He Sees Numbers
The biggest problem with a numbers guy like Kap is that his decisions can go spectacularly wrong on a game to game basis. And that’s extrememly frustrating for fans who live and die on a game to game basis. The bottom line is, I think we’ve seen all the evolution we’re going to see from Kap. He’s changed a lot since he was managing the Phillies, and all for the good.
But when it comes to pitching decisions, man buckle up, he’s going to continue to frustrate the bejesus out of us.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
My issue with the pure analytic mindset that Kapler and his staff rely on may work more often than not but terms of traditional baseball strategy when you have a bunch of right handed bats maybe don’t keep the lefty in there after a couple of people get on base.
Same thing with keeping Doval in there last year too 9 Game 5 and lefty Bellinger hitting when you have a lefty in the pen (of course I don’t think McGee was even warming up but don’t remember). Same thing Tuesday night. Doval should not be in there with a four run lead. If he does not pitch Tuesday he is available last night and more thank likely that leads to a win and two of three in the series.
Mgr gets daily report on who is available and who is not. Second game of series was close before Giants extended the lead on Flores hit and Doval was already up and throwing so sitting him back down wasn’t gonna help. Unfortunate he wound up with stressful inning after Olson bomb.
Rogers had worked 2 good innings vs. Braves I think in 5th and 6th innings of that game, so there was that to go on as well.
I can give Kap credit for being creative (without strict roles) and trying to find right guy in “high leverage” situations as he called them. He’s used Doval before as early as 6th. That’s how he rolls As for using McGee vs. RHs, Rodon had wiped out Braves RHs all game. And Wood goes today so they all have to be prepared.
Brebbia (gulp) has actually looked pretty good lately although he almost gave up a bomb to first guy he faced, a rocket that just went foul. Btw Garcia Alvarez (on IL) McGee Leone Brebbia Doval Rogers, not a bad group. Overworked? OK but each of better teams will have same issue.
Doesn’t mean it’s always gonna work out, as Flav said.
Come on, you can sit down Doval and not bring him in the other day. Kapler is slow on getting people ready. That has been proven over and over.
And there’s something to be said for relievers having consistent roles.
Most pitchers hate that, getting up and throwing x amount of warmups and then sitting down and not getting in game. The warmups are wear and tear on arm. Agree Kap often has only 1 guy getting loose at a time and waits too long occasionally. Thought Rodon could have gone another inning at least yesterday myself.
Just think the whole “roles” thing wildly overrated. Reliever effectiveness shouldn’t be directly related to what inning you pitch in, especially in pitch count era. Getting guys out when you’re called upon and helping team win is goal, right?
Most pitchers hate that? That’s their job as relievers. Tough shit. Bochy had guys up and down all game. Most other coaches as well. Sure, having specific slots may be overrated, but since guys ‘hate’ getting up and down, they’d prolly like a set role as a reliever.
For all his analytics, Kapler seems to struggle with getting lefty/righty matchups late in games. Having McGee ready while he lets Rogers get ripped by lefties is baffling.
Brebbia hasn’t given up a HR yet this season in 29.2 innings.
Rogers only 1 in 32.2
Littell 6 in 26
Leone 4 in 26.2
Today’s line up brought to you by the Braves’ organist.
mm thanks for adding this, Unc. Slush twitter had thread from Braves organist, and someone from ATL commented on positive responses from Giants fans. Then added, “chop on.” um no pls stop that BS. Braves have good team but that nonsense is effed up.
Got to say I do like the last one.
Yes, an inspired choice.
I don’t get the Yaz one…
That and La Stella’s. I had to look up Saved By The Bell to get that one.
Stella means star in some other language – maybe Italian…
Ah, thanks.
To pile on Loo’s 7:47, McGee had only given up 1 HR in previous 20 innings. He had thrown 7 2/3 shutout innings in last 9 appearances, giving up 2 hits 1 BB.
3rd guy due up in 9th was Olson, who’d yanked one of Doval’s 99 mph fastballs out the yard day before.
Not his biggest fan but I don’t think Kap has gotten dumber since winning 107–his players lost last night’s game with poor D and ineffective relief. What were Braves fans thinking top 9–Snitker had screwed up and left kid in as SF padded lead, right?
It’s so not 2010 when Sabes can go out and reload his pen and add a Cody Ross at deadline. Giants are who they are at this point and staff and rest of team getting healthier is all they can hope for.
my biggest issue is that he burned Doval the day before when he had a 4 run lead. That was unnecessary. And it caused yesterday’s pickle.
Fair enough, but…top 9 score was 9-8 before SF rallied to add onto lead on Estrada single, then Flores drove in 2 and got thrown out at 2b. Doval was getting loose for 9th ostensibly to protect 1 run lead.
Kap had already used (in order) Littell Rogers Brebbia McGee and Leone. Leone had given up 2 singles in 8th –would you have left him in?
Sounds like the return of the Grave Duggar is imminent.
We know what he is. A little speed and defense could help, I guess…
Ground attack. Longo needed to get ball in air there arrgh
The rally killer strikes yet again.
Ball in air right away off Wood.
“I don’t get the Yaz one…”
My thought was that since “ya” can mean “you,” like “see ya later,” that it’s like “You-strzemski” for “Only You.”
When was Garcia placed on the IL ? I don’t see him on any transaction move report.
Is Longo even a major leaguer next season? I’m doubting it.
hmmnn Baggs tweeted he’s hearing GD going to Rangers for IF Willie Calhoun.
Corrects it to say, “My mistake. Calhoun is an OF. Also hits LH.”
Grave Digger to the Rangers!!
For Willie Calhoun.
nevermind . . .
Story on GD trade on MLBTR just now.
Any trade of GD is a good thing!
Can they trade Wood too?
Ballgame as Wood sucks Ass!
Tons of Bullpen guys today..
Wow. Knew that game yesterday was gonna be important.
Can’t wait to read about how desperately the team will regret trading Gravedigger.
Just what the Giants need another LH hitting outfielder…
Well, we’d better beat up on the dregs we are playing at home the rest of the week and next . . . .
The Braves ain’t defending champs for nothing.
Got that hitting a double play ball down pat.
6 hits in 3 innings?!? Fuck this team. Blow the whole thing up. Sofa king tired of this constant struggle.
Shades of 2008.
This may be the first time I see a team hit into 9 DPs.
Four double plays in 4 innings. That’s fucking ridiculous.
Watched the game on MLB Network, but I can’t take it anymore. Not just the score, but it’s the Braves feed, and their play-by-play guy is a homer to the nauseatingly extreme. Makes me appreciate the Giants and Mets announcers even more.
Wouldn’t you know it, Gonzo isn’t available to pitch today.
Haha.
Maybe Giants trying to save Gonzalez arm.
Might have been in there at some point today.
There will be no DP this inning!
Only Yaz has 3 Ks.
Looking at Calhoun stats, I wish it was Kole instead.
Well, a run in.
I’m thinking Tommy Shaw of Styx?
Another ground ball with sacks loaded. Thairo is extreme ground ball hitter to begin with, nothing new.
Project for coaching staff.
LaStella helps cut into lead and they finally knock out Braves chump SP.
Fuck. Woulda been another run. But they got a hit!
Flores Ruf and LaStella all have 2 hits each. SF has 10 of them and a BB one out into 6th. 1 2b 1 HR.
Can they trade Slater too?
Only Yaz has 4 Ks.
Only You suck. 4 strikeouts to paradise. Pack your bags and leave tonight.
Now it’s Garcia’s turn to suck.
58 pitches, but he got through it.
He’s better than Ezra.
Man, bad read by Shorto.
Gonzalez went on the DL with back tightness, they called up Johnboy Walton.
I wish they just callup Yermin Mercedes and David Villar right now instead of always going with broken down players..
Just the Giants awful luck Slater missed tying it up with his shot to right that just needed more height 😩
Pen guys were heroes today only 1 run allowed.
Boom!
Open up dem pearly gates.
Just too many mistakes to overcome today.
4 killer DP’s and a shitload of K’s way to much to overcome..
They made a fight out of it anyway.
Villar has been crushing down on the farm. Yet we get Fairchild, Pudlo, Papierski, and the Brebbia aisle all fucking season.
I missed the Slater hit, just saw the video, how was Estrada not on 3rd? Another frustrating loss.
Cause slow poke Longoria almost stopped at 3rd so Estrada had to unfortunately hold up.Cost them another run I believe?
Jeez, not only are they slow but they’re dumb.
Yeah, Estrada had to go back toward 1st as Longo stood 10′ off 2nd watching the ball sail over the RFers head. He fucking scored but Estrada couldn’t get to 3rd. Didn’t really see what happened behind Longo, but it should have been 2nd and 3rd.
So many fucking mistakes. I think all the DPs were on 1st pitches. Or maybe that’s just my fucked up memory.
I had to check, only the 4th and last one (Estrada) was first pitch. The others: 0-1 (Longo), 2-2 (Slater), 0-2 (Ruf).
Fucked up memory? Check.
Two of the three were close anyway. 🙂
The Dodgers demolished the Reds this week, and the Dodgers drank ale from the skulls of Reds pitchers.
The Reds really aren’t good.
We made ’em look good last time.
During WWII, a British General named Brooke wrote this about Churchill in his diary:
“Never have I admired and despised a man simultaneously to the same extent.”
Giants fans are feeling some of that for the 2022 team roster.
This next week or so seems huge for the team. If they don’t rack up a bunch of wins against some bad teams, then things get real dicey for the 2022 team.
In that twitter thread where Pavs notes SF had put Gonzalez on IL, someone asks about Villar.
Pavs says he isn’t on 40 man and doesn’t see him getting added.
Then: “It’s no small thing to add a prospect to 40 man before you ‘have to.’ ”
Walton was already on taxi squad that was traveling on road trip.
Interesting though, what he said about adding guys.
Mac at 8:57 above.
Need of roster spot seems like explanation for GD move. GD had to come off IL and be added back onto the 40 man even if he was to be sent down. Calhoun is just a project likely be stashed away in Sac to see what happens. He is not on 40 man.
MIL beat STL today 6-4, tying both for first place in NL Central at 40-32.
And pushing Giants (38-31) into 7th in NL standings. ATL now 41-30.
Remember, the other 3 in that Division are Reds, Cubs and Pirates
Fucking shit. So frustrating the little things that cost us games…
GD whs out of options iirc. Calhoun has some left. The Doobie Dubon treatment.
Damn. Hugh “The King” McElhenny, running back for the 49ers in the 50s died yesterday. 93 years old.
Part of the million dollar backfield with Joe the Jet Perry, John Henry Johnson, and YA Tittle. Great team that could never get past the Browns.
Thanks for not saying 93 years young.
I can’t stand that one…
Giants can spin it anyway they wanted to with GD ( great teammate yada yada yada) but the bottom line he’s hit rock bottom with the franchise and the knew it.Why would you just dump him for a dude far worse with a glove attached to his wrist? And Calhoun is a headcase( unlike GD) to boot,ticked off he was sent down recently,and wanted out of Texas.Even couldn’t stand ex Giant hitting coach Donnie Ecker’s hitting analytics.That should not fly well with the Giants who do the same damm thing Ecker did.
But whatever Calhoun does have some pop more then GD could muster up, and for some stupid reason Kap likes him from his Dodger days? Ok? Weird trade,Giants are banking on power upgrade maybe, over a shit glove compared to GD..Either way seriously another LH out field bat?
Curious now if they might even screw with Gonzalez now, he has options still just saying…
Much rather see Mercedes who is on the 40 activated and Villar who is not but that’s the Giants way with their crazy pickups and activating strategy..
I guess I sealed his fate at 9:15 AM.
He was gone in less than an hour….
Ah he’ll get a better chance to play in Houston. Btw Wade Jr Joc Yaz and Gonzalez he was blocked as LH OF in SF. See what happens. As AK said Giants former hitting coach Donnie Ecker is over there, as bench coach and offensive co-ordinator (?) for Rangers.
Duggar Texas Ranger the Sequel to Chuck Norris, Walker Texas Ranger just needs a Cowboy Hat 🤠