Before Vogelsong and Since

[ElJimador]

Last year the turning point was Posey replacing Molina as the starting catcher. Looking at the game logs and schedule results on B-R.com, that's where you saw the Giants kick it in gear. Not that it was all Posey of course. But if you wanted a marker, that was it. Now this year with the offense struggling even more than it was last year pre-Posey, I've been wondering (hoping) if we're going to see the same thing when Belt is recalled or Sandoval returns. So that down the road when the doubters are pointing to the Giants' still middling or worse offensive stats we can say "yes but... that was a different team early on. Check out the numbers since X." While we're waiting for that hitting spark though, check this out:

Giants before Vogelsong's first start:
23 g (9h/14a), 11-12 (5 gb), 3.76 era, offense: 3.9 r/g, .685 ops

With Vogelsong in the rotation:
21 g (7h/14a), 14-7 (1.5 up), 2.64 era, offense: 3.1 r/g, .646 ops

Again the pitching improvement is not all Vogelsong just like the offensive improvement wasn't all Posey last year. Bumgarner's turnaround has been just as big a factor in bringing down that ERA. Still, it's the clearest turning point you'll see in the Giants season so far. And while I don't really expect Vogelsong and the pitching overall to keep up their current pace, if they can just keep tiding them over until that offensive turnaround begins that would be HUGE. After all, this could have been a really bleak stretch for the Giants and instead of just muddling through and trying not to fall too far back they've actually gotten better instead.

Who'd have thought 1/4 way in that the key to the Giants season in a good way would be Ryan Vogelsong?

 

[calsnowskier]

WB EJ.

Glad to see ya here.

Great post (as always). I like Vogey, and I am hesitantly confident that he is for real. But I don't really think his joining the rotation had the same effect as Posey. Posey added a spark to the weakness of the team. Vogey made the strength stronger. As you mentioned, Bum's awakening probably had as much (if not more) to do with the turn around.

Nice breakdown, though.

 

[ElJimador]

WB EJ.

Glad to see ya here.

Great post (as always). I like Vogey, and I am hesitantly confident that he is for real. But I don't really think his joining the rotation had the same effect as Posey. Posey added a spark to the weakness of the team. Vogey made the strength stronger. As you mentioned, Bum's awakening probably had as much (if not more) to do with the turn around.

Nice breakdown, though.

Thanks. I needed a break from the troll board. Especially with Tito back now.

I don't think Vogelsong is this year's Posey either. If he can keep up a reasonable approximation of what he's been doing he could be this year's Torres. But our 2011 Posey is still to come, hopefully, because the Giants will need him. I'm just impressed with what Vogelsong has done to help hold the Giants over until he gets here.

 

[nateistheshi]

Thanks. I needed a break from the troll board. Especially with Tito back now.

I don't think Vogelsong is this year's Posey either. If he can keep up a reasonable approximation of what he's been doing he could be this year's Torres. But our 2011 Posey is still to come, hopefully, because the Giants will need him. I'm just impressed with what Vogelsong has done to help hold the Giants over until he gets here.

hahahahahahaahahahaha dude am I really that convincing of an actor?

 

[tzill]

Thanks. I needed a break from the troll board. Especially with Tito back now.

I don't think Vogelsong is this year's Posey either. If he can keep up a reasonable approximation of what he's been doing he could be this year's Torres. But our 2011 Posey is still to come, hopefully, because the Giants will need him. I'm just impressed with what Vogelsong has done to help hold the Giants over until he gets here.

+1, EJ. And welcome back! Your posts are BY FAR the best thing in Disneyland. I would note that Vogey's stats are pretty unsustainable for the rest of the year. His ERA alone, if sustained, would place him in Juan Marichal company; his BABIP of .242 indicates that he's had more than his fair share of luck as well. Put another way, had he put up four similar starts to his last five from the beginning of the year, he'd be in Timmy's company and on the short list for All-Star consideration. All in all, we have definitely caught lightning in a bottle and I'm ecstatic, but he's almost certain to regress to something like 4.50 ERA and .320 BABIP by the end of the year (if he can manage to remain in the rotation).

More important to me than Vogey's continued performance and the return to the majors of Posey 2011(Belt) as you call him is the return of Panda --THAT, imo, will be the demarcation point for taking control of the season.

Great post.

 

[Robotech]

+1, EJ. And welcome back! Your posts are BY FAR the best thing in Disneyland. I would note that Vogey's stats are pretty unsustainable for the rest of the year. His ERA alone, if sustained, would place him in Juan Marichal company; his BABIP of .242 indicates that he's had more than his fair share of luck as well. Put another way, had he put up four similar starts to his last five from the beginning of the year, he'd be in Timmy's company and on the short list for All-Star consideration. All in all, we have definitely caught lightning in a bottle and I'm ecstatic, but he's almost certain to regress to something like 4.50 ERA and .320 BABIP by the end of the year (if he can manage to remain in the rotation).

More important to me than Vogey's continued performance and the return to the majors of Posey 2011(Belt) as you call him is the return of Panda --THAT, imo, will be the demarcation point for taking control of the season.

Great post.

I look forward to Panda's return, too, but I'm worried he might not have much power because of the hamate bone injury. I read that it affects your power for a while.

Vogelsong seems to have the stuff needed to be a good pitcher. He's got good velocity and is getting the K's. I think he'll regress but that he'll surprise us and keep his ERA closer to 4.00 than 4.50.

 

[Robotech]

How pissed off must Pirate fans be, the few that still follow that team closely? They trade away their best pitcher for Vogelsong. Schmidt does great for the Giants. Vogelsong does horribly for the Pirates. And now Vogelsong's back with the Giants doing great so far.

 

[msgkings322]

How pissed off must Pirate fans be, the few that still follow that team closely? They trade away their best pitcher for Vogelsong. Schmidt does great for the Giants. Vogelsong does horribly for the Pirates. And now Vogelsong's back with the Giants doing great so far.

Well, Kevin Correia is their ace this year...

Frankly, Pirates fans are probably pissed off 24/7 if they even still bother to be fans. Worst franchise in the sport.

 

[ElJimador]

hahahahahahaahahahaha dude am I really that convincing of an actor?

Wait, Raptor Chickens is you?

If so, why?

 

[ElJimador]

+1, EJ. And welcome back! Your posts are BY FAR the best thing in Disneyland. I would note that Vogey's stats are pretty unsustainable for the rest of the year. His ERA alone, if sustained, would place him in Juan Marichal company; his BABIP of .242 indicates that he's had more than his fair share of luck as well. Put another way, had he put up four similar starts to his last five from the beginning of the year, he'd be in Timmy's company and on the short list for All-Star consideration. All in all, we have definitely caught lightning in a bottle and I'm ecstatic, but he's almost certain to regress to something like 4.50 ERA and .320 BABIP by the end of the year (if he can manage to remain in the rotation).

More important to me than Vogey's continued performance and the return to the majors of Posey 2011(Belt) as you call him is the return of Panda --THAT, imo, will be the demarcation point for taking control of the season.

Great post.

Vogelsong's success so far has not all been BABIP luck though. His K/BB is very good and his FIP/xFIP are 2.85/3.39. So like I said, I don't expect him to keep up what he's been doing either. But so far he's looked more good than lucky to me. He's not throwing junk up there and waiting for guys to hit at'em balls. He's got good stuff and he's pitching with confidence.

 

[Stokes1931]

Well, Kevin Correia is their ace this year...

Frankly, Pirates fans are probably pissed off 24/7 if they even still bother to be fans. Worst franchise in the sport.

Oh, I initially misread this to say "Worst franchise in sports." I was already to protest and say, "NO! That would be the Warriors!"

My misread. Carry on.

 

[tzill]

Vogelsong's success so far has not all been BABIP luck though. His K/BB is very good and his FIP/xFIP are 2.85/3.39. So like I said, I don't expect him to keep up what he's been doing either. But so far he's looked more good than lucky to me. He's not throwing junk up there and waiting for guys to hit at'em balls. He's got good stuff and he's pitching with confidence.

I agree, it's not all luck. But, there has been some luck as evidenced by BABIP and he's bound to regress his FIP/xFIP along with his ERA. That said, if he can maintain his K/BB and his BABIP doesn't balloon up to .400, he'll be OK.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[SFAnthem]

I agree, it's not all luck. But, there has been some luck as evidenced by BABIP and he's bound to regress his FIP/xFIP along with his ERA. That said, if he can maintain his K/BB and his BABIP doesn't balloon up to .400, he'll be OK.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

same here. Reminds me of VanLandingham for some reason. Successful early on but glad to see the anchors of the rotation take hold.

 

[nateistheshi]

Wait, Raptor Chickens is you?

If so, why?

Somebody just randomly accused me of being Tito when I made a sn to fuck with Marcus for being a little prick. After that I just kind of ran with it and am trying to use it to fuck with him some more, but I haven't posted over there in a couple days (neither has Marcus.) Don't take anything I say there as Tito seriously, I'm trying to overdramatize (is that all one word?) his tendencies as much as possible since I find it hilarious and Marcus has been trying to suck my balls over there thinking I'm Tito.