|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 5:29:46 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 5:29:46 GMT -5
I recently posted that the Giants were magic. Magical would have been more accurate.
Magic implies smoke and mirrors, and it's more than that. Magical might better describe what Tim Kawakami says is a combination of talent and luck. But even that doesn't get it. From another context, here is what might be a good description:
"There's only one way to describe (it) -- mystery. The spirit ... is mysterious. You can't define, box it, buy or sell it. You just allow it in, with all respect and humility. (The manager and coaches') job is to allow the spirit to work within us ... -- one play at a time ..."
Magical. Somehow managing the way to find luck and having the talent to take advantage of it.
Magical. Mystical. Tour de force.
|
|
|
Post by rxmeister on Oct 16, 2014 7:02:00 GMT -5
Nothing magical or lucky about the last two wins. Those miscues were the result of speed. Juan Perez and Gregor Blanco's speed is the reason for the Cardinals being on the brink, and for once the two out RBI hits returned, two by Posey and one by Pence. That four run inning on Tuesday was all with two outs too. Yusmeiro Petit was another hero, and if the Giants get to the Series, Bochy might consider him as the game four starter. And Santiago Casilla is on an incredible roll. When right there simply aren't closers with his array of pitches.
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 9:58:56 GMT -5
Post by klaiggeb on Oct 16, 2014 9:58:56 GMT -5
I was thinking that I would consider a start for Petit, too, Mark.
But that's really not Bochy's style. My guess is that he will stick with Vogey because "Vogey is one of the guys who got us here... and that was just one bad outing of his last 6."
Posey's clutch hit... man! that was big! That is what your best hitter is supposed to do... unlike Pence who, 2 hitters later, chased a bad pitch and popped up.
What impressed the crap outta me in that last inning was that last pitch Casilla threw last night.
94, tailing fastball, pin pointed on the corner that looked so outside that Holliday gave up on it.
Wow! I was impressed because I would have thrown that big hook on the outside corner.
I didn't think he'd be able to paint the corner like that.
Again, wow!
boly
|
|
sfgdood
Long time member
stats geeks never played the game...that's why they don't get it and never will
Posts: 90
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 11:11:56 GMT -5
Post by sfgdood on Oct 16, 2014 11:11:56 GMT -5
Starting Petit would be a mistake IMO. He's extremely valuable right where he is
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 11:17:00 GMT -5
Post by klaiggeb on Oct 16, 2014 11:17:00 GMT -5
And I wouldn't disagree with you, Randy.
I'm just saying... I would certainly THINK about it.
boly
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 13:25:11 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 13:25:11 GMT -5
Mark -- Nothing magical or lucky about the last two wins. Those miscues were the result of speed.
Rog -- Well, the Giants were fortunate to have what limited speed they have on the bases at key times then! How much their speed had to do with the situation is questionable. On one play, Adams made a great diving stop, but dropped what would have been a double play. The Giants were lucky it wasn't a double play, but unlucky that the sharply hit ball wasn't a hit.
On Adams' errant throw to the plate, I think it was mostly due to his catching his spikes and stumbling. Certainly a slower runner would have been tagged out had the catcher held the ball, but the throw short-hopped him in a way he couldn't field it cleanly.
The play were Crawford scored came when Adams made another errant throw, but he messed up by tagging the base first, by not checking Crawford at third base, and finally by throwing errantly.
Did you catch that the Giants made two mistakes on that play?
First of all, Blanco should have gotten into a run down. Perhaps he didn't because he saw he could beat the errant throw. He acted like he was trying to break up a double play, leading me to believe he didn't realize the play was a tag play. That's a tough play to see on his part, and he has no base coach at second.
Crawford also erred in that when he ran home, he looked back at the throw to second instead of simply running as hard as he could. Had the throw retired Blanco, the combined mistakes (understandable on Blanco's part) would have kept the Giants from scoring.
One thing we should give the Giants credit for is for the most part fielding well and not folding in tough situations. It is shocking though that over half their runs in this series didn't involve RBI's on a hit. That's shocking.
Part of that is a compliment to the Giants -- their three sacrifice flies. The other nine involved mostly Cardinals mistakes.
I have written about how Brooks Conrad greatly helped the Giants win the NLDS in 2010 (with help from shortstop Gonzales). This series the Cardinals have been extremely accommodating.
I'm delighted to win in any way possible, but I've rarely if ever seen a series like this. That Braves series was likely the closest. ,
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 13:32:49 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 13:32:49 GMT -5
Mark -- And Santiago Casilla is on an incredible roll. When right there simply aren't closers with his array of pitches.
Rog -- We have been talking since last season that Casilla is a capable closer who apparently ran into blister problems last June after a fabulous start. We weren't worried when he regained his closer job this season, as he had already shown his worth there.
I expected a drop off from both him and Romo this season. Although he wasn't as dominant strikeout-wise, there was little if any drop off from Casilla. We've been talking about him for quite some time as one of the most underrated relief pitchers in the game.
Take a look at the consistency of his ERA's from season to season. Just fabulous.
That said, if the market for him is high this winter, I would consider trading him. That would be tough to do though, since Romo likely won't be re-signed and Hunter Strickland doesn't appear quite ready to close.
Anyway, that's looking ahead and merely speculating. Meanwhile, Santiago is showing the world just how underrated he is.
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 13:34:10 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 13:34:10 GMT -5
By the way, one of the Giants' biggest challenges if/when they reach the World Series will likely be to keep the Royals' running game in check. Many of the Giants' pitchers are easy to run on.
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 13:35:34 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 13:35:34 GMT -5
I thought Santiago would have thrown another breaking pitch outside the strike zone.
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 13:37:34 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 13:37:34 GMT -5
I don't think Bochy will start Petit barring injury, but I can see why it might be a good idea. He's been fabulous in his current role, but a long reliever might not be needed if he started himself.
|
|
|
Magical
Oct 16, 2014 14:29:16 GMT -5
Post by Rog on Oct 16, 2014 14:29:16 GMT -5
The headline from Ken Rosenthal (field reporter) of Fox.com says:
"No Magic Needed: Resourceful, persistent Giants succeed by plan." Nice column that sort of mixes in magic and matter, but ends "What's really happening there isn't magic."
|
|