Hopefully for Giants' fans, Brad Penny can find his groove back in the National League. In his three inter-league starts against national league teams this year, Penny posted a 2.70 ERA, while his overall earned run average was well above five. How much of that points to a comfort factor pitching against familiar hitters and pitching in familiar ball parks. Also, the American League has overall better hitting and the DH- that's one less hitter he's got to worry about in the NL. Penny clearly has something to prove after getting released by Boston, and is basically auditioning for perhaps one last BIG pay day (with the Giants or someone else).
San Francisco looks to bounce back in Philly this afternoon after getting blanked 1-0 by Cole Hamels, who kept the Giants off balance with a brutal change up Tuesday. A short-handed line-up -- playing (again) without Sanchez, Sandoval, and Molina -- only managed to scratch out two hits; a double by Ryan Garko and a pinch-hit single by Rich Aurilia. Classy move by the Giants to conveniently drop Richie on the DL through the end of August, and then bring him back with the expanded rosters Tuesday. He didn't deserve to end his career with the Giants by getting released before the end of the season.
Back to the offense...this is a team that has enough trouble scoring runs, but when you trot out a 3-4-5 of Aurilia, Garko, and Uribe, you've got problems. Hamels tossed a complete game: walking one and striking out nine in 118 pitches. Jonathan Sanchez, meanwhile, was solid over six innings (3 hits, one ER, 3 BB's and 8 K's), dropping his ERA to 4.15. His problem continues to be control and high pitch counts - 114 pitches over six innings forced him out of the game.
Buster Posey has been summoned to the big club. Maybe a little bit of a surprise, but with the expanded September rosters, Posey is coming in as insurance with Molina still dinged by a nagging quad injury. Eli Whiteside has caught seven straight games (5-and-2 over that stretch), and needs some help if Bengie isn't ready to go very soon. Posey was quite impressive in his first minor league season split between Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Fresno. He batted .325 with a .416 on-base percentage, and a combined 18 home runs and 80 RBI's. Does this move create some tension between Molina and the Giants heading into the off-season? If Molina's inability to play through this type of injury coupled with a lack luster year greasing the skids for his departure? Have you looked at his rediculously low number of walks and on-base percentage as a number four hitter this year?
I would much prefer to see the team keep Bengie in a diminished role as a back-up and mentor to Posey in 2010. He's been a good Giant - I would hate for things to end badly. How about things ending badly before they ever really get started - Freddy Sanchez where the hell are you??? Is it time for another apology to the fans for your continued absence?
What a brutal line-up of pitchers the Giants will face through the bulk of this six-game road trip: Hamels last night, 10-game winner J.A. Happ tonight, Pedro Thursday, and 12-game winner Yovani Gallardo Friday in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the Rockies are playing the Mets and the Reds. Suck it up boys and knock out a 3-and-3 roadie - do I hear 4-and-2? ANYBODY?
Keywords: Bengie Molina, Boston Red Sox, Brad Penny, Buster Posey, Cole Hamels, Eli Whiteside, J.A. Happ, Jonathan Sanchez, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Rich Aurilia, Ryan Garko, San Francisco Giants, Yovani Gallardo
