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

09.10.2007
Post-Game 7/9: The Remarkables

Giants 4, Dodgers 2: I asked for it, I got it. Three Giants-Dodgers games, two games for the ages. Today Ray Durham sang a little redemption song for his career-worst year, but here’s the secret key moment of the game:

Top of the 7th, Jeff Kent has untied the game 2–1 with his second HR of the day. Russell Martin triples with one out, and L.A. could go up by two with just a medium fly ball. Cain, who was cruising until Kent’s HR, could easily fall apart. Instead he strikes out Andre Ethier on a wicked change-up, walks Nomah and retires Brad Penny to keep the game within one run. Spectacular effort. Matt Cain, you are the PLODAG.

Big assist, too, from L.A. manager Grady Little. As noted Little let Penny hit in the 7th, and he’d only thrown 70–some pitches and dominated. OK, fair enough. He’s the ace, let him take you home. But then Little yanked Penny after Frandsen led off the bottom of the 8th with a double. Penny’s day was done after 82 pitches. Maybe there was an injury problem we don’t know about, but I don’t think so. Ridiculous.
Also on the Network:



[September 10, 2007 6:04 AM]  |  link  |  reply
giantsrainman said

I don't remember if it was Kruk or Keip but one of them mentioned that Penny has a signal he gives Little when he feels he is losing it. That signal is bending at the waist and Penny did this after the double by Frandsen and was then replaced. Kruk and Keip seemed to think that it was therefore Penny (not Little) that decided that Penny had had enough.

One however would have thought that Little would have asked Penny if he had enough left for the 8th before deciding to let Penny hit in the top half of the inning. If Penny wasn't sure then Little should have just pinch hit for him and thus gone to the pen to start the bottom of the 8th.

[September 10, 2007 10:51 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I didn't see the telecast, so I missed this. Anyone hear about this?

If it's true, it doesn't speak well of Penny. Losing it after 80 easy pitches on a cool SF day? Lame.

[September 10, 2007 10:56 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Sorry -- a correction. Cain didn't retire Penny in the tense 7th inning, he hit him with a pitch to load the bases. But he then retired leadoff man Abreu on a tough grounder to first to end the inning.

[September 10, 2007 11:08 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Dan said

Damnn lefty, you don't even give us enough time to call you out for the occasional, though rare, error in your Giants reporting! Perhaps I should get up earlier.

[September 10, 2007 3:54 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

My BBF network colleague Erin at Blue Thoughts has this to say about Grady Little:

"Grady Little made a lot of mistakes this weekend. And they helped to cost the Dodgers a must-win series against the Giants."

Music to my ears.