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

04.04.2008
4/4/08: Gassed

Brewers MANY, Giants FEW: I’m writing my game summary before it’s over. Can you blame me? It’s 13–2 in the sixth, and the rest of the day beckons. No reason to get upset: the Brewers are good, the Giants are bad, and Jonathan Sanchez ran out of gas around 75 pitches after striking out eight in four innings.

Brad Hennessey got abused to work out whatever’s ailing him. I hope he finds it. But I’ll bet this outing hastens Merkin Valdez’s ascent to the late innings. When Chulk returns, Hennessey could be the odd man out. Or Yabu could be released and Hennessey turned into the long man.

The Upside: Sanchez. One bad pitch in four innings, then the roof caved in. Skeptics will say this is why he’s destined to be a reliever. Optimists will say he just needs to stretch his arm out. And how’d you like Bocock, on base three times? A walk, an opposite-field single, a bunt single: Talk about working within your limitations.

When Chulk is ready, how should the Giants sort out the bullpen? Discuss.



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[April 4, 2008 7:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

Yeah, Bocock has been a very pleasant surprise thus far, his OBP has been great considering his lack of hits and multitude of strikeouts. Given the walks he's taking, he obviously has a good eye, but unfortunately he doesn't have the bat speed to take advantage of that eye right now. Any way he can build that up through practice or something?

I think Yabu's gone, as Bochy said when they released Kline, you gotta go with the young guys, can't give them up. Particularly Valdez now, he could become our super setup reliever soon if he continues pitching like this.

I think Sanchez will get better the more he starts. If he was getting battered around all the time, that's one thing, but if he's pitching pretty well for the most part then endures a big inning as he tires, then I think he just needs to build up his strength so that he can keep his peak performance lasting longer.

[April 5, 2008 12:12 AM]  |  link  |  reply
WalrusMan said

Lefty you left too early! The Giants came back!

Oh wait....

No they didn't.

[April 5, 2008 12:51 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

Lefty, are you at all alarmed that a guy as young as Sanchez so completely ran out of gas after 4 innings?
It appears to me that Sanchez would benefit most by a full year at Fresno. Being able to perfect his secondary pitches without hsving every mistake go over the wall I think is much to be preferred to the alternative.

[April 5, 2008 9:33 AM]  |  link  |  reply
natteringnabob said

I don't know, Sanchez looked a he!! of a lot better than the "ace" that started the season opener.

Bocock is a good example of what good can come from actually playing someone rather than letting them all rot in the minors. If he settles down and posts LeMaster-type numbers, maybe he'll be good enough to fill a roster spot for another year or so especially if Omar doesn't come back soon. No Royce Clayton or his ilk, I hope.

And why do so many of these guys go from AA to ML? Why have Fresno at all? If Justin Leone isn't good enough to play for a couple weeks in the majors at this point, why is he on the roster down there?