9-11. That is the record for the Giants in the month of July after their first victory against the Miami Marlins today, 2-1, in extra innings. If there is one piece of good news this month, you can sat that the pitching has improved tremendously since they have 16 quality starts in this month.
Before that, it was horrendous. The starting pitching was at the bottom and the only reason that the Giants remained on top was because of their offense. Now the situation has reversed. It’s hard for the Giants to get any runs across the plate.
The bullpen has coughed up some of the losses but the fact is that it has been strained because the number of quality starts is down. Bochey knows that the bullpen has it’s woes and that’s the reason for brining up some new blood this month.
As far as the run production is concerned, the Giants are without Angel Pagan and Pablo Sandoval. The best news is that Scutaro is back and Juan Perez is covering centerfield as if he’s Angel Pagan. It would be hard to send him down once Pagan is back.
Pitching has become the question though. All kinds of rumors that the Giants are after Ricky Nolasco and Bud Norris. It would be nice to see both of them in Giants uniforms since Zito, Vogey, and Lincecum will be free agents next year. Not sure that we’ll get both of them even though both pitchers have said that they would want to play for the Giants. Have to wait and see.
In the meantime, Tim Lincecum had two quality starts against the Braves and the Marlins. I caught parts of the game against the Braves on ESPN and Curt Schilling said that Lincecum could remain in the rotation if he becomes a finesse pitcher. Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News disagreed saying that Lincecum doesn’t want to be another Joe Blanton.
Would Tim Lincecum go that route? Starting pitchers have a long life in baseball. Then again, if he’s more effective as a relief pitcher or better yet a closer, then he could command more money and have a longer career as a result. Seems to me that he should consider going to the bullpen and if he’s a free agent next year, then he could be a closer and a lot of teams will look at him for that. Maybe even the Giants.
Right now, we’re fortunate that we’re in the race and it seems to me that if the starting pitching keeps going the way it is and Sandoval and Pagan return to the lineup after the all star break, then we could have a good shot of finishing in first. I don’t think we should be looking at a wild card since the Pirates, Reds, and Cards seem to lead the pack in that area.
Rick Holman
Before that, it was horrendous. The starting pitching was at the bottom and the only reason that the Giants remained on top was because of their offense. Now the situation has reversed. It’s hard for the Giants to get any runs across the plate.
The bullpen has coughed up some of the losses but the fact is that it has been strained because the number of quality starts is down. Bochey knows that the bullpen has it’s woes and that’s the reason for brining up some new blood this month.
As far as the run production is concerned, the Giants are without Angel Pagan and Pablo Sandoval. The best news is that Scutaro is back and Juan Perez is covering centerfield as if he’s Angel Pagan. It would be hard to send him down once Pagan is back.
Pitching has become the question though. All kinds of rumors that the Giants are after Ricky Nolasco and Bud Norris. It would be nice to see both of them in Giants uniforms since Zito, Vogey, and Lincecum will be free agents next year. Not sure that we’ll get both of them even though both pitchers have said that they would want to play for the Giants. Have to wait and see.
In the meantime, Tim Lincecum had two quality starts against the Braves and the Marlins. I caught parts of the game against the Braves on ESPN and Curt Schilling said that Lincecum could remain in the rotation if he becomes a finesse pitcher. Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News disagreed saying that Lincecum doesn’t want to be another Joe Blanton.
Would Tim Lincecum go that route? Starting pitchers have a long life in baseball. Then again, if he’s more effective as a relief pitcher or better yet a closer, then he could command more money and have a longer career as a result. Seems to me that he should consider going to the bullpen and if he’s a free agent next year, then he could be a closer and a lot of teams will look at him for that. Maybe even the Giants.
Right now, we’re fortunate that we’re in the race and it seems to me that if the starting pitching keeps going the way it is and Sandoval and Pagan return to the lineup after the all star break, then we could have a good shot of finishing in first. I don’t think we should be looking at a wild card since the Pirates, Reds, and Cards seem to lead the pack in that area.
Rick Holman