Giants 4, Pirates 2: Forget for a moment the roster moves and the trade and the drama over will-they-or-won't-they-contend, tonight's game is why we're all watching Giants baseball in 2009. Tim Lincecum struck out 15 -- the highlight reel is here -- and got great help from his defense.
The Giants benefited from a bonehead mistake by Pittsburgh right fielder Garrett Jones, whose misplay of Torres's liner in the second led to three runs. It was one of the wackiest innings of one of the most notable games of the year: an emotional pregame tribute to Sue Burns, jangly nerves from the road trip, Lincecum's electric stuff -- even Barry Bonds at the yard.
Not only did Lincecum stuff the Pirates (their two runs were unearned, thanks to a Renteria error in the sixth), but the Giants made two big roster changes: Bowker and Downs down to Fresno, Jesus Guzman and Eugenio Velez up. I thought both were in Fresno to stay for the year, but apparently the Giants brass wanted right-handed bats -- Guzman's in particular, riding a 25-game hit streak with the Grizzlies. And silly me, it was just hours after I commented in this morning's post that a trade for Ryan Garko would make the addition of Guzman completely unnecessary. Lesson: Don't listen to anything I say, ever.
Sure enough, Guzman and Velez contributed to the second-inning rally with basehits, and Guzman would have had another if not for a great diving stop by Pirates 2B Delwyn Young.
So what about this Garko trade? Here's what director of player personnel Bobby Evans said on KNBR after the game tonight: Garko is a good complement to Travis Ishikawa, who has "had a good year and is still developing. Ryan's been there, done that." Travis will continue to have a significant role on the club, Evans said.
The Giants gave up 21-year-old Scott Barnes, which will miff a lot of prospect watchers. Drafted out of college, "Skippy" has thrown extremely well all through the minors, all the more likable because he doesn't have blow-you-away stuff. He's only at the High-A level, which means he's probably two or three years away from sniffing the majors, but Brian Sabean said this: "The pitcher we gave up is probably going to pitch in the big leagues."
You gotta give up to get. Evans admitted Barnes has done a great job, has a bright future, and it's hard to see him go. "A club like Cleveland doesn't make a trade like that if they don't get value," he said.
On paper, Garko is a complementary piece for most teams but could be hitting clean-up against lefties, whom he mashes. He's got a career .355 OBP and notable power. He might steal at-bats from Ishikawa against righties, too. But assume Ishikawa stays on the roster to sub on defense late when Garko starts at first.
Someone needs to leave the 40-man roster, which with Garko is at 41. On the radio tonight Evans said a couple ideas were in the works and they'd make a decision Tuesday. I can't find the answer to this: Can a team DFA a player on the disabled list? You know what I'm talking about.
OK, let's hear it: Garko for Barnes (and a player to be named later). You like? (Update: This reporter says no PTBNL.)
