Matos Takes His Talents to South Beach

Jun 2, 2025 | 2025 Season, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

Luis Matos is one of those Wild Card players who sometimes appears to have MVP-level talent but then goes through prolonged stretches of hitlessness. He might be the very definition of a streaky player, albeit one with something approaching five-tools (hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, defense and a strong arm). It’s good to see him get a little more playing time. He is an Athletic type of ballplayer and he is one I have always enjoyed watching. Yesterday his three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning gave the Giants a 4-0 lead and propelled the boys in orange and black to a less-than-convincing 4-2 win over the Marlins in Miami at Jeff Conine Stadium.

The Giants won the series in Miami and scored a grand total of six runs in the three games that were all tightly wound and full of angst. The Marlins, ladies and gentlemen, are a very bad team with major pitching difficulties, as I pointed out in my Friday preview. But somehow, every time they play the Giants they morph into the 71 Orioles or the 2010 Giants. It’s just downright weird. The Miami team pitched exceptionally well all series, particularly yesterday as Ryan Weathers looked fantastic, and threw some very lively arms at the struggling Giants hitters. Of course, this Giants team is no ’27 Yankees so there’s that. But, a win is a win so the Giants return home going 4-5 in the nine game road trip that included stops in D.C. and Detroit. In neither of those series did the Giants hitting attack look formidable. It’s the Giants starting and relief pitching that made the difference.

Yesterday the Giants began the scoring thanks to a Wilmer Flores’s ground out that brought in Heliot Ramos. That run was manufactured because a few pitches earlier Ramos and Fitz stole third and second base respectively. Bob Melvin called the double steal to make something happen and happen it did. Interestingly, a good throw to third by the Marlins catcher nails Ramos easily but he was surprised by the attempt or slightly impeded by Wilmer’s imposing presence and sailed the throw way too high. With runners on second and third the Marlins played the infield in, a sign that they believed this was going to be a low-scoring game. The Flores grounder to second was played as an out to first since Ramos was running on contact and it would have been a close play at the plate by the Marlins second baseman Edwards. It was the right decision. Had the runners been on first and second with the infield at normal depth the Flores ball is an inning-ending double play. Great call, Bob Melvin. It was textbook.

Hayden Birdsong earned his third win of the year and pitched 5 1/3 innings as the starter. His fastball was tremendously heavy and difficult for hitters to decipher. His poise and his fearless attacks of the strike zone were impressive as well. Birdsong would allow only five hits and record six strike outs while not issuing a walk, perhaps the most impressive part of his effort. In his previous start in Detroit, Birdsong had problems locating his fastball and fell behind frequently on hitters while walking a few, not so yesterday against the Marlins. He would tire a bit after throwing 88 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. Remember this is only his third start of the year.

Birdsong was lifted with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning when after striking out Javier Sanoja, he allowed consecutive singles to Edwards, Sanchez and Lopez, that last of which scored a run. From there Bob Melvin made the cautious move to replace Hayden with Ryan Walker who escaped the jam with a flyout and a strikeout with two runners on. Walker looked good enough. Speaking of Bob Melvin, he kind of managed this game like the seventh game of the World Series, with great urgency and no hesitation on pulling or replacing pitchers. He knew very well that it was an important game for a variety of reasons.

Jordan Hicks started the seventh inning and looked all out sorts, not throwing a strike with his fastball until 11 pitches into his appearance. He walked the bases loaded while managing one strikeout. Melvin replaced him with Tyler Rogers who allowed only one run to score on an infield hit but preserved the Giants lead at 4-2. I want to say one thing about Hicks: He has great stuff. He three three fastballs at 101 MPH in his outing and threw, what Mike Krukow called, his best sliders of the year. It may be that he is still adjusting to his role as a middle reliever after being a starter for the better part of one and one half seasons. It may be he is upset at the perceived demotion. It may be he ate too much Cuban food at Versailles the night before. Whatever the reason for his lack of control and command, I believe it is fixable, making him a huge asset potentially and perhaps a valuable trade piece for a Giants upgrade at first base and in right field.

Before moving on to other topics we must mention Camilo Doval’s four-out save in front of his mom, who was attending a Giants game for only the third time and had recently arrived into the USA. Doval was summoned by Bob Melvin with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and a run in that was scored off Erik Miller. The game was on the line and there were two on. After a walk Doval induced a ground out to squelch the threat. He then pitched a scoreless ninth despite allowing a walk, a single and a balk. The only thing missing was a blocked punt. Nevertheless Camilo go the job done and again, credit must be given to Bob Melvin for immediately summoning Doval when the Giants lead was threatened in the 8th inning. Each of his moves on this day and when your team wins, you look like a genius. Bravo Bob!

Should the Giants Make a Trade for a Hitter?

It is clear now that the Giants have one of the best pitching staffs in the Bigs and with the maturation of both Harrison and Birdsong, it is reasonable to expect the Giants starting staff to improve as the season and season (s) progress(es). It may be sensible to contemplate a trade for offensive firepower so that this talented pitching is not wasted this season. IT “May” be reasonable. It may not, depending on the asking prices. There is a reason why trades in MLB are so rare the past ten years. That reason is the evolution of Major League Baseball GMs into human computers who are risk averse and who lack baseball sense, courage, and foresight. The issue of a potential trade for the Giants is one for Posey and his team to consider.

Here is how I would consider it were I the GM:

  1. Would one offensive upgrade be enough for the Giants to challenge for the National League pennant and the World Series?
  2. What the potential cost of a trade be and would it set the Giants back a future superstar player?
  3. Who would be worth trading for and how long and how big an impact would he have on the team?
  4.  Or, should the Giants be patient and break the bank for a player like Kyle Tucker who will be a free agent after this season?
  5. Or, should the Giants do both, make a big trade AND sign a Kyle Tucker level talent (Can you tell I am a big Kyle Tucker fan?)

I am glad I don’t have to make these decisions but I have 100% confidence in Buster Posey and his team to do what is best for the Giants in both the short and long terms.

The Highlights

Tonight’s Game

The Padres come to town tonight as the Giants return home. Game time is 6:45 PM and the starting pitchers are schedule to be Kolek (3-1, 4.11) versus Webb (5-5, 2.82)