by
Surf Maui
The Giants are keeping the pressure on the Dodgers with a tight win, 5-4 over the Tigers yesterday. Gorkys Hernandez is hitting over .350 since June 1st. Hunter Pence drove in 3 runs. Ty Blach was very good though his numbers say otherwise, thanks to a poor outing by Corey Gearrin. Hunter Strickland and Sam Dyson slammed the door in the 8th and 9th innings respectively for the San Franciscans.
J.H. Hwang made a spectacular play at third base that was looped on Sportscenter.
In unoffical stats Corey Gearrin leads the NL in non-rain delays between pitches.
Trivia
Name the Giants home run leaders by position in franchise history.
Answers to be posted later today.
Only 23? Well… I feel much better now.
Oh, one other thing. When you can make picks like that, with that quickness of hand, he gets to stay there until he can’t handle it.
Super Ugly stat line on Bum but I missed the conversation.
What is your take on it?
I was hoping Bum would click with MyGuy Aramis Garcia and request him in the future. No Bueno.
I missed the discussion, as well, but I think sample size is too small. Let’s see how Bum handles next 5 or 6 outings. Motor programs become variably reliable when not used for long periods. If it’s tissue related (muscle, bone, tendon, cartilage) that’s another issue.
Any physical changes to his anatomy will also affect a finely tuned motor program. Please note: I use “motor program” which is correct and not “muscle memory” which is both incorrect and meaningless.
Yeah, trust the process thing. Bum following a plan and not interested in a stat line. Looks like he is scheduled for Monday at SJ so that sounds like he is healthy.
Twirley to tell.
I remember him – threw for the Yankees in the 60’s. ;o)
(Bob Twirly.)
Just hope the Giants take their time with Bumgarner. There is no need to rush him.
You may not be infinitely far off though. The baseball community is a pretty small one, and these two guys have now made a connection. Has to be a thrill for Garcia, but no doubt Bum will remember this.
As to the four HR, we should just presume that Bumgarner was working on something, akin to spring training.
Maybe Monday will be the Bueno I want. Good ST reference.
That was Sean Estes’ take.
We call that spin.
CSN’s take:
“Per scouts behind the plate, Bumgarner’s velocity was 90-91 throughout the night. His cutter lacked some snap, one said, and another scout noted that Bumgarner’s off-speed pitches are behind his fastball. Bumgarner recognized that, saying his backdoor cutter needs work. The young Quakes took advantage.”
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/bumgarner-allows-nine-runs-rehab-schedule-looks-right-track
4-1 road trip? Let’s make it 5-and-happy flight.
SFG’s still holding on to 2018 #2 overall pick. 4 losses up on #5 pick. And oh, about 7 losses up on #10 pick. I assume it’s gonna get tight, folks.
Number Ten picks have been very good to SFG:
Giants Top Pick Number
2006 – 10 TL
2007 – 10 Mad Bum
2008 – 5 Buster Posey
2009 – 6 Zack Wheeler
2010 – 24 Gary Brown
2011 – 29 Joe Panik
2012 – 20 Chris Stratton
2013 – 25 Christian Arroyo
2014 – 14 Tyler Beede
2015 – 18 Phil Bickford
2016 – 59 Bryan Reynolds
2017 – 19 Heliot Ramos
Doesn’t this also explain why the Giants farm System is weak? They have been picking in the lowest 1/3 for a long time.
I still look at Wheeler and think of that horrible trade. The Mets break him and we get, what? Beltran. What a monumentally bad trade.
I recall Beltran not hitting then babying himself with an injury then finishing with a flurry. That was The Year of No Posey yet they could have been in the playoffs if Beltran had been Beltran. I see it therefore as a gamble that was worth taking but failed badly.
Something is terribly wrong when I get an email notification before a reply shows up here.
I don’t want any Beltrans, and that attitude of his, on any team of mine. I’ve been on teams and had teams with players that were extremely talented but had horrible attitudes. It always creates problems.
Beltran hit great in SF, the rest of the team completely stopped hitting.
Played 11 games and hit .239
Missed 16 days
Finished with 33 games hitting .352 in that stretch
So his first month he gave them next to nothing
Second month he was very good; too late to pull out the season.
In game 130 they were just 2 games back, and from there to the end of the season he put up a 1.050 OPS. If 2 games is too much to come back from, I’m not gonna be the one to blame the guy hitting .352 with a 1.050 OPS over those games. He’s really not the reason the finished 8 out.
The Giants have less Rookie level teams with two than 2/3s of other teams that have 3 or 4 and hence less players to sort through at lowest level.
The Giants also have been weak compared to many teams with Latin players which is a shame considering their history with Marichal, Cepeda, the Alous, etc.
Yes, fair to say they may need to change their system; put some of their WS money in that.
Indeed. Our single biggest organizational weakness is our inability to scout, draft and develop players into MLB quality. And further to buyselltrade’s point, we are woefully deficient in developing Latin players. Seems like every team we play has 3-4 rising everyday talents. We have Gorkys.
“scout, draft, develop” kind of covers the whole work of the Farm System right?
Little harsh. I think you are being sarcastic but Gorkys was a minor league FA; not the Giants’ system at work.
From my list you can see that when they have a top 10 pick they have come up with All-Stars 3/4 of the time. They have low picks now and that accounts for some of this.
Can hopefully find a stud collegiate outfielder from 7-10. Perhaps the next Andrew Benintendi, Michael Conforto, or Ian Happ awaits the Giants.
not much of an excuse when the Red Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals pick near the same spots.
Last Seven Years Average First Pick Position
SFG … 26.3
doggers … 20.0
Cards … 32.4 [this year their top pick was #94!]
Sox … 17
So you are close but all of them have had seasons with some Comp Picks added it appears.
In 2016 the doggers had #20, 32 and #36; Cards also had #23, 33 and 34
In 2011 the Sox had #19, 26 and 36
Only other time the Giants got a top 50 second pick was Shaw at #31. [Shows you what a Second early pick can do!]
Draft picks are fun to look over…http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/draft/draft.jsp#season=2011&player_name=&draft_type=JR&draft_team=&draft_round=&page=1&sort_order=&sorted_by=
RF Ott, CF Mays, LF Barry Bonds, 1st base McCovey, 2nd base Kent, Short Stop , Aurilia, 3rd base Matt Williams, Catcher, Posey , P Bumgarner .
7 of those are correct
Haller over Posey?
That is correct
NO, I dhecked .
Haller over Posey. Only home runs as a catcher count
Let me double check, so all 107 Haller HRs were as a Catcher .
Haller had 105 HR as a catcher for the Giants
Posey 100 as a catcher
Bumgarner the only 1 that could be wrong, 1 checked on Giants sight after Posey
good job, PJ!
Like I posted below, I guessed the 1st 7, I checked the last 2, and ended up getting the 1st 7 right, and the last 2 wrong, just proves go with your instincts .
I probably should know some more about Mel Ott. Being born in 1954, and aware of the Giants only as a SF team, Ott is really just some kind of NY legendary notion to me. But to hit over 500 homers way back then means he must have been a special hitter. I wonder if anyone who participates in this blog has any memory of Ott as an active player? He played from ’26 to ’47, and died in 1958. So I missed him by about 15 years.
BTW – ‘Dogers hearing our footsteps’ – bwaahaahaw, Greek.
I think the A’s are hearing the Giants’ footsteps.
Giants second rounder Jacob Gonzalez tearing up the Arizona Rookie League hitting .789 after 5 games
So now your into prospects .
Please– it was meant to show you how silly it is to make predictions based on a small sample size
Sounds like a city softball league.
Put your West Coast Jammies away for todays early game,
Stay hot Pence
Pence goes deep
The Korean Dirty Al Gallagher goes deep
Buster goes deep
Blach now with 9 “quality” outings in 14 starts, Cain 5/17. Don’t know how much Blach can improve maybe he gets hit more as teams become familiar with him but he deserves to have the chance. They have given Cain enough rope.
The thing that strikes me with Blach is how many times he takes shutouts into late innings. He had a couple before where he went into the 8th with a shutout, including at Wrigley with the wind blowing out. Then he actually had a complete-game shutout. Last night, he took a shutout into the seventh. Definitely giving his team the chance to win. He also seems to pitch well on the road, unlike Moore or Cain.
The only two complete games this year by a Giants starter are Blach’s and one by Bumgarner, a loss. Another big difference over last year–I think Bum and Cueto had 11 between them.
Put a more robust offense and a better outfield defense behind him, and Ty Blach will win you some games.
*Put*
Absolutely. Let Blach work every fifth day and learn how to win consistently. I think he has the right stuff. He is pitch to contact, so good D behind him is essential.
He fields his position extremely well and he looks mentally tough out there. I can’t say Tyler Beede will have either of those attributes at the Big Top.
It was nice to see the Giants’ bullpen, for once, bend but not actually break.
I had the same thought about Dyson that Matthew brought up: “Uh-oh. He just came from the American League. The Tigers know hi–wait, what? The game’s over already?” I can get behind 7-pitch saves.
Here’s one take on the ‘new and improved’ Dyson.
http://goldengatesports.com/2017/07/05/san-francisco-giants-dyson-rapid-improvements/
With Barry Bonds going on the Giants wall of fame this weekend, when will the Giants have Tim Lincecum day and put him on the Giants wall of fame ? I have not read anything on Timmy pitching this year any where, I do not know if he is officially retired, are just taking a year off, and getting 100% heathy and give it another try in 2018.
I haven’t read anything like that either. Probably the Giants would prefer to put only one person per year on that Wall, for maximum PR. Timmy is sure to go up there.
It would in fact be terrific if he could get a good sendoff at the park later this year, even a stunt like being activated in September for one more inning as a Giant.
The Giants may suck this year but this team has too much class to pull a Barnum & Baileys circus act like that.
Lincecum should have retired after 2014. He was fried by then and no use to anyone.
In SJ to watch Bum last nite. Extra added bonus as Gillaspie played 3rd and batted 3rd. Conor looked like he was in ST as well but of course, the sellout was due to those coming to see Bum pitch. And ST it was to a team of A players who were in mid season form. Goes to show even at A level, if they know what’s coming at 90 mph from a MLB ace pitcher, they’ll lay some serious wood. And that they did. But after Ahmed (looks like he played HS ball, and Shawn (looks like he can still bring it, at least for one pitch) threw out first ball- pre game, Bum came in and was a strike machine. Looked like he as throwing with 80% effort. First 3 innings, at 90 mph (on the scoreboard radar, one pitch at 91) pitch after pitch with a sprinkling (and I mean sprinkling) of cutters (85mph) and off speed breaking balls (76 mph). Otherwise, he was throwing free and easy with his usual mechanics. Had some of the old competitive fire when he walked a batter on 4 pitches and after a few of them, he was clearly agitated with the umpire. Between innings, he walked off the mound to the dugout and the umpire met him there and they had a bit of conversation but looked more conciliatory than anything.
The well chronicled 4th inning was mostly throwing get me me over the plate fastballs and Rancho Cuc was teeing off. Bum seemed the least bit concerned out there. The only troubling thing was his 4th inning pitch count which I was not tracking but I’m sure it was approaching or (likely) over 30. The manager came out once probably to ask if he was still good to finish the inning and he was left in. But it cost him a 5th inning. All in all, a nice ST outing – and all those baserunners did allow him to work a bit on his move to 1B – and fun for those of us attending. I’d say about 25% left when Bum left. Looking forward to Monday.
Nice report thx.
Sounds like you are going back Monday? How early did you go and how bad were your seats?
I have another conflict on Monday but might push it.
Not planning on attending unless something opens up for me schedule wise. I got online seats the minute I learned he was pitching and had 7th row seats, first base side, third base foul line extended. Left 1:45 early to get legendary bbq first. Long lines both parking and food, took about 1/2 hour to get food. In our seats about 15 min before game time.
Most importantly: Did the Beer Batter strike out?
Ha….no he didnt. But at least it wasnt one of the HR’s either.
– Note to 610nm’s mom: Schwarber is on his way back !
-Note to Brandon Belt: Probably no Yankee pinstripes and short RF porch in your near future. Maybe the Yanks call on David Forst and trade for Yonder Alonso.
Most of Belt’s HRs go to CF anyway , so not a great fit .
best fit for Belt is anywhere AWAY from the Giants
do you mean away from unfriendly hitting environment at AT&T, or just away from your viewing pleasure?
just as long as I don;t have to see him play
change the channel?
i do
Right; twice as many HR’s Away as Home for his career.
Speaking of that Kobie is back to that: 11 HR’s at Home and just 5 Away.
ha, ha, I shall shoot her an e-mail with this news. I guess he was in 11 games, hit 0.343, and had 4 long balls with the Iowa Cubs.
I’ve found Mom’s response on my return from lunch (Mark must be one of the Cubs pregame show team):
He’s back up; I just tuned in to Cubs pregame show and Mark was talking to him. He will be batting 5th today. What a way to ruin my day!!!
HA ! Thanks for the report from the mother of all wavelengths.
Personally, I hope he can get back to raking and make mom proud 🙂
ps – Gracie perhaps?
The BART to the game promotion looks pretty good. BART to Embarcadero, meet at Ferry Bldg, and parade to the ballpark. Marketing dept working hard on butts in seats now that bobbleheads are passe and the team not competing.
Getaway Day Line-up:
1. Span CF
2. Panik 2B
3. Pence DH
4. Posey C
5. Belt 1B
6. Hwang 3B
7. Crawford SS
8. Slater LF
9. Hernandez CF
10. Cueto P
Time for more of the Hwang Show.
Cueto scratched. Stratton start.
Wow! This should be interesting …
It would be more interesting if Cueto was scratched with no ailment and then the trade speculation would really begin!
“Inner Ea Infectionr” is Enigma Code for “Ausser gehen nacht Play Off Contender”.
Cool! Give the kid a chance.
p.s. GET THE BUM OUTA HERE!
Love this guys tweets. Didn’t make the connection to his blog. Worth checking out.
http://www.sfgiantpotential.net/daily-prospect-recaps/2017/7/6/gonzalez-lava-hot-at-the-plate-through-five-games
this guy seems to have legit chance of cracking the SF bullpen someday. Maybe we see him in September with enough 40 man roster shuffling…
“D.J. Snelten’s
relief appearances have been legit over his last five chances, totaling
eight innings, four hits, one walk, and 10 strikeouts. Eighty-two
percent of balls in play during those eight innings have been grounders,
which puts his season GB% at a crazy-high 70.9%. Opposing hitters are
batting just .159/.237/.250 off him since he joined the River Cats.”
You beat me to it, Foots. DJ SNELTON!
MyGuyScouts say…
Snelten… 610nm, doobieibood, Noce, PS35
Great find!
When Hunter and Lexi have children – some boys – he will need to recruit somebody else to perfect young Pence’s hitting mechanics….
Although the origin is not known for certain, “Eephus” may come from the Hebrew word אפס (pronounced “EFF-ess”), meaning “nothing”
The trade flu usually DOES hit right about 20 min prior to most games
https://twitter.com/hankschulman/status/883007293813645313
Stratton didn’t have time to get really nervous.
No hitter in first MLB start? How close was Heston?
Cabrera will wait the fewest amount of days – when the time comes – to enter the Hall of Fame.
Cabrera is a certain HOF, great hitter
Huuuuge lead.
Stratton wasn’t paying any attention to him. He acted like he’s never pitched in a major league game before.
more like he looks like he should never pitch in the ML.
Welcome to another crappy Giants farm arm.
Not fooling too many…
The farther back you pick in the first round, the better your chance of drafting a Chris Stratton.
Outstanding insight.
Keep rooting for 79-83.
Since you are an “American Person” – I’m rooting for your daily safety, your kids college tuition and hoping that the new San Jose Hotline helps with those fearful of being deported. http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2017/04/11/new-hotline-aims-to-defend-people-from-immigration-raids/
“You’re” not “rooting” for “anything” about “me.”
“”Maybe”” Yes and “”Maybe”” Not
Or Phil Bickford. Tyler Beede watch continues, tonight.
Bickford still hasn’t pitched in 2017. If he never makes it, may never be able to be determined whether his problem was a lack of talent or a lack of self-discipline.
His declining fastball seemed noteworthy to me. And selling him along with Susac for a LH reliever was a sure sign that his value had come down sharply in eyes of scouting community.
I think it may have been a sign that the Giants knew he couldn’t stop smoking. Beede’s fastball also declined shortly after they signed him, supposedly because of what they were asking him to work on. I don’t think that alone would’ve caused them to bail so quickly on Bickford.
With Beede, they took a lot of energy out of his windup to focus on his command. Once he go that, he was able to work his velocity backup to mid 90’s last year. I suppose he still works low to mids this year.
who knows what they knew about Bickford’s habits. Timmy had his. But Bickford was throwing mid to high 90’s at CC. Then from Augusta to San Jose seems like he was 88-91ish according to reports.
How about Andrew Suarez?
sounds like he’s looking real good. Rising quickly. I’m afraid that after Suarez and Beede, it thins out. Maybe Matt Krook is the next riser with rotation potential.
Too bad Gregorio got popped and Blackburn was DFA’d.
I just finished re-watching Game of Thrones, season 6, so I’m ready to go. I enjoyed watching the very annoying High Sparrow get incinerated again.
Still very upset that Margory Tyrell was incinerated as well.
July 16th. Winter is here.
“Ser Gregor is quiet too”
I wonder who at Oakland University made the logo color decision.
span couldn’t even reach the cut off man, bcraw on a fly
Literally mailing it in.
Time for Morris
Stratton isn’t really instilling a lot of confidence.
Yes he is… to the Detroit hitters.
Neither is Johnson. Get it a rest, Brian.
Damn * Stanfurd * grad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Johnson_(catcher)
You said it, Clutch.
ppv, Cal ’80, ’85
Not sure why Buster goes for the tough love approach with the youngsters. He doesn’t need to give him a pep talk, but a breather wouldn’t kill him.
i really don’t care for brian johnson. if javi isn’t available, i’d much rather they use affeldt.
Ex Jock, he’s been that way forever. #ReppingOaklandCa
Agree– a common issue among inexperienced broadcasters– feel the need to talk even if commentary is a cliche or unnecessary. However once in a while he adds a good perspective
So who is he? I have been in and out watching the games these past 2 days, so not on top of things. This may be a very ignorant question but I am asking it any ways.
Detroit area scout for SFG
Thanks!
Played briefly for los Gigantes 20 years ago and hit a famous HR against the Dodgers.
Muchas palabras (words). No bueno.
Gorkey’s 3 hits yesterday and then now …
is it too late to write him in to the all star game?
He’s been added as Herny Gork
.242 and temperature rising!
Is Dixon Machado related to Manny?
Gork now has a 73 wRC+. Crawford is now at 63.
but can gorky do that?
Yeah, but Craw’s hair is at least a 100 wRC+
Too greasy
Let your soul glow.
It’s “product”, not grease. 😉
You’re right. 99 wRC+ then.
You can see that Cabrera’s back isn’t allowing to him to really get his body into his swings. That he’s doing as well as he has with that restriction is another example of what a great hitter he is.
Could be a Hall of Famer tomorrow
2003 – 2007 Marlins should of had a clue rather than trading him and the DTrain to the Tigers for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin and five rosin bags.
Stratton’s ERA is a robust 15.19
Gorkys’ deeked the runner on the throw.
Heads up play by Hwang
Now it’s our turn to come back from a 5-0 deficit.
It all started, …
Come on Buster
The Giants have never seen Anibel Sanchez very well.
You’d figure this would be like hitting off Matt Cain, but he seems to have the Giants’ peloton in a pileup at the turn.
I see what you did there. They have never hit this guy. They got a win in the WS but Sanchez is a mini Giants killer.
Johnson is praising Stratton’s strike throwing, but I think it’s also kind of important to throw strikes that aren’t hit that hard.
He really has settled down and is throwing a nice game. Hey Kid, you’re starting today. Not surprised he lost focus for awhile.
Nice game? He’s given up 5 runs in 4 innings?
Two opposites can be equally true.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/478663f48a415d988cd098211751ae0205d3ecfb22365012c471076dd5c6a527.jpg What’s with the dirt circles between HP and 1B coach? Not on-deck circles. Clutch? Bueller?
I think that is where they would hit fungos from.
This makes sense. Always wondered. Thx.
Man, that’s a LOT of foul ground. What ballpark is this? Approx year?
Polo Grounds. Like 450′ to center? Clubhouses in CF.
Looks like a good place to play polo.
269′ down the line.
Polo Grounds –475 to center
Aliens made them.
“D” and “U”
••- and -••
“M” and “B”?
“C” and “K”?
“L” and “L”?
M= — , B= -•••
I take it you were never a Boy Scout.
Look at the photo.
I like it. Your cleverness shows no bounds.
Like Mrs. Newsome used to say. “You’re a very clever boy, but you’ll still not amount to anything.”
All we are is dust in the wind.
LOL. I finally see it. Lousy Boy Scout and lousy infantryman.
Mike Morse would have gotten this right away.
That’s where coaches stand to hit infield grounders during batting practice. Far enough away from the batting cage to prevent injury, but close enough to home plate to simulate ground balls off the hitter’s bat.
Denard Span is very good at taking it easy.
Atta boy Panik and good call Nevin
In competitive team news, the Brewers are up 2-0 early on the Cubbies. Schwarber has a K. My Guy from the Fresno ranks (former Astros prospect) Domingo Santana with an RBI double. Interesting to see if they make big deadline splash and if Cueto is on their radar.
Braun with a 2 run shot. 5-0 Crew.
Slater coming back to earth
Well, the HOF trajectory wasn’t going to last forever.
now we’ll see how he adjusts
simple enough swing mechanics. His floor seems pretty high to me. Tempered expectations on the ceiling though. But a .275/.325/.425 corner OFer could be there.
I think he has a potential for slightly higher slugging.
I gave him a .150 ISO, that’s seems pretty solid for a non-slugger to me. Posey average .150 over ’15 &16, FWIW.
What about Posey, and Crawford , Posey average down 29 points in last 3 weeks, Crawford’s down 45 points in the last month .
difference, obviously is their numbers are over a long period of time– not only this year but career and balances out. Slater is over a couple of weeks and it is unknown what the trajectory is
Crawford’s having the worst hitting season of his career, so he better adjust quick, stop picking on the kids making nothing, I expect more from the guys making the big bucks .
I agree, I expect more from the guys making the big bucks
I think he had an early problem with his glove hand/top hand earlier. In addition, he has wandered from his earlier “Scutaro-type” stance at bat.
Personally, I think participating in the WBC messed with BCraw’s preparation for the season.
It might have been where he hurt it.
Wow, that is funny .
Craw has really sucked toast, you’re right. But he’s also had a sucky year in his personal life and that can’t be discounted.
What does Crawford or Posey’s drop in batting average have to dovwith whether Slater is coming back to earth. Two weeks is not enough to determine whether Slater is a player much left the Left Field Sulution
Crawfords numbers are about 20 points below his career average but still above his worst year. I would expect the average to rise back to around .247 as half his time in the leage he has hit .246 or .248 and has a .249 career average
The fact that we’re now winning in the absence of Posey and Craw’s bats can only be auspicious. Rookies like Slater are bound to cool off so we can only hope that Posey and Craw and Pence will pick them up when they falter. On balance, I think the makeup of our current team could allow us to play .500 ball the rest of the season with Bum’s return.
Pence has been hitting recently– over 300 last 35 at bats
Stratton has thrown 60+% of his pitches for strikes, yet has 5 BB vs. 1 K. That’s kind of weird.
He didn’t miss many bats.
That’s 4 scoreless innings now. Go score some runs offense
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/2017-season/game-87-preview-giants-looking-for-5-1-road-trip-in-series-finale-versus-tigers/
alrighty then…
I was late in publishing because I was out visiting the Rauschenberg exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in NY.
On everyone’s bucket list.
How is that more important than a Stratton start?
Answer: IT IS NOT!
Let me tell you: The Rauschenberg show was way better than this ballgame!
Which one did you like?
Pre-Post Game Wrap?
Condom?
Scooter Gennett vs. Adam Duvall watch:
Gennett (.967 OPS) BB, Duvall (.874) K
Get on the flight home. Can the Giants have a fish fry behind Moore, Shark and Cain?
I don’t think most Giants fans realize how horrible the farm system is, specially the arms.
I’m starting to think not even Beede is a clear option for the rotation next year, even though they will need young cheap arms.
The scouting has just been plain horrible. For every one bright note, there are 9 misses.