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Oracle Park is now open for baseball (no restrictions) but we all hope that everyone is vaccinated and covid free.
The First two weeks of the Regular Season – Testing the new Gloves, the Returning Players, and the Captain.
The G-men started the new season out with a bang, taking 9 out of the first 14 games against the Marlins and Padres, including a sweep against Guardians (the old Tribe) and losing 3 out of 4 against the Mets (btw, the Mets look really good this year and will be a factor in the NL East against Atlanta). Yesterday the Giants beat the Nationals and are playing them in DC today and tomorrow before returning home to take on the A’s and the Nationals. The strengths and weaknesses of all the teams, including the Giants, are starting to show.
The Giants depth is being tested immediately. Early injuries include Dugger (yesterday - oblique) and DeSclafani (another oblique). The outfield injuries are being covered by a resurgent Slater and DuBon, and Junis (a minor league pitcher given a chance) looked good yesterday. My question is when will Heliot Ramos (who looked like a superstud in pre-season) be called up permanently.
The Sacramento express is expected to be a major factor this season depending on options and injuries. Injuries and the DL provide an opportunity to look at the talent waiting for the opportunity to be in the show.
The rule changes are also having an effect. The biggest one is the universal DH. It’s given players like Darren Ruf the opportunity to be an everyday player and he’s done well in the role. Expect to see a lot more offense out of the NL teams with that change in the rules. It’s too early to give any weight to the permanent change in extra inning rules (starting with a man on second) but that should cut down on the length of extra-inning games.
Will the Giants match their 2021 107-win season? It’s too early to tell but it looks good based on a small sample size.
Who is hot on the field and in the bullpen?
The most dramatic at-bats and hits of the early season have come from the senior players on the team – Belt and Crawford, the only veterans remaining from the 2012 and 2014 World Series winning teams. Belt, the Captain, leads the team with home runs (4) and bunts for hits. He is a left-handed threat and an always entertaining at-bat (and generally entertaining – the boat ride at the Giants opener was a hoot). He is clearly enjoying this season, and so is Crawford. The real surprise of the early season is Joc Pederson, leading the team in BA (.308 as of yesterday) and batting for power. The outfield is settling in with a resurgent Yaz, a hard-hitting Slater and Pederson. The catchers (Caseli and Bart) are both playing well, and Bart is showing the raw power that is eventually going to make him one of the most feared hitters in baseball.
The players to watch include Estrada (who seems to get better every game), DuBon (who is getting his shot because of injuries) and Luke Williams, who has looked great in a small sample of at-bats. He just looks like a ballplayer.
On the pitching side, the Giants major pickup in the off-season was Carlos Rodan, who has a 1.06 ERA and is striking out the opposition at an incredible rate (I was at the 12-strikeout opening game). Webb, Wood and Cobb are not far behind him with ERA’s in the 2’s. This starting pitching staff is going to make a difference.
On the reliever side the Coaching staff is clearly attempting to turn Camilo Dovel (he of the 100-mph fastball and 87 mph slider) into the closer but they also have McGee, Tyler Rodgers and Jose Alvarez right behind him when he falters. The bullpen looks like a strength of the team this year and it’s time to watch for who will emerge as the leader of the bullpen. My money is on Tyler Rogers. He is just so cool.
What about that coaching staff?
Two factors emerge about the coaching staff early on this year. First, the coaching staff is the largest in baseball (13 coaches) and they are dedicating a coach to monitor, watch and counsel every player. Second, the staff includes the only woman coach who has appeared in a major league game – Alyssa Nakken. Her debut as a coach was not treated as a big deal but just a part of her job. That was totally cool. We will see if the expanded coaching staff makes a difference as the season rolls on. MLB is also watching. If this organizational change is a difference maker look for expanded coaching staffs throughout the game.
The Enemy Emerges – the NL West and, surprisingly, the Rockies
The NL West will be a dog fight. Right now, the LA team is leading the division by 1.5 games over the G-Men and one game over the resurgent Rockies (who are playing well on the road). San Diego and Arizona are below but the entire division (except for the Snakes) is 2 games apart. A lot will be on the line when the G-Men travel to LA on May 3rd and 4th for the first 2022 contest between the two teams.
The Rockies (8 and 4) are 1.5 games behind LA (one-half game in front of the G-Men) and are the surprise of the early season. They are also leading the entire NL in batting average. It’s too early to prognosticate the outcome of the season but the Rocks are a team to keep an eye on.
The First Bay Bridge Series of the Year is Coming Up, followed by the Nationals, Cardinals and Rockies
The next home stand is important. The A’s games will be for bragging rights in the bay area and the Nationals and the Cardinals series will be important all around. The Nationals are in last place in the NL East and are fighting for respect. The Cardinals are leading the NL Central and the Brewers are nipping at their heels. That series will be a dog fight.
On the board ready to be picked up are:
TUES 4/26 [6:45] – A’s – Bay Bridge Series [3 tickets – I’m going]
FRI 4/29 [6:45] – Nationals [3 tickets – I’m going]
SAT 4/30 [1:05]– Nationals [4 tickets]
SUN 5/1 [1:05] – Nationals [3 tickets – I’m going]
THURS 5/5 [6:45] – Cardinals [4]
FRI 5/6 [7:15] – Cardinals [4]
SAT 5/7 [4:15] – Cardinals [1 – I’m going] – Buster Posey Day
SUN 5/8 [1:05] – Cardinals [4 – Mother’s Day Tote Bag]
MON 5/9 [6:45] Rockies [4]
TUES 5/10 [6:45] Rockies [3 – I’m going]
WED 5/11 [12:45] Rockies [1]
Let the torture commence.
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
We use mail chimp so give permission for the blog to arrive in your mailbox if you want to receive the blog and participate in the fun. Past blogs can be found at www.beveragelaw.com at the Czar’s blog archive.
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 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 19 foul balls myself over 20 years, am looking for more and caught my latest ball at the Cards game on July 5th [film available!]. 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 wait list.
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!
