When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

07.24.2007
Happy Birthday...

to Barry Lamar. He turns 43 today. The last time I went to the ballyard on his birthday, the big guy threw Craig Counsell out at the plate in the top of the ninth to preserve a tie, then he untied it on the first pitch from Mike Myers in the bottom of the inning. Cue Tony Bennett. The Giants’ record at the time: 65–37.

***

P.M. UPDATE: The host of ESPN’s Baseball Today podcast said recently that the Giants are thinking about Matt Cain as a future closer. It’s not a totally whacked-out thought, and one that now and then is kicked around the blogs.

Such speculation (he didn’t mention sources) doesn’t mean the Giants are thinking seriously about it. In an ideal world, Cain is more valuable as a starter, and at the tender age of 22, it’s quite possible that, health permitting, he’ll become a dominant top-of-rotation starter.

But when you see what Jonathan Papelbon has done to stabilize Boston’s once-shaky relief situation, you can’t help but wonder if Cain could do the same. One argument against moving him to the bullpen: if he can’t control his fastball coming out of the chute in the first inning, why in the hell would he be any better entering a close game in the ninth?

Shorter-term, the Giants would do well to ease off on Cain the next two months. It’s been a frustrating year, and there will be increased temptation for Cain to overthrow, be too fine, and perhaps pitch through slight injury or fatigue as he tries to prove to himself and everyone else he’s better than his won-loss record. Another start or two like last night, and it’ll be time to skip his turn, let him get an inning or two in the bullpen, and clear his head. 

Last note: There’s a lot of trade buzz this morning about the Rangers shopping Mark Teixeira, but only one writer, ESPN’s Buster Olney, says the Giants are in the hunt. I don’t know how I feel about that. It would give the Giants a real first-base power threat for the first time since Will Clark, but one who would almost certainly walk as a free agent after ‘08.



Also on the Network:



[July 24, 2007 1:19 PM]  |  link  |  reply
someguynamedg said

You are going to make me cry by bringing up stories from the past like that.... boo hoo

[July 24, 2007 1:57 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Elbo said

I was in the parking lot of In'N'Out Burger in Daly City when it happened. Like you care.

[July 24, 2007 2:22 PM]  |  link  |  reply
pantalones said

I got married on 7/24/04 and had a 40th birthday cake for Barry as my groom's cake. And tonight my wife asked me to take her to the ballgame for our anniversary. I am a very, very lucky man.

[July 24, 2007 3:06 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Pants -- I'm going tonight too. Where will you be sitting?

[July 24, 2007 3:22 PM]  |  link  |  reply
pantalones said

Section 314. I'd have trouble reaching you with a five iron. But we will be toasting our marriage with a friend or two at the Acme bar before the game if you get out there early. I'll be the one in the Chili Davis jersey (or Cepeda, if you prefer), and my wife will be the very pregnant one drinking a lemonade.

[July 24, 2007 3:45 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I'll be with my pregnant wife, too! We may not make it there early enough, but we'll try. Question: will your wife look at you suspiciously when a strange man approaches you and yells "Pants!"?

[July 24, 2007 3:54 PM]  |  link  |  reply
FRank said

Ken Rosenthal is also reporting it...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7053996

[July 24, 2007 4:11 PM]  |  link  |  reply
pantalones said

No, she's grown used to this sort of odd behavior over the years.

http://www.pantstalk.com/PAA/poaph138.htm

[July 24, 2007 5:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Statman Crothers said

I was at that game too. Took some clients to the park via Larkspur ferry, what a day. I have never heard that crowd any louder than it was following that game winning home run.

[July 25, 2007 2:55 AM]  |  link  |  reply
wcw said

Cain as closer == insanity.

Cain's problem isn't stamina or stuff, it's walks. Making a guy pitch a single, often high-stress innning is hardly going to help.

The only stupider thing of which I can think is Lincecum as closer.

Which I hear the Giants also wanted to do.

Smart enough to draft and develop Cain and Lincecum, stupid enough to think of either as a closer -- your San Francisco Giants!