DeJong and DeRestless

Aug 24, 2023 | 2023 Offseason, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

Today’s post title comes courtesy of “Rookies Gone Wild”.

If Paul DeJong never plays another game as a Giant or strikes out in every subsequent at bat his acquisition will have been valuable. We’re talking about a professional hitter, a competent shortstop and a guy who is only 30 years old and already has 13 WAR! The Cardinals may have cut bait on him prematurely and he is filling a deep need on the Giants roster with Brandon Crawford’s ineffectiveness and injuries and Casey Schmitt’s growing pains.

This was a savvy pick up by Farhan Zaidi. My compliments, sir.

“It is hard to put into words. I was happy to be out there and contributing on the first day. I am happy for the opportunity and glad that it worked out for me.”

-Paul DeJong

It has the same late season acquisition scent that was in the air in 2012 when Marco Scutaro came to San Francisco and set the postseason on fire.

In yesterday’s wacky 8-6 win over the Phillies to end a six-game road trip that went 2-4 and was perilously close to 1-5 and WITH better work by the bullpen could have been 4-2…

Woulda

Coulda

Shoulda

Yes, indeed, those are the three saddest words in baseball parlance.

But I digress. Paul DeJong was the hero of the day driving in four runs, hitting a long homer


and getting the decisive hit in the tenth inning after Camilo Doval blew another save with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth.


I will say Camilo may be hitting the brick walls of the Dog Days of Summer. I don’t see a downtick in velo and, quite frankly, those Phillies have an awesome line up. It’s no shame to get your ass whooped by Bryce Harper, as the Giants learned this series. Harper is now officially on fire and may be the hottest hitter in the Bigs, courtesy of Giants pitching.

Wade Meckler Emerges

There were other story lines in yesterday’s intriguing game. One was the emergence of Wade Meckler. He had two hits, scored three runs and played a very good center field. He also drew a walk ahead of DeJong’s homer with two outs against Phillies starter Michael Lorenzen, who is a very very good pitcher. Meckler appeared to regain his confidence and I must tip my hat to Giants Manager Gabe Kapler for showing such confidence in the young rookie who was having some very bad at bats and bad games in center field before yesterday’s coming out party.

Wilmer is En Fuego

Another fantastic story is Wilmer Flores. He is the Giants hottest hitter and hit another loooooong homer in the top of the first inning to get the Giants on the board first. That hit came on a sizzling belt-high inside corner fastball. I have to say Wilmer is one of the best inside corner hitters I have ever seen. That man has a beautiful quick power stroke. I can’t believe opposing pitchers have not learned that you never pitch Wilmer in. It’s something beautiful to behold.


See the way he opens his hips and keeps his hands back to get the barrel on the ball and keep it fair! WOW!

He is en fuego with an overall line of  304 BA with 18 long balls and 46 ribeyes in only a little over 300 at bats. Those are border line MVP numbers with a full season’s worth of at bats. He is having a fantastically valuable season that is getting lost in the Giants death spiral out of playoff contention. Hats off to Wilmer, a Good Giant who belongs in the American League as a DH and should have been traded at the deadline but should be moved this offseason.

The Giants Use Ten Pitchers!

Yes, you rad that correctly. Gabe Kapler managed this game with urgency and a sense of desperation, in a good way. He was very liberal with his relief corps considering today is an off day and the Giants were in dire need of a win. Alex Cobb started and pitched quite well in fact. He went five innings and allowed two quick homers in the bottom of the sixth before getting yanked for the nine relievers to follow. Frankly, in that Philly park with that Philly line up, Cobb’s line was excellent and an early key to the game.

With the win the Giants are 66-61, 11.5 games back of the Bums in the NL WEST and looking up at four teams for the final Wild Card spot. The Giants are not dead yet but come home to face the Braves in three games this weekend at Willie Mays Field.

I will leave you with a pep talk from Hunter Pence, one of my mom’s favorite players: