I got home late yesterday to find the Giants had just played their best game of the year. It’s only one of 162, but the ten-zip win over St. Louis was a microcosm of all the things we want from the Giants, starting with complete domination from a starting pitcher, one of Tim Lincecum’s best games as a pro, and ending with a post-game radio wrap that featured at least a half-dozen “Big Sadowski” jokes.
Timmah struck out eight, a paltry sum for him, but he knew the Cards were swinging early in the count (a strategy teams are using lately with more frequency but not with more success). So he threw the ball where they could only hit it weakly, except for Albert Pujols, who lined into an out and doubled off the left-field wall. Hence a complete game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches.
The game also featured a key three-run homer from Travis Ishikawa in a spot that screamed for a power hitter to take control of the situation. Mediocre fastball down the middle — Ishikawa planted it in the bleachers. Nate Schierholtz continued to hit the ball hard with two hits and coulda shoulda had at least another. Great pitching, nice defense, and young guys hitting the ball hard. Sounds like a plan.
Sunday, I missed the debut of Ryan Sadowski, who threw so well he’ll get another chance Friday. Good on ya, mate. No one saw his promotion coming. Here is the only mention of him I can find from my archives:
5/29/09: Who will fill the rotation if Sanchez goes away between now and July? Sadowski is in AAA for the first time as a 26–year-old [and] unlikely…
He was so unlikely, I didn’t even bother to relay his minor league record, which goes to show you how baseball moves often fall out of the sky.
Take for example all the trade rumors regarding the Giants’ pursuit of a hitter: for all the talk of Jermaine Dye, Nick Johnson, Matt Holliday, and other usual suspects, there’s one name that came up today that no one had previously floated: Victor Martinez. For those who don’t know him, he splits time for the Indians between first base (36 starts in 2009) and catcher (38 starts), he’s a switch hitter, and except for an injury-plagued 2008 has been good for 20 home runs, a good eye at the plate, and 35–40 doubles a year — about five wins better than replacement. That’s real good. (In Jorge Posada’s peak six-year period with the Yanks, he averaged 5.3 WAR.)
Martinez’s power won’t necessarily be blunted by Mays Field, and he gives the Giants more leeway to trade Bengie Molina or let him walk this winter if they don’t want to rush Buster Posey. In hindsight he’s an obvious target for the Giants. But I don’t think he’s come up once until now.
Who knows whether the Indians would trade such a valuable player who’s under contract through 2010 ($7 M club option next year) for a package of players that doesn’t include one of the Giants’ big four prospects. I’d say it’s unlikely. I think discussions would have to start with Tim Alderson and build from there.
SMALL PRINT UPDATE: Sadowski on the roster, Aurilia on bereavement leave, Kelvin Pichardo on the 60–day DL. Interesting decision upcoming when Aurilia returns Friday. Bochy has already said Sadowski gets another start Friday, which means…Richie DFA? Sanchez to the minors?
