[lex24]

Maybe Farhan knew what he was doing.  To me, steps like declining to pay Kevin Pillar $10 million annually indicated that he wouldn't do the desperate moves. The cupboard was essentially bare when Farhan took over.  Aging stars, virtually every minor league team finished in last or second to last place, first round picks that were comparative failures, two terrible season records.

Very quickly, Farhan and Scott turned it around.  New coaching staff, all the teams in the minors save one turned it around, the aging stars started to hit again -- every starter in the field in 2019 had career years except one who had their second best year.  They cut bloated salaries, they brought in short term help, they identified under-recognized players (Yastrzemski) that they brought into the fold. They brought in high-ceiling starting pitchers on bargain deals.  And they brought in a smart, highly underrated manager.

And now, they are tied for the best record in MLB.  They are winning because they have no weaknesses.  They have the best fielding defense (fewest errors), they have the #9 OPS and #8 most runs scored in MLB, they have the #6 ERA and the #5 WHIP.  They're #19 in batting average, but #8 in OPS, reflecting their coaching.  Their strength of schedule is about average at #18/

As for the future, all of their mega-deal salaries come off their books this year except for Longoria.  I think the Giants have a bright future.

Think it was (and is) pretty clear that Farhan knows what he is doing; and I like the GM (Harris), too.
Kapler has been very good this season, especially with pinch-hitting decisions; however, there remain the occasional head-scratchers.  This criticism isn't reserved for Kapler, by any means, but I absolutely detest the knee-jerk reaction to bring in a closer for the ninth inning, especially when you don't really have one.  There was a game a while back where Rogers cruised through the 8th on something like 11 pitches, and Kapler brought in a wobbly McGee to "close."  To no one's surprise, he blew it.  I'm big on "what do your eyes tell you in the moment" versus formulaic managing.  Also, last night, did DeSclafani hit in the bottom of the inning, but not come out and pitch the top of the next inning?  That strikes me as an indefensible move, so I'm thinking I must have missed the beginning of the inning when the Cubs were batting.  Still, overall Kapler has done well.

Now for the concerns that are hard to shake:

1.  Rogers has a unique/freaky delivery that batters are unaccustomed to, and therefore struggle to adjust.  BUT, as the season progresses and batters see Rogers for the 4th+ time, I expect his effectiveness to drop . . . perhaps dramatically.

2.  No closer; and bully is questionable (at least a few arms there are).

3.  If you had to bet the mortgage, would you say these guys are major league hitters (i.e., will finish .250 or above):  Dubon?  Any of the OF listed on the active roster (Duggar, Slater, Tauchman, Wade)?  The backup catcher?  Heck, even Yaz?  

4.  To date, don't you get the sense the Giants have done a lot with duct tape and chicken wire?  It's amazing they have the record they do with all the guys rotating through the injured list, but it seems hard to sustain.

On the bright side, 

1.  The vets are playing very well;

2.  Longoria, Belt, and La Stella will be back at some point; and

3.  The starting pitching has been excellent, overall.  (Don't like to see Webb on IL).

4.  And Buster.  I viewed him as a Punching Judy hitter and a DP machine at the plate in his last season, but he has been surprisingly strong to date.

Anyway, been great so far.  Long way to go.

DeSclafani did hit in the 6th. I believe with two outs and no one on. Up 5-2. He walked. He did not come out to pitch the7th. Remember, they only have 5 bench players. Longoria is banged up and they didn’t want to use him unless absolutely necessary. That leaves 4. I believe he had already brought Dubon in for Flores (who also has leg issues). That’s 3. Vosler, Tromp and Slater. You don’t use your no 2 catcher as a PH unless you absolutely have to. And he’s gonna save Slater for a platoon situation. That left Vosler. No reason to use him then. So letting him hit was entirely defensible.

.250?  Hell, that’s a high batting average these days. MLB ave is about .235. (It was .232 at end of April. League hit .239 in May) Here are some other offensive numbers and thoughts through May. Courtesy of Jayson Stark:


Pitchers today are all Nolan Ryan. Ryan averaged 9.55 K’s per 9. Struck out 25.3 % of the hitters he faced. Thru May, teams striking out at a rate of 9.24 per 9. Ave is 24.2%). Meaning strikeout average is higher than batting ave.

At present rate there will be 1,100 fewer doubles hit than in ‘19. And 4,000 less singles than a decade ago. Teams are averaging g less thann5 singles per game. Which if it holds will be first time ever.

Stolen base attempt rate is lowest since 1964.

Double plays are also at a very low rate.

Hey, but those launch angles are great. And who doesn’t love Three True Outcomes. So mathematically pure…..

[lex24]

Maybe Farhan knew what he was doing.  To me, steps like declining to pay Kevin Pillar $10 million annually indicated that he wouldn't do the desperate moves. The cupboard was essentially bare when Farhan took over.  Aging stars, virtually every minor league team finished in last or second to last place, first round picks that were comparative failures, two terrible season records.

Very quickly, Farhan and Scott turned it around.  New coaching staff, all the teams in the minors save one turned it around, the aging stars started to hit again -- every starter in the field in 2019 had career years except one who had their second best year.  They cut bloated salaries, they brought in short term help, they identified under-recognized players (Yastrzemski) that they brought into the fold. They brought in high-ceiling starting pitchers on bargain deals.  And they brought in a smart, highly underrated manager.

And now, they are tied for the best record in MLB.  They are winning because they have no weaknesses.  They have the best fielding defense (fewest errors), they have the #9 OPS and #8 most runs scored in MLB, they have the #6 ERA and the #5 WHIP.  They're #19 in batting average, but #8 in OPS, reflecting their coaching.  Their strength of schedule is about average at #18/

As for the future, all of their mega-deal salaries come off their books this year except for Longoria.  I think the Giants have a bright future.

Think it was (and is) pretty clear that Farhan knows what he is doing; and I like the GM (Harris), too.
Kapler has been very good this season, especially with pinch-hitting decisions; however, there remain the occasional head-scratchers.  This criticism isn't reserved for Kapler, by any means, but I absolutely detest the knee-jerk reaction to bring in a closer for the ninth inning, especially when you don't really have one.  There was a game a while back where Rogers cruised through the 8th on something like 11 pitches, and Kapler brought in a wobbly McGee to "close."  To no one's surprise, he blew it.  I'm big on "what do your eyes tell you in the moment" versus formulaic managing.  Also, last night, did DeSclafani hit in the bottom of the inning, but not come out and pitch the top of the next inning?  That strikes me as an indefensible move, so I'm thinking I must have missed the beginning of the inning when the Cubs were batting.  Still, overall Kapler has done well.

Now for the concerns that are hard to shake:

1.  Rogers has a unique/freaky delivery that batters are unaccustomed to, and therefore struggle to adjust.  BUT, as the season progresses and batters see Rogers for the 4th+ time, I expect his effectiveness to drop . . . perhaps dramatically.

2.  No closer; and bully is questionable (at least a few arms there are).

3.  If you had to bet the mortgage, would you say these guys are major league hitters (i.e., will finish .250 or above):  Dubon?  Any of the OF listed on the active roster (Duggar, Slater, Tauchman, Wade)?  The backup catcher?  Heck, even Yaz?  

4.  To date, don't you get the sense the Giants have done a lot with duct tape and chicken wire?  It's amazing they have the record they do with all the guys rotating through the injured list, but it seems hard to sustain.

On the bright side, 

1.  The vets are playing very well;

2.  Longoria, Belt, and La Stella will be back at some point; and

3.  The starting pitching has been excellent, overall.  (Don't like to see Webb on IL).

4.  And Buster.  I viewed him as a Punching Judy hitter and a DP machine at the plate in his last season, but he has been surprisingly strong to date.

Anyway, been great so far.  Long way to go.

DeSclafani did hit in the 6th. I believe with two outs and no one on. Up 5-2. He walked. He did not come out to pitch the7th. Remember, they only have 5 bench players. Longoria is banged up and they didn’t want to use him unless absolutely necessary. That leaves 4. I believe he had already brought Dubon in for Flores (who also has leg issues). That’s 3. Vosler, Tromp and Slater. You don’t use your no 2 catcher as a PH unless you absolutely have to. And he’s gonna save Slater for a platoon situation. That left Vosler. No reason to use him then. So letting him hit was entirely defensible.

.250?  Hell, that’s a high batting average these days. MLB ave is about .235. (It was .232 at end of April. League hit .239 in May) Here are some other offensive numbers and thoughts through May. Courtesy of Jayson Stark:


Pitchers today are all Nolan Ryan. Ryan averaged 9.55 K’s per 9. Struck out 25.3 % of the hitters he faced. Thru May, teams striking out at a rate of 9.24 per 9. Ave is 24.2%). Meaning strikeout average is higher than batting ave.

At present rate there will be 1,100 fewer doubles hit than in ‘19. And 4,000 less singles than a decade ago. Teams are averaging g less thann5 singles per game. Which if it holds will be first time ever.

Stolen base attempt rate is lowest since 1964.

Double plays are also at a very low rate.

Hey, but those launch angles are great. And who doesn’t love Three True Outcomes. So mathematically pure…..