Michael McGauley's San Francisco Giants fan blog

  

  Do we really blame Carney Lansford for a bunch of over-anxious, free-swinging hitters?  The stats certainly don't lie.  Only the Padres, Pirates, and Astros scored fewer runs than the Giants' 657 runs in 2009.  San Francisco's 122 home runs was second-to-last in the N.L., behind only the Mets, who stroked just 95 homers with a half-injured team in their brand-new, spacious Citi Field. Walks: 392 for the Giants was dead last in the league (the Rockies had 660 walks to lead the league). And that leads us to on-base percentage; where the Giants ranked last at .309!  That is just dismal, anemic, pitiful....any other good adjectives to throw in there?

  Bottom line, this has been a consistent problem for the Giants for several years now. They never really replaced Bonds and Kent - the last time they had a legitimate three-four combination in the batting order.  Yes, they've built up the pitching big time. Yes, Pablo Sandoval can rake. But that's not enough -- we need two or three more hitters like Pablo. Hey, you've got to give up something to get something, and the time is now to part with a starting pitcher, and acquire a bat. It's not the most desirable scenario, but consider the lack of available sticks in free agency. In addition, they will have to invest some money to keep the young guys happy (Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson are due for BIG raises, and I say, give them whatever they want!).

Continue reading ""Carney Lansford the Scape Goat for Giants' Offensive Struggles""

  I don't know about you, but I'm proud of the Giants' progress in 2009, and look forward to better things in 2010.  Did anyone have ANY expectations this team would remain competitive well into September?  -- 82 wins to date with a possibility of 88 wins for the season (if they sweep their last two series). But aside from the final week of the regular season, what has to happen between now and spring training next year to get this squad ready to role?  Of course, I have several opinions, and would enjoy some dialogue with other fans. Here we go:    First Base: Travis Ishikawa is not the answer on an everyday basis.  More likely, Travis is a late-inning defensive replacement and spot starter. Should we assume that Pablo Sandoval will&

Continue reading ""Let's Talk About Next Year's Giants""

   It's hard to believe only 10 games remain in the regular season for the Giants, trailing Colorado by four games in the N.L. Wild Card race.  Although it's still mathematically possible, I just think these guys are collectively gassed (mentally and physically).  Even if everything goes their way between now at the finish line, who wants to watch a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers or Phillies.  Is it still best-of-five in the first round? Hey, no one expected them to contend this late into the season -  it's been an entertaining product despite a frustrating lack of offense.  All I can say is just 10 more days of Randy Winn, Fred Lewis, and Dave Roberts' expiring contract -- good bye, and good luck to you all.   The

Continue reading ""Giants Begin Final Home Stand of the Season""

  As an optimistic Giants' fan, I must say I've enjoyed THIS season more than any in recent memory.  The hopes of reaching the play-offs as a wild card still intrigue me; however, I know a lot of things would have to go our way in order to make that happen. First, the Rockies need to go on a nice, long losing streak, but that probably won't happen.  We can only control our next series, and that lies in Arizona.  Fortunately, Danny Haren pitched Sunday, so we won't have to deal with him.  Doug Davis going up against Barry Zito tonight.    But let's look at this rationally for a moment.  Last year: 72 wins....This year: 80 wins with a couple of weeks still to go. Seven more wins possible?  That would be 87 wins for the ye

Continue reading ""Giants Limp out of L.A., Dropping Two of Three; Head to Arizona""

  Bruce Bochy announced after Tuesday night's Giants' win that Randy Johnson is back on the active roster.  To make room, Justin Miller was moved to the 60-day D.L. with elbow inflammation.  Miller has been a solid contributor all season with an ERA around three, but hasn't been quite the same in recent weeks.  Most notably, Miller was one of the pitchers who gave it up in the bottom of the 14th-inning in that disastrous loss to the Rockies in late August at Coors Field. Johnson is already making a contribution in the dugout and the clubhouse, helping to mentor a whole stable full of baby-Giants.  It'll be great to see RJ back on the mound, even if it's just in relief.  It makes you think he may want to come back for another year.  Dan Runzler, meanwhile, has already proven to be a valuable bull pen addition as an extra lefty to compliment Jeremy Affeldt.

Continue reading ""Randy Johnson Activated from the 60-Day D.L.""

  Tim Lincecum showed no signs of rust after skipping last week's turn in the rotation with back stiffness.  Lincecum spearheaded a 9-1 Giants' win over the Rockies, tossing seven strong innings, allowing just one run and striking-out eleven Monday night.  Lincecum threw 116 pitches, and seemed to benefit from the extra rest with a little extra SNAP on the breaking pitches.  Although he had double-digit strikeouts, he did walk four, and scattered numerous base runners.  

  Once again the offense came through:  Aaron Rowand's clutch two-run single, the long ball from Bengie Molina (#18 on the year), and four RBI's from Eugenio Velez, as San Francisco pounded out 10 more hits (25 in the last two games).  That was more than enough for Lincecum and the bull pen - Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry allowed just one walk between them over the last two innings.  Juan Uribe and Travis Ishikawa carried over the good vibes from Sunday with two hits apiece Monday.

Continue reading ""Giants Close the N.L. Wildcard Gap Behind Lincecum""

  I went to Sunday's game, and enjoyed another strong outing from Brad Penny - this time against his former team the Dodgers in a 7-2 Giants' win.  Penny is now 3-0 in the orange-and-black.  After two disastrous games Friday and Saturday, the Giants finally got the offense going with seven runs on fifteen hits; knocking Chad Billingsley out of the game after just four-innings.  Juan Uribe really set the tone with an early two-run home run that barely cleared the wall in left.  Uribe and Travis Ishikawa each banged out three hits, while Sanchez, Sandoval, and Winn each contributed two hits.  It was nice to see Sanchez come through with a clutch two-run single to cap off that four-run, sixth-inning rally.  Billingsley hasn't been at his best over

Continue reading ""Brad Penny to the Rescue as Giants Avoid the Sweep""

  Eugenio Velez drilled the first pitch of the game of Pedro Martinez for a home run and a 1-0 Giants' lead.  Too bad that was the end of the scoring for the rest of the game in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies Thursday.  Martinez looked really good with 9 strike outs over seven innings. No, his fastball is not what it once was, but he knows how to pitch, and still features a deceptive delivery with his arm angle. Philadelphia is hoping THIS will be the same Pedro they can take with them into the post season. Giants' fans may remember when Pedro came off the DL in May of '08 as a New York Met, and beat San Francisco at A.T.& T. Park. He also had two hits in that game, and Barry Zito was awful - I remember because I was there!  Now Zito has regained his form, and apparently, so has Pedro, because he was Way better today then he was at anytime last year with the Mets.

Continue reading ""Giants Can't Score Off Pedro Martinez; Lose to Phillies""

  I don't think anyone expected that!  How about 8 shutout innings in a small ball park against the defending World Series Champion Phillies!  And it was the real line-up too:  Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez.  How many all-stars and/or MVP's are in that batting order?  Penny looked comfortable, and was surprisingly NOT rusty at all, throwing an easy 94 MPH as late as the 8th-inning.  His last start for Boston was August 21st when he allowed 8 earned runs to the Yankees in just four innings of work.  Wednesday, it was some timely double plays, good defense, and plenty of composure from a 10-year vet.  This was A BIT of an upgrade over Joe Martinez and Ryan Sadowski.  (By the way, sorry to see the team designate the "Big Sadowski" for assignment - we barely knew you.

Continue reading ""Digging Brad Penny in the Orange and Black""

  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 C

Continue reading ""Brad Penny on the Bump for the Giants""