Marlins 7, Giants 0: After beating the 6’8” Sean West and the 6’7” Josh Johnson, the Giants finally caved to Chris Volstad (6’8”) and the Marlins’ relentless tallness. These guys are all young and good, even the 6’2” midget Ricky Nolasco, whom the Giants faced in Florida last month. It’s not hard to imagine this being the dominant rotation in the majors very soon.
As with Roy Oswalt’s gem Sunday against the Giants, sometimes you tip your cap to your opponent and move on. I’m more heartened by this series than the Astros series, to be honest. Zito’s 3–0 win last night, outpitching the superstud Josh Johnson, had me in full post-game rant mode as my man BH and I walked out the center field gate.
If this team wins the wild card, look out, I said. Imagine a three-man rotation of Lincecum, Cain, and either Randy Johnson or Zito, whoever’s healthier and hotter at the moment. And imagine a team that can eke out a run or two or three against even guys like Josh Johnson, whom I figured would carve up the Giants snickety-snack. I guess the Giants were saving the turkey on a platter for today. Hell, if the Giants keep winning the first two games of every series I don’t care if they get no-hit every third time out.
As many have noted recently, the Giants’ offense has improved month over month. It could lapse back into its April doldrums, forcing us all once more to bang our foreheads on our keyboards, but there are enough signs of life that the big bat might not be necessary. What if the acquisition is a minor upgrade on offense and defense? (And doesn’t cost a blue-chip prospect?) I’ll save the stats for another day, but remember that several of the big bats in question would also represent a significant defensive downgrade, so much so that a good bit of the offensive gain would be canceled out. Adam Dunn, for example. Carlos Lee. Jermaine Dye.
But someone like Freddy Sanchez, however, could be a decent improvement on both sides of the ball. Sanchez is just a theoretical — he’s been injured and is also a free agent this winter, two strikes against him. I’m just saying that with the Giants pitching lights-out and the bats nudging away from the bottom of the NL runs-scored column, this year’s trade deadline might call for a more subtle approach.
