I know it was the 7th inning and the pitch count was over 100, but I had more faith in Matt Cain at that moment than anyone in the bullpen. And the Giants have a good bullpen. I don't argue much with Ol' Boch, he knows his guys, but I would rather have watched Cain pitch to those clowns than either J-Lo or WillyMo. Alas, he managed a no-decision, which I'm on record as favoring. I'm convinced that Matty got yanked when he cursed to himself after walking James Darnell. The rookie was having at party at Cain's expense and I've no doubt it pissed him off. But Matt is all about sangfroid and Ol' Boch is all about what we call here in America same thing. So when he saw Mr. Cool lose his cool, it was time to cool him out. It wasn't Ol' Boch's fault the normally stalwart bullpen gave up back-to-back doubles to tie the game and raise it to new and soaring heights of anguish. I'm tired and want to go to bed. Please win, Giants.
--M.C.
UPDATE 0640 Wed: Giants win in 12!! Once again, the tried-and-true extra-inning formula of "wait until the other team uses their worst pitcher" works to perfection. It amazes me that DeRosa is actually playing and hitting well. I'm impressed by his resolve. I thought he was going to have to hang up his cleats, but he battled back. His $6M comes off the books next year as he's a free agent. Arbitration looms for Lincecum, Sandoval, Romo, Vogelsong, Ramirez, Casilla, Torres, Keppinger, Fontentot, and Schierholtz--should be an interesting off-season. Lopez, Mota, Burrell, Cabrera, Beltran, and Ross are all free agents. Rowand gets his last paycheck ($13.6M for 2012) and Zito still has $46M coming. Giants have a lot of decisions to make!
5 comments:
I thought Cain at least deserved pitching to one more batter. He can get ticked, and then immediately calm down, unlike Zito, Sanchez, or Lincecum. Cain continues to lead the N.L. in quality starts. I'm glad we won and are still barely in the race. I'm glad mark derosa choked up on that last pitch. Hudson almost had it. He had previously saved the game by making a nice play on Sandovals hit, turning into a forceout instead. Hudson can really pick it at second. On question remains unanswered: Will the giants try to re-sign Cody Ross? I still like him even though he is only hitting 238. That is higher than Jason Werth.
Ross would be a great platoon player. He's murder on lefties. He plays all three OF positions and gives you great D. It looks like he can't put together a full season of consistent hitting, but he has some pop and is a good baserunner. Combined with Torres (who hits righties better) you could have a solid duo. I think the Giants will make Ross an offer, but will not pursue him if he gets a better one.
Whether or not Matt should have been yanked when he was, Bochy made two decisions that were real dumb ones. The first was in the bottom of the seventh, when Huff was substituted for Pill to set up a left handed bat, whereupon Maggie Thatcher was substituted for Gregerson to set up a left handed pitcher, whereupon DeRosa was substituted for Huff to set up a right handed batter. DeRosa struck out on three pitches. I am aware that he came back and hit the game winner, but he looked terrible at that at bat in the seventh. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Ford was put in to run for Cabrera at first with Christian batting, and promptly got picked off. What is it with this guy? He seems to get thrown out stealing or picked off every time I see him. When you lead off first, and the pitcher turns toward first and starts his motion to throw towards first, you do not feignt towards second before diving back. Of course, then Whiteside singled which could have put Ford (easily) or Cabrera at third with one out.
In other news, Mike Krukow apparently feels that Guillermo Mota is significantly underpaid. He said last night, in spite of the blown save, that Mota has been worth his weight in gold. At 210 pounds and yesterday's closing price of $1841.60 per ounce, Mike Krukow apparently believes that Mota is worth $6,187,776. His 2011 salary is $925,000.
Ross has been looking good recently. Apparently he can't get motivated until September and October roll around.
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