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

05.16.2008
5/15/08: Barf

Astros 8, Giants 7: It's not the come-from-ahead loss that bothers me so much; every team suffers a few gut-shots like this over the course of a season. It's the worry that the Tyler Walker honeymoon has ended, the carriage has turned into a pumpkin, etc. And that Merkin Valdez's elbow tweak is something more ominous, which means the lovely bullpen vibes we were feeling for a while are going to turn into another chapter in the ongoing novel "Apres Nen, Le Deluge." Add your own diacritical marks, I'm going to bed.

Are you worried about the bullpen? Me too. Discuss.







[May 16, 2008 8:39 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris said

I like Walker as much as the next guy (local kid, plays hard, probably a great guy) but I think he's always been overrated by Giants fans. He's never been much more than a middle reliever out of the bullpen.

Career ERA in the mid-4's. I would not use him in high leverage situations (which he wasn't yesterday until he blew up) and I'd rather see someone else work the 8th. I'm not sure who I'd pick. I really like Romo right now in the minors. Maybe Hinshaw?

[May 16, 2008 10:36 AM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

Walker either seems really good at times OR really bad. If he's "not on" it seems like Bochy needs to recognize that quickly and get him out. He doesn't seem like the type of guy to give up a hit and walk and then get in a groove and get the next 4 our 5 batters out.

[May 16, 2008 1:25 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Let's break down Walker's year so far:

He's been in 19 games. In 10 he's not allowed a baserunner. In only 4 has he been charged with a run.
I'm not sure how many times he's allowed inherited runs to score, but my guess is not more than 1 or 2.

So his ugly numbers -- basically his 5.82 ERA -- are the result of two or three really bad outings. His peripheral numbers -- less than a hit an inning, 15 Ks and only 4 BBs -- are still excellent.

What troubles me is that he's looked bad in three of his last four appearances. Let's hope it's just a blip.

[May 16, 2008 1:37 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Dave said

The last couple of times I have seen Walker has been awful. I wonder if he loses his 8th inning role after the last couple of outing. I just don't see another guy to do it since Valdez on the DL. 8th inning by committee, and pray that they can get to Wilson?

[May 16, 2008 3:44 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

If Walker's few bad days turn into an obvious decline, there's not much immediate choice. Chulk doesn't inspire confidence. Sadler hasn't looked good so far. Maybe give the kid Hinshaw a shot.