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

04.02.2008
4/1/08: Bitter End

Dodgers 3, Giants 2: Speed and defense! Except it was Rafael Furcal's speed and Ray Durham's defense that cost the Giants the game in the ninth. For those who missed it, Furcal scored from second on an infield grounder that Durham dived for but only deflected. Instead of throwing home, he tried for the runner at first, to no avail. Aurilia's throw home was too late to get Furcal.

Two games in, and it's time for Bochy to start the young guys more. Reportedly he will today, but I'll believe it when I see it. Boch also made two funky in-game decisions last night that actually turned out well. Cain was out of gas, Juan Pierre was up with the bases loaded in the sixth, and Boch brought in Special Agent Jack Taschner. Of course Matt Kemp was going to hit for Pierre; I predicted that move as soon as I heard that Taschner was up in the bullpen.

Taschner vs. Kemp instead of a righty vs. Pierre? It was an odd choice. Pierre at worst would have hit a single; Kemp's power could have blown open the game. But it worked out, as Taschner blew away Kemp with fastballs. The Special Agent is obviously throwing well, and the Giants coaches knew it. (Perhaps no surprise: Taschner threw much better last year against righties than lefties.)

Then in the 7th, bases loaded, no outs and no score, Boch lets Bocock hit. I figured it was Ortmeier time: He'd swing righty, his better side, against the lefty Beimel, and either Aurilia or Castillo could move to short to replace Bocock. But Bocock stayed in...and in...and in....and fercrissakes, the kid drew a 9-pitch walk and drove in the game's first run. Best at-bat of the night.

He also had his first major league hit last night. For that, and for showing surprising patience at the plate (3 walks in 2 games), Bocock gets The Upside award two nights running. He's got me fantasizing: If his defense is truly as solid as everyone says, and he can spend the rest of the year in the high minors without embarrassing himself with the bat, perhaps he's the starting shortstop in 2009. Worst moment of the night: Following Bocock's walk, Raj Davis pinch-hit. A ball on the ground probably would have meant a run, given Davis's speed, but he struck out on breaking balls nowhere near the strike zone.  
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[April 2, 2008 11:42 AM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

I haven't seen it yet (I have SC on right now waiting) but I kept feeling like there isn't anybody on the Giants with enough heart, speed (even Freddie and RD, oh wait he couldn't get on base), whatever who would have scored on the same play Furcal did.

[April 2, 2008 12:21 PM]  |  link  |  reply
the gene hackman said

Don't forget my boy Velez!

He has two pinch hits in two games. and an RBI for good measure.

He's upsidelicious.

[April 2, 2008 12:22 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Speed? Davis, Velez and Lewis probably could have scored on that play.

Heart? Actually, I think a better word is smarts. Would any of them have the requisite baserunning instincts? That's an open question.

[April 2, 2008 12:42 PM]  |  link  |  reply
johnP said

OK - here's my non-standard plan for getting the Giants back on track - and getting some excitement back with the fans. Cut all old-timers (Roberts, Aurelia, Vizquel, etc). Replace them with one old-timer: Bonds.

That would actually be nutritious and delicious.

[April 2, 2008 12:55 PM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

I concur - "smarts." Any Giant would have stopped at 3rd.
Regardless, it still SUCKS.

[April 2, 2008 2:08 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Paul R. said

No PLODAG this year? Or was that only in Giants wins?

[April 2, 2008 2:57 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to Paul R.

Thanks for the reminder! I forgot about the PLODAG. I'll fire up the PLODAG machine for tonight's game. For good measure this year, I'll also launch PLODAW: player of da week.

[April 2, 2008 3:02 PM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

maybe you should make it, "GOODAG" goat o da game

[April 2, 2008 3:46 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

I only saw the play once and didn't see a replay, but my impression was Aurilia was asleep - again. Instead of anticpating a possible/probable play at the plate and coming off the bag ready to throw to the plate, he takes Durham's throw, comes off the bad, turns with no urgency. sees Furcal running, then throws - i.e. he was both unprepared and out of position. He just did the same thing the night before. He also did nothing, as I recall, to assist in the p.o at 1b - i.e., he didn't strecth, just more or less stood on the bag waiting for the throw.

[April 2, 2008 9:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Johnny Disaster replied to Frank

I agree. It seemed like he looked at third right away and realized Furcal was halfway home already.

[April 2, 2008 5:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Aaron B. said

Want to hear an interesting set of stats (albeit with an uberly small sample size)?

Bocock leads the team in walks, is 2nd OBP (tied with Rowand behind Velez's 2-2 singles), and RBI (tied with Velez).
You'd maybe think that Dave Roberts would lead the Giants in the first two categories and maybe a middle-of-the-order bat for the third one.

[April 2, 2008 6:08 PM]  |  link  |  reply
the gene hackman said

No love for "upsidelicious", eh?

Wow, tough crowd.