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09.01.2009

9/1: Please Hamels Don't Hurt 'Em

Phillies 1, Giants 0: If the score were reversed we'd say "Jolly good show, Giant pitcher(s)!" and chalk up the shut-out as yet more proof of the overwhelming awesomeness of the team's hurlers. But with the Giants on the bad end of a shut-out, the opposing pitcher could be Walter Johnson and we'd still moan and bitch about the team's inept, feeble excuse for an offense.

Cole Hamels has struggled this year, but fercrissakes, he's Cole Hamels. He's a really good pitcher. His change-up was filthy tonight, and a Giants lineup depleted of Pablo Sandoval (still nursing the sore calf) could do nothing with it. If you need a scapegoat, try Andres Torres, who pinch-ran for Rich Aurilia after Richie's pinch-hit single to lead off the ninth. Torres got picked off.

Most interesting to me is the performance of Jonathan Sanchez, who held the Phershlugginer Philles to a run and three hits in six innings. If the Giants won tonight, we'd be tripping over ourselves to say Sanchez has arrived, what a giant step in his maturation, blah blah blah. His breakthrough has actually come all through the second half. It's not spectacular, other than his no-hitter, but his strikeouts are staying high, his walk totals have become tolerable, and he's learning how to get past the fifth innings. Small steps, perhaps, but also note his ERA is on the verge of dropping below 4.00. Even if ERA isn't your favorite stat, you have to admit it's a nice milestone to shoot for.  

A six-game split on this road trip will make me happy.

SMALL PRINT UPDATE: Aurilia and Torres reinstated from the DL, Bowker, Guzman and Joaquin up from the minors. By all accounts we are not going to see Buster Posey or Madison Bumgarner this September.