Rhetorical Question

[Rog]

This is something of a rhetorical question, but isn't the Giants double play duo of Crawford and Panik pretty close to as good as it gets on the twin killing?

[klaiggeb]

From where I sit it is, Rog.

Both are sure handed.

Both make GREAT feeds to the other on the front end.

Both have + arms, with Crawford's being really good.

Both make their end of the pivot smoothly and quickly.


Pretty darned good.

boly

[Rog]

Crawford has tremendous body control and a strong arm. I think Panik's forte is both ends of the double play pivot.

Joe seems to me to have a strong, very quick pivot and the athleticism to get out of the way. What I may like best of all is the way he can field the ball, immediately shift his feet for a strong throw to second, and make a strong, accurate throw right where the shortstop needs the ball.

Joe's defense has surprised me more than his hitting -- in part because I knew a lot more about his hitting.

[rxmeister]

And when Crawford is hitting too like he was last night, the Giants are a pretty tough team to beat. We need Huddy to step up tonight against Greinke. Greinke is tough, but unlike tomorrow's Dodger pitcher, he's not invincible.

[klaiggeb]

Agree about Hudson, Mark. Thing is, after 2 poor outtings, he's due to turn in a dandy.

He's a vet and a really heady one. He knows what's at stake and IMHO, since he never has appeared in the post season, THAT will be a gigantic motivator for him.


Madison showed what "big game starts" mean to him, last night, and I'd like to think Hudson will do more of the same tonight.


As to Kershaw...he's been SO HOT, frankly, he's due to be "off" tonight.

He is.

but of course I'm not counting on that.

As you said a week ago; we need to take 4 of 6 minimum.



boly

[rxmeister]

Actually a win tonight (not easy against Kershaw) puts us just one game behind the Dodgers, and pretty much means that the rest of the schedule will determine the NL west champion. I think the Padres will have a large say in this as we have seven games left with them. They're not a good team, but not as dreadful as the Rockies or DBacks, so it won't be easy.

[Rog]

Boly -- As to Kershaw...he's been SO HOT, frankly, he's due to be "off" tonight.

He is.

but of course I'm not counting on that.

Rog -- I would say Kershaw is rarely if ever "due" for a poor start. The only time I can think of would be if he were having health issues. I don't think there is another pitcher in the live ball era who has done through age 26 what Kershaw has done.

The thing I worry about is a five-game series with the Dodgers. It would pretty much be a WIN if the Giants could split with Kershaw in that situation. That would put tremendous pressure on the team.

Nothing is absolute, of course. The Giants beat Justin Verlander twice in the 2012 World Series. Then again, Verlander -- as good as he was -- wasn't as good as Kershaw.

Boly -- As you said a week ago; we need to take 4 of 6 minimum.

Rog -- Four of six would be wonderful, and the Giants can hardly afford to get swept by the Dodgers in LA, but putting an arbitrary number of wins on two series isn't logical. Let's suppose the Giants take two of three from the Dodgers next time. That means they have to outplay the Dodgers decidedly in the other games the two teams play. Heck, if the Giants win two of three from the Dodgers next time (giving them three, not four wins of the six, it is possible that would catapult them into first place.

Would it have been nice to take four of six from the Dodgers? You bet. Would it be even nicer after losing two of the first three? I don't see why not. But if the Giants play well enough against the other three teams they play the rest of the way, a split against the Dodgers should be enough.

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