bochy told the press he’d consider Bum for DH. Johnny Antonelli, you watching?
I’m not convinced two runs is enough. But I felt that when we were leading 9-0 in The Marco Scutaro Salutes the Rain Gods Game.
Damn. I sure like the kid Osich. I believe Stix was the one who first mentioned about him getting a call-up.
Yup, he was stifling The Eastern League and the stats were spectacular. He’d been decent enough lower down the pipeline but seemed to have put it together at Richmond.
one-pitch outs = oh yeah
I truly loved Bumgarner in the dugout AFTER he scored, with his Undertaker phlegmatic face. “What’s the big deal? It’s my job.” He is a pro. Old school pro.
Bochy probably went ” outside the box” cause he was getting cold sweats looking ” inside the box” at Adrianza near a bat rack..
lol
Shit just dies out there in CF.
I guess Bochy couldn’t run for Bum after the Scherzer comments earlier in the year.
He probably would’ve told Adrianza or Perez to get the fuck back in the dugout if they tried to replace him.
Seriously.
Lologram!
Even better…LMAO…
The Hologram lives!
Flav, ya got me rooting for the Wonder, big time now.
Yeah, pretty cool given he was a 37th round pick and is 28 years old.
The Hologram does exist!!
Now with a big league average!!