D'Backs 2, Giants 1: The dormant offense was different than the 4-0 shutout in Florida, in that Arizona pitcher Max Scherzer looked like he could have blanked the Yankees today. Guh-narsty stuff, especially that fastball/changeup combo. Then again, with Uribe hitting third, Lewis fifth and Frandsen sixth, Max Factor could have blanked the Giants today.
Feel free to substitute your own hilarious Max alternative.
Jonathan Sanchez: 5 2/3 innings, only 3 hits, but 7 walks and 1 batter plunked. Amazing that none of those freebies came around to score, prompting Sanchez to say this to Andrew Baggarly post-game: "I think I'm getting close to the roll I was on last year. I've just got to throw more innings and cut the walks. If I cut the walks, I can throw six or seven innings every time."
I can imagine Sabean cutting and pasting that quote and emailing it to his GM peers. He's getting close, gentlemen. Don't wait too long and miss out.
In the same post linked above, Baggs makes a bold prediction:
The biggest reason I think Sanchez will be traded in the coming weeks: Madison Bumgarner is 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA in five games at Double-A Connecticut. Nobody's told me Bumgarner will be in the big leagues this season, but I've got to believe it can't be long.Well, now. Nobody's told him, but a beat reporter usually doesn't pluck such flights of fancy out of the ether. I'll bet he's picking up hints, gestures, vibes, a little aura to get Baggs's spidey sense tingling. Note how he phrases the disclaimer: "Nobody's told me Bumgarner will be in the big leagues this season." That's a lot of wiggle room if he's ever forced to parse his words. For example, somebody deeply off the record could have told him, "Look at Bumgarner's numbers so far, and draw your own conclusions." Or, "If Sanchez leaves, we have other lefties in the system who could replace him."
See what I mean? Still, I'd be shocked. Two years ago, Bumgarner was finishing high school. He doesn't turn 20 until August 1. If he's called up before his birthday, he'd be the youngest pitcher in the majors since...any idea? I found this list of youngest active players, but it ends at 1998. There are a few teenage pitchers -- Jose Rijo and Bret Saberhagen, both 19, debuted within a day of each other! -- and the 19-year-old Dwight Gooden doesn't even make the cut, thanks I suppose to a slightly younger Gilberto Reyes. Any teenage pitchers since 1998? On your marks, get set, research!
MadBum by August 1: Could it really happen? Should it really happen? Is Baggs loopy from 10 days on the road and 46 hours of rain delays? Discuss.
