“That Was a Lot of Fun”

Apr 26, 2023 | 2023 Offseason, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

The Sabol Kid Comes Through

“”That was probably one of the best moments of my life. As soon as I heard the sound off the bat and felt it, I didn’t even look. I don’t even know where the ball went. I just kind of bat-flipped, started yelling and screaming and blacked out from that moment on, just jumping up and down with my teammates. That was a lot of fun.”

-Blake Sabol

Today’s headline is brought to you courtesy of Blake Sabol himself. Those were his words after his two-run, walk-off home run propelled the Giants to a wild and unpredictable 5-4 win over the Cardinals at Willie Mays Field. The win gave the Giants four victories in a row, a season-best, and kept their momentum going after Joey Bart injured his groin and was sitting out this game to rest.

Once again, an error my Cardinal second baseman Tommy Edman was the difference-maker. His miscue on Joc Pederson’s grounder leading off the ninth, with the Giants trailing 4-2 gave the team some life and an auspicious beginning to the inning that changed everything. Mike Yastrzemski followed with an RBI double. From there Thairo Estrada would pop out and Brandon Crawford would strike out. If Edman makes his play it’s game over.

Instead, Sabol would work the count to 1-2 before smashing a looping curve ball over the wall in right center field. Sabol should some mean power on that swing, which was quick and to the point, like a Dave Fleming home run call;  and just short enough to protect the plate for any type of pitch. What a job of hitting. It was, as Jon Miller excalimed “An electrifying moment at “Willie Mays Field”!”

WOW!

The Giant Offense

The Giants started the scoring in the game, a pattern all season long, when Thairo Estrada stole second in the bottom of the second inning. The throw would get past the shortstop covering second base when Estrada took off for third. Cardinal center fielder Dylan Carlson over-ran the play and failed to pick up the ball, Estrada, reading the play and making an aggressive decision, raced home ahead of the throw that was waaaaaay up the third base line. That’s four of the Giants five runs in the game that were unearned, folks.

Defense matters.

Yaz hit a booming homer to right off a curveball that hang so high could use it to store your winter coats.

His home run was a key part of the win last night. That blast came in the bottom of the fourth inning and put the Giants ahead 2-1 before the St. Louis team went ahead in the top of the eighth inning with a three-run rally, two of which came on a sizzler single off the bat of Paul Goldschmidt and off the body of Brandon Crawford, who was playing in to cut down a run at third. The strategy did not work because the ball was just hit too hard.

Yaz Is Having a Fine Season

We need to talk about Yaz. Checking the Giants stats I see he is having a terrific season and now shares the team lead in home runs with J. D. Davis at 5 and is second in RBI’s with 13 while batting .291 with an OPS of .850 and playing his usual super duper defense in the outfield.

Remember when we were all ready to DFA him?

Giants Use Their Entire Pitching Staff for One 9-Inning Game

Well Almost!

With the Giants relief corps rested thanks to great starts by Alex Cobb and Logan Webb, Gabe Kapler did not hesitate to use all his pitching toys in last night’s game. He practically emptied the pitching staff drawer of his Managerial chest of strategies. Eight different arms threw baseballs of the mound, beginning with Sean Manaea’s one-inning performance. It was a bullpen game by design and the boys did enough to keep the game close for Sabol, Yaz and CO. Sean Hjelle picked up the win with a scoreless ninth inning. Scott Alexander had the roughest outing with his three runs and three hits in one third of an inning in the top of the eighth.

Today’s Game

It will be Steven Matz against Anthony Desclafani in tonight’s game at Willie Mays Field. First pitch will be at 6:45 PM, Mays-willing. The Giants will be playing for their fifth win in a row.

Bart NOT on the IL

Joe Bart was not placed on the Injured list by the Giants Brass. The theory is that his groin injury can heal with a bit of rest over the next few days. Let’s hope Joey gets back in the squaaaaaaaaat real soon. He is becoming a key component to the Giants team, whose turnaround coincides with his return as the starting catcher.