GAMEBALL and JOKE 5/13 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL and JOKE
5/13 NATS at GIANTS

GAMEBALL

ZITO

May not have been on the right side of the decision or the game, but was effective all day long……Zito will never be a low WHIP guy, and he did a masterful job of stranding runners, and he pitched better than his numbers show…….after 6 solid, gave up 2 hits in the 7th only to be let down by his defense and his bullpen…….so when looking at that boxscore….dont stress out….the 2009 Zito is still doing fine
Side Note: Nice little slider vs Right Handed hitters…runs about 80 with a nice little 5 oclock break…..throws it in on the hands…..probably helps keep hitters off the curve…..
According to Fangraphs/ Baseball Info Solutions he is throwing it 14% of the time compared to 10% last year and 4% in 2007……this pitch type data is more reliable since it is based on human recognition, rather than pitchfx which classifies by movement…..(I think)

FB AVE 86.3 MAX 88.5


TIP OF THE CAP :
SCHIERHOLTZ
He, didn’t fall on his face in right, and had a bomb of a triple…..lets hope you got over your yips from last night……

ISHIKAWA
1 for 2,……and more importantly to me….didn't K

BOCHY
Can't get on him for Zito handling…..even using Misch in the 9th to save the bullpen…..and I like sticking with Burriss at the top even though he has cooled off…..and showing some balls by sticking Ishi in the 5 hole…..

JOKER

ROWAND

OK, I could get on most anyone's ass today…..but you know what…..Rowand really sticks in my craw……..
Bases juiced in the first and a weak ass popup…set the tone for the day
Add to that weak chopper, and another popup.…although he did draw a lead off walk and score late in the game…….
But what really bothers me is his defensive reputation……
Plays way too deep, cause he sucks going back on the ball…..
Average speed at best, with an over aggressive average arm…..
Usually gets good jump and has good instincts, and is adept at the diving catch which gets him on Sportcenter…….but you could say the same good things about Moises Alou……
Overall he is NOT a superior defender…..NO NO NO (Merkin stamps feet)
And you shmucks who think otherwise should be beaten with a Official Bonds "Walker" Rubber Chicken……
AVERAGE CENTER FIELDER….I would but him middle of the pack in the NL…..not bad…….but nothing special……maybe only a slight upgrade from Randy Winn….and most of that's his arm…….
And good god he is overrated at the plate……
.280 hitter with 15 HR power…….MAYBE…….
All this with a fat contract, pitchers park, and his bat and legs are only getting slower………

SMACK OF THE STICK :
MARTIS LOVERS
Wow, the hatred of Sabean runs deep on the interwebs…..even respectable print publication are calling him out of the Stanton/ Martis trade……
Hey, I love the kids as much as anyone…(well except for Marco and Brute) but the WHOLE POINT IS WINNING GAMES IN THE MAJORS……..sure in 2006, maybe we didn't have a world championship team…..but if you have a chance at a playoff spot, you have to take a chance……and trading Martis was a small price to pay for Stanton…….
In 2009 it may look silly, but think back to 2006
On July 23, the Giants were in 1st place by 1/2 game and about to complete a 4 game sweep of the formerly 1st place Padres……and then Termel Sledge crushed a Benitez pitch over the bricks in right to tie the game, the Giants would eventually lose in 12
BOX FROM THAT DAY
Now the Giants were certainly in the running, and the trade deadline was upon us…..
Stanton became the best reliever on the team for the rest of the year, even becoming the closer when Benitez strained his jaw eating doughnuts*…..and then when Stanton was signed away in the offseason, the Giants received a Sandwich pick, which a disappointed Benitez found out was not edible…….Just because the Giants ran out of magic by the time they picked Culberson, means the pick was bad….not the trade…….
All this and they only gave up a 20 Year Old Single A arm, who projected to be a #4 Starter was a small price to pay……
Sure, he had that famous 5 inning perfect game in the WBC, but really he was not a "highly talented" prospect…….
Even now he is exceeding expectations, with control and a nice change up….b ut he wouldn't even be in the Majors if it wasn't for the pitching poor Nationals…….
Looking at a 5-0 Martis 2 hitting the Giants, and looking at the horrible end to 2006, this is the exact wrong day to defend this…..but I will defend this……if you have the chance to win, you take it…….things could have broken very differently for the Giants in 2006 and yes…Bonds was still on the team, so you know the orders were WIN NOW……..


BURRISS
Leadoff spot hasn't been kind so far….1 for 13…..but hey, 3 walks makes it a little more palletable……and a low throw to 2nd opened the floodgates in the 7th….good aggressive play.….poor throw…….if that is ruled an error instead of a fielder's choice….2 runs would be unearned……dumb baseball rules……

BOCHY
I CAN get on him for batting Rowand 6th, or playing him at all
And although Holm had a good game with Zito…..I wouldn't push your luck…..give Zito back his Panda…..


* This is in fact 100% True….scouts honot……Benitez and Tyler Walker were seen in Happy Doughnuts cleaning out the day olds, when Benitez hurt his jaw while shoving 7 Jelly Doughnuts simultaneously into his gapping maw