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

07.04.2007
Post-Game 7/3: Things Fall Apart

Reds 7, Giants 3. Yeah, Kevin Correia gave up a grand slam to break a 3–3 tie. Yeah, the Giants only mustered one run from two bases-loaded situations early. Sure, the home plate umpire had a nasty little strike zone. But the blame for this one falls squarely on Mr. Rockstar. Zito was fine through three innings then started pinching his cheeks. Five walks in one inning? I don’t care how tiny the strike zone; that was inexcusable. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was pitching scared. Those five walks forced two runs, tied the game 2–2, and completely changed the momentum of the game. Worse, that inning bumped his pitch count from 40 to 80 and insured an early night. Come on, Barry, we’re tired of the walks. How many times do we have to hear you say something like this in the post-game interview: "I think I was trying to be too fine out there. Pounding the zone was good for me in the first three innings. I fell into some nitpicking a little bit."

PLODAG: Ryan Klesko, no hits, but on base three times. The only time he put the ball in play, he smoked a line drive right at Conine with the bases loaded. On a luckier day, that ball goes down the right field line and the Giants blow the game wide open. If Rich Aurilia starts instead of Klesko against a right-handed pitcher, I will organize a putsch.
Also on the Network:



[July 4, 2007 12:31 PM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

What the hell? I stop watching after Barry Lamar Homers and Barry Z hasn't given up a hit and were up 2-0. Geez, again I ask what the hell is wrong with me? I was actually thinking we might cruise. NOT BLOODY LIKELY.

[July 5, 2007 2:03 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

This is why I read your blog regularly, Lefty... Salient, insightful points, all. Yes, to Zito pitching scared. Double yes to Klesko's shot that, but for 10" is a double into the corner scoring at least 2 runs, 3 if Bonds is on his horse. An inning or two later they hit the same shot, two feet over Feliz' head, and voila. There is no question, in my mind, that the iGs have had some pretty consistent bad luck. They are not always hitting dribblers with the bases loaded - there are plenty of hard hit balls right at somne one. That will turn, eventually, just like at the roulette table. The only question is, will we still have any money when the table turns?

[July 5, 2007 10:10 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Lyle said

My money is on the putsch.

[July 5, 2007 6:31 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ogc said

Yes, I will back you up if Aurilia starts over Klesko.

I don't blame Zito, it was clear from the radio that the umpire was doing something weird with the strikezone, I wish Sandy Alderson was still in charge of the umpires, he would whip them into shape, like the former Marine that he was.

This has been the historic problem with the umpire union, poor performers like this ump is protected and given seniority when he screws up pitchers like this, there is no way to punish him for a poor performance like this.