Thursday's utter domination by Anibal Sanchez, who was throwing everything for strikes, even the knuckleball he doesn't throw, makes the Giants' Wednesday come-from-ahead Torrespalooza and Tuesday's victorious competence against the big, nasty Josh Johnson that much more important. Lucky to get a split? Maybe what we saw is a Florida team that, when it's going right, is a lot like the Giants: young starting pitching that can make anyone look stupid, anytime; a dominant closer with a lot less dominance further down the bullpen; and a team that can hit the long ball up and down the lineup if you're not careful. Wait a sec. That last one doesn't apply to the Giants, or does it? Edgar Renteria did go deep this series, after all...
Instead of trying to force-fit a neat comparison between the teams, I'll simply say the Giants didn't shame themselves in splitting a home series. But I would have loved to meet the Dodgers this weekend with three of four tucked away against Florida and a big addition to the roster.
There's still time for the latter. As of this writing on Thursday evening, Matt Capps is the only player traded who made me a bit rueful. Quietly one of the best relievers in the game this year, the Nats were willing to deal him because they don't want to pay his arbitration-fueled salary next year. The Twins nabbed him for a 23-year-old AAA catcher, light-hitting but nails behind the plate, and obviously expendable because of some guy named Joe Mauer. The Giants probably had nothing comparable to offer unless they started with Brandon Belt and kept going.
The Rangers got Jorge Cantu, the Padres got Miguel Tejada. I'm sure each will deliver a big hit now and then, but meh on each. Tejada doesn't change the face of the NL West. The Phils got Roy Oswalt, lucky them; I still have a fantasy of the Giants trading Jonathan Sanchez for a bat and somehow also acquiring a decent starter to fill the rotation hole, but a guy of Oswalt's caliber isn't part of that equation. Ted Lilly, however...
And Adam Dunn? I don't see how the Giants get it, er, done without giving up too much for a type of player -- someone who will leave for free agency in October -- the Giants expressly don't want.
Instead of trying to force-fit a neat comparison between the teams, I'll simply say the Giants didn't shame themselves in splitting a home series. But I would have loved to meet the Dodgers this weekend with three of four tucked away against Florida and a big addition to the roster.
There's still time for the latter. As of this writing on Thursday evening, Matt Capps is the only player traded who made me a bit rueful. Quietly one of the best relievers in the game this year, the Nats were willing to deal him because they don't want to pay his arbitration-fueled salary next year. The Twins nabbed him for a 23-year-old AAA catcher, light-hitting but nails behind the plate, and obviously expendable because of some guy named Joe Mauer. The Giants probably had nothing comparable to offer unless they started with Brandon Belt and kept going.
The Rangers got Jorge Cantu, the Padres got Miguel Tejada. I'm sure each will deliver a big hit now and then, but meh on each. Tejada doesn't change the face of the NL West. The Phils got Roy Oswalt, lucky them; I still have a fantasy of the Giants trading Jonathan Sanchez for a bat and somehow also acquiring a decent starter to fill the rotation hole, but a guy of Oswalt's caliber isn't part of that equation. Ted Lilly, however...
And Adam Dunn? I don't see how the Giants get it, er, done without giving up too much for a type of player -- someone who will leave for free agency in October -- the Giants expressly don't want.
