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The Giants' resolve has been tested and not found wanting – it’s been a good road trip, but can they make the Playoffs?
The playoffs are a long shot, with playoff odds around 4-11% (depending on the source) but winning 10 of their last 11 games has woken up the fan base, ignited the team in the dugout (don’t you love the chest bumps between Drew Gilbert and Matt Chapman after the rookie homers?) and kindled hope at China Basin that a wild card may be there if things break right for the rest of September; after all, we are only 4 games out. The G-Men have a relatively favorable September schedule; witness the sweep against the Rockies over the last three days and they are going into Saint Louis over the weekend against a Cardinal team that can be had (but nevertheless is over .500 and 1.5 games behind the G-Men for a wild card of their own). However, it depends a lot on what the Padres (with a September schedule that includes the 1st place Brewers and Mets, as well as the Rockies) and the Mets (with a September schedule that includes the Padres, 1st place Phillies, Rangers, Cubs, and Marlins) do over the next three weeks. For the Giants, who close out the season against the Rockies at home, it all comes down (as it should) to the six games against LA. We will be nail-biting right down to the end of the month. Every game should be considered to be a playoff game.
The Best Suggestions for Improvement - if you Owned the Giants
The last blog asked what you would do if you owned the Giants. We discarded the one suggestion that they should trade for the ownership of Chelsea FC in the Premier League (on the rather dubious theory that most of our players can kick a ball better than throw or hit it) but almost took seriously the suggestion that the team needs a Shaman and a regular pre-game peyote ceremony to focus the energy of the baseball gods (seriously, that might work). However, the overwhelming consensus was to play the kids, soon and often. And, you know, it looks like Buster is listening and that is happening with the promotion of Gilbert, Matos, Schmitt, and Koss and giving more innings to Bivens, Lucchesi, Seymour, Gage and Beck. Expect to see a lot more of them this month.
The Strength of the Team down the stretch?
The core of this team is Matt Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee, Patrick Bailey, Willy Adames and (when he knows what the inning is and whether there are men on base, Heliot Ramos). That Devers is doing now what he did earlier this season in Boston is heartening. Rafe’s dingers are awesome, and the fact he took third base when Chapman was tossed was an excellent display of the defensive talent that he has. While his work at first has been good, he’s not Brandon Belt or JT Snow, but I understand he is regularly working with JT on his defense (I love the use the Giants make of their alumni - whenever I see Barry Bonds at the park working with the young hitters it warms the heart). Whatever happens this year Buster will not regret the Devers trade.
While it still hurts to lose Tyler Rodgers, Joey Lucchesi, Randy Rodriquez, Matt Gage and Jose Butto look like they know what they are doing on the mound. On the starting pitcher side, Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander (10 K’s in his last game at age 62 [I think] for Pete’s sake) are nails. Behind them though are more rookies and that will be the test.
Regardless, you can see Buster’s hand all over the diamond and he is playing his cards like a chess master. Buster, if you are listening to us, don’t. Do what your instincts tell you to do. You are the leader and the inspiration.
The upcoming series – Snakes and LA – These are the times that try Men’s Souls
This is what it always comes down to - the NL West.
Let’s start with the Snakes, who are a game and a half behind the G-Men and coming off taking 2 out of 3 from LA and ending August with a 17 and 12 record. They are a team to be reckoned with. The Snakes top-of-the-order bats -- Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll -- all swung hot bats in August, combining for a .305 average with 15 homers and 51 RBIs. Behind them is Blaze Alexander, who hit seven homers for the month and ended it on a 6-for-17 (.353) tear, good for a 1.300 OPS over his past five games. They have also been bolstered by the return of Gabriel Moreno, who had missed more than two months with a broken right hand. In eight games since returning, the catcher posted a .321/.333/.571 slash line with nine RBIs. Gallan and Pfaadt are the pitching studs, and we will probably see both in the series.
What can be said about LA that hasn’t been said? The team that shall not be named lives on their movie lot in LA entertaining the Southland masses with drama and nostalgia (i.e., Clayton Kershaw – right out of a 1930’s B movie about a baseball ghost). Unfortunately, they also lead the NL West by 2 games. Given their schedule in September (Phillies, 6 games against the G-men, another series against the Snakes and the Rockies and the Mariners) their season may come down to the 6 games against the G-Men. Names like Otani, Freeman, Will Smith and Pages come to mind but Yamamoto, Glasnow, and May will all pitch against the G-Men in the six games that are left. This is the big leagues and if the G-Men step up September will be a month to remember.
On the Board ready for pick up are:
MON 9/8 - 6:45 Snakes (3) – I’m going
TUES 9/9 – 6:45 Snakes (4)
The Dodgers games, no surprise, went internally quickly.
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!
