A smile crosses my face when I think of how well the Giants have performed on the season. I guess I was used to losing or something. In my wildest dreams, I don’t think I would have ever predicted 49-39 at this point in the season. Factor in that they have the third best record in the National League and lead the wild card and my smile widens.
First and foremost, the secret to the Giants success this year is their pitching. The starters start the games, so we’ll begin with them. The two headed beast of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain has given the team an awesome stability at the top of the rotation. I will set this one two punch against any in the majors. With Timmy, after two hiccups to begin the season, he’s merely continuing what won him the Cy Young award last season. As for Cain, he’s showing us what he can do when he has the comfort level a little run support will allow. Incredible. If each continues their first half performance, the Giants will be well. Randy Johnson’s been good, not great, not stellar. He’s been a stable influence in the rotation when he’s not giving up taters. However, his 8-6 record is gone until August (or September). A lot will happen between now and then and his return should be viewed on a par with a late season trade. It could push them over the top but won’t help them in the short term. After him, Barry Zito’s been hit and miss, sink or swim, bouquet or stink. In other words, a great number four. For every dominating outing he has, there is seemingly one bad one and two that can go either way. I’ll take the dominating ones when we can get them. However, while he’s nice when on, he can’t be depended upon in crunch time. So that leaves us with the kids. Jonathan Sanchez was great in his last outing (no-hitter) and mostly abyssmal in the previous 13 before that. It’s imperative that this last start was not an anomaly and that the Giants can depend on more of that sort. If he starts walking the world in his next outing, the team should be concerned. If the next batch are the same as the first 13, a change will be in order. If he continues this dominance, then the Giants are in for a treat. The rookie, Ryan Sadowski, has been good in three starts. As a true #5, whatever the team can get from him will be gravy. If he can remain accurate with his pitches (in his lost, he walked four), it appears he can be a consistently good juxtaposition to the fireballers at the top of the rotation. He’s one to watch in the second half.
The bullpen was awesome. Between Justin Miller, Brandon Medders, Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, and Bobby Howry, leads were often safe in the first half. The only real question mark is oft-injured Merkin Valdez and his ‘just under five’ ERA. Perhaps they could use an upgrade in this department. Every other pitcher who hasn’t produced in the bullpen this year (Matos, Misch, Hinshaw) has been shown the door in short order. Let’s hope the Giants don’t get too tentative about this one. Perhaps a returning Joseph Martinez is the answer. Brian Wilson, as usual, gave us a few nervous moments but, more often than not, came through for the Orange and Black. I don’t see why that should change in the second half. Nor do I see any need for a different closer (though the reactionaries will always scream that the sky is falling and somebody other than Wilson should be the closer….they are wrong).
For the lineup, I’ll be brief:
First base-The lineup improved once 1) Travis Ishikawa started hitting and 2) once Travis Ishikawa started playing consistently. I love this guy at first. He should be the starter from here on out. They need no upgrade at this position. He saves uncountable runs with his scoops at first and, I’ll call my shot, he will end up the season with 20 homeruns and 80 RBI. Mark it down.
Second base-After the failed (can we declare it failed yet?? Yes, we can.) experiment with the combination of Emmanuel Burriss (didn’t hit/sent to the minors and currently missing the rest of the season with a broken foot) and Kevin Frandsen (sent to the minors/recalled and didn’t hit/currently being given a second look in the majors as a pine rider), Juan Uribe was a pleasant surprise at second base. He’s hitting .301 and fielding second base like he was born to play it. I don’t trust him 100% to continue this torrid pace and don’t think either Matt Downs or any minor league youngsters are the answer should he fail. Therefore, if they are going to grab a stick by the deadline, second base is a good area to shore up.
Shortstop-I know many have been very critical about Edgar Renteria but, to be honest, he hasn’t been playing that badly. Very average with his range. His stick is nothing to write home about but he is good about tossing gas on the fire when the team starts blasting balls around the field. In other words, he’s doing exactly what the Giants thought he would. He is an accompaniment. Nothing more, nor less.
Third base-Hey, hey, what can I say? Pablo Sandoval is the man at this position. At the hot corner, he has been awesome. Most of his seven errors came during his little stint at first base. At third, he has been special. His bat is awesome. The league will grow to fear him. As an added bonus, his power came around, in a hurry. We’re looking 30+/100+ from him by the end of the year. This is a bat to build a lineup around. It’s also one that can carry a team offensively for a stretch.
Catcher-Benjie Molina first, should not be hitting cleanup. His power hitting seems to have abandoned him. The pitchers like him, however, so we’ll continue to see him in the lineup. However, don’t expect a ton from him. And, lest we forget, he does like to surprise, at times. Dependable bat that should be more potent in the second half. Eli Whiteside has been a nice surprise. I enjoy him playing in small doses. The white hair is a bit freaky, though. Eh. I guess it matches his name. Bucks the team trend, too, as it’s not a mohawk.
Left field-Fred Lewis, who I pushed hard in the preseason, appears to have worn out his welcome. Too many strikeouts with too little production will do that. Sorry Fred. I did lobby hard for ya’ for three years. Nate Schierholtz has been nice as a substitute (though he’s better suited for right field) and should get more starts in the second half. His scorching bat seems to have cooled a bit. If he can’t pick it up by the end of this month, then that’s another spot where they might be able to use an upgrade.
Center field-Aaron Rowand has experienced a renaissance since moving to the leadoff spot. Amazing. He’s hitting well and playing good defense (although the strikeouts are a bit high). He swooned last season. However, I think he’ll keep this up for the duration. He’s playing with a vigor that is nice to see.
Right field-Earlier stated, I think that Schierholtz is best suited to play here and move starter Randy Winn over to left. Winn’s good. He’s a leader. He’s rather unspectacular. However, he’s a veteran and, as such, is an asset to the team. Important to have these down the stretch.
I’ve read a great deal of ‘experts’ and ‘fans’ desiring that manager Bruce Bochy get the axe and that general manager Brian Sabean be smoted with the same stroke. I think this idea is silly. While I was a little miffed at Bochy for sticking with some veterans in the field early when I thought they should be on the bench or seeking other employment, he came around and now Ishikawa’s playing at first while Rich Aurilia’s riding the bench. I think Bochy’s doing a great job with this team, overall. Let’s see if he can get them to the playoffs and beyond. I think he can. That should keep the aforementioned smile beaming on my kisser. Now, round one was fun and is in the books. Let’s get going on round two of the season.
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