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The All-Important Baseball Report #6
The All-Star Break Edition!
This time it sucked.
American League: 7
National League: 6
A Dodgers pitcher gave up the runs that led to the AL win. Under the new, unbelievably stupid rules imposed the moronic commissioner Bud Selig, the American League now has home field advantage in the World Series.
First of all, the All-Star Game is an exhibition. Make it clear that the maximum length of the game is 11 innings. If the teams are tied after that, well you saw a great game. Secondly, I'd change the voting. The players and coaches in MLB would nominate 5 players at each position by a secret vote. Then the fans get to vote on these choices. Managers still get to choose the pitchers. Finally, end the practice of forcing at least one player from each team! Some teams just suck across the board. There is no reason for the Detroit Tigers to be represented at the All-Star Game!
Home field advantage in the World Series would go to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season. In case of a tie, the result of the All-Star Game would be the tie breaker. If that had been a tie, the best record in the division series and LCS. If everything is tied, the league that did not have home field last year would have it. I think this is fair.
So, how are the Giants doing? Very well! We've lead the NL West from day one, only sharing the lead for two days. We currently enjoy a five game lead in the division. The biggest surprise and concern this years has been our pitching. We've had several rookies come out and shock the league with their speed and control. Jason Williams, a 21-year-old rookie, has thrown well, getting a 96-pitch complete game in his seventh start. Jason Schmidt has become our ace, pitching five complete games with an ERA of 2.37.
On the other hand, we've had some problems. We lost another rookie, Kurt Ainsworth, to a freak shoulder injury. Two highly touted arrivals, Damien Moss and Jesse Foppert did not live up to expectations. (Though to be honest, Foppert was called up as an emergency replacement for Ryan Jensen. He'll be fine with a little more time in the minors.) We've also had to place "Woody" Rueter, one of our workhorses, on the DL due to shoulder problems.
The bullpen has been shaky at best. Some nights, they are great.. others, they give up run after run. One really bright point has been Tim Worrell, who was pushed into the closer role after Rob Nenn was lost for the season after two shoulder surgeries. He has 20 saves, a pretty good number for a guy not used to the role.
Behind the pitchers, we're playing very good defense. One of our off-season acquisitions, Jose Cruz, Jr., has taken Pac Bell Park's vast right field and made it his personal hunting ground. He has stolen many extra-base hits with amazing, diving catches and impossible tip-of-the-glove catches. People are comparing his skill with his glove to Willie Mays. Now if he could only hit... Our other outfielders, Grissom and Bonds, are also doing good jobs. bonds doesn't move as well as he used to, but he still has the instincts to get the jump on fly balls.
Around the infield, we have a very strong corps. Alfonzo, who has struggled at the plate, is looking like a gold glove candidate. Aurillia at shortstop is still the master of the impossible throw to first. Ray Durham is a good second baseman. Over at first, JT Snow has stolen several line drives.
We have Barry Bonds.
Oh, there needs to be more? OK, Bonds have a Major League-leading 30 HR, a slugging percentage of .719, and has walked 84 times. He has a team-leading average of .316. As a team, we're hitting about .260. Felipe Alou's plan to run more has translated into more runs, and has kept opposing teams off-balance.
How strong is our offense? Our pitchers are hitting over .200!
So, here's the current standings in the NL West
San Francisco Giants: 57-37 .606
Arizona Diamondbacks: 52-42 .553
Los Angeles Dodgers 49-44 .527
Colorado Rockies 50-47 .515
San Diego Padres 35-61 .365
And the NL Record bet update.
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gridlore - San Francisco Giants 57-37 .606
redroach - Houston Astros 50-44 .532
aurictech - St. Louis Cardinals 49-45 .521
bunyip - Chicago Cubs 47-47 .500
And now the second half begins!
This time it sucked.
American League: 7
National League: 6
A Dodgers pitcher gave up the runs that led to the AL win. Under the new, unbelievably stupid rules imposed the moronic commissioner Bud Selig, the American League now has home field advantage in the World Series.
First of all, the All-Star Game is an exhibition. Make it clear that the maximum length of the game is 11 innings. If the teams are tied after that, well you saw a great game. Secondly, I'd change the voting. The players and coaches in MLB would nominate 5 players at each position by a secret vote. Then the fans get to vote on these choices. Managers still get to choose the pitchers. Finally, end the practice of forcing at least one player from each team! Some teams just suck across the board. There is no reason for the Detroit Tigers to be represented at the All-Star Game!
Home field advantage in the World Series would go to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season. In case of a tie, the result of the All-Star Game would be the tie breaker. If that had been a tie, the best record in the division series and LCS. If everything is tied, the league that did not have home field last year would have it. I think this is fair.
So, how are the Giants doing? Very well! We've lead the NL West from day one, only sharing the lead for two days. We currently enjoy a five game lead in the division. The biggest surprise and concern this years has been our pitching. We've had several rookies come out and shock the league with their speed and control. Jason Williams, a 21-year-old rookie, has thrown well, getting a 96-pitch complete game in his seventh start. Jason Schmidt has become our ace, pitching five complete games with an ERA of 2.37.
On the other hand, we've had some problems. We lost another rookie, Kurt Ainsworth, to a freak shoulder injury. Two highly touted arrivals, Damien Moss and Jesse Foppert did not live up to expectations. (Though to be honest, Foppert was called up as an emergency replacement for Ryan Jensen. He'll be fine with a little more time in the minors.) We've also had to place "Woody" Rueter, one of our workhorses, on the DL due to shoulder problems.
The bullpen has been shaky at best. Some nights, they are great.. others, they give up run after run. One really bright point has been Tim Worrell, who was pushed into the closer role after Rob Nenn was lost for the season after two shoulder surgeries. He has 20 saves, a pretty good number for a guy not used to the role.
Behind the pitchers, we're playing very good defense. One of our off-season acquisitions, Jose Cruz, Jr., has taken Pac Bell Park's vast right field and made it his personal hunting ground. He has stolen many extra-base hits with amazing, diving catches and impossible tip-of-the-glove catches. People are comparing his skill with his glove to Willie Mays. Now if he could only hit... Our other outfielders, Grissom and Bonds, are also doing good jobs. bonds doesn't move as well as he used to, but he still has the instincts to get the jump on fly balls.
Around the infield, we have a very strong corps. Alfonzo, who has struggled at the plate, is looking like a gold glove candidate. Aurillia at shortstop is still the master of the impossible throw to first. Ray Durham is a good second baseman. Over at first, JT Snow has stolen several line drives.
We have Barry Bonds.
Oh, there needs to be more? OK, Bonds have a Major League-leading 30 HR, a slugging percentage of .719, and has walked 84 times. He has a team-leading average of .316. As a team, we're hitting about .260. Felipe Alou's plan to run more has translated into more runs, and has kept opposing teams off-balance.
How strong is our offense? Our pitchers are hitting over .200!
So, here's the current standings in the NL West
San Francisco Giants: 57-37 .606
Arizona Diamondbacks: 52-42 .553
Los Angeles Dodgers 49-44 .527
Colorado Rockies 50-47 .515
San Diego Padres 35-61 .365
And the NL Record bet update.
gridlore - San Francisco Giants 57-37 .606redroach - Houston Astros 50-44 .532aurictech - St. Louis Cardinals 49-45 .521bunyip - Chicago Cubs 47-47 .500And now the second half begins!
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