OK in this one I am a homer still waiting for the first title since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958. But this year, they are actually sitting in the Wild Card spot and their record (39-32) is better then the leaders in both the NL East and NL Central. The Dodgers are just plain good and Manny is getting ready to return. However, the Giant starting pitching staff is not only going deep in most games, but have a number of complete games already. With Lincecum, Cain, Johnson, Zito (off into the 7th with a no-hitter and a notorious second half pitcher), and Sanchez (who is likely to lose his starting role soon) and Wilson as the closer, the Giants are in most games. Their no name offense just seems to be getting it done and Bochy is making sure everyone remains fresh. Just my thoughts and hopes of course.
Giants are on the move:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysptblthbody1 align=right><TD class=yspdetailttl align=left width="22%" height=18>West</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="5%">W</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="5%">L</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Pct</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">GB</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Home</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Road</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="8%">East</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="8%">Cent</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="8%">West</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="9%">Streak</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">L10</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left> Los Angeles Dodgers</TD><TD>51</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>.630</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>28-13</TD><TD>23-17</TD><TD>10-5</TD><TD>3-4</TD><TD>29-12</TD><TD>Lost 1</TD><TD>4-6</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left> San Francisco Giants</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>.550</TD><TD>6.5</TD><TD>26-12</TD><TD>18-24</TD><TD>10-7</TD><TD>10-7</TD><TD>15-16</TD><TD>Won 2</TD><TD>6-4</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left> Colorado Rockies</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>.525</TD><TD>8.5</TD><TD>18-16</TD><TD>24-22</TD><TD>4-6</TD><TD>14-8</TD><TD>13-20</TD><TD>Lost 1</TD><TD>5-5</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left> San Diego Padres</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>.438</TD><TD>15.5</TD><TD>23-19</TD><TD>12-26</TD><TD>4-5</TD><TD>8-11</TD><TD>18-19</TD><TD>Won 1</TD><TD>4-6</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left> Arizona Diamondbacks</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>.395</TD><TD>19.0</TD><TD>15-28</TD><TD>17-21</TD><TD>7-6</TD><TD>7-12</TD><TD>13-21</TD><TD>Won 1</TD><TD>2-8</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysptblthbody1 align=right><TD class=yspdetailttl align=left width="22%" height=18>West</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="5%">W</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="5%">L</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Pct</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">GB</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Home</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Road</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="8%">East</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="8%">Cent</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="8%">West</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="9%">Streak</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">L10</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left> Los Angeles Dodgers</TD><TD>51</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>.630</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>28-13</TD><TD>23-17</TD><TD>10-5</TD><TD>3-4</TD><TD>29-12</TD><TD>Lost 1</TD><TD>4-6</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left> San Francisco Giants</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>.550</TD><TD>6.5</TD><TD>26-12</TD><TD>18-24</TD><TD>10-7</TD><TD>10-7</TD><TD>15-16</TD><TD>Won 2</TD><TD>6-4</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left> Colorado Rockies</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>.525</TD><TD>8.5</TD><TD>18-16</TD><TD>24-22</TD><TD>4-6</TD><TD>14-8</TD><TD>13-20</TD><TD>Lost 1</TD><TD>5-5</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left> San Diego Padres</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>.438</TD><TD>15.5</TD><TD>23-19</TD><TD>12-26</TD><TD>4-5</TD><TD>8-11</TD><TD>18-19</TD><TD>Won 1</TD><TD>4-6</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left> Arizona Diamondbacks</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>.395</TD><TD>19.0</TD><TD>15-28</TD><TD>17-21</TD><TD>7-6</TD><TD>7-12</TD><TD>13-21</TD><TD>Won 1</TD><TD>2-8</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Been a long time SF Giant fan, and i am very pleased to see them doing well. I thought they had a chance to have a good season this year, and with any average hitting could contend. Their starting rotation nothing more needs to be said. I think their strength is their bullpen. They are very versatile, led by Jeremy Affedlt, who has become one of the best set up men in the game. He is also very useful if you want to match him up with a lefty. Sergio Romo is also becoming a nice little righty specialist. Throw in experienced Bob Howry, and Justin Miller, their long man to go along with all star closer Brian Wilson and you have one of the best bullpens in the game. They are especially effective since Lincecum and Cain give you 7 or 8 innings a game.
As for offense, Pablo Sandalov has produced just like they expected him to. His power seems to be coming on even more as the season progresses, which gives the Giants a legit middle of the order hitter. Aaron Rowand catches a lot of heat, but he has been pretty productive. Now if they can ever get Bengie Molina to match his production of the previous 2 years, and Fred Lewis to meet his potential, and then they;ll have something going on. Even still, with their pitching staff, and playing in the National League this team will be there throughout, and hopefully longer
As for offense, Pablo Sandalov has produced just like they expected him to. His power seems to be coming on even more as the season progresses, which gives the Giants a legit middle of the order hitter. Aaron Rowand catches a lot of heat, but he has been pretty productive. Now if they can ever get Bengie Molina to match his production of the previous 2 years, and Fred Lewis to meet his potential, and then they;ll have something going on. Even still, with their pitching staff, and playing in the National League this team will be there throughout, and hopefully longer
There pitching is maintaining it's quality starts following the All-Star break with Lincecum yielding 1 run, Zito 2 runs, and Cain 1 run, and Sanchez goes tomorrow. They hit well at home, but on the road they struggle to score. If they can improve their hitting on the road, they have a very good chance to make the post season and in a first round short series, that starting pitching staff plus an excellent bullpen could surprise.
I really didn't know what to expect other then I was confident that Lincecum and Cain would put together good years as they are legitimate as well as Wilson, the Giants closer. I could never have imagined that most of their pitching staff combined would do as well as they have, particularly the bullpen. As for hitting, I didn't have high hopes at all, but they have more then held their own at home but can't hit on the road. They had trouble against Pittsburgh this weekend and I expect them to have trouble against Atlanta. They will be lucky to win 1 game IMHO and that would be Game 3 when Lincecum pitches. Then they go to Colorado for 3 games. They have fallen out of the wild card spot tonight and by the time this road trip is over they are likely to be at least a couple of games out of that spot. Bottom line is I believe they have overachieved what I envisioned, but being a die-hard Giants fan since they arrived here in 1958, I always hope for the best and this year has been highly entertaining so far. I can always hope.
OK. Homer here once again with the latest update. Giants stand alone for the wild card spot and take on the Reds for 3 straight games at home this weekend with starters Lincecum, Zito, and Cain. Can you say sweep! But here's the real difference. The Giants acquisitions of Sanchez at second and Garko at first have changed the entire strength of the hitting line-up. They are also getting tremendous hitting from AAA, now starter Velez. This team is going to be hard to catch for the Wild Card spot IMHO and don't be surprised if they close the gap on the Dodgers for the Division lead. Plus the Dodgers and Giants play next week in San Francisco.
