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Post by Rog on Sept 13, 2014 1:38:20 GMT -5
Boly -- IF Blanco can continue in the .250-.260 range, I think his defense would be a God send. Rog -- It might be a little ironic that even while I was defending Gregor when he came under unfair attack earlier in the season, I was saying his defense this season hasn't been nearly as good. Has it been bad? No. Has it been light years ahead of Morse's? Yes. But compared to his previous seasons with the Giants, it hasn't been very good. Is that the way all of us see it? Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/2435/detroit#ixzz3DAut5Fht
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Post by klaiggeb on Sept 13, 2014 10:38:14 GMT -5
I think he's had some "iffy" moments, but mostly Rog, I'd say it's been as good as it's ever been.
But his recent streak REALLY caught me by surprise.
Honestly, I did NOT see that comeing.
But it's wise to ride it as long as we can.
Thus my comment of him, over MOrse, in LF in the playoffs.
boly
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Post by Rog on Sept 14, 2014 8:21:34 GMT -5
Man, I just haven't seen the CONSISTENCY in Blanco's defensive game I believe I saw in the past. In the past, there were a lot of balls I didn't think he could catch, but that he did.
This year there have indeed been some of those. But there have also been several balls I thought he would catch that he didn't.
Perhaps I have just come to expect too much, and he wasn't previously as good as I remember. But I do remember early on this season there were balls back over his head that I thought he would have ordinarily have caught, but didn't catch this year. He also broke his long errorless streak by making TWO errors in a week. The first of the two errors was reversed, but once again, I felt it was a ball he would have had in his previous Giants seasons.
As I say, except for his arm, I have come to see Gregor as about as good a defensive outfielder as there is. Perhaps I have simply come to expect too much.
As for him vs. Morse in the playoffs, it should probably depend on how hot each player is. Clearly that favors Blanco now, but who knows how that will stack up two, three and four weeks from now? I have this lingering doubt as to whether Morse will be able to play. That would be a big loss, even if Blanco deserves to be the starter.
If the two can be reasonably expected to play as they have over the course of the season, I think it should come down to a day-to-day thing. For instance, if the Giants are facing a lineup with their own pitcher making it unlikely many balls will be hit to left field and a southpaw is going, I would think Morse would get the nod -- unless the Giants are facing a pitcher Blanco has destroyed.
My bottom line is that I would look at all the variables I could, game by game, and see what seems the best overall direction. As I have mentioned, something as minute as whether the Giants are the home or visiting team and where Morse would be batting in the lineup might come into play.
The beauty of coupling Morse and Blanco is that they are very complementary players. One bats left-handed, is far faster and a much better fielder. The other bats right-handed, has much more power and may be a better chemistry player.
Playing one doesn't exclude the other. Blanco can come in for Morse as a pinch runner/defensive replacement. Morse can replace Blanco as a pinch hitter and/or if a lefty enters the game. Both can be used in double switches.
Am I in the same position as you, leaning toward the revived Blanco in the playoffs? Yes, I am. I also don't think it is that simple, and would perform an analysis before every game before finalizing my decision.
Incidentally, around mid-season, did you ever think you would be recommending starting Blanco over Morse?
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Post by rxmeister on Sept 14, 2014 9:12:48 GMT -5
Mid season, yes, but when the Giants were 42-21 and Morse was hitting bombs? No.
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