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

08.12.2008
Astros 3, Giants 1: Enter Sadler

Jonathan Sanchez pitched his best game in two months and got an L for it tonight, and he's partially to blame. In the decisive sixth inning he misplayed a sac bunt, and that was the difference. If he got an out on that play, who knows, perhaps the Astros don't score at all. But giving up only two runs in seven innings and taking the loss, that's par for the course for the Giant rotation this year. Welcome to the club, Ol' Dirty.

I'm more inclined tonight to muse upon Billy Sadler, he of the naughty fist-pump. Coming off his emotional outing Saturday, he entered the game in the eighth tonight, his job to keep the game close. You never know, perhaps the Giants could have come back from a one-run deficit for the third straight game. Instead he hung a few curveballs; Matsui nearly hit one out, Wigginton did hit one out, Tejada lined one for a single. Then Sadler walked Berkman before wiggling out of the jam, but it was a microcosm of what ails the talented young pitcher: when he gets hit, he gets hit hard -- only 20 hits in 26 innings this year, but 5 are home runs -- and he walks too many.

But I was glad to hear Bochy let him finish the mess he started. Sadler is auditioning for a prominent set-up role, as Tyler Walker is fading fast and Merkin Valdez is a big health question. It could be Sadler and Wilson next year at the back end of the bullpen, but Billy still has a lot of growing up to do. Might as well learn on the job right now.

PLODAG: Rich Aurilia, with two doubles and a walk. It's not his fault the Giants only scored one run. I'm still lobbying for the Giants to re-sign Richie to a cheap one-year contract for '09 as a utility infielder.

The Upside: Sanchez, for five no-hit innings, but also Sadler. He could have folded his tent after the Wigginton home run and a two-on, one-out situation, but he bounced back to limit the damage.
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[August 12, 2008 8:42 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Anonymous said

You know that no MLB team can win any game scoring just one run.....Sadler got the job done against LA and against Houston why dont you just admit it? He did his job keeping them in the game....(1) homerun against the Stros in a game where Rowand strikes out (3) times??? Give me a break...what are you talking about. The real story isnt so much about Sadler other than he does have the stuff and yes he is a work in progress just like the whole team..the real story is "NO OFFENSE"....good grief EL LEFTY...YOU of all people should be talking about that instead trashing Sadler and out other pitchers all the time. One run per game just does not get it done....ask Matt Cain.

[August 12, 2008 11:39 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to

Dear Mr. or Ms. Anonymous, I didn't think I was trashing Sadler, I was commenting on what he needs to improve to be a reliable set-up man.

[August 12, 2008 11:00 AM]  |  link  |  reply
john c said

Rowand K'd 4x!!

[August 12, 2008 11:09 AM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

I'm OK with the emphasis on Sadler; the offense is what it is, the horse is dead already.

What I would have added is that Sadler is not the only option for setup, there are already many good possibilities among the relievers for setup, Taschner, Hinshaw and Romo. And yes, it is nice Bochy let him clean up his own mess, and nicer that he did do that.

I understand not being happy with 3 strikeouts, but that's just one game. In the last seven days, Rowand has been hitting .400/.500/.550/1.050 and his .786 OPS for the season is better than the league average for CF and is 106 OPS+, and he's .802 OPS on the road, and that's good for a corner OF, let alone a CF.

[August 12, 2008 11:42 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to obsessivegiantscompulsive

Rowand had a terrible game, 'tis true. Given that he made solid contact all through the Dodger series, I wonder if he had problems lsat night with the hitting background -- it's rare you see a guy swing and miss so much. He was almost guaranteed to swing and miss at Backe's slider no matter where Backe threw it.

[August 12, 2008 3:18 PM]  |  link  |  reply
boof replied to obsessivegiantscompulsive

The problem is that Rowand is just not that good. Period. He is certainly not the typoe of guy that should be hitting 3rd, 4th, or 5th in any ML lineup. He's an adequate 7th place hitter for a team that would value good defense over offense from their CF.

[August 12, 2008 12:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Zo said

You have written several times on signing Richie to a one-year contract, and your logic is, of course, impeccable. However, in spite of the fact that he has played well lately, I want to see him off the team ASAP. First, he is a big reason the Giants were so horrible last year - and the idea of him replicating a 23 hr, .300 ba year with Cincinnati was never anything but a cruel joke. Second, it really, really grates on me whenever I see him miss two pitches by a foot and a half and then glare at the umpire like he is Mr. Strike-Zone-Awareness.

So here is another idea. From the Chronic this morning: The Rays placed rookie All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria on the 15-day disabled list because of a right wrist fracture, the second major blow to the team in as many days. Hmmm, the first place Rays need a third baseman with a savvy veteran attitude to keep them in the race, who could also clear waivers. The Rays probably have some talent that their other young talent is blocking. Make that call, Brian!

[August 12, 2008 3:48 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to Zo

If the Giants can trade Richie in the next two weeks, yes, by all means. Then try to re-sign him on the cheap for next year, unless they would forfeit a draft pick.

My guess, though, is that if no one has traded for him by now, they won't be clamoring for him before Aug. 31.