The G-Men have gone on a six-game winning streak since Czar’s Blog #3 (the Little League Edition). In six games the winning percentage has gone from .360 to .467, the G-Men climbed up to third in the NL West, and then dropped a half game down to fourth after Colorado won yesterday. They were obviously motivated by the last Czar’s blog to buckle down and play better ball (which they have been doing).
It is much more likely though a result of the call up of Joey Bart and general stellar play by the entire team. Jedi Joey is everything advertised. He is a stud player who scorches the ball, looks like a wrestler behind the plate and will be the successor to Buster (first base next year?). He does what all great players do – which is to make everyone else play better. I expect to see Yoda in the dugout during the upcoming Dodgers series.
We are 30 games into the 60-game season – is there a shot at the abbreviated playoffs?
The Giants are 14 and 16 and 8 games out of the lead in the NL West with 30 games left to go. They are 2 games out of the wildcard and tied for the second wildcard. There is suddenly hope for the postseason and something to play for. The next series against the Dodgers (more below) is important for sure, but the series after against the Snakes, Mariners and Rockies are just as important. I like what I am seeing – which is a team jelling.
Is it a new day at 24 Willie Mays Plaza?
One of the most interesting facets of this season has been watching how Oracle is playing under the new configuration. My cut out (below) has been reporting back that balls are traveling further with the arcade windows in right field closed, and the new bullpens are resulting in what used to be long outs to the triples alley area now being dingers or long doubles (did you see that double from Bart off the top of the bullpen?). This is a ballpark built for Bart, Yaz, Dickerson and Flores (tied with Yaz with 7 dingers in 30 games). Bart has not hit a dinger yet, but I expect it happen soon. Wouldn’t it be fun to be off Kershaw?
The Young Giants, and the Old Giants – has the torch been passed?
Hunter Pence has been DFA’d. That was passing the torch. The Reverend Pence was the heart and soul of the team but an inability to hit and field caught up with him. He went out like the gentleman he is, with appreciation for what he had and kind words for the young guys. That opens for door for the younger generation (isn’t it always that way?). Yaz and Bart could be this generations Bonds and Kent – it just has that feeling. Having five players batting above .300 also helps. I never miss a Yaz at-bat. He is so cool, and so dangerous, he could be in a John Wick movie.
The veterans are getting hot – Belt has raised his average to .274, Longoria is hitting the ball hard and just recorded his 300th dinger (which puts him int HOF consideration as a third baseman), and Crawford is playing all-star defense and getting timely hits. It takes that – veteran leadership and young talent.
OK, Farhan, you are forgiven for trading Bum.
The pitching has improved. Cueto is still a stud and Trevor Cahill and Logan Webb are pitching like veterans. The relievers are also contributing and watching Tyler Rodgers walk out of the bull pen with his sidearm submarine slider (he’s getting a lot of work) reminds me of Sergio Romo in his prime, and the only more exciting reliever than Sergio in his prime was Brian Wilson (he of the total LA meltdown – but he was perfect for the moment in 2010).
The torch is lit, and it is being passed.
Are the Dodgers Afraid? Maybe, the next three games will tell us
The next three games will pit the all-world team from LA with Betts, Bellinger, Seager and the rest of the sunshine boys against the young Giants. But these games will be at Oracle. Taking this series would put the fear of God into Davy Lopes, and I cannot wait to see it happen.
Play loose G-Men!
GO GIANTS!
Ciao,
The Czar
This is my cutout. I have been rooting for the G-Men at every game but no foul balls yet.
For nostalgia, the usual admonition. “The available games, dates and number of tickets will be shown at the end of the blog before the rules. Remember when you email me back to identify the game, the date, and the number of tickets you want. Please whitelist my email so you get the blog posts and ticket offers all season long.”