12 games to go

[klaiggeb]

there is no question that this season... has been a strange one.

This entire year, for that matter.

Based upon our performance in the last 20+ games, what I've deduced is this:

1-We are likely one of the better .500ish teams out there.

2-We can beat teams of our own relative ability, but we cannot hold our own with teams on the next level. (LA, SD, etc.)

3-Smyly, in the short time I've seen him this year, IS impressive. He can be/should be one of our front line starters going forward.

4-Cueto, at least right now as he continues to rebound from surgery, is not currently a front end starter. But as he regains strength, he should be better next year.

5-I still like Logan Webb, but he IS going through many growing pains, which is/was certainly to be expected.

6-Dubon is growing into being a very good CF. Not great, but very good.

7-With the rebounding years by Crawford and Belt, they "should be" able to get us something decent in return this off season. Maybe NOT a top of the line prospect but someone decent.

8-Joey Bart impresses me more and more each day. His reactions, his movements, his defense behind the plate is already very good, and with experience, he should become and even better defender.

The HR's will come. And his bat speed? Wow!

9-Donnie Barrels can hit... but his defensive flaws are plentiful. I'd try to move him this off season as we rebuild.

10-And finally, we have a shot, albeit an outside shot, at the play offs this year. (We still play LA, SD and Oak in our last 12 games, and beating them won't be easy.)
But even IF we were to get there, it'll be a quick exit.

[reedonly]

To sneak in, it would probably require them to play .500 ball the rest of the way.  It's going to be a grind since there will be 13 games in 12 days against good teams.  Also, with the new playoff format, they play all first round games in the home field of the higher seed.  If they get in (50-50 chance right now), they'll likely be two and out but anything can happen.  

[Islandboagie]

I don't really see this as a rebounding season for Crawford and Belt...it's only a partial season. I don't think many teams will impressed by how a player performed in 2020. But they did seem to hit well during this shortened season, which certainly backs up my point that I've been saying for years, Muelens was a poor hitting coach.

[klaiggeb]

No question, boagie, that a shortened season skews things, but I'm not sure that will matter that much.

Remember, I'm not talking about getting a top prospect for either of these guys.

I think it's time WE were out from under them, and if can get something 1/2 way decent back for them, I'd do it.

Time to move forward.

[garyd4sf]

I agree with you but the Giants play Colorado for 3 games along with the A's(3) and SD(4).

Cueto had Tommy john and the second year back is generally a better one, so he could have value here or in a trade in 2021.

Smyly looks good, Anderson is erratic like yesterday. Samardjia may be back but is a question mark either way. If back, he likely comes from the bullpen for a few 2 inning trips.

Solano with his bat now and last year is a better WAR IMO, despite his D.

My expectation for the remaining 11 games 2-1 vs. A's (they are a /500 team lately). 3-1 vs. Colorado. 2-2 vs. SD (they will have been seeded early as #4 position and may use backups for a game or two). At 6-5 or 7-4 they are likely a #7 seed vs. #2 Chicago.

The consistent batting of this team makes it a threat in most games. The pitching makes it a question.

[klaiggeb]

Gary, I agree with you about beating Colorado, we met, and I say may take one against the A's, but we will not be San Diego.

Of the final 11 games I predict that we win no more than five. And five in my opinion is a stretch

[reedonly]

Too much screwing around at the beginning of the truncated season.  LA and SD were ready to go from the outset but we had a period of about 20 games which were adjustment (defense, pitching - still a work in progress, and learning the new system).  That should have been done with during spring training I and II.  As such, we still don't really have a handle on a lot of the youngsters.  Hey, I'm not the manager but then again, the manager wasn't doing his job.

[klaiggeb]

Agree, Reed. But then, Kapler had to take some time to figure out stuff about this team.

Also, with the shortened pre season/no pre season, he had to give lots of at bats to players to find that (above) stuff out.

We are/were an untried/untested club.

The Dodgers and SD were not in the same situation.

Hate to give Kapler any credit here, but I have to.

I would have done the same thing in the early going... after all, we were NOT supposed to even be contending.