San Francisco Giants – Page 214 – Sports Radio Service

Giants’ future quite murky as trade deadline looms

Published on July 11, 2019July 12, 2019 by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Technically, the Giants are only five-and-a-half games out of a wild-card spot in the National League as the second half of the season kicks off starting Friday. This fact alone is a cause for slight optimism for a great deal of a fanbase that is still sunbathing from a string of World Series titles won years ago.

Here’s a tip: Forget it. The rest of the league is expected to pick up its play – the wild-card leaders are just hovering above .500 at press time – and the wear and tear that the Giants have shown during the course of this young season will be even more prevalent as the summer months roll along.

That’s not to mention the dead weight that is being caused by underperforming players on bad contracts, which new general manager Farhan Zaidi vowed to do away with upon stepping into his new position this past offseason.

His first big task will be the manner in which he handles the trade deadline, which will take place on July 31, a mere three weeks away.

The player that has created the most buzz has been lefty Madison Bumgarner, and to no surprise, there is no shortage of teams that could put a sizable deal on the table. The Twins, Yankees, Braves and Phillies, among other teams, could be possible destinations for Bumgarner, with a move to Atlanta making the most sense.

Besides Bumgarner, there has been more talk surrounding lefty closer Will Smith, who has been perfect in his save opportunities this season and has by far been the most consistent performer on the Giants’ roster. Among teams that could be destinations for Smith are the Washington Nationals and the Oakland A’s, who sorely need help in their bullpen if they are going to make another postseason run.

One thing is for certain, however. The Giants are undoubtedly going to be sellers this time around, and this should be quite interesting and could dictate the team’s roster for years to come.

Sorry offense has Giants in the pits

Published on July 10, 2019July 10, 2019 by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has said that the baseballs that are being used in games are not juiced, despite the high number of home runs being his this season.

There is direct proof of this statement: Just watch the San Francisco Giants hit on a nightly basis.

After spending most of the season ranking dead last in home runs hit, the Giants are now 27^th out of 30 teams in the majors with only 88 balls going out of the ballpark in the season’s first three months.

They do, however, have the worst batting average in baseball with a team mark of .230, and they rank in the bottom five in every offensive category, with the exception of doubles and triples (they rank near the middle of the majors).

To give you an idea, Kevin Pillar currently leads the Giants with a .256 batting average with 47 RBI. Meanwhile, Evan Longoria leads the team with only 12 home runs, which is not a lot of return for the $14.5 million he is getting paid this year.

That lack of offense has had a direct effect on their overall performance on the field, in what will be Bruce Bochy’s last season as a major-league manager. They have a 41-48 record as they enter the second half of the season, which puts them firmly in the National League cellar and qualifies as the league’s third-worst record, trailing only Miami and the New York Mets.

The NL, however, remains fairly open, and amazingly, the Giants are actually in the hunt for a wild-card spot, as they currently sit only five-and-a-half games out of the wild card. The wild-card leaders, Washington and Philadelphia, are barely sitting over .500 at press time.

This, however, may very well turn out to be fool’s gold, considering the fact that the Giants are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline (more on that tomorrow).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Will Smith had an outstanding first half, represent Giants at All-Star game

Published on July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Last Wednesday Giants reliever Will Smith and All-Star team representative pitched in relief against the San Diego Padres pitched an inning, struck out two and gave up one hit, to get his 23rd save

#2 Smith’s save looked easy in that Wednesday ninth inning. He went right through it and many of his saves have been that way.

#3 Smith has pitched so well this season he has yet to get his first blown save. He has been money in the bank closing ball games.

#4 The other report on Smith is he’s being showcased. He pitched on Saturday in relief at Oracle Park on Saturday pitching one inning, giving up one hit. He didn’t get the save, but got of the Giants out of the inning.

#5 In the last seven games, he pitched in relief he’s saved four games. Smith is a very focused reliever and doesn’t take too much time to get out of an inning.

Morris does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com also is covering the All Star game in Cleveland

Longoria wins it on home run in seventh SF wins 1-0

Published on July 7, 2019July 7, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria, left, is congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus (23) after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Evan Longoria ended two things against Jack Flaherty with one swing of the bat.

Longoria hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, breaking up both a shutout and a no-hitter and it helped the San Francisco Giants to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals before a crowd of 33,841 at Oracle Park.

This was only the third shutout of the season for the Giants and the first since April 24 against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

On the afternoon, the Giants only got two hits, and this was the fewest hits in a game where they won since a two-hit over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2018.

Flaherty was throwing a perfect game until he walked Alex Dickerson to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning.

After the Longoria home run, Dickerson singled to left, but then Flaherty got Stephen Vogt to fly out to Dexter Fowler and then Kevin Pillar lined out to Paul DeJong to end the inning.

It was the 12th home run of the season for Longoria, and his fifth in his last six games. During the six-game stretch, Longoria is hitting .429 (9-for-21) with seven extra base hits (two doubles and five home runs), 10 RBI and eight runs scored.

Longoria is no stranger to breaking up no-hitter, as it was the fourth time in his career that he broke up a no-hitter in the 7th inning or later.

With DeJong on first base in the top of the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt hit a line drive into the right-center gap; however, Pillar flew through into the air and made a fantastic catch that kept the game scoreless.

The Longoria home run made a winner out of Jeff Samardzija, who pitched a tremendous game, as he went seven innings, scattering four hits and striking out two on his way to picking up his sixth win of the season.

This was the first time since August 28 and September 2, 2017 that Samardzija went seven innings with two or fewer runs. That was also the last time he pitched at seven innings in consecutive starts.

It was a tough loss for Flaherty, who also went seven innings, allowing one run on just two hits, walking one and striking out six and saw his record fall to 4-6 on the season.

Sam Dyson pitched one inning, allowing one hit and struck out three. Closer Will Smith came on in the top of the ninth inning and despite giving up a single to Goldschmidt, he picked up his 23rd save in 23 chances, as Fowler grounded into a double play to end the game.

Over his last 19 outings, Smith has not allowed a run in 17 of those games and is possessing a 0.96 earned run average (two earned runs in 18.2 ip) with 30 strikeouts and opposing hitters are hitting .156 against him.

NOTES: Pillar also drove in the only run of the game on April 11, when he homered against the Colorado Rockies in a 1-0 Giants victory that made a winner out of Samardzija.

The Giants are now 18-9 in one-run games and 4-7 in final games of the series.

This was the seventh time this season that the Cardinals have been shutout, and it was the first time that the Cardinals have lost a series to the Giant since May 19-21, 2017 at Busch Stadium.

UP NEXT: Following the All-Star break, the Giants begin a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Shaun Anderson will open the series against the Brewers at Miller Park on Friday night, followed by Madison Bumgarner and Tyler Beede. The Brewers starter has yet to be determined.

MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum: SF’s Bumgarner x-rays prove negative; Cleveland’s Carrasco diagnosed with leukemia; plus more

Published on July 7, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

sfgate.com photo: Madison Bumgarner exits in the third inning against St. Louis. The back of his left arm was hit by a liner in the first inning.

On the MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 MadBum hit by line drive, X-rays negative

2 Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco reveals leukemia diagnosis; Angels mourn loss of Tyler Skaggs

3 Throwback Expos Day divides Montrealers and Nats fans

4 Phillies’ Odubel Herrera suspended for season, violated MLB domestic violence policy

5 Nationals’ Max Scherzer won’t be pitching in the All-Star Game, replaced by … ex-A’s ace, the Reds’ Sonny Gray

Daniel is on for the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinals stop Giants’ 4-game winning streak with 9-4 win

Published on July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — On the night where there was shaking in Southern California, the San Francisco Giants’ pitching got all shook up.

Jose Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt each hit home runs in the top of the first inning, and despite a comeback, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Giants 9-4 before a crowd of 37,603 at Oracle Park.

Martinez hit a solo home run, and then two batter later Goldschmidt launched a two-run blast into the Garden beyond the left-center field wall to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Once again, it was a tough first inning for Drew Pomeranz, as he saw his earned run average increase to 11.25 (20 ER/16 IP) and batters are hitting .365 with eight home runs in the first inning, this according to Bill Arnold of the Sports Features Group.

The Giants wasted little time to get back into the game, as they loaded the bases with nobody out and despite the fact that Dakota Hudson got two straight outs, Brandon Crawford walked on a 3-2 pitch to get the Giants on the board to score Brandon Belt and then Kevin Pillar singled to left field that scored Buster Posey.

Alex Dickerson continues his hot hitting, as he hit his fourth home run of the season to tie up the game in the bottom of the third inning.

Unfortunately, Pomeranz gave the lead right back to the Cardinals, as Kolten Wong doubled and former Stanford infielder Tommy Edman tripled to right-center field to give the Cardinals the lead for good.

Pomeranzs night was done after four innings, as he gave up four runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three, as his record fell to 2-9 on the season.

The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning off of Trevor Gott, Matt Wieters singled to score Tyler ONeill and then Wong drove in a run, as he reached on a Fielders Choice that scored Fowler.

Mark Melancon gave up a run in the top of the seventh inning, as he gave up a single to ONeill and then Fowler tripled to right-center field.

Wong then followed up with a single that scored Fowler to give the Cardinals a five-run lead.

Fowler finished off the scoring for the Cardinals the top of the ninth inning, as he took a Ray Black pitch and put It on the arcade. It was the third hit of the night for Fowler, who came up a double short of the cycle.

Stephen Vogt drove in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly to ONeill to score Brandon Crawford.

NOTES: Donovan Solanos 10-game hitting streak came to an end, as he went 0-for-2 after replacing Joe Panik at second base in the top of the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound on Saturday night, as he looks for his sixth win of the season, while the Cardinals will send Miles Mikolas to the hill and he also looks for his sixth win of the season.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Part 1: Giants coming off sweep in San Diego, ready for St. Louis after 4th of July off

Published on July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria, right, is greeted by third base coach Ron Wotus after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in San Diego

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time in a while the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep past the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Does the sweep have some impact some confidence building for the Giants, who have not swept too many series this season?

#3 Just looking ahead to Saturday, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is pitching on Saturday and has had some good recent outings against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Some have called some of Bumgarner’s outings showcasing. It is realistic to say Bumgarner will be leaving the Giants before the end of the month?

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have won four of their last nine games. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

#5 The Cardinals for Friday night’s game will be starting Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) going up against the Giants Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). In two of his last three decisions, Pomeranz got the loss, so you know going into Friday night’s game, he’s looking for that win.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Part 2: Pomeranz looks to get back into win column, starts tonight against Cards

Published on July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria during a game in San Diego against the Padres on Wednesday, July 3rd and the Giants will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants coming off sweep in San Diego, ready for St. Louis after 4th of July off

Published on July 5, 2019 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have lost four of their last nine games looking. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

No 4th of July play for Giants, Cardinals on deck

Published on July 4, 2019July 4, 2019 by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: @OracleParkSF

By Jeremy Harness

For the first time in a while, the Giants will not play on the 4^th of July. However, they will still use this time to get prepared for a big weekend series while riding a wave of momentum.

They are coming off a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres, and they will now wait for the St., Louis Cardinals to get into town, as the two teams will play a three-game series starting Friday night at Oracle Park.

The series does not pack the same punch that it has in years past – with the Giants still stuck in the National League West basement while the Cardinals hanging on with a 42-42 mark – but because of the sheer history of this pairing, it still carries meaning nonetheless.

Drew Pomeranz will take the ball for the Friday opener against Cardinals righty Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA). Pomeranz has been a mess this season, with a 2-8 record and a 6.25 ERA. However, he momentarily beat that back in his last start, throwing five shutout innings at the Arizona Diamondbacks last Saturday.

Hudson is coming off an outing where he did not make it out of the second inning while giving up seven runs – but amazingly only one of them earned – which included a pair of homers in losing to the same San Diego team the Giants just swept.

However, he was brilliant in the start prior to that, going seven strong and surrendering only a run to the Angels in a 2-1 win.

Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is still wearing a Giants uniform for the time being and has gotten into a nice rhythm lately, will go Saturday night, and he will go up against Miles Mikolas (5-8, 4.34 ERA), who appears to be going in the opposite direction after a hot start.

Bumgarner has gotten the win in each of his past two starts, beating the Colorado Rockies and the Diamondbacks, surrendering three runs in his 13 innings combined.

Mikolas has lost six of his last seven decisions, but he is coming off a decent outing that saw him give up three runs over six innings, although he did not ultimately factor in to the decision.

Coming off a brilliant outing that saw him go eight solid innings in a convincing win over San Diego Monday night, Jeff Samardzija (5-7, 4.32 ERA) will take the hill Sunday for the Giants against Cardinals righty Jack Flaherty (4-5, 4.90 ERA), who is coming off a rather-shaky outing that saw him give up four runs over 4 1/3 innings against Seattle on Tuesday.