Now that game had everything, if you like to watch ineptitude. Baserunning blunders, poor situational hitting, pitching that defies explanation -- so go the 2010 Giants. What makes tonight's 4-2 stink fest versus The Hated Dodgers even more galling is that the enemy waltzed in on a bender of its own, sat three regulars, didn't have its closer available, and still slapped the Giants around and made them cry.
It’s difficult to decide what the Giants need more. You could talk about adding a consistent power bat or even suggest a remedial base running course, but I gotta believe that the single greatest weakness on this team is the lack of consistent middle relief.
Tonight’s goat, one Santiago Casilla. It stands to reason that yet another of Sabean’s dumpster dives coughed up the game once again. Casilla’s 30th pitch of the seventh frame was a meatball that Casey Blake lined into the bleachers, taking out a row of seats and sending the Giants down to defeat for the seventh time in 10 games.
Where does Sabean find these guys? Good God, the A's (in dire need of pitching themselves) gave up on this clown. I don't care if he throws 200 MPH, velocity without location is about as useful as Monopoly money when the rent is due. But Sabean was offered a toy, a big arm attached, and it once again bit the Giants firmly on the hind quarters.
The offense, of course, was putrid again. Five more double plays. Just say it. Five double plays. Five ever-loving God-forsaken double plays. That’s 81 for the season, and that doesn’t count either the strike out/throw out variety or the baserunning brain farts – both of which were in evidence tonight. And so June will crawl mercifully toward its conclusion as though the script was authored by Stephen King.
There are nights you watch a team and you can see who they are. This was on of those nights. Contender? The record isn’t bad, butt his isn’t the kind of team that can complete at a high level on a regular basis. Even if a miracle takes place and this team makes the playoffs (ha!), does anyone really believe they can go three straight series against the elite without suffering one of these insufferable series straight from the seventh level of Hell?
The Giants have become my worst fear, an organization comfortable in its mediocrity. They have a few decent peices but never solve the puzzle. Too often it’s just a regurgitation of the same old same old. Exit Bobby Howry, enter Santiago Casilla. Exit Moises Alou, enter Aaron Rowand. Rich Aurilia becomes Mark DeRosa. The faces change, but not the image.
This is a team in need of a full make-over, not just a nip and tuck. We’re talking Joan Rivers time here.
While I’m at it, what the !#$^ is the value of Bengie Molina? Posey sits while Bengie throws up an Ofer. Worse, the guy calls a crappy game. I know the pitchers say nice things about him to the press. Okay, you don’t air your dirty laundry in public, but I’ve got issues with this guy – and not just because he runs like a beached whale. Let’s take a look at Manny’s RBI hit tonight.
Five straight fastballs from Zito worked the count full, and Manny took two straight down the pipe after getting ahead 3-0. Now anyone watching at him at home, in the park, or keeping up with the game via morse code could surmise the following – Manny is SITTING ON A CURVE BALL. So? Yep, serve up the deuce. Jeez, Bengie, next time set the damn thing up on a tee for the guy, will ya?
So the Giants fall to the Dodgers for the third time in four tries, and their dismal record within the division takes another kick to the chops.
July is here, and it’s time for Sabean to make a move. To me he can improve the team in two ways – add some real talent or remove himself. His choice, but time is growing as short as my patience.
And for God's sake, someone buy Pablo a friggin' compass.
Note: Health issues have kept me out of the chair recently, but I'll try to do better. My bad. Maybe I should be checked out by the Giants medical team. They'll give anyone a clean bill of health, and Sabean will likely give me a two-year deal afterward. Whatta ya think... The Ranter for DeRosa, straight across?
It’s difficult to decide what the Giants need more. You could talk about adding a consistent power bat or even suggest a remedial base running course, but I gotta believe that the single greatest weakness on this team is the lack of consistent middle relief.
Tonight’s goat, one Santiago Casilla. It stands to reason that yet another of Sabean’s dumpster dives coughed up the game once again. Casilla’s 30th pitch of the seventh frame was a meatball that Casey Blake lined into the bleachers, taking out a row of seats and sending the Giants down to defeat for the seventh time in 10 games.
Where does Sabean find these guys? Good God, the A's (in dire need of pitching themselves) gave up on this clown. I don't care if he throws 200 MPH, velocity without location is about as useful as Monopoly money when the rent is due. But Sabean was offered a toy, a big arm attached, and it once again bit the Giants firmly on the hind quarters.
The offense, of course, was putrid again. Five more double plays. Just say it. Five double plays. Five ever-loving God-forsaken double plays. That’s 81 for the season, and that doesn’t count either the strike out/throw out variety or the baserunning brain farts – both of which were in evidence tonight. And so June will crawl mercifully toward its conclusion as though the script was authored by Stephen King.
There are nights you watch a team and you can see who they are. This was on of those nights. Contender? The record isn’t bad, butt his isn’t the kind of team that can complete at a high level on a regular basis. Even if a miracle takes place and this team makes the playoffs (ha!), does anyone really believe they can go three straight series against the elite without suffering one of these insufferable series straight from the seventh level of Hell?
The Giants have become my worst fear, an organization comfortable in its mediocrity. They have a few decent peices but never solve the puzzle. Too often it’s just a regurgitation of the same old same old. Exit Bobby Howry, enter Santiago Casilla. Exit Moises Alou, enter Aaron Rowand. Rich Aurilia becomes Mark DeRosa. The faces change, but not the image.
This is a team in need of a full make-over, not just a nip and tuck. We’re talking Joan Rivers time here.
While I’m at it, what the !#$^ is the value of Bengie Molina? Posey sits while Bengie throws up an Ofer. Worse, the guy calls a crappy game. I know the pitchers say nice things about him to the press. Okay, you don’t air your dirty laundry in public, but I’ve got issues with this guy – and not just because he runs like a beached whale. Let’s take a look at Manny’s RBI hit tonight.
Five straight fastballs from Zito worked the count full, and Manny took two straight down the pipe after getting ahead 3-0. Now anyone watching at him at home, in the park, or keeping up with the game via morse code could surmise the following – Manny is SITTING ON A CURVE BALL. So? Yep, serve up the deuce. Jeez, Bengie, next time set the damn thing up on a tee for the guy, will ya?
So the Giants fall to the Dodgers for the third time in four tries, and their dismal record within the division takes another kick to the chops.
July is here, and it’s time for Sabean to make a move. To me he can improve the team in two ways – add some real talent or remove himself. His choice, but time is growing as short as my patience.
And for God's sake, someone buy Pablo a friggin' compass.
Note: Health issues have kept me out of the chair recently, but I'll try to do better. My bad. Maybe I should be checked out by the Giants medical team. They'll give anyone a clean bill of health, and Sabean will likely give me a two-year deal afterward. Whatta ya think... The Ranter for DeRosa, straight across?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Think I'm right? Think I'm crazy? Got different slant on things? Bring it on!