Another Pathetic moment

[klaiggeb]

On paper the Phils are the worst team in the league.

In reality, since we split with them, I'd argue they aren't the worst team... that we both are.

At least they have an excuse; youth everywhere.

What do we have?

Failure to execute at the plate and in the bullpen.

Swell.

boly

[Islandboagie]

Just remember, Boly, this season might be pathetic, but our draft pick next year won't be.

[klaiggeb]

It'll be high, boagie, but baseball draft picks are not like football draft picks.

boly

[Rog]

Boly is right on that even high baseball picks are far from guarantees. The Giants' excellent history with top 10 picks over the past decade is the primary factor that has built them into a very good team.

It would be nice if they make a fine pick next June, and it would be nice if 17-year-old Heliot Ramos turns out to have been an excellent pick this June. Heliot is hitting .348/1.049 but has struck out 48 times in 138 at bats. Worse, he has walked only 10 times.

But as was mentioned before, he's four years, two months younger than the average player in the rookie league.

[Rog]

I congratulate you on looking ahead and keeping things in proper perspective, Boagie.

[Islandboagie]

My guess is top NBA draft picks have the highest percentage of success. Ive seen a fair amout of top NFL draft picks never amount to much. Baseball of course is the lowest because they have the longest road to the big show, a lot can happen during that period.

[Islandboagie]

Thanks, Rog. I'm just trying to scoop up any positives I can from one of the most depressing seasons I've had to endure in quite some time.

[Rog]

I think you have hit the nail on the head with regard to draft picks by sport, Boagie. Basketball and football may be close in difficulty, but baseball is much tougher.

First, a basketball player can have a much greater impact on a game than the other sports. Second, as was mentioned, baseball players are usually much further away from contributing -- and more things, including arm injuries, can go wrong.

[Rog]

I'm not the least bit depressed by this season. Having the Giants finish second so often back in the sixties was tougher. This season is no tougher than 1985, when the Giants lost 100 games.

The Warriors are a great team now, and I had the pleasure of seeing their first championship over 40 years ago. But I also didn't miss a single home game over a 10-year period, and most of the decade the Warriors had horrible teams.

As a true fan, I root for the TEAM as much as I root for how they perform. Regardless of how good or bad they are, I try to look ahead, including getting a take on their upcoming prospects.

One of the most exciting experiences I have had in all the baseball I've watched was seeing all but two of Tim Lincecum's minor league games. I charted every game and got to report to his dad on each game, even as Tim himself was doing so. (Obviously Tim had a little different perspective than I.)

I had a great time whether anyone else was paying attention or not. And Tim's dad actually listened to some of the things I said. It was my analysis of Tim's pitching after watching him pitch for the first time (in San Jose) that drew us together in the first place.

Of COURSE it's more exciting when the team is playing well. When they're playing well, it's like they will never lose. When they're playing lousily, it's as if they'll never win again.

But there is so much about baseball to watch, enjoy and study that other than the time when Tim was in the minor leagues and maybe having the chance to watch Willie Mays play when, since I was a kid, he was LITERALLY bigger than (my) life, I'm enjoying baseball as much as any time in my life.

And learning more about the game than ever. I thank those of you here what have taught me what you have.

[Islandboagie]

You're right that this is less depressing than the Giants getting so close but falling short. 1987, 1993, 1997, 2003 were more depressing..and of course 2002 was probably the most depressing because of the epic collapse.

I've enjoyed Giants baseball for the last 10 years, now watching the games feels more out of obligation than interest. I find myself turning the game on every night, but It's not the same as it was during the 2007-2016 seasons. During those seasons I watched most of the season on the edge of my seat. Perfect games, no hitters, great plays, clutch hits and of course Championships. This year has been a story of dirt bike accidents, concussions, dropped balls and bad contracts. And the most depressing part for me is watching young players start to make their mark then getting a serious injury that shelves them for months. The baseball gods have been very cruel to the Giants this season.

[klaiggeb]

And let me add another depressing observation; the fans NOT in the stands.

Most games we're playing to a 1/2 filled house.

There was a time when darned near every seat was filled.

Now?

It resembles a ghost town more than our stadium.

boly

[Rog]

Good point about 2002, Boagie. I think that was indeed the most frustrating moment. It was hard to believe what was unfolding before our eyes. I don't believe there was any other game that season in which Worrell, Rodriguez and Nen all failed.

What we didn't know then though was that Nen's arm was shot. That was the final game he would pitch.

I believe Nen threw his arm out on September 1st that season. In that appearance, he allowed three runs without retiring a batter. It was his fourth appearance in four days and his sixth in a week. That's too much to use a pitcher, and it ultimately cost Nen his career.

I hadn't seen this before, but here is what is amazing about Nen's performance from that point on. He did give up the key double to Troy Glaus in the sixth game of the World Series. But in the 19.2 innings after his September 1st arm blowout, Nen yielded only two runs. That's an ERA below one. With an arm hanging by a thread.

I don't know how he did it.

[Rog]

I don't believe the Giants are baseball's worst team right now. After beginning the season , they've won eight of their past 14 games. Not that he's played particularly well, but that resurgence has coincided with Pablo Sandoval's return.

[klaiggeb]

Totally agree, Rog.

We've played ourselves into a deep hole, and now, now that we're actually playing well, games like that pathetic loss to the Phils, is magnified.

But all that said, we are NOT ready to compete next year.

We simply are not.

boly

[Rog]

I agree the Giants have a long way to go for next season. It would help a lot of instead of having so many down years, they had more players having career or near-career seasons.

But it would seem foolish to rely totally on that.

[Islandboagie]

I don't think the Giants have THAT many roster decisions to make to become competitive in 2018.

First off, before this season began there was an expectation of success. Since then, we've only lost Nunez, so we're basically the same team. There were a few issues I felt were not being addressed prior to this season, which now are glaring concerns. Two big ones stick out, the fact that Denard is the worst fielding center fielder in the history of the game, and our bullpen is lousy.

Denard needs to be a bench player, or at very most, a platoon left fielder. The good thing is Bochy has verbally confirmed this, although hasn't taken action as of yet. Sabes will make sure action is taken by getting a centerfielder next season. Bank on it.

Our bullpen is better now than it was. The additions of Dyson and Crick are moves in the right direction.

Finally, whether you like him or not, Pablo makes the Giants better. Since his return the Giants have played much better. I can't explain it, but I guess he just creates a clubhouse dynamic that offsets the quiet confidence from guys like Posey and Bumgarner. Together it just works.

So we're actually better now than we were in April.

Yeah, moves need to be made, but not many of them. Just a few crucial ones in the outfield.

[Rog]

The thing about the outfield is that the Giants could probably use THREE of them. Two at a minimum I would think.

It is almost certain though that some of the players will bounce back from what have been some very tough seasons. If not, it will be a trend, and that would (or at least should) cause some significant re-thinking.

I don't see a lot of help coming from the minors soon.

[Rog]

Rhys Hoskins once again hit his daily home run, becoming the fastest hitter ever to 10 home runs (17 games). He also took over the lead from all the Giants' rookies. They had been tied with him with nine homers.

[Rog]

Check out some of these BB/K ratios this season:

Brandon Crawford -- 31 to 90

Hunter Pence -- 28 to 82

Nick Hundley -- 8 to 57

Christian Arroyo -- 8 to 32

Andrew Slater -- 6 to 21

Jarrett Parkier -- 6 to 31

Ryder Jones -- 5 to 22

Carlos Moncrief -- 3 to 9