So while the Giants aren't mathematically eliminated, I'm going off the assumption that they're not going to make the playoffs. Of course, Bochy still thinks they're "in it" because there's no other reason for Huff starting than that Bochy thinks they've got a chance. He gives them their best chance, right? Even Scott Ostler, columnist for the Chronicle, said this about yesterday's game:
To some, the situation called for a shake-up Sunday. Something different. Anything.
But Aubrey Huff was back at first base, batting fifth, despite a 5-for-33 homestand (he did single to open the seventh), and a career 2-for-13 against starter Daniel Hudson. Sitting it out was Mark DeRosa, a rare recent ray of offensive hope (5-for-11 on the homestand, on base nine of his last 18 plate appearances). But he's a righty, and so is Hudson.
No Brandon Crawford for defense in the eighth, and who knows if he could have prevented Parra's crucial single on a slow roller to short. No Brandon Belt bunt in the seventh with nobody out and a runner on second. That would be contrary to the book, giving up an out, but one more run there would have been big, and Belt had whiffed twice against Hudson.
That's all water-cooler talk, to use a Jim Harbaugh phrase for useless chatter.
Bruce Bochy has a pencil, not a magic wand.
True Scott, it's not a wand. But he could write out the correct lineup with that pencil. While watching the game today (a 7-2 Giants win), it's clear that Crawford is an MLB-ready SS. Too bad it took them this long to get him back in there.
The reason I get so maddened by Bochean is that they do their jobs not to lose. Take a chance, leave the guys who are hitting .230 on the bench. If a guy is a terrible defender, put in a guy who isn't. Cabrera, Tejada, Stewart, Whiteside, Rowand, Huff, DeRosa, Ross (until a week ago) are all square pegs and starting spots are round holes. What shapes are Crawford or Pill or Belt (until 2 weeks ago)? We don't know. Maybe they're round, maybe they'd fit. But if you KNOW a guy isn't a fit, should it take 3 months of you cramming him into the hole for you to figure it out? Just because a guy was a round peg 3 years ago means absolutely nothing. Actually, less than nothing because you're paying them.
Figure it out. We know Zito will never be a consistent starter in the league again. We know J. Sanchez needs a change of scenery to unleash his true potential. We know the Giants have 2 possible SS's for the future (Keppy and BCrawf). Can anyone tell me that a Lincecum/Cain/Bumgarner/Vogelsong/Surkamp isn't the best starting 5 the Giants could put out there? I'm terrified at what Sabean is going to do in free agency this offseason. He may knee jerk and sign Beltran to a 4 year deal. Great player...if he has a 1 or 2 year deal. Huff ($10 mil)is here next year, as is Freddy ($6 mil). Those are the only 2 guys who are completely locked up next year. Others (Panda, Nate) will be arbitration eligible but will return. So there's a lot for Sabean to mess up. I have nothing but faith in him. How bout you?
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