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

08.01.2007
Post-Game 7/31: Spoilers

Giants 3, Dodgers 1: With the Giants focused on raising the next generation — at least that’s what Brian Sabean claims — it’s time to instill a core value: if you can’t win the pennant make damn sure the Dodgers don’t, either. Tonight was a good start. Mr. 13–and-1 Brad Penny did his pouty poo-poo act when he didn’t get strikes, and the Giants tagged him with only his second loss of the year. To his credit, Noah Lowry was also not getting the same strikes from time to time (Mike Krukow on TV called the ump’s strike zone small but fair), but Noah kept his cool, mostly, and wriggled out of more trouble in 5 2/3 innings than a rat in a four-star kitchen. Worry: how many games will he win with a 5/1 walk-to-strikeout ratio? If Sabean pulls the trigger and trades young pitching this winter (see the above link; no, the one above that), he should seek maximum value for Lowry.

But let’s enjoy tonight’s win. With games like this, who needs 755?

PLODAG: Brad Hennessey, who threw all kinds of strikes and nailed down the save. 44 innings, 29 Ks, only 10 walks. I’m impressed. I would write something like, “Next year’s closer?”, but I don’t want to jinx him.

ALSO: Yes, the trivia answer from the previous post is Jason Schmidt. Second-best prospect traded by Schuerholz is Jermaine Dye. The next best is Turk Wendell, and he isn’t close.
Also on the Network:



[August 1, 2007 3:49 PM]  |  link  |  reply
trilljester said

My PLODAG: Kevin Correia. 4 batters faced, 3 K's and a foulout, including that beauty at the knees to get Saenz.

Hennessey actually had the presence of a closer last night. Surprised? He had that slider working nicely and was throwing strikes. Gotta give him props on that.

[August 1, 2007 4:49 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

Lefty, what is your opinion on what the Giants should do, if anything, about Henn's exaggerated fallof the mound towards the 1b line? Would trying to get him to change it be counterproductive? How detrimental is it, for a pticher not to be defensively ready?

[August 1, 2007 4:53 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Good point on Correia. He looked great; I'll retroactively give him co-PLODAG.

re. Hennessey's fall-off. At this point in his career, throwing quality strikes is more important. If getting him to finish his motion in better fielding position screws up his mechanics or his control, the Giants should leave well enough alone.

How detrimental is it? It helps to be in good fielding position, but it's hard to say how many grounders up the middle, or how many bunts, a pitcher fails to field b/c of bad position.