Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants offense hoovering below the Mendoza Line to start 2019 season

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By Morris Phillips

Anyway you slice it, the Giants’ offense is chopped liver.

No main course, just a side dish relegated to a lesser than status. That simply is who they are.

The Giants rank 29th in home runs (10 in 17 games), 29th in batting average (.199), and 27th in runs scored (47) which averages out to 2.76 a game.

There are only 30 major league clubs. Only one of those 30 has yet to score a run in the first inning: the Giants.  Need I say more?

Steven Duggar supposed to set the table. The leadoff hitter is batting .224 with an OBP of .250. On Sunday, Duggar went 0 for 4 and struck out twice.

“It’s something we’ll talk about, how can we get more aggressive and put some pressure on early in games,” said Evan Longoria, when asked about the team’s lack of early offense.

Ok, what about the run producers? Buster Posey’s hitting .220. Not much power from the fading catcher. Posey hit five home runs in 2018, and has yet to homer in 2019. If he hits fewer than five this season, it will mark the sixth, consecutive year his home run total has dipped. If he hits more than five, will he hit 10, 15? Either way his home run total goes, he’s the least likeliest guy a team would pick to hit cleanup with his .298 slugging percentage.

Brandon Belt is hitting .218 and hasn’t driven in a run in any of his last eight starts. Longoria has one home run and a .197 batting average.

Unlike last season when the Giants had more proven offensive threats, there’s really nowhere else for Posey, Belt, Duggar and Longoria to hit but at the top of the lineup. But that quartet has already struck out 64 times.

The Giants rank third in the National League with a 2.75 staff ERA. They can pitch, and the defense is clearly improved. But with these offensive numbers, the margin for error is razor thin. Pitch and play defense? Yeah, maybe for a team with more resources in the lineup, not this club.

The Giants open an eight-game trip on Tuesday in Washington. Dereck Rodriguez gies for the Giants, Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals in a 4:05 pm start.

Sportstalk podcast at Diplomat Steakhouse in downtown Sacramento — Monday, April 15, 2019

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Photo credit: diplomat.com

Cast: Michael Duca (mlb.com and host), Jeremy Kahn (SF Giants reporter), Jeremy Harness (SF Giants and PGA reporter), London Marq (Sacramento Kings and SJ Earthquakes reporter), Jeremiah Salmonson (Sacramento Kings reporter), Charlie O (Oakland A’s and Sacramento Kings reporter), Lee Leonard (producer). Sportstalk is proud to podcast at The Diplomat Steakhouse at 1117 11th Street in downtown Sacramento. Our thanks to our hosts: Owner Ramesh Prasad,  Pa Vang Executive Vice President, Brianna Blaschke Event Concierge and Executive Chef Chris Manning.

On the podcast, discussions of the recent Sacramento Kings season and their new head coach for the 2019-20 season, progress reports on the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants along with the San Jose Sharks and Golden State Warriors in the playoff hunt.

The Diplomat’s statement is as follows: Being diplomatic is our brand’s core binding. We are intuitive when in conducting your dining experience, and can achieve peaceful resolutions to any quandary while facilitating intriguing discussion with anyone on the map. We broadened the scope and magnified the habitual steakhouse fare. We resolve differences by implementing international fusion cuisine to please any and all palates. We strive to achieve a peaceful atmosphere, and our ingenuity gives us the edge to connect to any guest.

Restaurateur, Ramesh Prasad, has dined worldwide in the vast-ever occurring steakhouse and knows the ins and outs of traditional fine dining concepts. Complacent with their predictability, he manifested his vision into reality. Sacramento is in the prime of revitalization, and developing a signature steakhouse is pioneering the industries’ cravings.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giant hitters really kept off balance by Rockies’ Marquez

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Photo credit: @Rockies

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 German Marquez, the Colorado Rockies starter, went through the San Francisco Giants lineup like butter on Sunday, throwing a one hitter in a 4-0 win. Giants third baseman Evan Longoria hit one just past Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado for the Giants’ only hit of the game.

#2 Marquez pitched a gem, going nine innings, giving up one hit, hitting a batter, striking out nine and going one over the minimum.

#3 The win was Colorado’s fourth win of the season (4-12) and it snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Rox.

#4 It was a tough loss Sunday for San Francisco, but Giant pitcher Derek Holland had a good outing, going six innings, four runs and four hits, walking four and striking out six batters.

#5 The Giants have the day off Monday. They will travel to Washington to face the Nationals. Morris talks about how they’ll match up with the Nats starting on Tuesday. It’ll be Derek Rodriguez (1-2, 4.15 ERA) for the Giants vs. the Nats Stephen Strausburg (1-0, 5.40 ERA) for Tuesday night.

Join Morris for the Giants day off report and podcast from the Diplomat Steakhouse in downtown Sacramento on Monday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Marquez throws one-hitter in Rockies’ 4-0 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — German Marquez came within five outs of baseball immortality for the Colorado Rockies in the series finale.

Marquez was throwing a no-hitter, but Evan Longoria broke it up, when his ground ball was just out of the reach of Nolan Arenado at third base and the Rockies defeated 4-0 the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 35,513 at Oracle Park.

The loss broke an eight-game losing streak for the Rockies, who now head to San Diego with a record of 4-12.

In all, Marquez went nine innings, allowing just that one hit, a hit batter and nine strikeouts and faced one over the minimum.

Arenado finally got on the home run scoreboard, as he launched a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning.

It was the first home run for Arenado of the season after 15 games were played by the Rockies on the season.

Despite taking the loss, Derek Holland was productive, as he went six innings, allowing four runs, while scattering four hits, walking four and striking out six; however, he lost for the second time this season versus just one win.

Arenado scored the first Rockies run of the game, as he walked against the Holland with two outs and then scored the only run that the Rockies would need, as he scored on a Trevor Story double.

The sixth inning proved to be the downfall for Holland, as he gave up back-to-back singles to Charlie Blackmon and Garrett Hampson and then Arenado launched his first home run of the deep into the left field bleachers.

Kevin Pillar was the Giants first runner of the game, as he was hit by a pitch when he led off the bottom of the sixth.

Once again, the Giants was fantastic, as they worked three scoreless innings in relief of Holland and have not allowed a run in their last 20.0 innings. On the season, the Giants bullpen is posting an earned run average of just 1.77.

NOTES: This was the Rockies longest losing streak since they lost eight in a row since June 21-28, 2017.

The Arenado home run was his 25th career home run against the Giants in his career, moving within one of the active lead and the lead is currently held by Matt Kemp. Eleven of the 25 home runs have been hit at Oracle Park, tying him for the active lead by an opponent, with Paul Goldschmidt.

UP NEXT: Following an off-day on Monday, the Giants begin a three-city, 10-day and eight-game road trip against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Then it is onto Pittsburgh for a three-game series, and then a two-game series in Toronto against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Dereck Rodriguez will take the mound in the opener for the Giants, while the Nationals will send Stephen Strasburg to the mound on Tuesday night.

Bumgarner’s strong performance helps lead Giants to 5-2 victory over Rockies

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Photo credit: @KleinschmidtJD

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — After going thru their entire bullpen on Friday night, the last thing Bruce Bochy wanted was a short start from Madison Bumgarner.

Well, Bumgarner did not disappoint his manager, as he went seven innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, walking no and striking out seven and the San Francisco Giants clinched their first series win of the 2019 season with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 32,607 at Oracle Park.

The Rockies have lost eight in a row and 12 out of their last 13. The 3-12 start by the Rockies is the worst start thru 15 games.

The Giants got on the board courtesy of the hottest player on the team, as Kevin Pillar hit a sacrifice fly that scored Gerardo Parra, after he led off the third inning with a double off of Kyle Freeland.

Buster Posey then lengthened the lead up to 2-0, as he doubled to right field that scored Steven Duggar from third base.

The Posey double was the 250th of his career, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time San Francisco Giants list, trailing Barry Bonds, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.

When Duggar crossed the plate to give the Giants a 2-0 lead, it was the first run batted in of the season for Posey.

Pillar then his fourth home run of the season, a solo blast with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Rockies began to chip away at the Giants lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Garrett Hampson doubled and went to third on a Parra throwing error that allowed Charlie Blackmon to score from first base. Blackmon reached on a fielders choice that erased Chris Iannetta, who singled and put a stop to a streak that saw him strike out in his previous five plate appearances.

Mark Reynolds cut the Giants lead down to one in the top of the seventh inning, as Reynolds hit his second home run of the season.

Kyle Freeland went five innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, walking just one and striking out five and saw his record fall to 1-3 on the young season.

Pablo Sandoval picked up his sixth double of the season, and his six doubles are the third-most in the National League. During the 2018 season, Sandoval had just 10 doubles.

Bumgarner gave up a leadoff double to Iannetta in the top of the eighth inning, and that would be all for Bumgarner, as Reyes Moronta came on to replace the left-hander. Moronta got the Giants out of the jam, as he struck out Raimel Tapia, Blackmon and Hampson to end the threat and the inning.

Moronta has struck out 13 out of the last 31 batters faced.

Sam Dyson pitched a perfect ninth inning, as he picked up his first save of the season. It was the first save for Dyson since June 26, 2018, also against the Rockies.

NOTES: Erik Kratz became the first player to catch at least 18 innings and get the game-winning RBI in the same game since Bob Boone did it for the California Angels against the Seattle Mariners on April 13, 1982, this according to Stats, LLC.

The last time that the Giants won a game that lasted 18 innings or more was on June 11, 1985, when the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-4 at Fulton County Stadium. Bob Brenly came up with the game-winning hit, while Duane Kuiper picked up a sacrifice bunt in the 11th inning and Mike Krukow started the game and went 5.0 innings, allowing four runs and five hits.

As for the last time that the Giants walked off a game that lasted 18 innings or more came on July 2, 1933, when the New York Giants shutout the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 on a hit by Hughie Critz. Giants Hall of Fame Pitcher Carl Hubbell threw a complete game shutout, as he went all 18.0 innings.

UP NEXT: Derek Holland goes to the mound, as the Giants look for the four-game sweep and end the home stand with a 6-4 mark, while the Rockies will send German Marquez to the mound.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Gray and Samardzija matchup for great pitching duel

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The Giants had a great pitching duel going with the Colorado Rockies Thursday night. Rockies starter Jon Gray threw shutout ball and the Giants starter Jeff Samardzija likewise throw shutout ball in what some say was masterpiece pitching.

#2 You won’t see pitchers throwing nine innings, but both Gray and Samardjiza threw like the could have pitched nine.

#3 The Giants have had a number of games where hitting had been suspect other than Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Crawford in Thursday’s starting lineup. No one is hitting above .250

#4 You can see at the beginning of the game that Samardzija and Gray were throwing those off balance-breaking balls and were not missing by very much. It was the bottom of the seventh when the Giants centerfielder Kevin Pillar took Gray deep to left center field for his third home run of 2019 to break the deadlock.

#5 Miguel takes a look at Friday night’s starters for Colorado Chad Bettis (0-2, 11.88 ERA) and for the Giants, Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 4.00 ERA).

Michael does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Samardzija shuts down Rox 1-0

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – Looks like “Shark” has his bite back.

Giants starter Jeff Samardzija has been off to a fantastic start this season and he only accelerated that Thursday night. A guy who is known for going deep into games and eating up innings did not do that nearly enough in 2018, but he has seemed to reverse that trend this season, although it has only been two starts.

He threw seven shutout innings and gave up three hits in getting his first win of the year, struck out seven batters and walked only one. He allowed only one guy to get as far as second base all night, using up only 90 pitches in the process.

It has been a far cry from a 2018 campaign that saw him struggle with his command as well as dealing with assorted injuries that further damaged his effectiveness. He has shown no remnants of that for the first two weeks of this season, and Colorado found that out the hard way.

“He was on top of his game, which you have to do against that lineup,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He just did a beautiful job of pitching. It was fun to watch. He’s been throwing the ball well.”

“It was a long road that he had to come back from. He was a warrior through all that, trying to pitch, and we shouldn’t have had him out there a few times that we let him pitch. He was battling a lot of pain, probably more than what he was telling us. But he put in a lot of hard work this winter, and you can see.”

As locked in as Samardzija was, however, Colorado Jon Gray was just as good. The two hurlers traded zeroes for the first six innings, and it appeared that the Giants could not catch a break at the plate despite garnering some early momentum.

Kevin Pillar changed that with one swing of the bat in the seventh inning.

It’s said that the first pitch is the best one a batter will see during the entire at-bat, and Pillar took advantage of that. He led off the seventh by nailing the first pitch he saw from Gray, sending it over the Bank of America sign in center field to give the Giants a 1-0 lead and make Samardzija eligible for the win.

“It’s great to do your job and throw a quality start, but there’s nothing like getting a win,” Bochy said. “I was really happy that he got the win tonight, with the effort he gave us.

“We needed some help (in the outfield),” he said of Pillar. “We got not just an outfielder, but an elite center fielder, a guy with some pop. This park is more of a pitcher’s park, but he’s shown that if you square up on it, it will go out. On a cold night, that’s pretty impressive.”

The Giants had a couple of chances earlier against Gray but could not cash in. Second baseman Joe Panik lined a two-out double over left fielder Raimel Tapia’s head, but the rally was short-lived as Buster Posey – who otherwise had a very nice night at the plate with a single and a pair of walks – whiffed to end the inning.

They really had something going in the fourth, when Brandon Belt led off the inning with a double and Brandon Crawford advanced him over to third with a well-placed grounder to the right side of the infield.

However, Pablo Sandoval’s groundout back to the pitcher put a serious dent in the rally, which was officially put to death when Pillar grounded out to third.

The Giants had an opportunity to expand the lead in the eighth, after getting the first two batters on via the base on balls. With Belt up, a pitch got past Colorado catcher Tony Wolters and momentarily allowed both runners to advance with nobody out.

However, what TV replays clearly showed as a passed ball that bounced off Wolters’ mitt was actually ruled as a foul tip by home plate umpire C.B Bucknor, as he determined that the ball had struck Belt’s bat as he checked his swing. The play was non-reviewable, and both runners were forced to go back to first and second, respectively.

Belt ended up striking out, and the two ensuing batters, Sandoval and Crawford, each grounded out softly to first, one of which would have brought a runner home had the passed ball been correctly called.

Fortunately for the Giants, that did not become a turning point, as Will Smith came in and pitched a perfect ninth, thanks to a sparkling play by Panik to rob Charlie Blackmon of a hit.

The Giants next play the Rockies on Friday night at 7:15 pm.

Machado more than the Giants can handle in 3-1 loss to Padres

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Some days on the diamond are strictly for the superstars, with their big contracts, other worldly skills and myriad of ways they can affect the outcome of ballgames.

Manny Machado had his showcase Wednesday, making several nifty plays defensively along with hitting a tie-breaking home run in the sixth that helped send the Padres to a 3-1 win over the Giants.

Dereck Rodriguez delivered a fastball at the knees that didn’t initially appear to be a mistake, but Machado put a swing on it, and soon the whole park was focused on the ball’s path into the right field arcade.

“He made one mistake all day,” Machado said of the Rodriguez pitch. “I was able to take advantage.”

A home run hit to right by a right-handed hitter at Oracle Park? Yeah, that’s a rare feat with Machado becoming just the 22nd visiting hitter to do so since the park’s opening in 2000.

“I’ve hit a few balls that hit the top of that wall. I’m happy I got one over this time,” Machado said.

Machado didn’t start or stop there, throwing out a runner earlier after a bare-handed pickup, then surprising lead runner Erik Kratz at the plate with a throw across his body that catcher Francisco Mejia turned into an out with a high tag.

Then on the game’s final play Machado came up with a shoestring catch on Brandon Belt’s ball hit in front of him with a pair of runners on.

The final play typified the afternoon for the Giants: they got runners aboard, but in every case, left them stranded. Kratz should have gotten down with a slide, and other situations fizzled with poor, situational hitting.

The only Giants’ run? A fourth inning home run from Kevin Pillar.

The Giants’ expected run producers continued their struggles: Buster Posey, Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt combined to go 1 for 10, and Pillar–his home run withstanding–hasn’t quite settled in either as his batting average dropped to .140.

Rodriguez was good enough to win with any support, but instead fell to 1-2 despite allowing four hits in seven innings.

“The little things got us, that was the difference in the game,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

The Giants fell to 3-9 and haven’t captured any of their four series to date. They open a four-game set with the Rockies on Thursday at home. The Giants could see themselves out of the NL West cellar with some wins, that after they thank their lucky stars they haven’t already sunk too low.

“We’re not happy with where we’re at, but you’ve got to understand there’s other good teams that haven’t gotten off to a great start either,” Bochy said.

Jeff Samardzija looks to be part of the solution as Thursday’s starter, but he has six losses in 13 career starts against the Rockies. John Gray starts for the Rockies, he’s 0-2 heading into his third start.

 

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Virginia Tech Cavaliers shock the country; Will ankle problems plague Curry in postseason?; Sharks on ice for game one tonight; plus more

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photo from yahoosports.com: Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) trips as New Orleans Pelicans guard Elfrid Payton (4) looks on during the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

On the Headline Sports podcast with London Marq:

#1 The Virginia Cavaliers are the college basketball champs of the NCAA. How surprising, what expectations, were as surprised and a game which the Cavs won it in overtime?

#2 It’s the ankle again. The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, who hurt his ankle before turned his ankle on Tuesday night in New Orleans in the Warriors’ 112-103 win over the Pelicans. Head coach Steve Kerr says Curry should be alright for game one of the playoffs.

#3 The San Jose Sharks are coming off three wins of their last five games. The Sharks’ Erik Karlsson returned from his injury and Evander Kane looks like he’s got that old spark again. How do the Sharks look going into game one of the playoffs on Wednesday night?

#4 StubHub has announced that tickets could be had for as low as $6 in the lower stands at Oracle Park. The Giants are assured that their attendance would not drop no lower than 26,000 because they have sold season tickets to guarantee that crowd number. The Giants drew 28,000 their smallest crowd in recent memory against the Padres on Monday night. Lastly, it should be noted the Giants didn’t lay an egg on Tuesday night, getting six runs in the bottom of the second and a large lead to get past the Padres to pull within four games of .500. The Giants dropped Wednesday’s game 3-1 and fell five games below .500 at 4-9.

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes were able to pull off a huge win in a 3-0 shutout over the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Avaya Stadium. It was the Quakes first win of 2019 and our very own London Marq was there.

London does the Headline Sports podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Holland and Pillar come up big in Giants’ 7-2 win over Padres

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — On back-to-back nights, the San Francisco Giants jumped out to a big lead on the lead; however, this time they won the game.

The first five Giants in the second inning got on base, and Evan Longoria drove in Buster Posey and Yangervis Solarte doubled in Brandon Crawford, Gerardo Parra then singled and after a Derek Holland strikeout, Kevin Pillar cleared the bases with a double, then newly acquired rounded out the scoring in the frame, as he singled in Pillar and the Giants would go on to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-2 before a crowd of just 28,506 at Oracle Park.

Holland took advantage of the run support, as he went seven innings, allowing one runs on five hits, walking two and striking out nine, as he won for the first time this season.

The nine strikeouts for Holland are his most since he struck out 11 for the Texas Rangers in a shutout against the Baltimore Orioles on August 30, 2015. The 11 strikeouts in that game tied a career high, Holland also struck out 11 on September 7, 2012 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Despite allowing two singles and a walk in the top of the first inning, Holland received help from his defense.

Wil Myers singled with one out, but was thrown out trying to steal second base by Posey and then after a Manny Machado walk, Franmil Reyes singled off the left field wall; however, Brandon Belt made a perfect throw to Crawford, who threw to Solarte to end the inning and the Padres failed to score.

“You know, I was thinking about that when I was out there: I’m quickly becoming one of the best outfielders in the game,” said Belt.

Joey Lucchesi was shelled in his second start of the season against the Giants, as he went just four innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four and lost for the first time this season after opening the season with two straight wins.

Pillar drove in his fourth run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Parra, who doubled to lead off the inning.

He is the first Giants player to have four runs batted in back-to-back games since Barry Bonds on April 2 and 3, 2002. During that two-game stretch, Bonds drove in nine runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Parra picked up hits in his first two at-bats, and scored both times before grounding out in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Padres finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, as Hunter Renfroe smashed a solo home run that landed approximately ¾ of the way into the left field bleachers and was measured at 423 feet.

Myers drove in the second run of the game for the Padres in the top of the eighth inning, as he hit a long double off of Trevor Gott to Greg Garcia.

The lone downfall to the game was the fact that the Giants in the first inning could not get it going, as they went down in order and are now 2-for-38 (.052) thru their first 12 games of the season in the opening frame.

NOTES: With the victory, the Giants have a chance to win the series on Wednesday. The last time the Giants lost their first four series of a season was in 1983, when they lost series to the Padres, the Philadelphia Phillies, at the Padres and the Cincinnati Reds.

Despite the no-decision on Monday night, Madison Bumgarner did move up on the all-time San Francisco Giants strikeout list, as he passed Gaylord Perry for fourth place on the San Francisco Giants list and is now seventh all-time in Giants history. In his career, Bumgarner has 1,607 strikeouts.

Posey tied Will Clark for fourth place on the San Francisco Giants list in doubles with 249 career doubles. He trails only Barry Bonds, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.

The six run second inning by the Giants was their season high, and the most they have scored in an inning since also scoring six in the bottom of the eighth inning against the New York Mets on August 31, 2018.

UP NEXT: Dereck Rodriguez makes his second start of the homestand on Wednesday night, while Nick Margevicius takes the mound for the Padres.