8/17 GDT ExChamps @ ExFlorida

[Mays-Fan]

If there was ever a year for a guy from the minors to grab that job, this was it.

"All you have to do is perform better than Blanco/Torres kid."

And yet we couldn't find a guy who was able/ready to do it.

Yep - Peguero, Gillespie, Perez, Kieschnick, and even Francoeur.

Management went 0 for 5.

Throw in Towers and White, and that's 0 for 7.

I volunteer for the job (at ML minimum, of course). How much worse could it get?

 

[Stokes1931]

What has happened with Cain this year? His average against and his WHIP are slightly below his career averages, but his ERA is more than a whole run above his career average.

He has given up a lot of timely (for the other team) hits, and has been giving up huge numbers of homers.

 

[Stokes1931]

Yep - Peguero, Gillespie, Perez, Kieschnick, and even Francoeur.

Management went 0 for 5.

Throw in Towers and White, and that's 0 for 7.

I volunteer for the job (at ML minimum, of course). How much worse could it get?

No offense, but I shudder to imagine the calamity. But your bank account would respond nicely, I think.

 

[ColinCoby]

OTOH, a strong finish leaves the FO in a quandry.

Which is the "real" Panda? The one who went weeks at a time between RBI's and multi-hit games, or the one who finished the season hitting .420 in September?

Which is the "real" Blanco? The one who hit .121 in the leadoff position when the Giants were still effectively in the race for the division, or the .340 hitting once the pressure is off and the Giants are assured last place?

Which is the "real" Timmeh? The one who had a 5.00+ ERA for a season and a half, and who got lit up by good hitting teams like the Reds, or the one who pitched a no-hitter against the poor hitting Padres, and lowered his ERA against sub-par competition?

I guess I see your larger point, that I want the guys on this team to do well. But I'd hate for Sabes to think (like with Huffer) that past performance guarantees future returns.

Good point. Sabean has some brutally tough decisions to make this offseason. I've come to the conclusion that The Giants absolutely need to re-sign Pence. After that, I have no idea how to fix this mess except to hope that Panda and Cain rebound and Pagan comes back healthy.

On a related note: do you think the Belt of the last few weeks is the "real" Belt?

 

[ColinCoby]

What has happened with Cain this year? His average against and his WHIP are slightly below his career averages, but his ERA is more than a whole run above his career average.

He has given up a lot of timely (for the other team) hits, and has been giving up huge numbers of homers.

4.90 ERA at home!!

Has the wife changed up his diet any? Is she...uh...falling short with any of her spousal responsibilities?

 

[Stokes1931]

Good point. Sabean has some brutally tough decisions to make this offseason. I've come to the conclusion that The Giants absolutely need to re-sign Pence. After that, I have no idea how to fix this mess except to hope that Panda and Cain rebound and Pagan comes back healthy.

On a related note: do you think the Belt of the last few weeks is the "real" Belt?

I sure hope so. If he can keep up this power surge and higher average for the rest of the season, sure, why not expect it? The Giants have been hoping for this level of production from him. I want to see a larger sample size. A good two weeks won't amount to much.

I am not as hopeful about Pence. He seems a good egg, and works hard, and is a good clubhouse guy. But when the team needed him to step up (mid-June to mid-August) he disappeared. And as Cal points out, his fundamentals do not age well. For a reasonable salary, I'd be OK, not thrilled. No way is he worth $15 million a year, unless the whole budget goes up.

And I hope that Bam Bam is gone as a hitting coach. This team has not done well four four years under his watchful eye. We have been below league average in AVG/OBP/SLG for four years. And the dropoff from May through August this year was precipitous.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Good point. Sabean has some brutally tough decisions to make this offseason. I've come to the conclusion that The Giants absolutely need to re-sign Pence. After that, I have no idea how to fix this mess except to hope that Panda and Cain rebound and Pagan comes back healthy.

On a related note: do you think the Belt of the last few weeks is the "real" Belt?

You must have missed it. Moxie said there was an interview with him when this tear started where he said he changed his grip, allowing for looser wrists and a freer swing. Kruk alluded to it in his commentary after one of his recent home runs - "And the new grip is working".

There is a real, fundamental reason for the "new" Belt. This is not just a statistical quirk.

I hope.

 

[Stokes1931]

I'd love to see Panda do much better. But even with his 4 hits last night, he is only hitting .219 in August. He has a world of talent, but doesn't appear mature enough to put it all together for a whole season. He played 152/153 games in 2009-2010, but 117 and 108 the last two years. And is at 103 so far this year.

 

[Mays-Fan]

I sure hope so. If he can keep up this power surge and higher average for the rest of the season, sure, why not expect it? The Giants have been hoping for this level of production from him. I want to see a larger sample size. A good two weeks won't amount to much.

I am not as hopeful about Pence. He seems a good egg, and works hard, and is a good clubhouse guy. But when the team needed him to step up (mid-June to mid-August) he disappeared. And as Cal points out, his fundamentals do not age well. For a reasonable salary, I'd be OK, not thrilled. No way is he worth $15 million a year, unless the whole budget goes up.

And I hope that Bam Bam is gone as a hitting coach. This team has not done well four four years under his watchful eye. We have been below league average in AVG/OBP/SLG for four years. And the dropoff from May through August this year was precipitous.

Sorry guys, but that just has no basis in reason or precedent whatsoever. Yes, he does some things that look awkward, but so does Jim Furyk. He's not going to wear out his arm because he throws a bit awkwardly - he is not a pitcher. There is nothing in his swing that points to excessive wear or tear. He runs like a deer. What am I missing?

 

[Stokes1931]

Matty Blyleven surrenders another homer.

 

[msgkings322]

So this relief pitcher walks 3 guys in a row...and that genius Hunter Pence swings at the first pitch and does nothing with it

Seriously stupid baseball. STupid stupid stupid.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Holy crap!!! Panda walks with the bases loaded!

They could make a Klondike Bar commercial out of that. Only Panda would eat all the Klondike Bars in existence.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Giants with 6 runs on 5 hits.

Eight walks!!!

Love it.

 

[Stokes1931]

Giants with 6 runs on 5 hits.

Eight walks!!!

Love it.

How many intentional walks?

 

[Stokes1931]

Milk!

 

[Stokes1931]

Dogs win. Again.

Even if they forfeited a game, they would not lose it, the way they are going.

 

[Mays-Fan]

4.90 ERA at home!!

Has the wife changed up his diet any? Is she...uh...falling short with any of her spousal responsibilities?

Or maybe stepped up to the plate, as it were.

Women weaken legs!!!

 

[calsnowskier]

 

[calsnowskier]

Sorry guys, but that just has no basis in reason or precedent whatsoever. Yes, he does some things that look awkward, but so does Jim Furyk. He's not going to wear out his arm because he throws a bit awkwardly - he is not a pitcher. There is nothing in his swing that points to excessive wear or tear. He runs like a deer. What am I missing?

He makes up for his piss-poor mechanics with his godly athleticism and other-worldly workout habits. Once that begins to go, he will not be able to overcome his mechanics.