It ain't over, but it's close

[klaiggeb]

A week ago Friday, we were the hottest offense in baseball.

Now, my guess is that we're close to the worst.

Of course it doesn't help that everyone from Miley to Cash are painting the black at an unbelieveable rate.

I mean, we've run into something like 4 or 5 guys in the last 7 or 8 who have absolutely brought their A+ game.


And what have we countered with?

A banged up, won't be able to play Pagan and Morse.

A Tim Hudson who can no longer make the clutch pitch...

And a 1Bman, Belt, who's timing is at least 2 weeks away from being back to where it was.


We've basically got 3 1/2 starters; Bumgarner, Peavey, Peite, and 1/2 of Vogey.

We may make the playoffs as a Wild Card, but this smells too much like one and done.


boly

[Rog]

It depends on whether they're hot or not -- just as it did in 2010 and 2012.

[rxmeister]

Completely agree, Rog. How many times did emotional fans give up in 2010 and 2012 only to see the team win it all? Every game starts off 0-0 and a slumping team can break out at any time.

[klaiggeb]

Well, then, I'll have to say you're both wrong, and provide evidence of the same.

1-In 2010 we had dominant pitching

2-In 2012, our starters were not as dominaent, but darned close.

3-In both years our bullpen, especially Romo, Lopez and Casilla were much more consistant.

4-We played better defense

5-We had a healthy Pagan in 2012.

6-In 2010, We had ROSS ON FIRE.

in BOTH seasons, we were healthy.

Right now, we are not.

Morse and Belt MAY be able to play, but they ain't right.

Pagan, I think is done for the year.

None of that exists here.

Ya'all can reference those seasons all you want, and I understand that optimism.

But the facts don't lie.

We aren't healthy,

Our line up isn't 7 deep,

We only have 2.... maybe 3 starters we can count on, and ONLY Bumgarner is dominant.

Not good for us.

Now add in cold, fridged bats.

Not good

boly

[rxmeister]

Belt had a couple of hits last night. Blanco had a big game in place of Pagan last night. One win can sometimes change everything. The main way I agree with you though is the starting pitching. It's tough to win when the rotation goes two deep. Bumgarner and Peavy are the only two I trust in a big game.

[klaiggeb]

You're right, Mark, one win CAN change everything.

And for sure, our bats FINALLY came alive late.

Will it continue?

I'm hopeful, but NOT holding my breath.

Not against Greinke and Kershaw.

boly

[sfgdood]

I'm more hopeful against Greinke than Kershaw. Didn't he get knocked around a bit his last start?

[islandboagie]

After tonight, yes, Randy. I'm not worried about Kershaw either, he's a punk.

If I were running the show, I'd put Lincecum up against Kershaw. Timmy has good success against the Dodgers and he comes through when we need him.

[klaiggeb]

Interesting choice, Boagie.

My thinking was going the same way, but then I hesitated when I discovered how many stolen bases Gordon has, and how much other players run.

Stealing in Lincecum is much, much easier than stealing vs Hudson.

Of course, if Hudson pitches the way he has been, they won't need to steal a thing; they'll lead eleventeen to nothing in the 2nd inning.

boly

[Rog]

It's all but over now as far as the NL West Championship, but the Giants still have the top Wild Card berth at stake. I'd go with a bullpen game, and my next choice would be to stick with Hudson. Lincecum against the Padres, perhaps not as the starter, would seem to make sense.

The pitching staff for the post season is still at large, and I would be highly inclined to include Strickland in the mix. That would bring it down to Gutierrez, Lincecum and Kontos for the final spot. Do we think the Giants would have the guts to go with Hunter?

The position part of the roster becomes tricky. Buster, Susac, Belt, Panik, Crawford, Sandoval, Arias, Duffy, Pence, and Blanco are all in, of course, but how about the last three spots? Morse is in if healthy. Based on his starting most of the games of late, Perez is in. That might give the final position to Dominquez. Or Ishikawa. Perhaps both of them make it if Morse is out.

The pitching staff has the potential for depth (if not great strength, but the positional depth will be sorely lacking. If Morse isn't healthy, the starting lineup will be anemic, as well.

The Giants are hurtin' for certain. That doesn't mean they can't make an improbable run. They've done so before. This year the odds are even higher though.

[rxmeister]

The only good thing about yesterday's game was that Hudson pitched well. The bullpen just imploded, and I'm pretty sure that Gutierrez pitched himself off the post season roster. To me, Strickland is the best reliever on the team right now although I know that Bochy won't trust him in a big game over his veterans.

[sfgdood]

Strickland has never pitched above AA before this month and he's hardly a young bonus baby. You can't call him our best after just 7 big league appearances. I like his stuff but really...you want to throw him into the fire when we have WS pedigree pitchers in our pen? I'm not saying keep him off the playoff roster but he shouldn't be GIVEN a setup or closing role based on 7 games.

[Rog]

What Strickland might do is provide depth along with Lopez and Affeldt behind the big three of Casilla, Romo and Machi. A sixth or seventh inning guy or a righty who can get one big out in those innings.

Incidentally, the Giants picked up Strickland when the Pirates designated him for assignment so they could add Jonathan Sanchez to their roster. And here Allen said Sanchez didn't help the team!