A Win Is A Win But….
Can’t rely on your pitching staff to shut teams out to win games. On the cusp of June 1, who are the obvious culprits? Wade is #1. Bailey and Adames are right behind him. This Adames thing is irritating. He’s never going to hit for average but 5 bombs? In 220 at bats? What the fuck man?
Anyway, that’s 3 of your 9 hitters and it’s not like the other 6 are threatening to win a triple crown. They just look like they are compared to Wade, Bailey and Adames…..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Agree that Wade, Bailey & Adames are “The Weakest Links” in lineup (never liked that show). Conundrum is that only Wade easily replaceable. Adames in first year of seven year contract and going nowhere. Bailey appears to handle pitching staff well and is defensive stalwart behind plate. Perhaps Bailey would be better platooning 50-50 with another catcher who hits more for average but that requires a trade. Wade simply has to go. Also like idea of moving Fitzgerald to lead off or #2 hitter.
I’ll repeat what I and many have expressed on this blog past 2-3 weeks. Posey and Minisian must make candid assessment of whether any every day player on either Sacramento or Richmond roster (Luciano, Eldridge, Meckler perhaps?) ready to make meaningful contribution at MLB level. Answer likely is no.
Then Posey/Minisian need to engineer trade for power hitting 1B as well as possible upgrade in RF and catcher who hits more in .250 range. 1B must be addressed but getting a more athletic potent bat than Yaz in RF and help behind plate cannot be ignored. At present this lineup poses little threat and places undue pressure on pitching staff. Can’t win consistently when you average 2.5 runs per game.
Minor gripe but why Bivens instead of Rodriguez in 8th last night? Because Rodriguez pitched 2 innings Wed in Detroit? Geez, Thurs was an off day.
On plus side, I like Walker being slotted back to middle inning relief unless and until he rediscovers his control. Think 7th-9th innings should be reserved for Doval, Rodriguez, Miller and Rogers.
Another good showing by Harrison. If he and Birdsong continue to impress, Giant starting rotation will remain strong and deep even before Verlander returns. Posey’s best trade value to acquire power hitting 1B may be to offer up young pitcher – Birdsong, Whisenhunt, Harrison?
Hicks and Luciano.
Will that get us O’Hearn?
wtf do we know?
R-Rod threw 27 pitches. Bivens wouldn’t have been my first choice but it worked out and Walker and Rogers only had to face 1 batter. Appreciate 4 out save from Doval well done.
Earlier this month in Athletic was a post by guy (Mark something) who is Cubs fan living in Bay Area. He’d seen Cubs play Dodgers Padres and DBax (maybe another team like Yanks) and thought Giants as good as any of them. further he said Giants fans over reacted to winning series vs. Cubs and did same when they lost 3 to Twins. It’s a good team, he said.
Spot on imo. Giants won yesterday and we’re still dooming it up over offense, sigh. They scored enough to win, all that matters. The Tigers have won 38 games and right now are the BEST team in all baseball. giants lost 3 very competitive games giving up 10 runs total.
Giants were 24-14 after taking 2 of 3 from Cubs, 24-17 after losing 3 to Twins. May has been .500 so far but Giants pitching continues to hold other teams down and has plenty of depth. NL WC will be dogfight and Giants right in middle of it. Only 4 NL teams have won more games.
If I remember right, when Randy Johnson joined the team, Caine (I think), told him he wouldn’t be getting much run support and Johnson said something like, We just have to pitch better then. They won 88 games that year (up from 72 in 08) and the WS the next.
I have no doubts that Adames will start hitting, none. Bailey’s D keeps him playing (although it seems like his framing doesn’t get as many calls as it did in the past). So, Wade it is. The Giants started working Luciano out at 1st base, I don’t know see that as the solution. I doubt the Brewers are going to trade Hoskins while they’re playing well, so maybe Buster should be calling the O’s about O’hearn. He’d only be a rental so maybe SF wouldn’t have to give up too much.
well said. Noticed Brewers have been hot lately so Hoskins off the table as they fight for WC.
Moving Fitz around lineup is fine (lot of posts about this on blog last few days from others) but analytics guys 20 years ago (before DH came to NL) noted value of having good OB guy in 9 slot. Primary reason being he’s followed by top of the order where best hitters are. Different game now–no one would have had an Ohtani type hitter batting lead off in past. That was for Kenny Lofton’s of world.
Bailey throws out runners at twice the average rate according to a tweet I saw this a.m.
Fitz lost his power stroke. Slg % is almost .100 lower than last year. Still rehabbing? Maybe. He may come around. But we’re stuck with him.
Adames? Sort of the same.
Wade? He ain’t comin around. We may see a long procession of guys trying to patch that hole in the Lu.
Yesterday was first of 10 straight game days for Melvin to manage staff through. Sunday is early get away game followed by trip across country to begin 7 day homestand starting Monday vs. Padres for 4 and ATL for 3.
Id be trying to trade for both CF/RF Mullins( yeah he’s on IR right now but not serious) and O’Hearn upgrades at 2 positions and Lefthanded both a needed a move to a team to right handed..
And for sure I’ve been all over moving Fitzgerald to 1st are 2nd your wasting his speed,power,athleticism and losing AB’s batting 9th.Freaking Melvin thinks it’s like having 2 leadoff hitters when the LU turns over, but look at what Yaz did yesterday,absolutely garbage, hit him 9th instead..
Sometimes it’s baffling to see a good team fall apart.The Orioles a young rising team with 2straight years of playoffs appearances have fallen completely on their faces with a 20-36 record mostly done in by a terrible pitching staff bullpen this season.So thankful the Giants don’t have those issues, just the bats, otherwise the Flap blog would go ballistic!Arms are their strong point even in the minors,but to pry some bats u might have to let some go for sure not named Whizz..
The Shit team trades potential for now are Whitesox’s,Orioles,A’s Rockies,Fins,Nats..
Keeping eye on Corbin Carroll of DBax, who lost 9-7 game at home to Nats, their 8th in 9 games.
Carroll had an OF assist steal and a double. slash line .258/.330.559. 16 HRs, 10 SBs league leading 6 triples. Remember Bobby Bonds just missing 40/40 line. Carroll might make it; 30/30 seems given. 24 years old.
oh well. From @shaynarubin tweet
SF at MIA
Heliot Ramos – LF
Jung Hoo Lee – CF
Wilmer Flores -DH
Matt Chapman – 3B
Willy Adames – SS
Mike Yastrzemski – RF
Tyler Fitzgerald – 2B
LaMonte Wade Jr. – 1B
Sam Huff – C
LHP Robbie Ray
Kerry Crowley, former Giants beat guy, now on weekend KNBR is the best, most non-homer reporter on the Giants on that station. He and some other guy I don’t know really went after the offense this morning. A somewhat surprising rip job on usual Giant genuflecting KNBR. Some pretty startling stuff:
If the Giants had just put out an average MLB offense in May, given the stellar pitching (best Pen in MLB, and second best staff) they would have won 18-19 games, not the 13 as of today. That’s huge.
First base has been an offensive disaster, we know that. How bad, counting Wade and all others that have played there? For the season so far, in comparison to all 1b production of MLB teams:
.190 average — absolute worst
OPS — 2nd worst
4 homers – 2nd worst. To me, this is the most pathetic stat for first base. Nearly 60 games in, at one of the most critical offensive positions, Giants are homering at a rate of one HR every 15 games. Astoundingly bad. BTW, Wade back in the LU today at a strong .557 OPS, .171 BA …
A’s young 1b Tyler Soderstrom homered (#12) for second day in a row, 3 runs top first at Toronto. A’s gave up 4 in bottom of inning. Soderstrom before yesterday had 1-22 stretch where he struck out in 11 of last 14 ABs.
Son of Steve Soderstrom who pitched in 3 games for Dusty’s 1996 giants, who lost 94.
Cool day for racing fans, as Churchill Downs had 6 stakes races @$275 K each on back end of card.
Fun graphic on NBCSBA pregame: As of today, giants would have 6 seed in WC and matchup with….Dodgers. As Pavs and Estes said today would be great time to be opening playoffs vs. LA with 12 pitchers on IL while Giants would have Ray on mound for start. Who saw this coming??? Enjoy it as long as it lasts.
Gs start out with 2 straight hits.
Let’s get crooked numbers scoring early …
Well, 0 is a crooked number.
I should have been more specific…
Lee shouda tagged too, no?
Fuckin A…
Adames w/ a horrendous AB, swinging at 3 crap pitches with bags loaded and 1 down. Now 1/15 with RISP last two weeks. Sit this guy for a game or two, let him clear his head. Not like putting in Schmitt or whoever solves the problem, but whoever goes in can’t do worse at the plate, just impossible to do worse.
Yaz failing again, just pathetic. He has not had an RBI in 4 weeks. Not 4 days, but 4 weeks. Now 0/14 with RISP in last two weeks.
UGLY. Adames & Yaz need to put ball in play. Adames third strike swing on pitch no where near strike zone. Just getting started but put a pin in top of 1st if Giants end up on short end of 1 or 2 run game.
the dregs of the LU start halfway down the list and they look execrable so far today.
BoMel needs to put Fitz lower in the order. He can actually hit the ball.
Wade (called 3rd strike, at least it wasn’t and pop up) and Huff (wimpy grounder) Outs with a familiarly strong whiff of Pfffft. Weak. Ugly.
I’m not posting any more during this game. Giants atrocious hitting is boring, and me continuing here to be negative/real about it is boring, too. I’m hoping they get hot at the bat later today, or check that — I’ll even take tepid…
Switched to radio call on Sirius in car after top of 1st so perhaps I missed Kuip & Kruk expressing disgust with Adames & Yaz AB’s in bottom of 1st. But I doubt it. In top of 1st Kuip silent after Adames pathetic at bat while Kruk only exalted Marlin pitcher’s 97mph changeup. Neither one had single negative comment about Giants RISP repeated failures.
I know they’re regarded as golden treasures in Bay Area and that KNBR/Bay Area Comcast Sports writes their checks but I’ve grown weary of both for rarely venting about Giants ineptitude past three years.
they’re old and feeble now, cruising to retirement. The potential replacements the giants have auditioned don’t excite anyone enough to hasten the process.
There’s aggressiveness, and then there’s stupidity.
Robbed.
He who hesitates is Out! Remember that a Chappy! Seems like the whole team is pressing trying to get into scoring position.
Yaz in a 2-32 slump but still bats ahead of Fitzgerald who was inches of way from 2Run Homer ( as of course that’s the Giants Way, “without bad luck they would not have any luck at all.”!
gawd this team is flat awful beyond belief. Fucking Adames just swinging at garbage. Yaz no better.
Well whatever works for Yaz, nice approach fake a bunt, bring the 3B in closer Fromm SS spots and flip a dying quail to LF to break his 2-32 streak..
But of course 1st &2nd 2outs the runners die in the cold waters of Alcatraz as Fitzgerald strikes out.So pathetic both team stinks 😷 but as usual the Giants stink more.. As Ray’s thinking WTF do I have to do not to be Cained..,
The likelihood of the Giants having a catcher named Sam Huff is about the same as the Cubs having a second baseman named Dick Butkus…
Huff hitting a home run in Washington last week seemed fitting.
Another robbery. Wow.
Robbed again.
WTF? Pitcher obviously losing it – basically one pitch (sinker) and Fitz SO with runners in scoring position. Seen this movie.
Best name on the Marlins is that pitcher Bender, u take that name and it never ends up good, drinking are bending over.But of course he only has the Giants “Bending Over “ as that’s what this offensive offense does best..
Ben Dover was a mandatory signature on a substitute teacher’s attendance sheet.
And the ubiquitous Dick Hertz…
don’t forget Mike Hunt and Mike Hawk.
11 lob. 3 for 27 risp in the past 4 games. Mike Hawk Hertz.
And good old Jack Meoff…
Melvin conundrum . . . “Hmm, should I allow my slugger Huff to continue playing? Or, do I put in Schmitt?”
14 baserunners – 0 runs…
This is so bad.
I wonder what Brandon Belt is doing these days. Kidding…I think.
Time to flip the postgame food spread Bobby!!
Estes nice saying after Laura Britt asked him,have you ever been on a team that struggled to score runs?? No not really Laura, I played with Bonds,Kent&Burks,Aurilla, their was never a slump..
Buster has his first crisis as the head guy. This offense is awful. They look resigned to not being able to hit, to not score. Trying to take second when very dubious to try, trying to bunt with 2 outs and a man on third. Crazy shit, because they’re obviously desperate, desperate to score.
Buster can’t have his best pitcher lose a game 1-0. I mean you CAN, but as an anomaly, not as the nadir of a couple of weeks of consistent scoring futility. Strikeouts, pop ups , weak grounders replete throughout this horrendous lineup. When the oppo makes a couple of good plays in the outfield, the world seems against you when you can’t hit. Good offensive teams, it’s no big deal, it’s just baseball. When the announcers constantly highlight “good at bat” and “good swing” or exit velocity of a rare hard-hit out to cover the futility, you know it’s bad. I consider a “good at bat” to be a hit, a sac fly RBI, a sac bunt that works, or a BB. Not two foul balls straight back, then a weak swing on a third strike slider a foot outside.
I don’t care if the G’s win tomorrow 20-0. When they get back to SF, roster changes NEED to be made. Farhan would have made at least half a dozen moves in the last two weeks at the far end of the GM spectrum, nothing by Buster at the other end. Something needs to happen…
Simply pathetic. Lee standing in batter’s box as final out recorded at 1B symbolic of lethargic effort of entire offense. If this was marriage, pitchers could file for divorce on grounds of desertion and lack of support from offense.
If this was a marriage the wife would easily have grounds for divorce knowing the husband is shootin to many blanks like the Giants offense, no one is satisfied that’s for sure…
At this point, the *hitters* don’t need a hitting coach, they need a psychologist. None of them are THIS bad, physically (well, maybe Wade….), but mentally, they all look numbed out and shell shocked.
Well, it’s June now over here, and it’s a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, so some optimism is in order. Prediction: instead of the June Swoon, Giants will have a June Boon and get back to winning ways. FO will make one big change immediately and a couple of other changes over the next week or two. Team will look more like the April team, not the May Day team. And just because I predicted that…..
Robbie Ray is a beast.
Well, this is more of the same. They aren’t gonna win until they are serious about building a team and signing players. Their drafts have been fair to middling and Buster has one under his belt, but the reinforcements we’ve all been waiting for haven’t really panned out. Yeah we have great pitching. And Ramos.
But to say this season is about seeing what they have is simply kicking the can down the road while the FO collects money and the team fades.
Agree, Charlie. At the start of the season, I admit that I thought maybe it was ok that they use at least the first couple months to “see what we have”, but yeah. We know what we have. And what we don’t have.
Horse racing at Churchill lot more fun to watch than Giants were yesterday. Saw quotes from Fitz who took ownage and said everyone upset they couldn’t do better for Ray, who had one bad inning with couple BBs and 2 out hit when he lost command of fastball.
I’m sure move or two imminent, but wouldn’t expect anything earth shattering from Posey…yet. He has his own style and still learning on the job. W today before long flight home would be great.
DJ, I’m sure I told you about the priest at Serra whose name was Fr. Jack Zoph. He was there for 50 years in the library. Of course.
Jerar HR again last night. McCray too. FWIW.
So did Daniel Johnson, the 29 year old OF. I think that is his 2nd or 3rd this week. BA .286, OPS .888, 28 for 98 overall, 5 SBs too.
ball must’ve been flying far on a pleasantly warm riverside evening.
Hey at least they flipped Yaz and Fitz
facing a lefty so chalk up the L.
yeah, me of little faith.
Yaz slumps are reminiscent of Schierholz who would go 3 for 37 just when you thought he might be the real deal…
Willie’s statement about “I’m sure move or two imminent, but wouldn’t expect anything earth shattering from Posey” is spot on. I also agree that “He has his own style and still learning on the job.”
However, none of this matters. Why? Posey is NOT the problem. Ownership is. This shit has gone on with 4 GMs – Minasian, Harris, Baer, Evans; and, last 2 “President of Baseball Operations” (Posey and Zaidi). Connect the dots and determine who hasn’t been canned (blamed/responsible for this shit show).*
*Hint, initials are GEJ.
Yup. Buster may be able to engineer trades, but anything involving $$$ is gonna be scrutinized to death.
Annnnd here we go. Adames fails yet again.
If the pitching falters AT ALL, we are doomed for a prolonged losing streak.
I’d take Johnny LeMaster over Adames right now, and it’s not even close…
Perhaps unfair, but Chapman sure isn’t making me forget Matt Williams.
Why is Ramos hitting leadoff — he’s the only guy hitting consistently and with pop. He should be third or 4th. He follows the black hole of the bottom third of the order, not many opportunities for RBIs with that offensive S show in front of you…
Fitz should be leadoff. At least he’s up over Yaz.
Hey! A double steal! Ramos woulda been pegged but hey.
Steal, double steal, followed by an RBI groundout !
A run !
Wilmer doing his job . . . Nice!
Ramos on twice already, and now steals 3b after C almost throws it into LF. Flores dribbler scores him.
3 SBs already. Melvin at least trying something to get things going and so far it’s OK.
A double steal Ramos&Fitz ! The excitement is overwhelming but they do have a run on of course Wilmer’s ground out for another Rib 48 I believe?Ramos 2 steals to go along with 2 hits and the run, stop the presses!
Nice communication there.
Matos assigned to roam in a really big center field is a recipe for defensive comedy and/or horror…
That’s not a double and shouldn’t have happened. Matos skating on some very thin ice.
Birdie and staff may need to throw a shutout today to win.
Adames now hitting somewhere just above .130 against LHP. That is worse than pitcher territory. They should think about using his spot for the DH against Lefties. It would be ultra embarrassing and won’t happen, but it’s just that amazingly bad. He just softly popped out to the OF, and Flemm did not even discuss the AB. Just called the out, moved on with no comment.
Oh man. Stuck with him now as he lifts one over the wall.
finally some runs!
Matos 3-run bomb!
Hell yeah!
I guess that’s why they suffer Matos’ OF fielding woes. Wow, was that dinger needed !
That was a beautiful thing.
Maybe Matos’ blast will serve as a laxative for the rest of the team’s hitting/scoring blockage…
Matos with nice grab of well hit ball to deep CF. Just never know…rally last inning led by Schmitt Baily and Matos from bottom of order. And Bailey still has highest BA of 3 at .189.
Thought Giants might have Greyhound to Sacramento waiting for him (matos) at SF Airport tonight.
Shut down inning after putting up a crooked number, nice.
Flem at least yesterday ripped both Adames and Yaz for their worthless ABs in the 1st inning.
Hey! A home run?!?
Shades of Albert Belle.
per B/R game logs, Hicks hasn’t worked since 5/25 vs. tigers.
Yeah it’s showing as Hicks walks the leadoff hitter Jesus…
sigh Throw strikes dang it. Sinkers are 98-100 but down below zone. Don’t have to be perfect.
Maybe that’s why he hadn’t pitched. Melvin gave him a shot and screwed it up royally.
Ball 12, great job Hicks.
Hicks isn’t doing his trade value much good. But Roger’s will blow the next batter away.
holey shit.
did eventually with 74 heat vs. Sanchez for K. and got out of it with minimal damage.
Why do you bring in a dude late in a game that is a must win, who hasn’t thrown in a week, and just getting back into being a reliever? Dumb…
Melvin’s bullpen use has been head-scratching of late.
Agreed, Mac.