A 3-2 homestand is what you aim for in a homestand that has a two game and a three game series. The way the record was reached was a little nerve racking, but it was the desired outcome. This upcoming roadtrip could be a tough one. The Giants have very good pitching, but a lack of hitting, the Padres could be for real or they could not be, and the Astros...I don't think they should beat us. We won every game I went to this past week and that is all that matters. In my plan to wear a hat until we lose in a game I attended my current hat is on a four game win streak, but I am starting to get tired of wearing it. I don't want to watch them lose, but I would like to wear a different hat before the season ends. I have a lot more to say about the Orioles vs. Nationals, but I will be making a blog entry about that at some point today. Check the link in my signature in the afternoon if interested.
Nationals @ GiantsThe last roadtrip started fine, but didn't end too well. This looks to be a much tougher roadtrip, and it all starts with the pitching deep Giants. I read something interesting about the Giants thinking about moving Huff to left field and starting Posey at first. Interesting idea if they truly want to test FIP and see if a pitcher can win without fielders. Let me just say that if they do that they better hope Lincecum can strike out 27 every time he starts.
Tuesday May, 25 Livan Hernandez vs. Todd WellemeyerGet ready for some more fangraphs articles on Tuesday. Livan (the luckiest man alive) Hernandez is pitching. Although I have to disagree and say Andy Rodick is the luckiest man alive. Just look at the collection of chicks he's banged. Livan would sacrifice all his ERA for just one night with Mandy Moore or Brooklyn Decker. If there is one team I am not expecting a blow-up against it is a team that can't hit, but of course this means this is when it is coming. Hopefully Livan can keep it up until some people work their way through the minors and guys start getting healthy. Livan has been a real asset to this team.
A Dave Duncan product that regressed. Count me among the most suprised. Wellemeyer's ERA looks like it belongs on the Nationals. He has had his struggles this year away from the lessons of Dave Duncan. Hopefully the Giants leave this as the match-up as I would hate to see Livan once again face off against a team's ace. Livan vs. Wellemeyer is the most winable game in this series, maybe even the only winable game.
Wednesday May, 26 Luis Atilano vs. Tim LincecumAtilano finally faced a team for the second time and it didn't go well, but the Giants haven't seen him yet. Also let's face it the Mets have some pretty good hitters that are just playing poorly, but they are still good hitters. The Giants don't even have good hitters playing poorly. They have two overrated fatsos at third and catcher, a product of the Phillies line-up, and that is about it. Even if he does have a better outing he needs to pitch deeper into the game. In his first two starts he finished six innings but since then he hasn't been able to. With Storen up and Burnett looking better the seventh inning looks a lot more secure than it did with Brian Bruney.
The most depressing game I ever watched was a Giants game earlier this year. Tim Lincecum was cruising. The only offense against him was a Ryan Howard homerun. He was mowing down the Phillies like only a true Ace could. Then the 9th inning started and he got the first out, but then walked Shane Victorino. Bruce Bochy got an itchy trigger finger and pulled Lincecum and put in the closer Brian Wilson. Of course the Phillies went on to do what the Phillies do. Polanco made an out and then Utley singled, Howard walked, and against the no-doubles defense Werth hit a shallow blooper that hit near the chalk, but close to where a right fielder normally plays. The game was tied and went into extras. The Phillies eventually won, but this is the blueprint for beating Lincecum. You won't beat him so get him out and beat someone else.
Thursday May, 27 Craig Stammen vs. Barry ZitoStammen was throwing 92 on Saturday which is the hardest I remember seeing him throw. Of our pitchers Stammen might be the most talented. He has a nice sharp curve and good movement on his fastballs, he just falls behind in the count too much and doesn't want to walk people. Sometimes a walk is better than a homer or double. Stammen needs to throw the strikes early in the count instead of late in the count, and like a good batter shouldn't be afraid to take a strike out a good pitcher needs to not be afraid to give up a walk. Challenge the guys early in the count and then don't give into them when ahead. Hopefully someone tells Stammen this or Livan takes him golfing on the off day.
Barry Zito pitched against the Nationals in the first game I ever saw. He was with the Athletics at the time and Tony Armas Jr. was facing off against him. The Nationals ended up winning the game on a Nick Johnson two run homer while I was in the bathroom. Zito is not at his best against the Nationals. He is 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.472 WHIP. Hopefully we can put numbers like that up against him and Stammen can have a decent outing.
X-FactorsIt was going to happen sooner or later. Matt Capps was going to blow a save, but it isn't how you do when you are going well, it is how you respond to failure that makes someone a good ballplayer. It wasn't really a terrible blown save. A dribbler up the middle, a close call at first, a hard hit single, and then a bloop hit right over Guzman's head. I can think of worse ways for a closer to blow a save. Like a walk-off grand slam to Brooks Conrad. Hopefully Capps recovers and gets an opportunity in this series.
The entire Giants defense is an X-factor for them. Rowand is a solid and steady defender out in center field, but Pablo Sandavol might be nicknamed a Panda but he also plays defense like one. Of the Molina brothers Bengie is the best hitter, but he is also the worst defensively. He still isn't bad, but he is no Jadier or Jose. Aubrey Huff was a DH in the American league and is now back at first and might possibly be moving to left field. Derosa is a good hitter but he has been a utility player everywhere else he has been out of fear he might be exposed. Uribe is an underrated hitter, but I think he might be 100 years old. We should try and put as many balls in play as possible since everyone of them might be an adventure.
Final ThoughtsThe pitching match-ups in this series don't line-up well for us. Lincecum just doesn't lose and Barry Zito hasn't been called out by fangraphs yet. On the road playing against a team with one of the best pitching staffs in the league. I don't see us winning more than one of these games. If we do win this series I will enjoy some type of food associated with San Francisco or a Full House marathon, because I am just not into the other pleasures the city is known for (not that there's anything wrong with that).
I think someone should photoshop Zimmerman's face into this image.