The Giants now have a slew of those kind of professional and feared hitters up and down their lineup. Mix that with the best pitching staff in the game, and we have a championship team on our hands.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
GIANTS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GO ALL THE WAY
The San Francisco Giants have totally transformed their look from the beginning of the season. They went from a group that was full of question marks mixed with un-proven talent, to what is now looking like a powerhouse American League team. They added more power to the lineup before the trade deadline with Jose Guillen, and the calling up of rookie Buster Posey really added juice. Aubrey Huff has proven all his critics wrong and has had a stellar year. He's been the glue in the 3rd spot that has brought power and consistency to the lineup.
But the one thing I think has changed the dyamic of this lineup was the signing of left fielder Pat Burrell. Since his call up from the minors on June 4th, he has been on a homerun tear. It's not just the volume of homers (18 in 278 ABs, a 1/15.4 ratio), but it's the spots where he hits them. It seems like most of his 18 homers have been in the later innings and given the Giants the lead. That is the measure of a true veteran professional hitter. When a big moment comes up late in a game, he stays calm, doesn't rush things, and has a game plan.
He, along with another veteran Juan Uribe, have both lifted this team from the jaws of defeat many times this year. Those huge moments not only win games, but uplift the whole spirit of the players, which carries over from game to game throught the long season. Another important thing it does is teach the younger players how to take professional at bats and win close games. That is what championship teams do. Every team thats going deep in the playoffs has to have very good pitching, and players whom opposing pitcher's fear and who rise to the challenge when it really counts.
The Giants now have a slew of those kind of professional and feared hitters up and down their lineup. Mix that with the best pitching staff in the game, and we have a championship team on our hands.
The Giants now have a slew of those kind of professional and feared hitters up and down their lineup. Mix that with the best pitching staff in the game, and we have a championship team on our hands.
GIANTS SMELLING PLAYOFFS NOW - MAGIC # IS NOW "3"
The 2010 San Francisco Giants are a team of destiny. They beat the lowly Arizona Diamonbacks tonight by a score of 3-1 and shaved a game off their magic number. It went from 4 to 3, as the Padres finally won one vs the Cubs at Petco.The Giants played with their rotation and gave their Ace Tim Lincecum the ball tonight instead of normal scheduled starter Madison Bumgarner. The Giants brass made this decision just in case it came down to the last day of the season with the Giants down 1 game or if the season ended in a tie. They would send Lincecum out there to face the Padres if either of those crucial games come to pass.
This night didn't start off good for Timmy. He began the game throwing 90-91 mph fastballs and had bad location doing it. He gave up a homerun to lead off the game to Stephen Drew on a hanging curve ball. Tim walked a few to make his pitch count grow, but that ended up being the only run that he and the Giants gave up in the game.
The Giants got all 3 of their runs in the fourth inning on a 3 run dagger to the hearts of Padre fans watching all over the World. It happened after Aubrey Huff singled and Buster Posey walked. Pat "Scrap-Heap" Burrell put himself into the historical books of the team he followed when he was growing up in Boulder Creek, CA. By the way, I lived in Boulder Creek for some years, and he must have been GOOD for someone to even notice him! The only thing there is in Boulder Creek is trees, more trees, and.....oh yeah, more trees.
Now back to Lincecum. Tonight he proved to everyone, and more importantly to himself, that he doesn't need to have a blazing fastball to get outs and to make batters swing and miss. The highest reading I saw tonight on his fastball was 92mph, but he kept the balls low and mixed speeds with his breaking balls and changeups, while keeping hitters honest by sticking the fastball on the corners. He went seven innings and struck out 11 batters. He looked every bit like the Giants Ace and looked ready to take this playoff run to a historic San Francisco level!
On another note, Giants closer Brian Wilson got in a little trouble in the 9th, but "The Bearded One", as John Miller calls him, recorded his league leading 47th save, just 1 behind the Giants all time record set by "Shooter" Rod Beck back in 1993.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SCENARIOS 2010
As the 2010 season comes closer to an end, the playoffs scenarios start to become wilder and wilder. The Philadelphia Phillies just took the the NL East division last night and the Cincinnati Reds are most definately going to take the Central, their magic number is at 1.
That means it's a three team race with the Giants, Padres, and Braves to fill the last two playoff spots. The Giants (88-68) were idle and are 1 game up in the West division right now with the Padres (87-69) )losing last night to the Cubs 1-0. The Braves (88-69) are a half game behind the Giants and a half game ahead of the Padres after beating the Florida Marlins 2-1.
These last six days are going to get really exciting. There are a lot of different scenarios that could happen, let me fill you in. The braves have 2 games left with the Marlins, so lets assume they will split those games to take the series. That leaves them at 89-70 heading into their day off on the 30th. They play Philadelphia at home for the last series. The Phillies will have nothing to play for really and will just be trying to get through those games injury free. If the Braves take the series, their final record will stand at 91-71.
The Giants have a 3 game series at home vs last place Arizona (64-92) starting today, where I'm assuming they will go 2-1. That puts their record at 90-69 headed into the soon to be epic final series at home vs the Padres. Speaking of the Pads, they already lost the first of a 4 game series vs the Cubs at home. Lets assume they take the series and go 2-1, they will still be 1 game behind the Giants at 89-70 going into the final weekend.
The fate of whats going to happen all lies in that last weekend in San Fran. If the Giants take 2 of 3, case will be closed. Giants win the West by 2 games and Braves win Wild Card. In that case, the Phillies would host either the Giants or the Reds, whoever has the worse record of the two. They can't play the Braves because they are in the same division.
It gets very interesting if the Padres win the series. If they sweep the Giants, they are in, but if they win 2 of 3, all three teams (Giants, Padres, and Braves) would be tied. In that case, they will first decide the West division. The Giants and Padres would have a 1 game playoff in San Diego because the Padres would have won the head-to-head matchups. Then there would be another 1 game playoff between the winner of that game and the Braves.
Thats kind of un-fair to the team in the West I think because it's like they are playing a tough, winner go home, all or nothing brawl while the Braves are sitting back just watching and resting. Then they have to do it all over again. The Braves would have a huge advantage because the team they face would be emotionally spent.
And for those wondering, if their is a 4-team tie with the Giants, Padres, Braves, and Reds, the same thing would apply. Nothing would be different, because the Reds win the Central division. They would be in no matter what. It wouldn't be so complicated if there was no Wild Card, but thats why it was put in. I love the Wild Card, and all I can say is, thank you Bud Selig! I never thought I would say that by the way. Anyway, enjoy the last six days, I know I will!
That means it's a three team race with the Giants, Padres, and Braves to fill the last two playoff spots. The Giants (88-68) were idle and are 1 game up in the West division right now with the Padres (87-69) )losing last night to the Cubs 1-0. The Braves (88-69) are a half game behind the Giants and a half game ahead of the Padres after beating the Florida Marlins 2-1.
These last six days are going to get really exciting. There are a lot of different scenarios that could happen, let me fill you in. The braves have 2 games left with the Marlins, so lets assume they will split those games to take the series. That leaves them at 89-70 heading into their day off on the 30th. They play Philadelphia at home for the last series. The Phillies will have nothing to play for really and will just be trying to get through those games injury free. If the Braves take the series, their final record will stand at 91-71.
The Giants have a 3 game series at home vs last place Arizona (64-92) starting today, where I'm assuming they will go 2-1. That puts their record at 90-69 headed into the soon to be epic final series at home vs the Padres. Speaking of the Pads, they already lost the first of a 4 game series vs the Cubs at home. Lets assume they take the series and go 2-1, they will still be 1 game behind the Giants at 89-70 going into the final weekend.
The fate of whats going to happen all lies in that last weekend in San Fran. If the Giants take 2 of 3, case will be closed. Giants win the West by 2 games and Braves win Wild Card. In that case, the Phillies would host either the Giants or the Reds, whoever has the worse record of the two. They can't play the Braves because they are in the same division.
It gets very interesting if the Padres win the series. If they sweep the Giants, they are in, but if they win 2 of 3, all three teams (Giants, Padres, and Braves) would be tied. In that case, they will first decide the West division. The Giants and Padres would have a 1 game playoff in San Diego because the Padres would have won the head-to-head matchups. Then there would be another 1 game playoff between the winner of that game and the Braves.
Thats kind of un-fair to the team in the West I think because it's like they are playing a tough, winner go home, all or nothing brawl while the Braves are sitting back just watching and resting. Then they have to do it all over again. The Braves would have a huge advantage because the team they face would be emotionally spent.
And for those wondering, if their is a 4-team tie with the Giants, Padres, Braves, and Reds, the same thing would apply. Nothing would be different, because the Reds win the Central division. They would be in no matter what. It wouldn't be so complicated if there was no Wild Card, but thats why it was put in. I love the Wild Card, and all I can say is, thank you Bud Selig! I never thought I would say that by the way. Anyway, enjoy the last six days, I know I will!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
FREDDY SANCHEZ GETS MRI ON RIGHT SHOULDER-GIANTS FACE BIG DILEMMA
Original info from sfgate.com via Henry Schulman and blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs via Andrew Baggarly
As the Giants enter the final six games of the season, they will face a huge medical conflict. Second baseman Freddie Sanchez will undergo an MRI today on his right shoulder, which he injured while turning a double play Saturday.
Bruce Bochy put Sanchez in the lineup today because it was such a big game. Freddy can still hit the ball, but is a huge liability in the field. Luckily only one ground ball was hit to him in the game, and he had to lob the ball to first base to get the out on Eric Young Jr. "Right now, that's what I've got," Sanchez said. "I'd be able to do what I did today," he said. "We'll see. Obviously, I want to do everything I can to be in there. At the same time, I don't want to hurt the team in any way if I can't make a play or turn a double play."
For the playoffs you have to cut the rosters to 25 players, and if you only have 1/2 a player, it's gonna be hard to put him on there. However, Sanchez has been so hot with the bat, personally I would want him on the roster, even if it's just as a pinch-hitter. Sanchez is a career .299 hitter, and since his low point of the season (.255 on August 11) he's hit at a .380 clip and raised his average 41 points. Thats hard to do late in the season. We will just have to wait and see.
As the Giants enter the final six games of the season, they will face a huge medical conflict. Second baseman Freddie Sanchez will undergo an MRI today on his right shoulder, which he injured while turning a double play Saturday.
Bruce Bochy put Sanchez in the lineup today because it was such a big game. Freddy can still hit the ball, but is a huge liability in the field. Luckily only one ground ball was hit to him in the game, and he had to lob the ball to first base to get the out on Eric Young Jr. "Right now, that's what I've got," Sanchez said. "I'd be able to do what I did today," he said. "We'll see. Obviously, I want to do everything I can to be in there. At the same time, I don't want to hurt the team in any way if I can't make a play or turn a double play."In the Giants big win today, Freddy hit a huge 2 run homerun in the first inning off of Jorge De La Rosa, but he can't keep on playing if his shoulder is really injured. If he does need surgery, him and the Giants would face a dilema. Do you just have him wait to get surgery till the off-season and just have him as a pinch-hitter or end his season with surgery. If, and when, the Giants make the playoffs, they would definately miss his presence.
For the playoffs you have to cut the rosters to 25 players, and if you only have 1/2 a player, it's gonna be hard to put him on there. However, Sanchez has been so hot with the bat, personally I would want him on the roster, even if it's just as a pinch-hitter. Sanchez is a career .299 hitter, and since his low point of the season (.255 on August 11) he's hit at a .380 clip and raised his average 41 points. Thats hard to do late in the season. We will just have to wait and see.
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