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Always remember!
They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.” - Field of Dreams
The Post-All-Star Break Losing Streak was snapped yesterday
This has been a difficult two weeks for the G-Men. The 6-game losing streak (going back to the Dodgers series 2 losses and followed by being swept in Toronto by the red-hot Blue Jays (in front of the Yankees in the AL East) and a loss to the Braves was snapped yesterday and today by back-to-back W’s. What changed? First off, Devers moved to first base and is suddenly playing like the superstar he should be (2 dingers in the win today). Second, the team (over the last two games anyway) is looking loose and playing like they enjoy the game. Third, today was the first win of the season for Verlander. It’s about time.
Considering how ugly the Post-All Star break has been that the Giants are still in 3rd place in the NL West (5 games behind LA and a game and a half behind San Diego) and still in the conversation for the post-season is gratifying (if not astounding).
What should the second half of the season look like?
The G-Men need to play the game with the joy they all had in little league (but without the little league errors). Baseball is summertime, hot dogs, beer, the sounds of bats hitting balls and umpires making loud calls. It’s a kid’s game and should be played that way. That’s the way the Giants looked yesterday and today, and they need to continue that tomorrow and into the next series against the Mets and the Pirates at home (starting on Friday). Looking at the roster and how they have performed, and considering that the July 31st trade deadline is approaching like a freight train, let’s evaluate where we are at:
Trading for a Hitter: Ranking 21st in runs, 24th in OPS, 25th in homers, and 28th in average, the Giants are a subpar hitting team and are desperate for a boost. While Devers hasn’t made a significant difference so far, his move to first base, a troubled spot all season, and his 2 dingers today, bode well for that over the rest of the season (especially because it frees up Wilmer Flores for the DH role, where he shines). Second base is another concern, though Casey Schmitt recently assumed the position and played well there (I’ve always liked Casey; he is a hustler). His HR contributions have also been welcome. A versatile outfielder would help. Shoot, anyone with a decent OPS would help, no matter what the position. Is Eldridge ready? Maybe, but let’s wait to see what is on the trade market before disrupting his progress at Arizona and Sacramento.
Starting pitcher? Hayden Birdsong (5.10 ERA, nine starts) didn’t cut it in the rotation (which was why he was demoted to Sacramento – giving up 9 runs in one inning cemented that decision), and Roupp’s workload (he is pitching well) needs monitoring in his first full big-league season. Depth is light, which could force the promotion (or trade for a veteran starter) of Carson Whisenhunt from Triple-A unless someone from the outside arrives before the deadline. It should take a major haul to trade Carson because he is an ace in waiting. Today’s victory for Verlander is a good sign. More innings from him (as well as his veteran leadership) will be important down the stretch to support the awesome work from Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.
Reliever: The bullpen looks good. However, if Posey follows Brian Sabean’s deadline blueprint, he’ll at least beef up the bullpen, especially after unloading Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks in the Devers trade. With Erik Miller shelved, there’s an urgency to find a lefty reliever. For now, Joey Lucchesi and Scott Alexander are the options, and we all (especially in North Beach) like Italian relievers like Lucchesi.
Do the Giants have any trade bait? How about?
Marco Luciano: He’s raking at the right time for Sacramento, with a whopping seven homers in 11 July games. He could serve as a valuable trade chip. A change of scenery could do him well, and he’d welcome a chance to play regularly in the majors. The Giants’ former No. 1 prospect was moved from shortstop to left field and remains a project at 23, seven years after he was signed out of the Dominican Republic.
Ryan Walker: Trading from a position of strength — the Giants’ bullpen is their best asset — can be advantageous to improve other parts of the roster. Walker lost the closer’s job to Camilo Doval but still exhibits stretches of dominance: no runs allowed and no walks issued so far in July.
The strength of the Team
Logan Webb: The Cy Young Award race is on. Webb finished 11th, second, and sixth the past three years in voting and is on target to be a finalist in 2025. Paul Skenes and former Giants prospect Zack Wheeler are the favorites, but plenty of season remains for the gap to tighten. Webb leads the league in innings (Wheeler and Skenes are 2-3), ranks second to Wheeler in strikeouts, and is ninth in ERA (Skenes and Wheeler are 1 and 3). The Giants have had just two Cy Young winners, Mike McCormick in 1967 and Tim Lincecum in 2008 and 2009.
Buster Posey: No matter what happens the rest of the way, it’ll be fascinating to watch how the most decorated catcher in Giants history (voted the top Giant of all time in today’s Chronicle poll of great SF Giants players) runs the show, including his first trade deadline. He was out front of the industry with the Devers trade, and based on his ring collection as a player, he knows what it takes to get to October and do dynastic things. Buster, we love you, and it’s time for you to step up to the plate once again.
The upcoming series – The Mets and the Pirates
The Mets are 59 and 44, and right behind the Phillies in the NL East. This series will be a battle royale. Look for Nimmo and Alonzo to attack the Giants pitching, and Sean Manaea to attempt to shut down the Giants bats. The Pirates come into town right after the Mets with a completely different record (42 and 61) with nothing to lose and some budding stars (including Paul Skenes on the mound and Horowitz and our old friend McCutcheon hitting dingers all over the place). These will be fun games.
On the Board ready for pick up are:
MON 7/28 (6:45) Pirates (4)
TUES 7/29 (6:45) Pirates (4)
WED 7/30 (12:45) Pirates (2)
Let the torture continue.
Ciao, and GO GIANTS!
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THE PROTOCOL: The firm has four seats in Section 118 (Premium Lower Boxes), Rows 25 and 26. These are awesome seats directly below the press box and 25 rows behind the home plate on the left side behind the screen. It is foul ball territory for left-handed batters so bring your glove – I have collected 22 foul balls myself over 23 years and am looking for more. If we don’t use all the tickets ourselves (or clients and friends of the firm don't claim them by calling me and reserving a game), then my next step is to give the tickets TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS BACK TO ME PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SERIOUS. If you ask for the tickets and don't use them, you will be taken off the list unless there is a seriously good reason. There will be a waitlist.
When there are four seats available (we split up a lot of games) we will allocate the tickets two and two if the first people back just want two tickets. You can also go for four and might get them. I'm the Czar, my call.
Oh, and BTW, The Czar found the original Hinman & Carmichael brick from 2000 (after looking for it every year since 2000) and found H&C’s Gotham Club Founders Bat! If you are on the patio, or in the Club, look for the symbols of baseball!
