An arm-stravaganza! A mound-a-palooza!
Thank you, Giants, for taking two of three and making me feel better. In case you were spelunking or working round the clock to save GM from bankruptcy, every game this weekend ended 2-0.
The Giants won Friday and Sunday. Friday's recap is here. Today Randy Johnson almost matched Tim Lincecum, who struck out 13 in 8 scoreless innings Saturday only to watch the bullpen gag up a couple of runs in the ninth. I heard a few minutes of KNBR this morning with the main topic of conversation Bochy's decision to a) let Lincecum hit in the seventh with two outs and runners on then b) take him out after eight innings and less than 100 pitches. One line of argument: if you're gonna let him hit, you might as well let him pitch the ninth. I see the point, but we also don't know if the Giants saw something in the eighth, or heard Lincecum say something in the dugout afterwards, that prompted his removal. Or it might have been general caution after two abbreviated starts and a stomach problem. Whatever. I'm not getting bent out of shape about this one.
Today the Big Unit threw six hitless and came out after seven and only 75 pitches. Again, general caution: it was hot, Johnson is 45 and hadn't built up a lot of stamina from his first two starts. Two fewer innings of Johnson today is worth more Johnson down the stretch. It's a long season, folks.
The other development of note this weekend was Bruce Bochy's lineup shakeup. Fred Lewis is now back at leadoff, Randy Winn at third, Rowand fifth and Sandoval sixth. Putting Lewis and his excellent eye up top makes the most sense, but the rest is rearrangement of the proverbial deck chairs. This group of hitters won't continue as feebly as they've done the first two weeks, but that's not saying much. If you still think Sandoval will hit .340 again and lift this lineup to respectability, raise your hand.
With the starters rounding into shape there's no need to panic, but an upgrade on offense must happen this year. How soon, and in what form, depends on a few things:
1) The development of their minor-league pitchers. If the Giants trade anyone significant it has to be a starting pitcher. Pablo Sandoval, Travis Ishikawa or Lewis won't bring back a game-changing bat. Jonathan Sanchez might. Madison Bumgarner probably would, too, but let's not contemplate that just yet. If the trade is Sanchez or Matt Cain (if Cain, it better be a blockbuster), the Giants need a fifth starter to fill the open job. Will Joe Martinez be back in time? How's Kevin Pucetas doing in AAA? Perhaps part of the trade could be a serviceable fifth starter.
2) Who's selling. Seattle and Detroit are two
3) The division competition. By June it might be foolish to upgrade for the pennant race. I hate to say it, but the Dodgers could run away and hide by late May. That doesn't mean the Giants shouldn't trade at all. They'll have their own veterans to unload, and as I wrote a couple days ago, don't expect this year's rookie hitters and the current minor-league stars to magically make the 2010 Giants respectable at the plate. The Giants need outside help -- long-term, high-upside help who can contribute immediately and stay under contract for at least a few years.
Next week's agenda: Monday off, San Diego at home for two, another day off Thursday, then three over the weekend at the Desert Dome. Don't be surprised to see roster moves.
Position player of the week: Fred Lewis, despite the sometimes blunderous defense. He was the only one in the lineup with a clue. Runner-up: Andres Torres, with one at-bat, a home run.
Pitcher of the week: Three starters pitched fabulous games, but the nod goes to Lincecum. He said he had spotted a mechanical flaw, he assured us he fixed it, and, well, I guess so.
