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The Last Road Trip and the Beginning of the Second Half of the Season.
The All-Star break (where Camilo got the MVP – well deserved) was needed. The G-Men are playing the Nationals today at the end of an 11-game road trip (including a next Monday road game make-up against Detroit) that started with a sweep of the Pirates and a 4-game series split (2 and 2) against the Reds. Today we are 2 games behind the LA Team (you know who they are) for the lead in the NL West and tied with the Snakes. If the Playoffs started today, the G-Men would be in. Now the challenge is to continue the pace and play at the level they are playing at now for the month of August. The Giants are for real, and this feels like 2010 all over again.
The Trade Deadline, the Injuries, and The Holes that Need to be Filled.
The young guys called up in the last six weeks (Bailey, Wisely, Schmitt, and Matos) are exciting and productive. Schmitt is in for Crawford, who is out on the DL, and his defense is stunning. Now his bat must come around and his plate discipline improved. The veterans (Conforto, Wade, Pederson, Flores, Yaz, Slater) are producing in the clutch which is why the late innings seem to be when the team shines. This team is never out of a game if Joc and Late Night Lamont are coming to bat.
The Giants bullpen has settled and may now be the best in baseball. Seeing the Rodgers brothers come into games in the 7th and 8th innings, and Doval shutting the door in the 9th, is like watching the end of an Opera (drama, noise, singing, and someone dies at the end).
The starting pitching continues to be shaky once you get beyond Webb (who is having a career year). The other starters (DeSclafini, Cobb, and Wood) are inconsistent and can be hit. That’s where the bulk innings strategy has paid dividends. Using the long relievers (Manaea, Junis, Walker) as openers has somewhat (not completely) shielded this weakness.
Starting pitching is the hole that needs to be filled, although another big bat would be welcome. The rumors of the G-Men going after Ohtani from the Angels (on a pace to break the Babe’s pitching and HR records in the same season) sounds interesting (if ownership will spring for $500 million contract) but would require emptying the farm system (which is producing – see Schmitt, Patrick Bailey, etc.) and the question is whether it’s worth it or whether we should bring up the fine young arms in Sacramento (like Kyle Harrison) and Oregon.
If the Angels are on a road to rebuilding and selling their best players, I would love to see the G-men go after Mike Trout, who is (to me) a better player than Aaron Judge. Trout (even at his age) would be worth giving up Conforto and some minor leaguers. That would be awesome for a stretch run. Right now, the Giants bats are much too quiet. Trout will solve that problem.
The upcoming series against the A’s, Red Sox, and Snakes – the Dog Days of August
The A’s are in the tank, 32 games back and last in the AL West, while they prepare to go to Los Vegas after being sold out by Fisher, who is dissing Oakland big time. I’m not an A’s fan but what Fisher has done to Oakland is unforgivable. This series is important in the standings and is our chance to say good-bye to the A’s who have a long and illustrious history in the bay area.
The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 8 and a half games out of the lead but 5 games over .500. We seldom see them at Oracle so this is a special series. The Sox are led by players we know (including Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen) and are fighting for their lives in the AL East. The Red Sox offense is really good so our pitching will be tested.
The homestand closes out against the Snakes, who are tied with the G-Men for 2nd place in the NL West and showcasing Corbin Carroll (who may be the rookie of the year), Ketel Marte, and Christian Walker. This will be a dog fight and what may be playoff-determining division games.
On the board and ready to be picked up are:
TUE 7/25 – A’s [6:45] – 3 [I’m going] – Italian Heritage Night
WED 726 – A’s [6:45] – 4 – Trucker Hat Night
FRI 7/28 – Red Sox [7:15] – 3 [I’m going] – Autism Awareness Night
MON 7/31– Snakes [6:45] – 2 – Firefighter Appreciation Night
TUES 8/1 – Snakes [6:45] – 4 – Law Enforcement Appreciation Night
WED 8/2 – Snakes [6:45] – 3 [I’m going]
THUR 8/3 – Snakes [12:45] – 4 – Trading Card Set Day (great game for kids)
Let the torture continue!
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
The Czar
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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 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 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!
