Splash Hits

[Manning2Harrison]

SPLASH HITS

Can Jints Contend After Worst Season Since 1985?

2017 was an utter disaster for the San Francisco Giants- their worst in over three decades. At least their 64-98 record left them holding the no. 2 pick in the June draft.

Did the offseason bring on rebuild mode? No, but issues were addressed. Trade acquisitions Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen filled sinkholes at third and right. Signing Austin Jackson provided an upgrade at center and the acquisition of LHP Tony Watson soothed a glaring deficiency in the bullpen.

The influx of talent will certainly be beneficial, but better health than the Giants suffered in 2017 will go even further in fostering a rebound by keeping contributors in the lineup. They have not improved enough to absorb the punishment they did last year and remain competitive. Keeping staff ace Madison Bumgarner off of dirt bikes should allow him to make several more starts. Closer Mark Melancon battled elbow and forearm issues, Brandon Belt and Joe Panik sustained concussions, Hunter Pence was DL’d with a bad hammy and Buster Posey was behind the plate for the fewest innings since 2011 due to sustaining a season-ending injury in May.

On the downside, San Francisco will once again be at the mercy of health and durability since one of the worst farm systems in baseball is not likely to supply help from within, and the club’s commitment to remaining below the competitive balance tax threshold means no high-dollar contracts will be taken on via trades. In addition no no realistic possibility of in-season personnel improvement, the 2018 schedule will not be favorable. The Jints are in a division which produced three playoff teams in 2017 and thanks to the unbalanced schedule, they will play a total 57 games against the Dodgers, D-Backs and Rockies, who will all be relevant again in 2018. Add in 4 games vs. the Astros, and SF has one of the tougher NL schedules.

Don’t expect a worst-to-first turnaround, but with the offseason additions, fewer injuries, and better luck for Jeff Samardzija, the Giants could find themselves in the wild card mix come September, especially if they can get the better of their series vs. the Cards and Brewers.

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

YEARLY RECAPS

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

ALL-STARS AND AWARD WINNERS

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

OK to post now.

[johnstone1987]

Re: Splash Hits

Gonna be a tough challenge for the Giants. Good luck!

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

Dodgers Staff 5-Hits Jints

On Opening Day at Chavez Ravine, cold bats, wasted scoring opportunities and a bases-loaded walk doomed the San Francisco Giants to a 2-1 loss to their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. A lead-off dinger in the top of the 4th by Buster Posey represented the only run plated by the Giants, while Madison Bumgarner cost the team both on the mound and at the plate.

Bumgarner issued 8 walks in 5 innings pitched. The first two came in the bottom of the first to put an LA baserunner in scoring position early, but Bumgarner pitched his way out of that jam. San Francisco’s first hit of the season came of the bat of new third baseman Evan Longoria and put runners at first and second with nobody out, but Brandon Belt struck out and Hunter pence grounded into a double play. In the following inning, Bumgarner attempted a sacrifice bunt but didn’t deaden the ball, resulting in a double play. In the next at bat Kelby Tomlinson slapped what might have been a RBI double but for Bumgarner’s gaffe. In the bottom of the 3rd, Bumgarner gave free passes to the first two batters, but ended up getting out of the inning with minimal damage, allowing only one run. In the 5th, Bumgarner retired the first two hitters but then loaded the bases and walked in LA’s go ahead, and ultimately game-winning, run. Tony Watson and Hunter Strickland turned in three scoreless relief innings, and in the 9th the Giants had men of first and second with 1 out, but Pence flew out to right and the game ended on Brandon Crawford’s F8.

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

Gonna be a tough challenge for the Giants. Good luck!

We should have won that opener.

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

Double Nickel: 5th Dooms Giants Again

A run walked in in the 5th inning was what doomed the San Francisco Giants to defeat in game 1 of their season-opening series against the LA Dodgers. In game 2, the 5th was also where the G-Men were done in on the way to an 0-2 start for the 2018 season. It was then that starting pitcher Johnny Cueto went from potential player of the game to goat. Cueto allowed multiple base runners during the first four innings, but repeatedly worked himself out of jams without allowing any runs. He also staked the team to a 3-0 lead with a bases-clearing double in the second and stroked a single in the 4th. But his luck ran out in the bottom of the 5th. He loaded the bases in the first three LA at bats and was unable to work his way out of that jam. A ground out by Corey Seager drove in a run and advanced runners to second and third. Cueto then issued walks to Cody Bellinger and Matt Kemp to force in another run. With Ty Blach still warming up in the bullpen, Yasil Puig ripped a grand salami to left to put LA up 6-4. Austin Barnes singled before Cueto finally got the hook and Blach ended the inning by retiring two consecutive batters, the latter being Andrew Toles, who had led off as a pinch hitter. Blach allowed 3 runs, including a 2-run homer by Kemp, before leaving the game, and Evan Longoria’s solo homer accounted for San Francisco’s fifth run in the 9-5 loss.

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

Forgot to mention that Hunter Pence ignored the 3rd base coach and got gunned down at the plate trying for an inside the park HR, ending the top of the 6th.

[Stout]

Re: Splash Hits

Is that Cueto wearing the pitcher's jacket at the plate? I don't think I've ever seen that. They wear the jackets on the basepaths, but not at the plate. Unless it's the jersey just without numbers..

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

Is that Cueto wearing the pitcher's jacket at the plate? I don't think I've ever seen that. They wear the jackets on the basepaths, but not at the plate. Unless it's the jersey just without numbers..

jersey with long-sleeved shirt underneath

[johnstone1987]

Re: Splash Hits

Tough opening series brother. Still really early in the year though.

[Manning2Harrison]

Re: Splash Hits

Jints Go Extras For Win #1

It took 11 innings, but the San Francisco Giants got off the schnide and avoided being swept by arch-rival Los Angeles in the season-opening series, which still has one game to play. The G-Men were more efficient with their base runners, manufacturing 4 runs on just 5 hits, while the Codgers scattered 11 hits but plated only 3 runs.

The game’s first scoring threat materialized in the top of the 3rd, when LA’s Logan Forsythe doubled with one out for his first hit of the season. Starting pitcher Alex Wood executed a sacrifice bunt that advanced Forsythe to 3rd. Chris Taylor was issued a free pass, and Jeff Samardzija induced Justin Turner to ground into an inning ending double play.

Brandon Belt’s double off the right field wall drove in the game’s first run in the top of the fourth, and a second run was scored when Hunter Pence grounded to short but Corey Seager’s bobble left him with no choice but to got to first for an out. The Dodgers plated their first run in the bottom of the inning and Tony Watson was warming up in the pen, but The Shark ended the inning by fanning Wood and Watson sat down. The 5th inning reared its ugly head again when Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger robbed the Giants of hits in the top half and Samardzija surrendered the lead in the bottom. The Shark managed to complete the inning with San Francisco down 3-2, but manager Bruce Bochy decided to end Samardzija’s night and send Watson to the mound in the 6th.

Andrew McCutchen drew a 1-out walk and Evan Longoria singled to send Belt to the plate with runners a first and second in the top of the 6th. Belt rolled a deep ground ball to second, but the throws to 2nd and 1st were both late, and the base hit loaded the bases. Pence whiffed, leaving to Brandon Crawford, still batting .000, to make something of the opportunity. Crawford walked to tie the score at 3 and prevent the Shark from taking a loss.

For the remainder of the game San Francisco’s pitching was outstanding while the Dodgers ate through their bullpen, leaving closer Kenley Jackson as the only reliever not not to see the mound, and the game was still tied at 3 after 9 innings. In the top of the 11th, Belt drew a base on balls, Crawford singled, and reliever Cory Gearrin, who had been given the bunt sign, was hit by a pitch to load the bases with zero outs. Kelby Tomlinson grounded into a put out at the plate, but then Austin Jackson lofted a sac fly for the go-ahead, and eventually game-winning run. The Jints could do no more damage, but closer Mark Melancon struck out the side to save San Francisco’s first win of 2018.