Hello, hello! Yep, that was me who said on Saturday that I thought “the Giants were coming into their own”. Needless to say, by that I did not mean “were going to very nearly get no-hit by the Rangers bullpen”. Yesterday’s game was just ugly.
I was excited about Alexi Ogando starting for the Rangers and figured if he shut down the Giants offense, I wouldn’t be too torn up about it, because he’s pretty much my favorite pitcher ever. And he did do rather well, but then… he injured himself running out a bunt in the fourth before he’d reached his designated pitch count (65) and is now probably headed to the DL. Also, Tim Lincecum now has the fourth-worst ERA in the National League and Aubrey Huff got the Giants first hit of the game, pinch-hitting in the sixth.
Ouch does not even begin to cut it.
The Giants have fallen to five games back from the Dodgers and the Rangers only narrowly lead the American League West by three games. Additionally, Texas has won just one more game than San Francisco overall. Did anyone see that one coming? The plot has most certainly thickened. (Also, who predicted that the White Sox would be super awesome this year? If you say, “I did,” I do not believe you for a second. Sorry, guys.)
The biggest story out of the weekend, I think, is Timmy, as mentioned above. He is not looking good. He is not even looking better. There is the occasional encouraging sign here and there, but mostly, he is just not helping the Giants, period. The numbers about their record without his starts is pretty mind-boggling, at least to me. It’s June 11th and the season has not just started. Very simply, every starter makes a big, big difference and the difference Lincecum is making is negative. But as much as that’s all statically inarguable, I wonder how much good it does to repeat it over and over.
For the time being, the Giants have placed a lot of trust in Lincecum (not to mention the money) and the likelihood is, in my opinion, that to get to the playoffs and beyond, they would need him to help them out. A lot of people are calling for them to skip him for one start and while that could help, I think there is something to be said for just hitting a rough spot. Sometimes, the best way to get out of those is to simply keep moving. Other options:
- Eating aforementioned player alive.
- Burning aforementioned player alive (could work with #1, theoretically).
- Tarring and feathering aforementioned player alive.
- Trading aforementioned player to the Kansas City Royals. (Hihi, Jonathan Sanchez and Jonathan Sanchez’s walks.)
There will come a point when it’s not productive for anyone to keep sending Lincecum out, but I don’t think we’re there yet. The Bud Selig G—I mean, the All Star Game isn’t even here yet. Which reminds me, I gotta go vote. I still have not worked up the motivation. I mean, what would you choose if you could vote for the ASG or make apple cinnamon muffins?
I know. I agree. The apple cinnamon muffins.
Diamond Girl
