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Are the wheels falling off the wagon, or is this a time of testing our resolve?
Watching the G-Men over the course of the last two weeks has been like experiencing a roller coaster going off the rails and then hanging on by two wheels at the curve. First the G-Men lose 4 series in a row (Nationals, Padres, Rays and the Padres again) before taking two out of three from the NL Central leading (currently the best record in baseball) Brewers (including today’s terrific come from behind nail-biter).
Tomorrow is a day off so today I’m asking for feedback. What would you do if you owned the team? Change Managers? Put Buster back in uniform? Bring Barry back? Make another trade for a pitcher (where the weakness is right now)? Stand pat, relax, bring up the kids and just play for fun? If I get good (tolerable and fit to repeat) suggestions, I will send them to my contacts at the Giants for their consideration, for whatever good that will do.
However, I must say it’s fun to watch Casey Schmitt come into his own (dingers, doubles, timely hits, smart baserunning), see Matos hit dingers and watch Jung Hoo Lee make highlight reel catches in center field. It’s also nice to have Matt Chapman back from the IL and Ramos play like he understands the game (and had someone explain the infield fly rule to him). RF needs to be settled down and no one seems sure what will happen there (or at first base with Flores and Devers trading off nights with Dom Smith, himself a career minor leaguer playing steady ball). However, the only solid defensive spots are Adames (somewhat of a disappointment for a vaunted power hitter but an excellent shortstop), Chapman (when healthy) at 3B, Lee in CF and our superstar catcher Bailey.
The pitching staff is, to put it mildly, a work in progress. Behind Webb (12 and 9, with a 3.13 ERA) and Ray (10 and 6, with a 2.98 ERA) we have Roupp on and off the DL, Verlander playing out the string and our just out of the minor’s crew learning in the show (Seymour, Whisenhunt, Teng, etc.). Rodriquez looked good closing the Brewers today, and Bivens looked good yesterday so there is hope for the relievers (although losing Rogers was a blow – he was a bullpen anchor).
So, what do we do? Bring up the kids (Eldridge, etc.) and let them play? Trade for a number two or three starting pitcher and another class reliever (I must say I’m not sorry to see Camilo with the Yankees – he was a walking heart attack). Clearly, we must take more series against tough teams (such as “ahem” those two teams from Southern California in our division), both of whom we see (along with most of the NL West) in September.
The upcoming series – Orioles and Cubs – a Break in the Schedule or a Trap?
The Cubbies are nothing to look past. The Cubs have a better record than the Giants at 78 and 55, 5 games behind the Brewers and invigorated by seeing the Brew Crew get taken down a peg by the G-Men this week. However, the Orioles are 60 and 79, last place in the AL East and 15.5 games behind the Blue Jays. They have absolutely nothing to lose and will come into Oracle with a chip on their shoulder.
Which Giants team will we see on the field? And if you were making the calls, what would they be. The best answers go into the next Czar’s blog.
On the Board ready for pick up are:
WED 8/27 – 6:45 Cubs: (4)
SAT 8/30 – 4:15 Orioles: (4) MLB Game of the week
SUN 8/31 – 1:05 Orioles (4) -roped hat day
Let the torture continue.
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
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THE PROTOCOL: The firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind the home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a waitlist.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio, or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
